Robert S. Ogden Jr. ’49

Robert S. Ogden Jr. died on September 14, 2017 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford with his daughters by his side. He was 83 and lived in Sanibel, Florida and Madison, Connecticut. Bob was born in 1934 in Boston, MA, to Robert S. Ogden and Edith Mitton Ogden and raised in New Canaan, CT. After attending New Canaan Country School and The Hotchkiss School, he graduated from Harvard University in 1956. He married Joan Mickle of Darien, CT, in 1958. After he graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1959, Bob joined the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton and Irvine and later became a partner. After living in Pound Ridge, NY, the couple moved to London in 1968 where he opened the firm's office. They spent a wonderful twelve years in London, raising their two daughters, Deborah and Karen, and enjoying skiing adventures, bicycling trips, sailing, and exploring the arts and cultures of Europe. A few years after moving from London to Riverside, CT, in 1980, Bob joined The Walt Disney Company as Vice President, Counsel of the Consumer Products Division, working to coordinate anti-counterfeiting efforts, and as legal counsel for Disney's New York publishing and licensing operations. He joined the Riverside Yacht Club, and continued to pursue his love of sailing, bicycling, kayaking and skiing with gusto. He enjoyed going to the opera and was endlessly supportive of his wife Joan's painting and love of gardening and flowers. Several years before retiring, he worked for Gursky and Ederer, PC, focusing on intellectual property law. In 2007, Bob and Joan became residents of Sanibel Island, Florida, and also lived in Guilford, CT, and Chester, VT. In Sanibel, Bob was a member of the Captiva Island Yacht Club, loved being out in his kayak, and was a dedicated bridge player. In Guilford, he was an active golfer and also devoted to his bridge group. He continued kayaking and biking as much as possible. Shortly before Joan passed away at the end of 2015, they moved with their cat, Slim, to a new home in Madison, CT. Bob is survived by his brother, Richard ’54 of Washington, DC, his daughters Deborah W. Ogden of Bridgewater Corners, VT, and Karen Ogden Morse of Norwalk, CT, his two grandsons Schuyler and John Morse, and beloved nieces and nephews. Joan, his wife of 57 years, pre-deceased him in 2015 as did his sister, Linda (Pindy) Ogden Wilson ’62, in 2016.

A Memorial Service celebrating Bob Ogden's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27th at the First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich, CT. Donations in Bob's memory may be made to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, The Connecticut Hospice, or any of the causes which were important to him throughout his life.