Robert Windsor

Robert Windsor died peacefully on March 7. He was 82. Robert was raised on a farm in Aloha, Oregon and graduated from Hillsboro Union High School. He attended the University of Houston where he earned a BS and then went on to obtain an MS and PhD in physics from the University of Minnesota. He fulfilled a dream of being a physics professor at the University of Minnesota and later at Union College in New York. Robert decided to make a career change and pursued an MBA at SUNY-Albany while teaching. Parlaying his mastery of physics into the world of finance, he began a storied Wall Street career. Beginning at Bankers Trust, he went on to found the investment firm, Great American Core Investors with a number of business partners. The firm later became Axe-Houghton and the equity index portion of the business was acquired by the Bank of New York. Robert stayed on with the Bank of New York to complete the acquisition until his retirement. In 1962, he married Joyce May, and together, they raised three children. The family settled in Connecticut in 1978. Robert loved the outdoors and enjoyed sports. He played high school football, spent summers hiking across the Rockies and took his family on camping and fishing trips. He joined the running craze in the 70's, participated in numerous road races including the Fairfield Half-Marathon. Robert coached his son's Mid-Fairfield youth hockey team to a state championship. In 1999, he married Ruth Schlesinger. Robert and Ruth resided in Fairfield County and enjoyed hosting friends and family in their home. Many joyous celebrations took place over the years there. They loved to travel and take bike trips and spend weekends away and especially in Rhinebeck, NY. A big part of Robert's extended family included his beloved cocker spaniel Leo, parrots Timmy and Gracie and his 20-year-old cockatiel Chicklet. Their home was filled with lively whistles and chats. Robert was also an avid gardener. He enjoyed landscaping his yards, tending to his plantings and watching his projects bloom. He was an opera buff and regularly attended the Quick Center's Metropolitan Opera simulcast programs. He enjoyed listening to Bach. Robert will be greatly missed by his family, friends and parrots. In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by his daughters, Catherine Winter, Jocelin Windsor, his son Davin Windsor; his two stepchildren Jon Schlesinger and Jennifer Schlesinger; two brothers, Ronald Windsor and Richard Windsor and a sister, Susann Ergenekan; and 7 grandchildren. His family is planning a memorial service, which will take place in June. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA). https://www.alz.org

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