Robert T. Woodworth

Robert T. Woodworth

Robert T. Woodworth, Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington Foster School of Business and partner in HKW Consultants, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on October 18, 2012 at the age of 82.

Bob was born in Wausau, Wisconsin on June 25th, 1930 to Paul and Ruth Woodworth. He and his older brother Phil grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and graduated from Glenbard High School. Bob met his wife-to-be, Kitty, while home in Glen Ellyn on break from Indiana University where he earned his undergraduate degree. Upon graduating from Indiana, Bob served as Supply Officer on a destroyer in the Korean War.

After receiving his doctorate from Northwestern University he accepted a position in the Business School at the University of Washington, where he taught from 1961 to 2002. Through the HKW consulting business, with his two close friends, Bud Knudson and Dale Henning, Bob worked with governments and businesses from Iran to Samoa and throughout Europe. His advisees included Corporate CEOs, US Navy Admirals, US Army Generals, Supreme Court Justices, several States Governors and Presidents of two countries, Federated States of Micronesia and Romania. He taught at the North European Management Institute in Oslo, Norway from 1972-1974 and introduced his family to living abroad. He took pride in taking research findings and academic principals and making them useful to practicing executives.

Traveling and collecting new gadgets were among his favorite activities after spending time with family and friends. Bob loved to bring people together and used his mediation skills in his personal life as well while serving as a board member of his condo associations and church. He enjoyed golf and tennis with his friends and family on Whidbey Island and in Palm Desert throughout his entire life.

He is survived and deeply loved by his wife of 55 years, Kitty, his children, Beth, Tom, and Steve, their spouses, Dick, Martha, and Stacey, and his exceptional grandchildren, Matthew, Nicole, Jeff, Michelle, Cassie, and Camryn.

Funeral services will be held on October 25th, 2012 at Sandpoint United Methodist Church at 2:00PM. Donations can be made to the Woodworth International Scholar Award in lieu of flowers.