Robert Gordon Fairburn ’32

ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S eminent industrialists, Bob Fairburn died Sept. 26, 1992, at the Community Hospital in Monterey, Calif. He lived in Carmel and in recent years had had a history of heart illness.

Upon graduation from Princeton, Bob joined the Diamond Match Co., of which his father was president. Bob succeeded to his father's position in 1947, and later became chairman of the company. Diamond and its related companies were originally the nation's leading producers of wooden stick matches and paper book matches. Bob diversified Diamond's products and expanded by merger with other companies. The enterprise was renamed Diamond National in 1959, producing lumber, charcoal, cardboard, and numerous other packaging and printed materials. In 1961 he left Diamond to lead another company, Keys Fibre, in Waterville, Me., specializing in paper products. He retired in 1978.

Bob was an avid sportsman, with horses as his principal hobby. He was master of his local hunting club for many years. He also served as chairman of the board of trustees of Thomas College, in Waterville; trustee of the Marine Research Society of Bath, Me.; and member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Bob is survived by his widow, Eileen Baker; a son, Robert G.; a daughter, Louise Lumley; three stepchildren; two grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren. His brother and our classmate Bill died in 1966. To Bob's surviving family, the Class extends its deep sympathy.

The Class of 1932