ROBERT MORRIS

1923 - 2018

MORRIS--Robert William.

Robert Morris passed away peacefully on June 26, 2018 in Southampton, New York. Born in New York City on May 7th, 1923, Bob moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan nine months later. His father, Thomas A. Morris, an engineering-trained writer, was Editor of the trade journal Ward's Automotive Reports published in Detroit. Bob was educated in the Detroit public school system, eventually enrolling in the Music Education Program of Wayne University and the Detroit Conservatory of Music. Following this formal musical training, he moved to Chicago to become Staff Vocalist with the 50-piece CBS Radio Network Orchestra heard nationally via WBBM Chicago. Bob served in the U.S. Army receiving an Honorable Discharge in September of 1943. Bob came from a storied musical background: his mother Florence Nugent Jerome was the singing star of 1913 Ziegfeld Follies; his grandmother, Gay Nineties-era vaudeville headliner Maude Nugent composed words and music to, among others, the timeless hit "Sweet Rosie O'Grady"; grandfather William (Billy) Jerome, a founding member of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), provided lyrics to more than 500 American popular songs and various Broadway productions. An association with Philadelphia friend Phil Edwards led to the development of an advertising industry media research standard: Broadcast Advertisers Reports, Inc (BAR) wherein TV and radio stations representing 90% of all broadcast advertising revenues were monitored for commercial content; most advertising agencies with national brand clients soon became subscribers to this service. Bob served as CEO and President of BAR for more than 20 years. An aviation enthusiast and long-time pilot, Bob and his partner Phil became pioneer U.S. air charter operators with the Flight Department, Inc. service, founded in 1968. For many years, Bob and his wife Linda maintained homes in Naples, Florida and Sag Harbor, New York. In Naples, Bob served as a lifetime board member of the performing arts center Artis- Naples. He was also a long standing board member of Avow Hospice and the Community School of Naples. He was a member of the Port Royal Club in Naples, and in Sag Harbor, he belonged to the Noyac Golf Club and the Sag Harbor Yacht Club. Bob was preceded in death by his brother Thomas, Jr., three sisters, Patricia, Florence, and Joan, and his beloved son Robert Philip Morris. Bob will be mourned by his loving wife of 44 years, Linda, his two daughters, Deborah Morris PhD and Elizabeth Morris MD, their spouses, four grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida.