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Robert C. "Bob" Macauley, a former New Canaan resident and founder of the global health and disaster relief organization AmeriCares, died Sunday at his home in Florida. He was 87.
Macauley was born Dec. 11, 1923, in New York City. He attended Greenwich Country Day School, Andover and Yale University. He interrupted his college education to volunteer for service in World War II. After returning home, he graduated magna cum laude from Yale in 1945 with a degree in political science.
Macauley worked in the paper industry with M.L. Macauley and Co., Great Northern Board Sales and Great Northern Paper Co. In 1972, he founded Virginia Fibre Corp. and remained chairman until 1990. He also served on the board of directors of Greif Brothers Corp., now Greif Inc., and W.R. Grace and Co. and was an adviser to Christmas in April, the National Executive Service Corps, World Share and New York Medical College.
In 1968, he founded the Shoeshine Boys Foundation to support Vietnamese children orphaned by the war. In 1975, he mortgaged his New Canaan home to charter the first jet of what became known as Operation Babylift, rescuing hundreds of orphaned Vietnamese babies injured when another chartered jet crashed.
In 1977, he became involved with Covenant House. It soon grew from a small outpost in New York City to one of the largest privately funded child care agencies in the United States. Through his work with Covenant House, Macauley met Pope John Paul II, who asked Macauley if he could do something to help Poland, which was desperately in need of medical supplies. Macauley raised $1.5 million in aid for Poland, ultimately sending 38 airlifts. From that effort, AmeriCares was born.
Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has grown to the largest private health care charity in the world. To date, AmeriCares has distributed more than $10 billion of aid to 147 countries with a specialty in disaster relief. Macauley focused on AmeriCares continued growth and success for 28 years as its chairman of the board.
He received many awards, including the President's Volunteer Action Award, the Cross of Grand Officer of the Order of Malta, the Caring Ward, the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, the FREDDIE Award and the Jefferson Award for Lifetime Achievement, as well as honorary doctorates from Fairfield University, Siena College, St. Michael's College and St. Lawrence University. He was featured as ABC News' "Person of the Week" and was the subject of many profiles by major media outlets such as NBC's "Today" show and People magazine. He is also the subject of a biography titled "His Name is Today" by Bill Halamandaris.
Macauley is survived by his wife, Leila; daughter Melinda of San Francisco; son Robert Jr. of Charlotte, Vt.; stepson, Bart Rice of Kapolei, Hawaii; sister Sheila Duncan of Castellaras, France; a niece, grandniece and four grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held May 14 at St. Mark's Church in New Canaan. Memorial contributions may be made to: AmeriCares, 88 Hamilton Ave., Stamford, CT 06902.
AmeriCares, an international relief agency, has its roots in the area. Have you ever been involved in any of its charitable works?
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