Obituary of Donald Robertson

Donald Robertson 88 of Brookside Died on June 12, 2016 after a brief illness. Born in Newark, son of Arthur and Martha Robertson (née Blackburne) he attended Newark public schools. After brief service with the US Navy at the end of WWII, he attended Newark College of Engineering, graduating in 1950. He secured a Master’s degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1951 and began a 32-year career with Exxon Corporation, starting as an engineer at their Linden refinery. In 1957, he was selected to join the team developing applications for Exxon’s first mainframe computers and the balance of his career was devoted to various aspects of information services and computer science with Exxon affiliates including Esso International, Esso Europe, Esso Petroleum, Ltd (London) and Esso Mathematics & Systems, inc. At his retirement in 1983, he was Manager of Exxon’s headquarters computer complex in Florham Park. He met and married Mary-Adelaide Jones of Orange in the space of five months in 1955-56. The marriage lasted 60 years. She survives him, as do their four children; Lisa Anne Maloney, Martha-Lynn Bisher, Mary-Ellen Milesnick and Bruce Donald Robertson, and five grandchildren. In his spare time Mr. Robertson maintained an interest in jazz. He was active in the New Jersey Jazz Society serving as its President in 1985-86 and Editor of its monthly newsletter Jersey Jazz for 8 years. He was an avocational drummer and played with The Centennial Jazz Band, The Summit Stompers, Dr. Dubious & the Agnostics and the big bands Reeds, Rhythm & All That Brass and The Elusive Eleven. Memorial Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd., Mendham. www.baileyfuneral.com The New Jersey Jazz Society has established a jazz studies scholarship in Don’s name. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to NJJS and mailed to: NJJS c/o Michael A. Katz, Esq. 382 Springfield Ave Ste. 217 Summit, NJ 07901 or contributions may be made to the Mendham Township Library and mailed to: Mendham Township Library 2 W Main St Brookside, NJ 07926. .