Robert L. Turner of Milton, MA, died on Tuesday, July 27th at age 78, nine months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Otile McManus; daughters Julia and Maggie Turner; and four grandchildren: Abraham, Owen and Ida Wasserstein and Otto Adem. Devoted brother of Louisa Turner of New York City; father-in-law of Ben Wasserstein of Santa Monica, CA and Jamal Adem of New York City; brother-in-law of Julie O’Rourke of Westhampton, NY; uncle of Aidan, Nell and Desmond O’Rourke. He leaves a wide and loving circle of extended family, dear friends and former colleagues at The Boston Globe and the John W. McCormack Graduate School at UMass Boston.

In view of COVID concerns, a private memorial is planned. A bench in the Rose Kennedy Greenway will be dedicated in his honor next spring. Donations may be made to WriteBoston www.writeboston.org; the Max Warburg Courage Curriculum www.maxcourage.org; and the Ward Fellowship at Boston Latin School www.wardfellowship.org.