Robert W. Denney

DENNEY Robert W. Denney passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Born March 20, 1932. Adopted in 1933, the only child of Edna and William F. Denney, Jr. Graduated from Waldron Mercy Academy in 1946 and Canterbury School in New Milford, CT. in 1950. In 1954 graduated with Honors from the University of Pennsylvania where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Pennsylvanian, a member of the Undergraduate Counsel, Battalion Commander of the Navy ROTC unit, a member of Sphinx Senior Society and Beta Theta Pi fraternity. At the end of his senior year his class elected him Spade Man. He met his devoted wife, Mary Lou (Gorman), during his senior year at Penn when she was a sophomore. They were married in 1957. In addition to raising nine children they found time to travel to Europe and Hawaii as well as designing and building three of their homes as their family grew. During these years Mary Lou was also one of the leading real estate agents on the Main Line. She and Bob often said to each other "We have been very lucky." After graduating from Penn, Bob served two years in the Navy and became Executive Officer of his ship, the USS Tallahatchie Country. Upon completion of his active duty he joined the family business, Frances Denney Cosmetics, rising to President in 1964. During his tenure, the company grew rapidly and became recognized as one of the hottest cosmetic lines in department and specialty stores such as Wanamakers, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue. He became a management consultant and founded Robert Denney Associates Inc. For the next 45 years he provided management, marketing and leadership services to over 400 law firms and legal organizations throughout the United States as well as serving as an outside director and interim CEO for public and privately held companies. He wrote or co-authored seven books and wrote over 100 articles on management, marketing and strategic planning. His articles and interviews appeared in numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, The ABA Journal and Philadelphia Inquirer For 29 years he published monthly Legal and Corporate "Communiques" including the internationally distributed annual report on "What's Hot and What's Not in the Legal Profession." He was a member of Philadelphia Country Club and The Union League For the last 19 years he was co-President of his alumni class at Penn. He also became involved in and headed several charitable organizations including the Radnor Scholarship Fund and served as a lector minister at St. Norbert church in Paoli. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Robert Jr., Suzanne Denney Menick (Greg Markwardt), Elizabeth Denney Toates (John), Cynthia Denney Sutcliffe (Brian), Patricia Denney Capizzi, Elizabeth Staller Denney, Daniel Denney (Brittany Ruppel), Harry Logan (Anne), and Alexandra Maruszewski (Mark). He is predeceased by his son, William F Denney V who passed in 2018. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren. Jacob, Olivia and Sophia Menick, Walker & Ethan Toates, Abigail and Lindsey Capizzi, Will Denney, Andrew & Sophie Staller, Austin Sutcliffe, Harrison, John and Delia Logan, Alex, Margaret, Luke and Claire Maruszewski, Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing Thursday Oct.28, 2021; 9:30 a.m. – 10:15a.m. followed by his Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. ALL IN CHURCH at St. Norbert's Church, 50 Leopard Rd. Paoli, PA 19301. Interment Private. Donations: St. Norbert Church, Paoli, PA and Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, PA.