Robert G. Haldeman

Unknown - Mar 4th, 2007
  • Birth Date: Unknown
  • Death Date: Mar 4, 2007
  • Funeral Date: Unknown
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Biography: Robert G. Haldeman, of Little Rock, died on March 4, 2007 in Little Rock following a long illness. He was 88. Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean Sturdevant of Ulysses, Pennsylvania, and his second wife Dorothy Carnahan, of Hot Springs Village. He is survived by his daughter, Jane Handley (of Hilton Head, S.C.), his son, Bob Jr. (of Westfield, N.J.), his wife, Ruth Bounds Haldeman (of Little Rock), five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Bob's life is organized into several chapters, the most recent of which began with his retirement in Arkansas to 1983. A life-long casual bridge player, he took advantage of retirement to earn the designation of Life Master. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Hot Springs Village and volunteered as a chemistry tutor for local high school students. Bob was involved with various activities at the Kirk in the Pines, where he was an elder, moderator of long-range planning, member of the church choir, and member of the committee that planned the Memorial Garden (a peaceful churchyard setting for cremation burial for members of the Kirk). Descended from Pennsylvania Dutch stock, the earliest chapter of Bob's life began in Philadelphia. He was born on May 10, 1918. He attended prep school at Gettysburg Academy and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He spent the war years doing defense-related research with Gulf Research and Development Company. He went on to earn a M.S. in Chemistry (1949), and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry (1952), both from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a Fellow at Mellon Institute of Industrial Research from 1948 to 1953, where he worked on petroleum cracking catalysis. The next chapter encompassed the major part of his career. He worked for American Cyanamid Company in Stamford, Connecticut from 1953 to 1972, eventually becoming the manager of several sections of the Central Research Division. Among the projects he managed were the development of early fuel cell technology and high energy solid propellants for rockets. Projects under his leadership resulted in several dozen patents. Eight patents were granted in his name. He authored or co-authored twelve journal articles and frequently contributed to research conferences and symposia During the Connecticut years, Bob was active in the United Church of Christ in Rowayton, where he served on the building committee that imported cedar from Lebanon for the beams of its daring, "contemporary" church design. Bob later served as lay leader of the congregation. He also held positions in Boy Scouts and Little League committees, and was a regular, enthusiastic supporter of his children's sports, art, music and other interests. The years between Connecticut and his retirement in Arkansas included a series of research management positions. From 1972 to 1974 he was Manager of New Project Planning (R&D Department) for Engelhard Industries in Menlo Park, New Jersey. In 1974 he became Director of New Project Planning (Corporate Research and Development) for NL Industries in Hightstown, N.J. From 1975 to 1983 he served as Assistant to the President, Products Groups, of UOP, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois. During these years, he became increasingly involved in technology transfer and managed the successful cleanup of several superfund (major environmental pollution) sites. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at the Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines in Hot Springs Village officiated by Rev. William Bailey. Memorials may be made to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, AR 72210-2820 or the Memorial Gardens at the Kirk in the Pines church in Hot Springs Village. Funeral and cremation arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home of Little Rock, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

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