In Remembrance: Robert K. Reynolds ’45W Died on November 24 2024

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Robert Keeler Reynolds ’45W died on November 24, 2024. He was born on March 13, 1924, in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of Carlton M. ’12 and Frances Collings Reynolds. He was a descendent of the early settlers of Norwalk, Greenwich, Danbury, and Ridgefield, Connecticut, and his great-great-great-great grandfathers, Captain Nehemiah Keeler and Jonathon Reynolds, were in the local militia and fought at the battle of Ridgefield in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. Captain Keeler was a cousin of Timothy Keeler, proprietor of the historic Keeler Tavern in Ridgefield.

He was a graduate of Norwalk High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, and graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., where he was a classmate of future actor Jack Lemmon and future President George H. W. Bush. He graduated from Yale University, School of Engineering, with the class of 1945W. He earned his varsity letter at Yale as coxswain of the university’s crew team.

Bob Reynolds was a veteran of World War II. He enlisted on December 7, 1942, and served as a pilot in the Army Air Force. He also served in the USAF Reserve in the 8591st Pilot Training Squadron and the 436the Troop Carrier Wing at Floyd Bennet Naval Air Station, New York, retiring with the rank of major on December 7, 1968, after 26 years of service.

Following his graduation from Yale, he was employed first by the Mallory Hat Company as superintendent of the rough hat division, and later by Hat Corporation of America as director of engineering. He subsequently worked as a management consultant at Gemar Associates in Greenwich, Conn., plant manager at Interlake Steel, and facilities manager at Unimation/Westinghouse. Upon his retirement in 1887, he founded RKR Consulting, a facilities management firm.

Bob Reynolds was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers, where he served as past president of the Fairfield County chapter.

Reynolds was a longtime parishioner of St. James Church, where he taught Sunday School and served on the vestry.

He is survived by three daughters, Margo W. R. Steiner of Marblehead, Mass., Robin (Mark) Broderick of Hooksett, New Hampshire, and Judith Reynolds of Danbury, Conn. He is also survived by two grandsons, Zachary (Molly) Broderick and Maxwell (Sarah) Broderick, and his brother Philip (not sure of his Yale class) of West Hartford.

—Submitted by the family.