C. Robert Carlson passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at the age of 94. Bob, to those who knew him well, was born in Jamestown, New York, on December 28th, 1930.  He earned several degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Arts in Business Finance, and a Ph.D. in Finance, all from Michigan State University.

He went on to hold a variety of positions working for the U.S. Army Mobile Television Unit as an instructor, to Oldsmobile Corporation as an Electrical Engineer, to Michigan Bell where he held numerous positions which lead to his greatest career accomplishment as the co-chief financial architect of the divestiture of the national Bell organization.

This sent him to New York City to work for AT&T for nearly 10 years, managing their retirement portfolio, the largest corporate portfolio at the time. He also held positions as a Professor of Finance at the University of Minnesota, Bentley College and the other University in Michigan, U of M.

Of all these roles, his favorite was working in New York City for AT&T. He loved living in Manhattan and planned to move back in his later years. Then he found out what housing cost and decided to stay in Grand Rapids, where he lived a full and busy life for over 30 years.

He was very active in Rotary, an avid dancer, and a pianist. He also enjoyed biking, walking in his neighborhood, and watching the many birds that visited his backyard feeders. He was a huge sports fan and athlete. He pitched baseball for most of his early years and was even offered a contract by the Boston Red Sox with the highest signing bonus for a pitcher that year ($1,000 more than Sandy Koufax, according to Bob). He decided instead to accept a full scholarship to play baseball while studying at MSU.

Bob accomplished many things throughout his long life, but he would say his greatest success was raising six children. He is survived by his children Marc Carlson and wife Janet, Martha Carlson and husband Gary, Paul Carlson and wife Julie, Katherine Carlson and husband Bryan Jungwirth, Jennie Carlson Ekkens and husband Jon, and Sam Carlson and wife Maggie. Bob is also survived by seven amazing grandchildren, Max, Alex, Rex, Benjamin, Hannah, Kristina and Shay.

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to an amazing person for now. We hope to see you, not too soon, but soon enough. No funeral services will be held; a celebration of life reception will be planned at a later date.