Robert Marshall McClung ’39

Bob died of a heart attack June 24, 2006, in Northampton, Mass.

During World War II, Bob was a Navy communications officer, pilot, and landing-signal officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.

He then became a copywriter at McCann Erickson Advertising and began taking writing courses at New York University. His first book was published in 1948. Subsequently he received a master’s degree at Cornell and began working at the Bronx Zoo, where he became curator of mammals and birds. In 1958 he moved to Washington as a natural-history writer and editor for National Geographic. In 1962 he moved to Amherst, Mass., to devote himself full time to his own writing. He went on to publish 65 books, receiving numerous awards, including National Science Teachers Association awards for outstanding science books for children. Always proud to have been co-author of the 1938 Triangle show, he also did persuasive and enjoyable cartoons for our class books and our AG campaign letters.

Bob is survived by his wife, Gale, whom he married in 1949; their sons, Bill and Tom; and grandchildren Greg and Melissa. We offer them our sincere sympathy.