Robert A. Klath, 84, of Duxbury, died on Tuesday, September 16. Born on January 12, 1924 in New York, N.Y., he was the son of the late Thormod and Edna (Blomberg) Klath. His father served in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, primarily on Scandinavian assignments and that was where he spent his early years. He left his parents and returned to American in 1938 to live with relatives due to the impending war in Europe. A graduate of Erasmus Hall High School, Class of 1941, he was also educated at Columbia College A.B., Class of 1948, Columbia College School of Business M.S., Class of 1949 and was a member of the Honorary Society – Columbia School of Business Beta Gamma Sigma.

Klath had a 38 year career with General Foods Corp. beginning in 1949 as a research economist in the purchasing department, proceeding to manager of marketing research, division controller and manager of finance and development for the Maxwell House Division, assistant to the president; corporate controller and vice-president of corporate planning.

Klath also served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946 as a first lieutenant, pilot, serving in China, Burma, India Theater of War with 153 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

He was treasurer and chairman of the long range planning committee of the Hospital Medical Center in White Plains, N.Y., chairman of the Silver Hill Psychiatric Hospital, New Canaan, Conn., trustee of the Falmouth Hospital, chairman of the investment committee of Cape Cod Health Care, member of the North American Society for corporate planning, World Future Society and Financial Executives Institute. He served on hospital boards for 30 years and various condominium and cooperative residential boards for approximately ten years. He retired from business in 1987. He was a supporter of U.S. Committee for Unicef, and the Gurkha soldiers of Nepal who served during WWII protecting U.S. and British servicemen in the CBI Theater of War. Klath was also a long standing member of the North American Bluebird Society and numerous other causes devoted to the preservation and protection of the world.

Klath leaves his wife, Patricia A. (Smart) Klath, his children; Barbara J. Klath of New York, David A. Klath of New York, Abigail S. Klath of Florida, Gregory P. Dadarria of New York, Christopher P. Dadarria of London, England and Patrick P. Dadarria of Connecticut and Maine. He also leaves his grandchildren, Peter G. Dadarria, Timothy G. Dadarria, Brandon C. Dadarria and Sasha S. Dadarria.