Robert Cox Milnor *49

Bob died March 1, 2021, in Seattle of natural causes.

He was born Feb. 15, 1924, in New York City and raised in Maplewood, N.J. At his parents’ farm he was free to indulge his never-ending passion to tinker, build, and explore. It was there that he built his first train set, in the loft of the barn, and a telescope to watch the stars. 

In 1944 Bob graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in aeronautical engineering. After college he served for two years in the Army Air Corps. At the end of World War II, he was hired by Boeing. In 1949 Bob earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Princeton before returning to Boeing. 

Bob’s 43-year career enabled him to travel the world and work on many challenging space and missile defense programs, but his favorite assignment was the light-rail vehicle program based on his lifelong love of model railroading. He never stopped playing with trains. 

Bob is survived by his first wife, Grace, and their children John, Karen, Bruce, and Diane; his second wife, Marina, and her daughter Katya; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.