Robert S. Willis ’46

Panama’s highest honor, the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (named for Panama’s first president and bestowed for distinguished achievement in arts, services, or politics), was awarded in May 1972 to Bob Willis at the high grade known as Gran Cruz. It recognized Bob’s contributions to banking laws passed during his seven years as resident vice president of Citibank in charge of its operations in Panama, the Canal Zone, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

In 33 years with Citibank, Bob also fostered economic development and managed banking operations in Puerto Rico, pre-Castro Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and New York.

Following his retirement in 1984, Bob lived in Princeton, serving as trustee of the Class of 1946 Memorial Fund as well as ’46’s class secretary. He was an active vestryman at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and a volunteer at Recording for the Blind. He also taught English as a second language.

Bob’s death March 18, 2012, at age 87 left his wife of 51 years, Della Anne Svendby Willis; daughters Anne Marie Willis, Lyn Willis Harris, and Claire Willis Haverstock; and five grandchildren. The class is thankful for our devoted classmate’s long life filled with high achievement.