Former Barnstable Patriot Publisher Dies After Long Illness

Rob Sennott/Facebook

HYANNIS – The former publisher of The Barnstable Patriot newspaper has died after a long illness.

Rob Sennott was 74.

Sennott purchased the Patriot in 1994 after a long career in publishing and marketing in New York City.

He rejuvenated the paper during his ownership, increasing circulation and revenue, adding new features and making it an essential source for news across all of Barnstable’s villages.

Sennott began a tradition of live, televised debates during election seasons that included local and regional candidates.

Prior to the purchase by Sennott and his wife, Toni, the paper had been owned by the same family since 1923.

Sennott was also heavily involved in many community activities and charities.

He served as board chair/co-founder of the JFK Hyannis Museum Foundation and board member/co-founder of the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District.

Sennott was also a board member/former chair of the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped and former chair of the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront District.

Up until his death, Sennott was an active board member of the Cape Symphony and Conservatory.

State Representative Will Crocker (R-Centerville) reacted to the passing, calling it very sad news.

“He was a staple, in both his role in the community, for the community and as a journalist,” said Crocker, who previously worked as a radio journalist on Cape Cod when Sennott owned the Patriot.

“He really got down into the nuts and bolts of what was going on in the community as far as news was concerned,” Crocker said.

Sennott is survived by his wife Toni, son Tim and daughter Brooke and her family.

According to a profile in the Patriot, he was a paratrooper in Vietnam and once traveled to the Soviet Union with columnist William F. Buckley.

Sennott sold the Patriot in 2005 to the company that owns the Cape Cod Times.

Prior to arriving on Cape Cod, he was the owner of a publishing and marketing company for 17 years and the former advertising director the National Review.

By MATT PITTA, CapeCod.com News Director

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