Robert R. Hesse Ed.D.

1931 - 2016

Robert R. Hesse, Ed.D.

September 21, 1931 - December 1, 2016

Robert R. Hesse, Ed.D. of Indianapolis (IN), Boca Grande (FL), Leland (MI) and Florence (IT) died on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at age 85 from complications of cancer.

Bob was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931. As a violinist, he earned a scholarship to the State University of New York at Fredonia before being drafted into the Army, where he managed the prestigious Seventh Army Symphony in Stuttgart, Germany.

Upon returning to the United States, he taught music in the public schools on Long Island, NY before joining his alma mater SUNY-Fredonia, where he served as Executive Assistant to the President and helped create the first Public University Alumni Program. A few years later, he was elected President of Medaille College in Buffalo.

In 1976, he joined Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York, and as its President for six years, he earned a national reputation as "The Turnaround Expert" by Forbes Magazine.

He became Executive Director of the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet 1983 and later chief fund-raiser for UNICEF in 1986.

Bob was the driving force behind the creation of the Indianapolis City Ballet in 2008. His vision of structuring a ballet company and adapting its development to market forces was in-keeping with his earlier revolutionary philosophies and continues today. Bob was also the co-owner of a fine Tuscan restaurant, Bella Fortuna North and a winery of the same name in Northern Michigan.

He was nourished by a connection to family: his life partner of 26 years, Jane Fortune, her children, Jennifer Medveckis (Jim Marzo) and John Medveckis, his children, Deirdre (James Carpenter), Alison, Kevin and Lisa, and his grandchildren, Olivia, Sara and Sophie.

Two years ago, Bob was recognized by the Indiana Historical Society's Living Legends Award.

The Hesse and Fortune Families respectfully request that in lieu of flowers, charitable contributions be made to Indianapolis City Ballet (PO Box 40567, Indianapolis, IN 46240 - www.IndianapolisCityBallet.org).

A private burial has been conducted and Bob has been laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. A public memorial service will be announced in 2017.