Robert S. SCHUE

SCHUE - Robert S. Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Marine Midland Bank of Western New York, died Thursday, February 3, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Martha Smith Scheu, a son, Christopher Cole Scheu and brother, Edward M. Scheu. He was born in Buffalo in 1920 and was graduated from the Nichols School. He also is an alumnus of Hamilton College and Babson College of Business Administration. Mr. Scheu enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1942, was commissioned an officer in 1943 and became commanding officer of a Coast Guard Cutter in the Atlantic and European Theatres. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his rescue work in the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Scheu's business career began with Vietor, Common, Dann & Co., investment brokers; then for six years with S.C. Parker & Co., specializing in corporate finance. He joined Marine Midland in 1954, established the Investment Management Department in 1957, became Executive Assistant to the President in 1961, and in 1962 was appointed President and a Director. In 1968 he became Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee. In 1969 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Marine Midland Banks, Inc., the state wide holding Company. He retired in 1975 to pursue other interests. Mr. Scheu served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Buffalo General Hospital, President of the Board of Trustees of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and was General Chairman of the United Fund of Buffalo and Erie County in 1963. He also served on the Board of Directors of Pratt and Lambert, Inc., Frontier Bronze Corp., Atkins & Merrill, Inc., Quackenbush & Co., Inc., and Nichols School. For many years he was President of the James H. Cummings Foundation and was a director of the Josephine Goodyear Foundation, the Knox Foundation, SC Parker Foundation, Western New York Foundation and the University of Buffalo Foundation. He also served on many other philanthropic organizations. In 1985 Mr. and Mrs. Scheu moved to Virginia where Mr. Scheu served as Trustee of the Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury Foundation, Rappahannock General Hospital, Historic Christ Church, Chesapeake Financial Shares, Inc., and on the Board of Governors of Christ Church School. Mr. Scheu was an avid sailor all his life. He participated in many sailing races on Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as several Bermuda races and two trans-Atlantic races from Bermuda to Sweden and Denmark. He was a life member of the Buffalo Canoe Club, and a member of the Buffalo Yacht Club, Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, the Cruising Club of America, and the Ocean Cruising Club. Surviving are a son, Donald S. Scheu of Lancaster, VA, a daughter, Susan S. Woodworth of Weston, MA, a son, Stephen E. Scheu of Johnson City, TN; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary S. Teach of Lake Sunapee, NH. Memorial Services will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, February 15 at Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury, Irvington. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York. Memorials may made to Northern Neck Free Health Clinic, P. O. Box 1694, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.