Deceased July 6, 2014
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In Memory
Robert H. Bidwell, born in Winchester, Mass., passed away on July 6 just short of his 95th birthday. During his four years at Amherst, Bob was a member of the football and track teams; he graduated cum laude with honors in economics.
In 1942 he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and as captain oversaw a marine detachment assigned to maintain order aboard the U.S. Navy transport ship, the USS General R. L. Howze.
In 1948 he graduated from Columbia Law School in New York City and for more than 30 years worked for Exxon, specializing in antitrust and marketing law, eventually becoming general counsel for Exxon Chemical in New York City. After a short-lived retirement he was asked to join Church & Dwight, makers of Arm & Hammer products, as their general counsel.
After his second retirement he and his wife of 30 years, Constance Gorman, moved full time to Falmouth, Cape Cod, where he focused on community service, serving as president of the Amherst Association of Cape Cod and of many Falmouth organizations dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Falmouth’s historical assets. Over the years he received numerous honors and citations at the state and local level for his leadership and contributions to Falmouth’s rich character and economy.
Bob leaves his wife, Constance Gorman, and his children: Elizabeth Hearne and her husband, David Hearn; Robert Bidwell, Jr.; Howard Bidwell and his wife, Sharon Bidwell; and Todd Bidwell and his husband, Mark LiCalsi. He is also survived by his wife’s four children—Dr. Celia Schulz, Dr. Emily Schulz, Edith Schulz-Ogden and husband John Ogden and Daniel Gorman—as well as seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his former wife, Virginia Moor.
Todd Bidwell