Robert S. Ogden Jr.

Robert Schuyler Ogden Jr., who lived his life with eternal optimism, joy, passion, and great conviction, died on September 14th, 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, Massachusetts to Robert S. Ogden and Edith Mitton Ogden of New Canaan, CT. After attending New Canaan Country School and The Hotchkiss School, he graduated from Harvard University in 1956 where he was a member of the Owl Club. In 1958, he married Joan Mickle of Darien, CT. As newlyweds, they lived in Greenwich Village, NYC, and then Pound Ridge, NY. After Bob graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1959, he joined the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton and Irvine, and later became a partner. He and Joan moved to London in 1968 when he opened the firm’s office there. 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. For several years before his retirement, he worked for Gursky and Ederer, PC, focusing on intellectual property law.

While in Riverside, Bob served as a trustee of Greenwich Academy from 1982-1987 and was a member of the Riverside Yacht Club. He continued sailing, playing tennis, bicycling, and skiing with gusto. In addition, he greatly enjoyed going to the opera. Bob was endlessly supportive of his wife Joan’s painting and love of gardening and flowers. They both loved their home in Riverside, and Bob took great pleasure and pride in maintaining it himself. He was truly content riding his mower, raking leaves, or up a ladder with a paintbrush.

Always doing things, ever busy and intent on having fun, Bob loved his time at their farmhouse in Chester, Vermont, where they had vacationed since the late 90s, skiing, making trails in the woods and paddling lakes and rivers all over Vermont and New Hampshire. He became involved with the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS), serving on the

Advisory Board and supporting the expansion of their environmental education programs and facilities in Quechee, Vermont.

In 2007, Bob and Joan became residents of Sanibel Island, Florida, where they adored strolling the shell-covered beaches; and there, Bob expanded his new enthusiasm for kayaking to paddling the mangrove shorelines. They both became involved in the vibrant community, and enjoyed attending many concerts, plays and art exhibits. Bob was a member of the Captiva Island Yacht Club, a dedicated bridge player, and led the drama discussion group at BIG ARTS.

Also living in Guilford, CT, for part of the year, Bob and Joan found another historic home there to cherish. Bob delighted in kayak explorations from his dock through the marshy waterways and along the coastline, and played golf and bridge avidly. Shortly before Joan passed away at the end of 2015, they moved with their cat, Slim, to a new home in Madison, CT. Bob continued to stay busy and enjoy the community, teaching backgammon and cribbage at the Madison Senior Center this past summer.

Throughout his life, Bob’s family and friends meant everything to him; and he felt himself extraordinarily lucky to have lived such a full and interesting life. He is survived by his brother Richard and his wife Laura of Washington, DC, his sister-in-law Lorna Chang Post and her husband Richard of Silver Springs, MD, his daughters Deborah W. Ogden of Bridgewater Corners, VT, and Karen Ogden Morse and her husband Rob 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, 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.