Robert Willard Hildebrand

Rochester Hills – Robert (Bob) Willard Hildebrand, born January 6, 1941, in New London, Connecticut, passed away on May 1, 2022, at the age of 81, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. He was the son of Willard and Melissa Hildebrand, who had preceded him in passing. His wife, Elina Maria Hildebrand née Nelson (married on October 1, 1966), had preceded him in January after 55 years of marriage. He is survived by his brother Donald Hildebrand of Westerly, RI, and sister Nancy Jankovich, of Stonington, CT. Robert was the father to Robert (Jacqueline), Paul, James (Anna), and Mark (Angela), and grandfather to Patric, Anna, and Emma, who will all carry on remembering him fondly.

Bob graduated from the University of Connecticut in Storrs in 1962, and later the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, in 1963, after which he worked many years as an Engineer for Chrysler, Engineering Director at Rockwell International, and as the Vice President of Engineering at Glacier Vandervell. He was a co-founder of Engineering Mechanics Research Corporation (EMRC). Finally, he served as the first Director of the Center for Engineering Education and Practice at the University of Michigan-Dearborn until his retirement in 2005.

He much enjoyed, with Elina, spending time with his family and friends. Both of them also enjoyed traveling together to their lakeside cottage at Hammond Bay and on camping trips around North America.

Those who wish to share in a celebration of Bob and Elina’s memory are welcome to join in a memorial gathering to be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, from 1 to 5 PM, at the Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W University Dr, Rochester, MI 48307; Phone: (248) 651-9641. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in memory of Robert & Elina Hildebrand.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pixleyfh.com for the Hildebrand family.