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ILFELD -- Robert M. Ilfeld, born January 25, 1926, passed away on April 26, 2008. Son of Max and Bertha Rosenau Ilfeld, and a member of one of New Mexico's most illustrious pioneer families, Bob grew up primarily in Taos, New Mexico. He attended Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs and the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1994 with a degree in nuclear physics. Drafted into the army that same year, he was sent to Los Alamos to work on top-secret projects as a young physicist. Upon release from the service, Bob attended graduate school at California Institute of Technology, earning his Masters degree in nuclear physics. At the start of his professional career, Bob worked on a variety of projects with General Electric in New York. He was then called to manage a family business in Jackson, Michigan. As president of the company, Quick Industries, he converted the focus from metallurgy to plastic extrusions and expanded the business from one plant to six, located throughout the Midwest. While at Quick, he was sponsored to return to MIT as a Sloan Fellow, earning an MSM degree from the Sloan School of Business. After a few more years with Quick Plastics, the opportunity arose for him to return to MIT as an Associate Director for Executive Programs at Sloan. He moved from there to Minneapolis, then Seattle, to work for a small conglomerate, as Director of Operations Analyses, helping to buy, sell, and manage several divisions. At age 53, Bob retired and returned to New Mexico to be near his parents and replant his roots in New Mexican soil. Retirement lasted only three months, when he became a Financial Consultant for Dean Witter Reynolds Company, now Morgan Stanley. Retiring in 2007 as Senior Vice President and Financial Consultant, after more than 28 years in the business, he considered brokering to be the most enjoyable and challenging of his diverse careers. In 1999, Bob married Pearl Thompson and they traveled together extensively. Bob enjoyed travel, and meeting new people. He played bridge avidly from an early age, earning Life Master status. Golf was another passion, which he enjoyed both for the sport itself and for golfing friendships. Showing his lively sense of humor, he said in his last days, "I am Bob Ilfeld and I approve this message." In addition to his devoted wife Pearl, Bob is survived by his sister, Florence Beier and her husband Rolf; his children, Rick Ilfeld and wife Betsy, Kathy Stillings, Marty Ronish and husband Ed, Ellen Ilfeld and her partner Judith Evans, and step-daughter Marsha Schumacher and husband Kent. Bob is survived by two grandchildren, Mark and Bonnie Ronish, as well as four step-grandchildren; Mark Thompson, Ben Thompson, Krissy Zikkos, and Michelle Lardizibal, and their children. Bob will be remembered for his gifts of love and generosity to his family, his friends, colleagues and clients, and for his fortitude and courage in meeting his life's last challenges. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent in his name to The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, 4407 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110-2951 (www.nmso.org); The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 (www.nmjewishhistory.org); or The National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016 (www.kidney.org/support/donation_form.pdf) Family wishes to thank the Home Instead staff. Memorial service will be Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of the Daniels Family Funeral Services, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Albuquerque, NM 87109 Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 www.danielsfuneral.com
        Published on: Fri May 02, 2008