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<p><em>Robert Kenneth Stein Jr.</em> was born in Hackensack, NJ, the son of Robert Kenneth Stein and Marion Gertrude Ackert Stein. During World War II his father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Younger sisters Barbara Ann and Betty Lou completed the family.</p>
<p>Bob grew up in New York, New Jersey and Canada and was a Boy Scout and a Sea Scout. In 1951 he graduated from Hackensack High School, where he was on the track and rifle teams. He then attended Hilder Prep School in Washington, DC. He entered West Point on an appointment won competitively from Congressman William Widnall of New Jersey’s 7th District.</p>
<p>As a cadet in Company F-2, Bob was on the plebe Rifle Team, the photo staff of the cadet yearbook (the Howitzer), and in the French and Water Polo clubs, the latter in effect a corps squad team competing intercollegiately. As a First Classman he was a cadet sergeant. He did well academically, standing 220 of 480 on the graduation Order of Merit List.</p>
<p>Wrote his classmates in the Howitzer, “Always following his motto of ‘To bed at Taps,’ R.K. still found time for dips in the pool, pad, and an occasional book. His efficiency will continue to amaze everyone. He was always ready for something new, such as a new girlfriend. Along with his friendly nature, these qualities will assure him a successful career in the service.”</p>
<p>Upon graduation Bob was commissioned in the Air Force. After primary flight training at Marana Air Base near Tucson, AZ and basic pilot training at Webb Air Force Base in Texas, he was sent to instructor school and returned to Webb to spend the next four years as an instructor pilot.</p>
<p>In the spring of 1957 Bob married Joan Marie Olympius in Arcadia, CA. They had met when Bob was in California on summer leave and was introduced to Joan by his sister. Bob was traditionalist enough to ask Joan’s father for her hand, even though that required his climbing up on the roof of their house where the father was then attending to some matter. Together Bob and Joan had sons Robert III and Gregory.</p>
<p>Next, Bob spent a year training with industry, assigned to the Aerojet General Corporation in Azusa, CA. The follow-on was at Norton AFB, also in California, as a project officer on the propulsion sub-system of the Athena rocket.</p>
<p>Service in Southeast Asia came next, as Bob was assigned to the 4th Air Commando Squadron based at Binh Thuy and Nha Trang, Vietnam, piloting an AC-47 gunship. Bob racked up almost 700 hours of combat flying time on over 200 missions, all at night, and got no holes in his airplane except for a blown-out windshield, which was attributable to a Vietnamese seagull. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Air Medals, and a Commendation Medal for this service. From the Vietnamese he received the Cross of Gallantry.</p>
<p>Bob returned to spend two years in the Office of the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Research & Development in the Pentagon, working on the Minuteman program and earning an Air Force Commendation Medal. The next two years were spent with the Air Force Systems Command at Andrews AFB, MD, where Bob continued work on the Minuteman and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. </p>
<p>In 1972 Bob received a master’s degree in engineering administration from the George Washington University. Next was assignment to SAMSO (the Space and Missiles System Organization) at Los Angeles Air Force Station, where Bob spent two years as director of program control and was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal.</p>
<p>A major shift in focus came next. Bob applied for attaché duty and subsequently attended the Defense Language Institute (East) in Washington, DC, studying French, and then was posted to Morocco as an air attaché there, a three-year tour in Rabat.</p>
<p>Bob remained overseas, moving to the headquarters of U.S. Air Force, Europe, stationed at Ramstein AFB in Germany, where he was director of intelligence systems and earned a third Meritorious Service Medal. His final active-duty assignment, returning to the technical work that had characterized much of his career, was two years as director of mission control for the MILSTAR satellite program at Los Angeles AFS. In April 1983 he was awarded the Legion of Merit and retired as a full colonel.</p>
<p>Bob immediately began what would prove to be an equally rewarding and productive second career in defense industry, beginning with the Northrop Corporation in Hawthorne, CA, where he worked on laser development. Four years later, moving to the General Research Corporation in El Segundo, he became the Engineering Department manager. Two years later he joined Fairchild Control Systems briefly as a program director until the company was sold. </p>
<p>In 1991 Bob established and became president of R.K. Stein & Associates. Soon, however, he was persuaded to return to industry, becoming general manager of Overland Technology Corporation, where he spent a half dozen years, then a final three years working with Earthco Motors International, still in El Segundo, doing everything required to run the company except the engineering.</p>
<p>Finally retiring (for about the fourth time), Bob and Joan resided in the beautiful environs of Rolling Hills Estates, CA. In 2007 they decided to make one last move, choosing Henderson, NV, with travel as their main entertainment.</p>
<p>Bob Stein was a smart, energetic, versatile and congenial officer and executive, much admired by those with whom he worked in both the Air Force and industry. May he rest in peace.</p>
<p><em>— Classmates and Family</em></p>
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