Robert A. Blickenstaff ’63

Bob died peacefully Dec. 31, 2016, in Barrington, Ill., of pneumonia, surrounded by family. He was a retired DuPont executive who earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam. 

During more than 30 years at DuPont, his roles included general manager of DuPont Philippines and president of DuPont Lanxide. Then he consulted independently on mergers and building projects. Bob was a community activist and fundraiser in Delaware and in Whitefish, Mont., where he designed a mountain home and shared nature adventures with his grandchildren at “Gramp Camp.” 

Princeton educated him and opened doors, he wrote in our 50th Reunion book, “but more importantly it gave me a group of lifelong friends.” Entering from The Hill School, soft-spoken, well-spoken, and known to friends simply as Blick, he majored in chemical engineering. He was ROTC battalion executive officer, ate at Dial, and roomed with Gabel, Gordon, Grubbs, Hoey, and Krugman. Bob earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern and served a year in Vietnam, where he was cited for “meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces.” 

The class sends its condolences to his wife of 51 years, Rebecca; daughter Leslie; son David ’90; daughter-in-law Jenny; grandchildren Henry and Kelsey; and sister Joan Goldsmith.