In Memoriam
Robert M. Stilson
Bob Stilson
1964 Yale graduation
March 19, 2025
Bob Stilson’s death on July 17, 2024 was reported to us by Jon Wallman ’64, who was one of Bob’s Davenport roommates for senior year. Jon reported that one of the most impressive things about Bob’s life after Yale is that he took every course available at Fairfield University, with the exception of advanced math and physics courses, as a participant in their “Lifelong Learners” program.
Below are Bob’s obituary and two essays he wrote for his 25th and 50th reunion books.
- His obituary published by the Fairfield Citizen & Connecticut Post
- An essay written by Bob for our 50th Reunion
- An essay written by Bob for our 25th Reunion
Obituary
Fairfield Citizen & Connecticut Post
Bob Stilson
recently
July 20, 2024
Robert (Bob) M. Stilson, 82, a longtime resident of Fairfield, died on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Maplewood of Southport. He was the son of the late Minott A. O. Stilson and Mary Edith Williams Stilson.
Bob attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, graduating in 1959, and spent a year at Kings College, England, as part of the English Speaking Union Exchange Program. He earned his B.S. in Industrial Administration from Yale University in 1964 and an MBA from the University of Bridgeport in 1975. After graduating from Yale, Bob joined the US Navy in 1964 – 1967, serving as an operations officer on board a coastal minesweeper, USS Gannet (MCS-290), out of Sasebo, Japan, and as a communications officer in Norfolk, VA.
After the Navy, Bob joined Coopers & Lybrand in New Haven as an auditor, obtaining his CPA in 1972. His earlier employment was as an assistant production-control manager at Risdon Manufacturing, Waterbury, controller for Broadstreet Communications, Hamden, controller for Turnkey Systems, Norwalk, and controller of Paper Sales involved in paper merchandising, converting, and warehousing. He joined Milton H. Friedberg Smith, CPAs, in Bridgeport as an audit manager in 1978. After a partnership with Stern & Stern CPAs in 1982, Bob became Treasurer/Controller for Nutmeg Financial in Norwalk until 1985, when he joined Montrose Accounting Company, New York, NY, serving as Director of Finance/Controller until his retirement in 2010.
Bob also practiced part-time as a sole CPA, servicing Montrose Accounting clients who needed audit review or compilation services. He prepared tax returns and performed bookkeeping services until 2015.
His main volunteer activities included serving as Treasurer for Friends of Christ in India (a non-profit supporting programs in children's education and care for the sick and elderly in India), VITA and AARP volunteer tax preparer assistance programs, Vice Chairman of Fairfield's Solid Waste & Recycling Commission, WestBridge Inc. (a non-profit performing repairs to homes of low-income families and inner-city churches), SCORE mentor, and as a land steward for the Aspetuck Land Trust. Past involvements include being Treasurer of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport, and Community Sailing of Fairfield. He also served as an elected member of Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting and its Board of Finance. His passions were sailing and auditing courses at Fairfield University as part of the Lifelong Learners program.
Bob was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be missed by his wife of 54 years, Susanne Whitaker Stilson; daughter, Laura Stoltenberg (Scott Stoltenberg), of Wayzata, MN; son, David Stilson, of Fairfield; and grandchildren, Gavin Johnson, Tanner Stoltenberg, and Emery Stotlenberg, of Wayzata, MN. He was the brother of Ann Kidder, of Auburn, AL.
Bob was devoted to helping and serving others — whether it was to his family, work associates, friends, community, or church.
A service celebrating Bob's life will be held at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, Fairfield, CT, on September 23, 2024, at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Bob's charities.
Essay, 50th Reunion Book
by Bob Stilson ’64
May 2014
In the fall of 2009, I was asked by my accounting company to cut back to four days a week. I originally thought I would continue to work forever. I soon discovered I really liked having that extra day off to do other things than work. A year later and a day after completing 25 years of service, I decided to retire. I arranged a consulting agreement whereby I continue to provide accounting services as needed. Most of my friends ask me why I continue doing any work. When the time is right to completely stop, I will know it. It just isn’t the time yet.
Since retiring, I have had no problems in finding stuff to do. I have rediscovered a passion for learning again by auditing courses at Fairfield University through their Learning for a Lifetime program for seniors. I live just two blocks away so taking two classes a semester is easy. So far, I have taken courses in history, anthropology, medical ethics, the history of song, and 19th century music. Being a student again opens up a whole wide range of other activities. Why audit courses instead of taking just online courses I am often asked? My answer is I really get so much more out of interacting on a personal level with both the students and professors in my classes.
Other time, especially during the summer, is spent sailing on our (Community Sailing of Fairfield) 18-foot Ideal sailboats. When the weather cooperates, as it has done this summer, I am usually out three or four times a week. I recently joined the Housatonic Model Railroad Club here in Fairfield. With some other ten enthusiasts, we are building a layout (five years in the making) based roughly on the Housatonic Railroad of the 1950’s and 60’s which ran from South Norwalk, CT to the Danbury yards, to Pittsfield, MA. I have also pulled out my old HO trains from my grammar-school days and built a smaller layout for my grandson who shares my same passion. I have just gotten into participating in HO operational layouts which seek to replicate actual railroad operations.
Essay, 25th Reunion Book
by Bob Stilson ’64
May 1989
Life has been good to me these past 25 years. I have had several jobs (10) since leaving Yale, he longest one for four years. Perhaps my biggest choice was that of accepting an offer as controller for a small startup company in 1972 upon leaving a Big Eight public-accounting company. It has been an interesting road although I have sacrificed a certain amount of job security, longevity, and hence benefits along the way. A friend questioned why I had had so many jobs until I asked him how many he had had with his company. It turned out he had had more than I had but all were under one large corporate umbrella, a luxury I did not have.
Lately, I have found a need to reduce the complexity and hassles in my life. I don’t mind the hour-plus train commute to New York each day (better by train than by car) except it seems there is little left of weekday evenings once supper is over. I started by stepping down from our town’s Board of Finance, finding I could not handle budget meetings lasting to 1:30am, especially when I had to be up at 5:30am the next day. There is nothing like listening to a $400 budget presentation at 11:45pm lasting for 30 plus minutes, especially when it was down some 10% from the previous year. Keep in mind the town’s total budget is $70 million. I like to think I did some good while I was on the Board but realize the system grinds on with or without me.
Over the past years I have built up a small outside accounting practice by helping friends start up small companies and partnerships. But I am beginning to find my free time is more valuable than what extra money I earn. This is especially true in view of the extensive procedures required of a certified public accountant to limit liability exposure to errors and omissions. I am afraid the days are numbered for the individual practitioner, even on a part-time basis.