Robert Earl Shultz, 84, beloved husband, father, grandfather, long-time Wilton resident

Robert Earl Shultz, a long-time Wilton resident, died peacefully at his home on Monday, March 3, surrounded by his family and his beloved dog, Everet. He was 84.

Bob was born in Boston, Mass., the only child of Earle Lorenz Shultz and Cora Falconer Shultz on March 21, 1940. His early life was heavily devoted to the outdoors. A dutiful Boy Scout, actively involved in camping, hiking and exploring, Bob's devotion to the beauty of lakes and forests would mold his entire life's journey.

As a young man, Bob's family spent much of their time in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, primarily on Squam Lake. This place would grow to become central to his and his family's life.

While growing up in South Weymouth, Bob joined the Freemasons, where he met his future wife, Nancy, a resident of North Weymouth. Nancy was part of the Rainbow Girls, the Freemason's partner organization for young women.

The pair were married in the late 1950's. They soon welcomed their first son, Gary Robert.

After graduating from Norwich University, Bob served as an officer in the Army which took the young couple to Delaware, where their second son, James Lee (Jamie), was born.

After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in the early 1970's at the rank of captain, Bob pursued a highly successful career in corporate pensions and investments. The family relocated to Dix Hills, Long Island, where the family planted further roots. While in Long Island, Bob and Nancy welcomed the youngest of their children, twin girls, Tanya Lynn and Tracy Ann.

In honor of his Scout history, Bob made sure to serve as Scout leader to his sons.

Bob's celebrated pension and investment career began humbly as an accounting manager at New York Telephone Company. Sixteen years later, he left that company after being promoted up to General Financial Supervisor. Bob went on to direct the pension and investment funds of some of the largest companies in the world, including IBM, General Motors and RJR Nabisco. Bob made a trailblazing name for himself in the financial sector, artfully managing billions of dollars internationally and frequently graced the pages, and often the covers, of Pensions & Investments Magazine, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

The Shultz family was active in the Smithtown community and faith was always a large part of their life. Nancy and Bob were active in the First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown and they often hosted dinners for church members and visiting clergy.

With their children getting older and leaving the nest, Bob's career again took the Shultz family to a new location – Roswell, Georgia.  Eventually, Bob and Nancy relocated to Wilton, and their now adult children settled around them in the area.

Bob and Nancy took leadership roles in the Wilton Congregational Church. Service was always a significant part of their lives. Bob not only served on the church's finance board, he pulled his ladder up to the church's building each year to manually hang its Christmas wreaths in each historical window.

Ever prioritizing paying respect from his military and Scout days, Bob served as a caretaker of the church's Hillside Cemetery. He made sure that each year, the post-parade Memorial Day ceremony there went off without a hitch. He also served on Wilton's town pension board for years.

As their family grew, Bob continued his passion for Squam Lake. The family rented lakeside camps until the perfect family home came on the market on Mooney Point Road in Holderness. While the cabin was small, the joy it continues to provide is immeasurable.

As each grandchild of the nine Bob and Nancy shared grew old enough to enjoy the lake with their Grampy, it became traditional to share the special moments.

These included hiking up West Rattlesnake Mountain, walking the family dogs through local trails and farms, or boating over to the general store in Little Squam to "get the papah," as he would say - in the warm New England accent he never lost.

As an accomplished marathon runner with dozens of displayed medals to marvel over, one of Bob's favorite traditions was to run the annual Center Harbor Fourth of July race. While it became a bit of a running joke that Grampy was not the most skilled at lighting fireworks, Fourth of July at the camp was always incredibly special.

Bob was truly a Squam Lake preservationist, not only enjoying it, but making sure he volunteered to test it and keep it clean.

In addition to his family, Bob's bond with his dogs was one of those he treasured most. Whether it was Mr. Wilson, Parker, Rio, or most recently, his dear Everet, Bob was a familiar sight walking in Wilton parks or Squam Lake roads and mountains with his "buddy" by his side or hanging out the car window.

Bob was able to captivate a crowd with his polished public speaking that equally impressed high net worth investors as well as new in-laws at family weddings.

Despite his level of success, Bob took the lessons of his father, to live simply, and practically. He took his own trash to the Wilton and Squam Lake transfer station until he couldn't. He owned practical cars and taught his children to live within their means.

Frugality aside, Bob was incredibly generous with his children and grandchildren, especially when they needed it most.

Perhaps most generously, Bob's gift of the Squam Lake camp that he insured would be enjoyed by his family for years to come is his and Nancy's most abundant legacy.

While Bob achieved tremendous career achievements, his family will always remember him at his happiest at the camp. Whether it was sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of Squam's many and mysterious islands on the boat, showing off his childhood camp, or jumping in the lake but making sure to keep his hair perfect, his utter joy was effusive.

Grampy, we promise to burn marshmallows on the fire for our s'mores in your honor, and think of you with each loon call, for all our summers to come.

Bob was predeceased by his wife of six decades, Nancy. His is survived by his sons, Gary and his wife, Noel, of Chicago, Jamie and his wife, Susan, of Wilton, and his daughters, Tanya Birmingham, and her husband, Michael, of Ridgefield, and Tracy Mandel, of Shelton. Grampy will be dearly missed by his grandchildren, Megan Dawley, Meredith, and her husband, Brian Spicer, and Melissa Dawley; Liam, Erin and Kieran Birmingham; Lucy and Annabelle Shultz, and Henry Shultz. Bob is also predeceased by his son-in-law James Mandel.

The family would like to thank Bob's loyal health caregivers, especially Bula and Joan, who supported him day and night during his final months.

A memorial service for Robert Earl Shultz will be held on Friday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Road, with interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery. Flowers for the service may be sent directly to Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown (Wilton) CT. Donations may also be made in Bob's honor to the Squam Lake Association, 534 US-3, Holderness, NH 03245.