Robert S. Custer ’55

Bob, whose life was full and varied, died April 16, 2024.

He was born in Garden City, N.Y., Dec. 27, 1933, and graduated from Garden City High School, where he participated in football, lacrosse, student government, and the honor society. At Princeton, he joined Tower Club and majored in chemical engineering. He won major numerals in both freshman football and lacrosse, played JV football and varsity lacrosse on the 1953 NCAA championship team, and participated in IAA ping pong and pool. Senior year he roomed with Don Emmons.

After graduation from Harvard Business School, Bob embarked in a career with firms related to chemical engineering and founding his own company, retired in 1997, and moved to Oregon.

With his wife, Gerry, he enjoyed good food — from salmon quiche to chocolate chip cookies — and explored Oregon’s many noted wineries. He was a fierce poker player, and he enjoyed playing tennis and watching football and local orchestras and theater groups. From the time his two sons joined Boy Scouts, he was their hiking and canoeing leader. Together, they backpacked in the Rockies and bicycled and hiked in Europe. One of Bob’s greatest experiences was hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal to an altitude of over 17,000 feet. He traveled to every continent but Antarctica.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gerry; sons David and Jonathan ’84; and two grandchildren.