Robert Whitney Wilde

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 69 years, Jean Wilde; two older sisters, Mrs. Charles Logan and Mrs. Louse Moore Pine; and a twin brother, Stuart W. Wilde.

Robert and his brother were born on Christmas Day, 1922 in Belleville, New Jersey. They were raised in nearby Rutherford and in 1940 graduated from Montclair High School. A B-24 bomber pilot during World War II, Robert earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for participating in more than 30 bombing missions over Germany and occupied Europe.

Upon returning to civilian life, he married his former high school sweetheart and settled down to raise a family that would include three daughters and a son. After earning a B.S. degree from Rutgers's University School of Business in 1947, he spent the next twelve years employed in advertising, sales promotion, and industrial marketing. Attending evening classes while working full time, he went on to earn both an MBA and a Ph.D. degree from New York University's Graduate School of Business.

In 1958, he was persuaded to make a major career change from that of businessman to college professor, teaching both undergraduate and graduate business courses. He held teaching positions at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Bernard Baruch School of Business of the City University of New York, and Seton Hall University from which he retired in 1988. He and his wife moved to Williamsburg in 1995.

He is survived by his three daughters, Mrs. Janet Savage, Mrs. Patricia McNamara, Mrs. Wendy Watts; his son, Steven R. Wilde; and eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.