ROBERT JOSEPH "BOB" BRAUN was born in Orange, NJ, the second son of Chester S. and Beatrice Heisler Braun. He was educated at the Carteret Academy in West Orange, and during WWII, he answered his country's call to service and joined the Navy. Because of his demonstrated ability in leadership and academics, the Navy sent Bob to the Stevens Institute of Technology and later to Union College. After 16 months in the Navy (12 months of which were in the V-12 Naval Officer Candidate Program), Bob was appointed to West Point by Congressman Sundstrum, who represented the 11th District ofNew Jersey. Bob made the transition from Navy blue to cadet gray in July 1945 and had very little trouble adapting to the rigors of Plebe year at West Point.

Academics were relatively easy for Bob, and he was very generous with his time in coaching those who were not as gifted in academic ability. He graduated in the upper quarter of his class and excelled in athletics - especially in lacrosse, swimming, water polo, and weight lifting. Bob had an excellent aptitude for military arts and science and graduated high enough in the class to select any branch of service he desired.

Bob decided to follow his brother, Chester V. Braun '45, into the Air Force. Bob attended the Air Force Tactical School at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, FL, and was assigned to the Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB in California.

After two years of outstanding service, he was selected to attend MIT, where he graduated with honors, earning a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering. Bob was reassigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center in California, where he perfected his skill in propulsion systems. He was at Edwards during the heyday of activity in supersonic flight, working with such notable flight pioneers as MAJ Chuck Yeager and CPT Louis Schalk '48.

Bob resigned from the Air Force in 1959 and joined North American Rockwell. He rose rapidly to positions of responsibility, becoming Test Operations Manager in 1970 and later, Development Manager in 1979.

After 30 years of devoted service to his country, Bob decided to turn his attention to the real estate business. He had always admired his grandfather, a real estate "tycoon" in New Jersey, and he frequently told colorful tales about "Gramps'" real estate exploits.

It was during a visit from Edwards AFB to the Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City in May 1956, that Bob met and captured the heart of Eileen Bondi, a secretary in the Field Engineering Department. Their 40-year marriage began after a two-year courtship. Their children, daughter Elaine and son Robert, Jr., were Bob's pride and joy. He was a devoted husband and father, taking his family on yearly ski vacations and trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe. Bob and son Robert enjoyed water-rafting vacations for several years and stories from those jaunts still continue. Bob proudly saw his daughter graduate from USC, present him with a son-in-law and, six years later, his first grandson, Johnny, a few weeks before he died. Robert's wife and adopted daughter Joy captured "Grandpa's" heart as well. Bob and brother Chet and his family remained close, vacationing on Chet's boat in Florida year after year.

Bob was a true son of West Point. He was proud of his school and very proud of his country. He always lived up to West Point's motto of "Duty, Honor, Country." His remains lay at rest on the grounds of the school he loved so much. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Be thou at peace.

His wife, his children, and his classmates

Personal Eulogy