Robert A. Hess

11/14/2005

Robert A. Hess, 59, of 17 Billings St. died Monday at Berkshire Medical Center, due to complications from a stroke. Born in Cleveland on Aug. 22, 1946, son of Anthony J. Hess Sr. and Helen A. Swierkosz Hess, he received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Kent University in 1969. Mr. Hess was a communications leaderfor GE Plastics. He began his public relations career in 1972 at Carl Byoir and Associates. He led public relations and marketing communications for Borg-Warner Chemicals from 1984 until 1988, when GE acquired that company. He was GE Plastics' manager of global communications from 1997 to 1999. He served as liaison with the City of Pittsfield and Berkshire County. He helped lead GE fund-raising efforts that exceeded $1 million reinvested back into Pittsfield. Due to his efforts in creating the "Share-to-Gain" volunteer program, GE Plastics was honored by BusinessWeek magazine. On behalf of GE Elfun Volunteers, he led the "Share-to-Gain" effort eight times and was honored by Downtown Inc.'s Board of Directors Award in 2003. "He was very professional but at the same time a very easy person to know," said Yvonne Pearson, executive director of Downtown Inc. "He was the type of guy who cared about his community." As a board member of Downtown Inc., he worked on its development and strategic planning two years, and had an integral role in creating its mission statement. Mr. Hess was an active board member of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and had been working on its strategic planning committee up until his passing. "We were very saddened at the Chamber this week," said President David R. Bissaillon, who had begun working with him in recent years. "He was a behind-the-scenes â€˜idea guy' who quietly contributed to the Chamber's success, and he was a great ambassador for GE." He was also instrumental in securing funding for the Western Massachusetts Academic Decathlon. He served on the boards of the Berkshire Museum and the Colonial Theatre. He was also a member of Corvettes of the Berkshires. In 1984, while at Borg-Warner, he earned the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America. He and his wife, the former Kathryn J. Beebe, were married Aug. 31, 2000. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Michael Hess of Olmstead Township, Ohio, and Stephen Hess of Charlotte, N.C.; his mother, Helen Hess of Parma, Ohio; a sister, Annette Fisher of Parma; a brother, Anthony Hess of Cleveland, and two grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Robert A. Hess, who died Monday, Nov. 11, 2005, will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME. Following cremation, burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Berkshire United Way, in care of the funeral home, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. She also leaves two grandchildren, Julianna and Kristina Hess.

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