Robert Harvey

Robert Hughes Harvey Naples, FL New Vernon, NJ

Robert Hughes Harvey, 89, of Naples and New Vernon, NJ died on Monday, September 19, 2011. Mr. Harvey was a native of MS, born in Avera and spending most of his childhood in Winona.

He graduated from Winona High School in 1940 after having achieved a distinguished record scholastically and athletically. He and his partner won the Mississippi high school doubles tennis championship in 1939, and he won the singles championship the following year.

After graduating from high school, he spent his freshman year at Sunflower Jr. College before transferring to Louisiana State University to study Chemical Engineering.

Since World War II had started, Mr. Harvey volunteered for the Army Air Corps in the fall of 1942 after completing his sophomore year. He returned to LSU after his discharge from the Army Air Corps as Captain in 1946; he graduated in 1948, Magna Cum Laude.

At LSU, he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, The Institute of Chemical Engineering, and scholastic honorary fraternities in chemistry and mathematics and a member of the L Club (varsity tennis team).

In the Army Air Corps he was an aviation cadet at Lowrey Field in Colorado and Yale University. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned to Eglin Field, the proving ground for the service. He spent most of his service testing new armament equipment, much of it top secret. Subsequently he spent about six months in the occupation forces as the Armament Officer of the air base outside of Munich, Germany. After being discharged as a Captain, he returned to LSU to complete his degree in Chemical Engineering.

In June, 1948, he married Corinne Pascal in New Orleans, and accepted a position with Esso (Exxon) as a process engineer at the Baton Rouge Refinery. He remained at the refinery until 1959, holding various technical and management positions; his last position at the refinery was Assistant Manager of Petroleum Operations. Upon leaving the refinery, he was assigned to the Corporate Headquarters of Standard Oil of New Jersey (Exxon) for five years, where he was in the corporate Planning Department, becoming Deputy Manager of the department.

In 1965 he was transferred to Esso Research and Engineering Co. as a board member and General Manager of Engineering. In 1967 he was named the first President of a newly established affiliate, Esso Mathematics and Systems, Inc.; this new affiliate was established to develop, design and operate technical and commercial computer systems, including mathematical techniques and models. This affiliate had worldwide coordination and oversight responsibilities for these activities; subsequently, this affiliate became a department of Exxon Corporation. Responsibilities for telecommunications were added to the department and Mr. Harvey was elected a Corporate Vice President.

While living in the Morristown, NJ area, Mr. Harvey served 10 years on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Morris County and Chairman for two years.

Other community activities included Vice President of the Colonial Symphony; Vice President of the Morris Sussex Boy Scouts of America for which he received the Silver Beaver and the William H. Spurgeon III Awards. He also was Vice President and Chief operating Officer of Morris County Historical Association Film Project which produced a historical film, HARD WINTER, depicting the winter encampment of the Revolutionary Army outside of Morristown; this film was shown on PBS television.

He is survived by his loving wife, the former Corinne Pascal of New Orleans, LA; brother, Joseph; children, Fred, Tom (Jan), Elizabeth (Mark), Tim (Jayme), Anita (Greg), Jim (Betsy); grandchildren, Dustin, Brian (Christina), Tim, Jeff, Eric, Harper (Marrianna), Max, Ted, Brett, Laura (Chris), Claire, Kirstin, Spencer; great grandchildren, Jadyn, Addison and Sarah.

Private Services will be held in New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LSU Foundation, "Robert Hughes Harvey Endowed Professorship"; 1818 W. Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9966, or to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL, 34105. For online condolences, please visit www.fullerfuneral home.com.

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