In Memoriam (winter 2008)
Robert Factor '47 of Bridgeport, Conn., died quietly at home on Nov. 17, 2007. The former owner and president of Universal Business Equipment, Mr. Factor was active in various fraternal and historical societies and town affairs in addition to being a volunteer at the Historical Collection of Bridgeport Library. He had a wealth of information about Bridgeport and loved exploring and revisiting interesting sites.
Mr. Factor attended Clark University for two years before volunteering to serve in the Army in 1940. He served as a cryptographer with the Army Eighth Air Corps, 453rd Squadron in England. He returned to Clark following his service and graduated with a degree in English literature. Upon graduation he returned to Bridgeport and worked alongside his father Benjamin at Universal Business Equipment, an office supply retail business that still exists today. Mr. Factor was highly regarded by his peers in the industry for his vast knowledge and in depth understanding of products and innovations and for his unquestionably ethical and honorable business practices. He retired at age 63 and enjoyed travelling with his wife Sally in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Israel. In Israel, they visited the Yad Vashem memorial and enshrined records of family members who perished in the Holocaust.
Mr. Factor had a great love of language and all things British and Irish. He had a very precise mind and completed the New York Times crossword puzzle every day —in ink—much to the amazement of friends and family. He read several newspapers daily and eagerly engaged in discussion of current events and history. He also pursued a life-long love of good food and took pride in introducing dining companions to the newest interesting restaurant. His wit and sense of humor persisted right up to the end of his life and will be remembered with joy by all.
Mr. Factor was devoted to his industry, his community and to social justice; his engagement with the community reflected that devotion. He served as a past president of the National Office Products of America, Connecticut Valley Chapter; past president of Abraham Lodge Chapter of B 'nai B'rith; past chair of the Council of Presidents, and president of Bridgeport Jewish Historical Society. He was a member of the federal reorganization of Ace Stapler Company, Easton Conservation Committee, Board of Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Board for Retired Professionals at Fairfield University, and Bassick Class Reunion Committee. He also founded the Community Closet at Woodbridge and was an original member of the Jonas Clark Fellows at Clark University.
"Bob was one of Clark's most devoted and dedicated Clark alumni," says Tom Dolan '62. "In many ways, he represented the best of everything that Clark strives to instill in its students. We all could do very well to follow his example."
Deaths
The following members of the Clark family have passed away. If you wish to contact any of the families, please call or write to the Alumni Office.
- Sylvia (Flayer) Bernstein '69 M.A. '71, New York, N.Y., April 16, 2007.
- Walter Brown '58, Bradenton, Fla., Feb. 27, 2007.
- Joseph Burack '48, Worcester, Mass., Aug. 11, 2007.
- Robert Factor '47, Bridgeport, Conn., Nov. 17, 2007. (See In memoriam)
- Arthur Fitzgerald M.H.A.J '94, M.H.A '95, Worcester, Mass., Aug. 9, 2007.
- Joy (Riffe) Fitzgerald '75, Worcester, Mass., April 13, 2007.
- Louis Giannini '52, Auburn, Mass., Sept. 1, 2007.
- Howard Greene '53, Merrimac, Mass., Sept. 1, 2007.
- Mary Hatt M.A. '38, South Bend, Ind., Aug. 12, 2007.
- Burton Horne '60, Lexington, Mass., April 14, 2007.
- James Jordan '73, Portland, Maine, Aug. 8, 2007.
- Arthur Laughlin '41, Concord, N.H., May 5, 2007.
- James Melikian '67, Worcester, Mass., Aug. 13, 2007.
- David Porter '37, M.A. '38, Worcester, Mass., Aug. 30, 2007.
- John Szarlan '71, Ludlow, Mass., May 11, 2007.
- Harland Warner '70, Vienna, Austria, July 4, 2007.
Former Clark president Glenn W. Ferguson (1970–1973) died of cancer on Dec. 20, 2007. John Granville M.A. '04 was shot and killed in Sudan on Jan. 1, 2008. Andrew Olmstead '92 was killed in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2008. Special remembrances will appear for them in the next issue of Clarknews.
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Clarknews Winter 2008 |
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