Class Agent Profile

In the fall of 1954, Bob King left Enfield High School to join a group of students and faculty who would go on to have a significant impact on his life and career. Unable to fully recall what brought him to Suffield Academy Bob says, “I was not from the type of family able to send their children to private school, nor was I a promising athlete. Rather than choosing Suffield, my thinking was, and still is, that I was lucky to be accepted.”

Bob says the experience generally felt like entering a foreign world about which he knew very little in almost every way. “Many students were from wealthy families and that is not how I grew up,” he explains. “I learned quickly, however, that all these boys worked hard. Their work ethic was unparalleled to what I had previously witnessed in Enfield. They were motivated and had the drive to succeed. After watching them I found that I too could do just as well.” In fact, Bob did do just finely as noted in his class yearbook: “Bob is a hard-working student who won his classmates' respect. He should have no trouble in his future life.”

Sports play a robust role in everyday life at Suffield Academy. Although Bob does not describe himself as an athlete, he did play soccer, basketball, and baseball his senior year. “Playing sports teaches you to be part of a team,” he says. “You work hard and learn to handle failure. Before hiring anyone now, I often look to see if they played sports in school. These are the people that know how to work with others. I am passionate about this philosophy, and it is one I learned at Suffield.”

Attending Suffield was a very important time in my life, and I want to give back. Ap Seaverns once suggested that when making a donation one should give an amount significant to each individual.

Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Connecticut. He went on to pass the American Institute of CPA’s exams for the Certificate of Educational Achievement of Integrated Program in Governmental Accounting and Auditing. His business experience spans many decades and includes both public and private accounting. In 1987 he formed King, King & Associates and has led the firm through controlled growth to its current position in the market as a leader in governmental and nonprofit accounting, auditing, and consulting in the state of Connecticut. “I love giving back to those in my community,” he insists. “I represent many charitable organizations to obtain IRS tax-exempt status. These organizations include the Simsbury Veterans Memorial, Connecticut Academy for the Arts, and Children’s Museum of Torrington.”

Bob and his wife Susan have resided in the town of Barkhamsted (Connecticut) for more than 30 years. Their pit bull Joey and German Shepard Thor are an enjoyable part of their daily lives and together Bob and Susan have two sons: Matt and Steve. Located outside of Boston within the commercial maintenance industry, Matt is Director of Business Operations for Seam, Inc., and Steve is a research scientist based in Austin, Texas.

When asked why he wanted to be a Class Agent at Suffield Academy—especially since he was only at the school for one year—Bob’s reply was simple: “I volunteered because it keeps me a part of the school. Attending Suffield was a very important time in my life, and I want to give back. Ap Seaverns once suggested that when making a donation one should give an amount significant to each individual. This same philosophy holds true whether giving to the Annual Fund or when donating your own personal time.”