Robert G. “Bob” Williams, former Chairman of the Glenmede Trust Company, died peacefully while in comfort care/hospice at The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C., on Friday April 26, with many family members around him. A memorial service will be held on July 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Haddonfield Friends Meeting House, 47 Friends Ave., Haddonfield.
He was born in Mimico, Ontario, Canada and was 84 years old when he lost his three-year battle with AML Leukemia. He was a graduate of Lyman Hall High School, 1953, in Wallingford, Conn.; received his bachelor’s of science degree from Babson Institute, 1956; and was part of the Harvard Business School PMD Class of 1970, as well as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania advanced management program.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rosalind White; and daughters Linda (Carroll) Smith and Gail (John) Diserens of Sonoma, Calif., and Louise Senopoulos of Haddonfield. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Ryan (Brittney) Carmody of Los Angeles; Kate (Matthew) Bentley of Charlotte, N.C.; Sarah Smith of Haddonfield; Ben Diserens of Los Angeles; Jack and Sam Diserens of San Francisco; and Catherine, Rebecca and Arpie Senopoulos of Haddonfield. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Adelyn and Luke Bentley.
Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958 at which time he joined the Girard Bank in Philadelphia as a security analyst. During his 24 years at Girard Bank, he rose to become executive vice chairman and left when they became part of Mellon Bank. In 1983, he and a partner bought the Markel Corp. in Norristown, Pa., where he was chairman for 12 years until he sold his share and retired.
He and Rosalind bought a home in South Carolina in 1988 and divided their time between the Charleston area and New Jersey until 2014, when they became full-time residents of South Carolina.
Bob served many director roles and trustee-ships during his lifetime. His most active were with the Glenmede Corporation where he served on the audit, relationship and executive committees and became chairman of the board, and the Pew Charitable Trust, where he served from 1996 until 2016 when he was named director emeritus. He was also on the boards of Narco Scientific, Contrologic, First Commercial Bank of Philadelphia, Melitta North America, Fisher and Porter, Plastic Suppliers, Cooper Health Care, Medford Leas, Coriell Institute, Friends Fiduciary Corps and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Coriell Institute for medical research, 403 Haddon Ave., Camden, NJ 08103.
