Robert Moore McIlwain, 87, of Vero Beach and Berardsville, N.J., passed away on Oct. 24, 2015, a few days before his 88th birthday and not long after he attended his 65th reunion at Dartmouth College.
He enjoyed a full life with his wife Joan; sons Robert, John, David and Bill; daughters-in-law Michaela, Melissa, AnnMarie and Halley; grandchildren Chelsea, Russell, Jenny, Wesley, Juliet, Charlie and Elizabeth; a close extended family, and many special friends from Dartmouth, New Jersey, Florida and around the globe.
McIlwain grew up in Radnor, Penn., the son of the late Hugh and Evelyn McIlwain, with his younger brothers Pete and Tom. He graduated from The Haverford School, Haverford, Penn., and spent a year in the Coast Guard before entering Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Master’s Degree at the college’s Thayer School of Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Tuck School of Business.
He loved Dartmouth. He was a class president as an undergraduate and never missed a class reunion in 65 years.
After college, he served as a lieutenant in the Navy for three years, then worked for McKinsey & Company, Singer Corporation, Warner-Lambert and Engelhard Corporation. He spent the last 13 years of his career as a senior executive at Engelhard, retiring from there in 1992.
Meeting and marrying his wife Joan was the most important event of his life. For 57 years they had a wonderful time raising four boys and having great fun with their friends and family. They enjoyed tennis, skiing, golf, dancing and bridge, and traveled to many parts of the world. They were also very active supporting their communities.
More than anything, McIlwain loved his family, grandchildren, his extended family and his many, many good friends. He was exceptional with people – attentive, bright, fun, humorous and loyal. He had a way with people that let them know how special they were. He loved life fully, and it meant a great deal to him to share and enjoy life with others.
We will all miss his presence in our lives – his generosity and wisdom, his warm smile and the twinkle in his eyes.
A service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Church of St. John on the Mountain, 379 Mount Harmony Road in Bernardsville, N.J.
Those wishing to send flowers can instead honor him by supporting the John’s Island Foundation, which he helped establish and develop. It serves disadvantaged people in Indian River County, Fla. Donations may be made at www.johnsislandfoundation.org.
Donations may also be made to the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 475 South St., Morristown, N.J., 07960, or to Dartmouth College, www.giving.dartmouth.edu.
