Robert Wilson Siler Jr.

Robert Wilson Siler, Jr. passed away on August 14, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC two days before his 96th birthday.

Bob was born in Siler City, North Carolina, the oldest of nine children of Robert Winship Siler and Margaret Johnson Siler. On Bob's 17th birthday, his mother signed his enlistment papers for the US Navy. After Yeoman school in San Diego, Bob was assigned to the USS Estes, the flagship of the 7th Fleet Commander, and sailed out of Shanghai China to various ports in Asia, and then was assigned to the destroyer USS Tausig. Discharged as a Yeoman 1st class, Bob enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill using the GI Bill. Bob was then called back into service during the Korean War with Cargo Handling Battalion FIVE. Bob earned a Bachelor of Political Science degree in 1953, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and in 1955, earned a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning. During his graduate studies, Bob met Helen George, a native of Newfoundland Canada and a nurse at UNC hospital, on a blind date, and got married shortly thereafter, having their three children in the next four years.

Bob worked at consulting firms and city planning departments in Raleigh NC, Johnson City TN, Hickory NC, and Frankfort KY. In 1958 Bob joined the economic development and real estate consulting firm, Hammer & Company that later became Hammer, Siler, George Associates, located in the Washington DC area. Bob served as president from 1972 until 1979 and thereafter as chairman/CEO, growing the firm to the third largest in its field. During his career, he participated in hundreds of professional assignments, for both public and private clients, relating to economic development and real estate. These assignments included the evaluation of land use and public facility strategies for municipal and other political jurisdictions, and market and financial evaluations of domestic and international real estate projects. After retirement in 1993, Bob continued his consulting work for several years.

He was a 1992 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning. The award recognizes outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to the planning and related professions through leadership, performance and service. He was a member of the international land economics fraternity, Lambda Alpha, and of the American Planning Association. An active member of the Urban Land Institute for more than 20 years, he served on the Urban Development and Mixed Use Council for ten years, and a four-year term as vice-chairman of the National Policy Council. Bob served a four-year term on the Board of Visitors of UNC-Chapel Hill and was a member of the advisory board of the Governor's Club.

He has been a speaker and an active participant in seminars relating to urban problems, economic development, market and economic analysis, university research parks, university real estate strategies, and new communities. He has served as guest lecturer at Catholic University, The University of Virginia, Ohio State University, and Pennsylvania State University.

In 1994, Bob and his wife established the Robert and Helen Siler Urban Lecture Series to build a bridge between academic planning community and professionals in the field by bringing leading figures to UNC as Siler distinguished lecturers.

Bob loved jazz, golf, and travel. He had a great laugh and was a tremendous storyteller, especially holding a glass of wine. He was a wonderful friend, and enjoyed being with his family, especially the love of his life for 66 years, Helen, who predeceased him. He is survived by his children, Michael, Peter and Linda, ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and siblings Norma, Will and Tony.

The family requests memorial contributions to be made to the Carolina Jazz Fund. UNC Department of Music, Attn: El Fisseha, 105 Hill Hall, CB#3320, Chapel Hill, NC 27599