Robert Emery, Jr.

Robert William Emery Jr. was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 29, 1931 to Robert W. Emery Sr. and Andy Papenhagan. He spent his childhood in Upper Montclair, New Jersey until age 16. He attended the Montclair Academy through freshman year. While still in Montclair he joined the Junior Cavalry where he learned to ride and play polo.  His family moved to Garden City, Long Island. He graduated from Cherry Valley High School with honors where he started the Hunting and Fishing Club with his shop teacher Mr. Bob Cunningham,. They became friends for life.  He next attended the University of Virginia with a major of Economics.  Memories of his time at UVA were “wonderful times with his fraternity brothers in Phi Delta Theta.” He was also very active in the Alpha Kappa Psi, a commerce fraternity. He enjoyed tennis and wrestling. He was a member of ROTC while in college and after graduation entered the Army serving in Korea and Japan in the Army Security Agency. It was during his service that he met his “sweetheart” and wife of 46 years, Maureen Phillips. They met in Redbank, N.J. on a double date with a close friend Billy Halsey who was dating Maureen at the time.  They double dated for a couple of months through Bob’s officer training. Billy asked Maureen to marry him and she said “no”. Bob then asked his buddy, “do you mind if I date her.” He said “sure”. Bob and Maureen were engaged about two months later.

After serving in the military, Bob and Maureen got married in Rumson, NJ and had their reception at Fort Monmouth.  They settled down in Monmouth Beach, NJ, where they bought there first home two years later.  Bob was training with International Paper Company in the executive apprentice program.  During their time in Monmouth Beach, their children R.W. and Linda were born.  After three years, they moved to Winnetka, Illinois where Bob continued his career in the paper industry.   Bob commuted into Chicago and helped International Paper with new product development focusing on barrier packaging.  During his 20 year in Chicago he moved from International to St. Regis and finally finished his corporate carrier with Champion Paper as sales manager for all plastic coated products.  Bob “loved Chicago” but “hated the weather”. They hosted many bridge parties and golf outings and developed many life long friends.  In 1980 they moved to Deerwood in Jacksonville, Florida where Bob started his own company, Design Coatings Ltd.. For the next 15 years Bob and Maureen traveled all over the U.S. together consulting and marketing plastic coated products.  As Bob said, “They were free. No longer shackled by the corporate world.” They enjoyed the classic “Country Club” lifestyle with frequently golf and family events.  Bob and Maureen were very active in Deerwood. Bob served on the landscape committee for many years. It was during their early years in Jacksonville that both R.W. and Linda got married.  Eventually Phil VanFossen joined Bob in his business allowing Bob a real retirement.

In 2002 Maureen developed cancer and passed away in the warm embrace of her family. A few years later Bob met Charlotte Forbes his loving companion of 14 years. Charlotte and Bob enjoyed traveling and family events. Most of all they enjoyed tinkering around in their home and garden. Many Monarch butterflies entered the world in their kitchen to be safely freed to explore the beyond.

Bob is survived by Charlotte Forbus of Jacksonville, Florida, his loving companion; son, Robert W. Emery III and his wife, Kathryn Lee Borg Emery of Mclean, Virginia; daughter, Linda E.VanFossen and her husband, Philip B. VanFossen of Woodstock, Georgia; Grandchildren, Amy VanFossen of Woodstock, Georgia and Chrissy Jones and her husband Tom Jones of Stockport Cheshire in the U.K.; and Sister, Carolyn McClelland of Sarasota, Florida. He is predeceased by his wife, Maureen Phillips Emery who passed away April 21, 2002; and his sister, Helen Moller.

A Memorial Service will be held November 20, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in Quinn-Shalz Chapel.