Bob Nunnelley and Gerald Coble Obituary (1929 - 2026)

Born in Bessemer, Alabama, Bob Nunnelley carried the warmth and charm of the South throughout his life. His journey as an artist began with an MFA from the University of Arkansas, followed by studies at The Museum School in Boston and mentorship under Robert Motherwell at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. As a protégé of sculptor David Smith and a contemporary of abstract expressionists like William De Kooning and Franz Kline, Bob’s artistic vision was bold and vibrant. For thirty years, Bob inspired generations as a professor of Fine Arts at Fairleigh Dickinson University. His work—large still life's and landscapes bursting with color—reflected his passion for beauty and his belief in art’s power to transform the everyday. Nunnelley moved to Battenville in 1971 with his life-long partner, Gerald Coble, where they found their sanctuary, restoring the historic Maclean house on Route 29. Their home was more than a residence—it was a living canvas, a place where art, music, and friendship flourished. Together, they peeled back layers of history, filled rooms with antiques and their own masterpieces, and created a haven for gatherings that brought together artists, writers, and neighbors. Legacy and Remembrance Bob and Gerald’s legacy is not only in the art they created, but in the community, they nurtured and the love they shared. Their home was a sanctuary for creativity, a place where every visitor felt welcomed and inspired. The gatherings they hosted became legendary, fostering connections and sparking new ideas. Though their passing leaves a quiet ache in the hearts of family and friends, their spirits endure in every brushstroke, every melody, and every story told within their beloved home. Their lives remind us to cherish beauty, nurture creativity, and celebrate love in all its forms. He is survived by his niece, Dana Nunnelly and his nephew, David Cable. Gerald Coble July 10, 1932 – November 27, 2021 A self-taught artist from Greensboro, North Carolina, Gerald Coble moved to Manhattan in 1962, bringing with him a spirit of curiosity and invention. Gerald’s “collage constructions”—assemblages of found objects inspired by Walt Whitman, Marcel Proust, and Ava Gardner—captured the poetry of life’s fragments. His 1968 pen and ink ‘Botticelli Landscape’ found a home in the Museum of Modern Art, a testament to his unique vision. In 1971, Coble and his life-long partner, Robert Nunnelley, bought and renovated an historic home in Greenwich overlooking the Battenkill river. The river not only provided a metronome to their life, but an ongoing inspiration and subject matter. The rolling hills and broad open spaces of Washington County were reminiscent of the Italian countryside where Coble had lived for a period of time and where Bob and Gerald vacationed. Gerald’s passions extended beyond the studio. Music filled the rooms of their home, with Gerald at the Steinway grand piano, weaving melodies that lingered in the hearts of all who listened. His Italian garden, lush and abundant, became a source of joy and culinary delight for the community. Legacy and Remembrance Bob and Gerald’s legacy is not only in the art they created, but in the community they nurtured and the love they shared. Their home was a sanctuary for creativity, a place where every visitor felt welcomed and inspired. The gatherings they hosted became legendary, fostering connections and sparking new ideas. Though their passing leaves a quiet ache in the hearts of family and friends, their spirits endure in every brushstroke, every melody, and every story told within their beloved home. Their lives remind us to cherish beauty, nurture creativity, and celebrate love in all its forms. He is survived by his nephew, David Cable and his niece, Dana Nunnelly.