Robert M. Mueller

Robert Manning Mueller, Age 98, of Ithaca, New York passed away suddenly in his home on Wednesday, December 27, 2017. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania and raised in Rome, New York, Bob graduated first in his class from Cornell University, College of Architecture, Class of 1941. He attended the Naval Academy and served as a Second Lieutenant in the Navy during WW-ll. Bob supervised the application of anti-folic paint that saved the US Navy by permitting the ships to remain at sea for far longer than Japan had anticipated. While stationed in California, he met and married Betty, his wife of 75 years.

After the war, he stayed on the West Coast founding a major paint company. In 1948, he was recruited to come back to Cornell as head of the Buildings and Grounds Department. He then founded the Llenroc stone quarry and joined the architectural firms of Tallman & Tallman and Thomas & Associates. He was the prime architect and Special Assistant to Ithaca College President, Howard Dillingham, in the design and building of the new South Hill campus in the 1960's. Bob later worked on the design of the Ithaca Hanger Theatre and various public school buildings throughout New York State. Bob was an Ithaca City Alderman in the sixties and remained an active member of the community.

An avid fan of jazz music, he played piano locally in the Savage Club band and later with Joe McConnell's Big Band. He arranged many of the band's numbers. Bob and his wife spent many hours playing golf both in Ithaca and on courses throughout the world. He also loved all things Cornell and for years never missed a home football or hockey game. In June of 2016, he was president and chaired the 75th Reunion of Cornell's Class of 41.


He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Elisabeth Mueller, his children, Kathryn Mueller Carey (Robert), Paula Mueller (Philippe Salomon), Robert Mueller, Jr. (Beth), and Dana Mueller (Anne Costello), two grandchildren, Dana Mueller O'Keefe (Lisa Ostberg) and Matthew Mueller, and two great grandchildren, Viola Anderson and Julian O'Keefe Ostberg.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held Saturday April 7, 2018 from 12:00 to 3:00 P.M. at New Park Resort 1500 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, New York . In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's memory may be directed to the Hangar Theater 310 Taughannock Blvd. Ithaca, NY. 14850, or to the charity of one's choice.