2002 ELLSWORTH AMERICAN, ELLSWORTH, MAINE 04605 Bob La Hotan was a long- time resident of New York City Obituaries and Great Cranberry Island. Generations of young aspiring artists worked with Mr. La Hotan in his 39 years of teaching paint- ing and art history at the Dalton CRANBERRY ISLES School, an independent school on Robert Lewis La Hotan, 75, Manhattan's Upper East Side, painter and teacher, died of nat- where he was much loved and ural causes Friday, Aug. respected. His specialty was lit- 30, 2002, at Eastern Maine erally in drawing out creativity Medical Center in Bangor. from those around him with a La Hotan was born in transformative quality of accep- Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on tance and optimism. As a retired April 8, 1927, to John Melvin La Faculty Fellow, La Hotan re- Hotan (born Janos LeHoten, mained a supportive force for his from Bohemia, Czechoslovakia) former students, who celebrated and Edythe Cox. He grew up in and honored him in June of 2001 Western Massachusetts before with an alumni event in New coming to New York City to York City. study painting. La Hotan was a In the last decade of his life, graduate of Columbia University since retiring from full-time and a student of Meyer Schapiro. teaching, La Hotan focused his He also served in the U.S. Ma- energies on establishing The He- rine Corps in 1945 and 1946. liker-La Hotan Foundation Inc. La Hotan's paintings were in- on Great Cranberry Island. This fluenced by the works of non-profit, IRS approved, Edouard Vuillard and of his foundation is intended to provide mentor, and life partner, John a resident/studio working envi- Heliker. He spent over half a ronment and support for mature century producing works on can- artists whose recognition, in vas known for their lyrical color some part, is yet to come, as and structural compositions. well as to perpetuate the lega- Whether his subject matter rep- cies of both John Heliker and resented the still life, landscape Robert La Hotan. Set in a cove or figure, his works seemed to on an historic property on Great emerge from the ethereal depths Cranberry Island, the Founda- of the canvas with a sense of tion will offer an idyllic and in- mystery. La Hotan is represented spirational site for artistic ef- by Kraushaar Gallery on Fifth forts. Avenue in New York, and his Memorial celebrations are paintings are held in many pri- being planned in New York City vate and public collections and on Great Cranberry Island. across the United States. Those wishing to remember La Hotan was a member of Robert are encouraged to offer a the National Academy of Art, re- donation to The Heliker-La cipient of a Fulbright Grant in Hotan Foundation Inc., 2 Heliker 1951 and spent seminal time in Avenue, P.O. Box 82, Cranberry Rome, Italy. Over the course of Isles 04625. Arrangements by his 75 years, La Hotan knew and Fernald Funeral Chapel, Mount socialized with many of the im- Desert. portant figures in 20th century art.