Robert Bruce Silver ’45

Bruce Silver died of pancreatic cancer July 20, 2010, in Akron, Ohio.

He entered Princeton in 1941 from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, and joined Tower Club. During World War II, he served as an officer in the Army Combat Engineers and later returned to Princeton to obtain a degree in chemical engineering.

In 1948, Bruce married Margaret (“Peggy”) Weech of Cincinnati. After Peggy’s death in 1988, he married Jean Dunn Smith of Boston.

He spent his professional life at Akron Chemical Co. (now AkroChem), a company started by his father that supplies colors to the rubber industry. He retired as executive vice president of AkroChem and chairman of AkroChem’s subsidiary, Revlis.

Bruce was active in community affairs, serving as a member of the vestry of his church, president of the board of trustees of Akron General Medical Center, and trustee of Firestone Bank and of Old Trail School. He had a special love for Princeton and the Class of ’45 throughout his life. He attended Reunions regularly, including his 65th just months before he died. In 1992, he created the R. Bruce Silver Undergraduate Engineering Scholarship.

In addition to Peggy, Bruce was predeceased by his daughter, Catherine Silver McNamara. He is survived by Jean; daughters Margaret Silver Allen and Patricia Silver ’77; stepchildren Robin, Sarah, and Taylor Smith and Margaret Smith Bell; and five grandchildren.