Obituary: Robert Edward Ix: A Perfect Gentleman

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Robert Edward Ix
Robert Edward Ix

Bob Ix went to his heavenly reward late Tuesday night after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving wife of 57 years, Cissie, his children and many other members of his large family. He was 86 years old.

Bob was born in Woodcliff, N.J., on Oct. 15, 1929 to the late William E. Ix and Helen Gorman Ix. He attended the Lawrenceville School, Princeton University (Class of 1951), and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his M.B.A.

He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the heavy cruiser USS Columbus in the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans, earning the rank of lieutenant commander.  Bob then embarked on a long and distinguished career in the management consulting and food and beverage businesses, retiring after serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Cadbury Schweppes, Inc. He served on numerous domestic and international business boards, as trustee of the Trinity-Pawling school, Greenwich Academy, and St. Mary Parish, as chairman of the board at Marymount College, and as a member of the Wharton Graduate Advisory Board at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bob was one of the founding directors of Greenwich Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (GEMS), and the St. Camillus Health Care Center in Stamford, and helped establish The Inner-City Foundation for Charity and Education in Bridgeport. He also served as a governor of the Landmark Club in Stamford, The Preston Mountain Club in Kent, and as a director and secretary of the Belle Haven Club in Greenwich.

Bob never sought honors, but they found him anyway. He was a Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a Knight Commander pro Merito Melitensi in the Order of Malta and a Knight Commander in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.  Bob organized and was the initial area chairman for the Order of Malta’s presence in Southern Connecticut. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Marymount College and both he and Cissie received a Discovery Award from Sacred Heart University.

All of the above was secondary to Bob’s true love: his wife and family. In addition to the love of his life, Cissie, he is survived by his brother, Raymond E. Ix and his wife, Jane, of Lancaster, Penn. (brother William E. Ix and his wife, Jane, predeceased him); five children: Helen Ix FitzPatrick and husband Dan of Greenwich, Alesia Ix Klein and husband Hoddy of Skillman, N.J., Robert Owens Gilmore Ix and wife Kathleen of Wellesley, Mass., Julie Ix Genovese and husband David of Darien, and Christopher Prouty Ix and wife Amanda of Las Vegas, Nev.; and 17 grandchildren: Whitney FitzPatrick, Caroline FitzPatrick, Courtney Klein, Robert Klein, John FitzPatrick, Emily Ix, Peter Klein, Robert Ix, Elizabeth (Libby) Ix, Christopher Klein, Elizabeth (Lily) Genovese, Samuel Ix, Ryan Genovese, Anne Genovese, Sarah Genovese, William Ix and Elizabeth (Eliza) Ix.

All members of the family had the singular blessing to be with Bob in the days and weeks before his passing.  He will be sorely missed.

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”

Calling hours will be today, June 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home in Greenwich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Parish in Greenwich tomorrow, June 4, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Queen of the Clergy Retirement Home, 274 Strawberry Hill Ave., Stamford, CT 06902, or to Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, Inc.
(www.greenwichems.org).

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