Robert S. Foote - January 24, 1927 - March 30, 2012
Robert
S. Foote, a former long time resident of Darien,
passed away on March 30 at the Village at Waveny Care
Center in New Canaan. Born January 24, 1927 in Winthrop,
MA, he was the son of the late Helen Spofford and
Charles Silas Foote. He was 85.
Bob received his Bachelors of Naval Science degree from
Dartmouth College in 1946 and a Master of Civil
Engineering degree from Yale University in 1949.
He began his career with the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey, and then completed his Navy service from
1951 to 1953, stationed in Greece.
Upon his return to the Port Authority he was Manager of
the Research Division of the Tunnels and Bridges
Department, where he participated in the design of the
lower level of the George Washington Bridge, the catwalk
car system in the Lincoln Tunnel, and the preliminary
development of automatic vehicle identification systems,
the precursor to E-ZPass.
He was a member of the American Society of Civil
Engineers, the Operations Research Society of America,
the Institute of Traffic Engineers, and founding
Chairman of the Research Committee of the International
Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association. In 1968 he was
awarded the Howard S. Cullman Fellowship which enabled
him to tour the world and evaluate traffic systems for
application in New York City.
A
lifelong sailor, he was an active member of the Noroton
Yacht Club, where he raced his cruising boats. He was
also active in town politics, serving as Moderator of
the Representative Town Meeting in the early 1970’s. He
was a fan of classical music and an aspiring pianist. In
his retirement he refined his talents in nature
photography.
Bob is survived by a son, John S. Foote and his wife
Mary Clare Crotty of South Salem, NY and three
granddaughters, Laura A. Foote, Julie E. Foote, and
Allison C. Foote. He is also survived by a sister, Mary
Ann Foote Stauder of Lady Lake, FL and a brother, C.
Richard Foote of Corrales, NM. He was predeceased by his
wife, Susanne (Danna) Andrews in 2003 and a son, James
A. Foote in 1981.
A graveside service will be held at Spring Grove
Cemetery, Darien, CT on May 12 at 4:30 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s
Association
www.alz.org
or the English Springer Spaniel Club of Long Island
www.springerspaniel.org
www.lawrencefuneralhome.com