Robert Maddock Backes ’39

Bob died at a hospital near his home in Sanibel, Fla., April 30, 2007.

A native of Trenton, he became a partner there in the family law firm of Backes & Backes. His outside activities included being of counsel to the Medical Society of New Jersey, president of Mercer Medical Center, and president of Mercer County Bar Association, as well as helping numerous key business and civic causes.

At the same time Bob served 25 years in the Army, retiring as a brigadier general in the Army National Guard. During World War II he was an artillery battalion commander in Germany and served again in Korea during the Korean War. He was awarded five Battle Stars, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Clusters, the French Croix de Guerre, the U.N. Service Medal, New Jersey Medal of Honor, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

Bob is survived by his second wife, Mona Bloomberg, and by his four children with his late wife, Sara Curran, who died in 1980. He also leaves six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two stepchildren. We salute the distinguished life of our classmate and offer our sincere sympathy to all his family.