Robert Carl Ficke Jr. ’33 *34

Bob died Jan. 3, 2006, at home in Wilmington, Del. He was 96.

Born Feb. 21, 1909, in Davenport, Iowa, he attended the Lawrenceville School and graduated from Princeton with a bachelor's in engineering. He earned a master's in chemical engineering in 1934. He was elected an associate of the Society of the Sigma Xi. In the 1930s he played in a jazz band, touring Europe during his summers off from college.

He joined DuPont Co. and contributed to engineering technology developments across a number of manufacturing sites, and worked in leadership positions with the engineering service division prior to his 1971 retirement. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Bob delighted in being with family and friends at the Long Beach Island (N.J.) house he designed in 1947.

He was a member of the governor's economic committee in Delaware and of the Wilmington and New Castle County Management Studies Committee; he also served on the Tatnall School Board of Trustees from 1963 to 1974, the last seven years as president.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha Melvin Ficke; and by his children, Robert C. III, C. Darden, Christopher M., Virginia F. Junkin, and Hunter H.; and by 13 grandchildren.

The Class of 1933