ROBERT McKEE HUNZIKER ’54
Bob Hunziker suffered a heart attack and died suddenly on Dec. 29, 2008. Bob was born in Paterson, N.J., and raised in Upper Montclair. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from the College High School at Montclair State Teachers’ College.
Bob followed his brother, Walter “Skip” Hunziker ’51, to Amherst. He was an American Studies major and a member of Delta Upsilon. At Amherst he earned his freshman basketball numerals and was president of the Amherst College Automobile Association. Bob was also a member of the Student and sang in the glee club.
Bob entered the Univ. of Michigan Law School in 1954. At the end of his first year of law school, he married Joan DuBois (Mount Holyoke ’54), a young lady he had been courting since his junior year at Amherst. After his graduation, they moved to New York City, and Bob joined the law firm of Shearman & Sterling. He left to join the legal department of a client, Regal Paper. Bob spent the rest of his legal career in the paper industry before retiring from the International Paper Company in 1997.
Bob and Joan raised their family in Westfield, N.J. It was quite a household consisting of four sons and numerous dogs and cats. Sports played an important role in the family, and it was during this time that Bob adopted the persona “Johnny U.” Summers were spent at the Hunziker family cottage on Bustins Island in Casco Bay, Maine. Bob was an avid sailor and a skilled household handyman. For the last 12 years, Bob and Joan made their home in Boca Grande, Fla., where Bob was “fortunate” enough to be president of his condominium association when it was struck by a hurricane.
Bob was a keen player of golf, squash and bridge. His Amherst interest in music, particularly choral music, continued throughout his life. He sang with the Boca Grand Barbershop Chorus, the Bocapella’s and the choir of the Methodist Church of Boca Grande.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Joan, of 53 years and his four sons, Jim and his wife, Alex, from Portland, Maine; Bill and his wife, Theresa, from Westfield; Hans and his wife, Lisa, from Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and Eric and his wife, Judy, from Chino Hills, Calif. Bob delighted in his four grandchildren—Peter, Siobhan and Luke of Westfield and Henry of Cleveland Heights. He is also survived by his brother, Skip Hunziker ’51, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Sarah Hunziker Garfield.
It was always a pleasure to see Bob and Joan. Bob had a keen wit and an inquiring mind. He was outgoing and friendly and eager to help others. Bob will also be remembered for his great gift of making timely and pertinent remarks which gave him the absolutely unfair reputation of being somewhat outrageous. His family and friends are fortunate to have so many wonderful memories of Bob. We join with the Class of ’54 and Bob’s many other Amherst friends in expressing our sympathy to Joan and the Hunziker family.
—Peter Wykoff ’55
—Henry Keller ’55
—Norman Douglass ’55