Robert Livingston Rewey, Jr., former Ford Motor Co. Sales and Marketing Chief, passed away at home in Palm Beach, FL on Saturday, November 29th after a brief illness. He was 76.
Robert (Bob) was born on Sept. 26, 1938, in Springfield, Ohio to Robert Livingston Rewey and Margaret Woodruff. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration from The Ohio State University, where he was also President of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1963 as a statistical analyst in Ford’s Marketing Dept, the same year he joined the Ohio Air National Guard and married his wife, Suzanne Lyon.
Over the course of his 38-year career with Ford, Bob held several high-level management positions, earning continued recognition and success. Upon his retirement from Ford in 2001, Mr. Rewey was Group Vice President, Global Consumer Services and North America for all six Ford brands. His many professional achievements include the initiation of Ford’s global brand, motorsport development, marketing executive development strategies and short-term vehicle leasing. One of Bob’s most proud accomplishments was his championing a team called “The Gang of 8” that secretly re-designed and saved the Mustang. He was later inducted into the Mustang Hall of Fame.
Mr. Rewey remained active in retirement, and was currently serving on the boards of Sonic Automotive, LoJack Corporation, Speedway Motorsports and The Reading Group, LLC. He had previously served on the boards of Dealer Tire and the Hilsinger Company. He was also involved with several business and community organizations throughout his life, including his former role as President of the Detroit Police Athletic League and serving as a board member in the 1980’s for Cleveland Tomorrow, an organization focused on revitalizing downtown Cleveland and restoring its economic competitiveness. He was a true patriot and a proud member of the Palm Beach and Rhode Island chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Rhode Island Society of Colonial Wars.
Mr. Rewey will be remembered as a great leader and mentor to many colleagues. He was a kind man who was highly principled, had exceptionally strong character and an incredible work ethic that he applied to his career and his private life. The sincere pleasure he took in helping people succeed can be seen in the number of lives he touched and remarkable careers that were launched under his guidance.
Above all, Bob was devoted to his family and friends. He and his wife Suzanne received their greatest joy from sharing their homes in Palm Beach and Osterville, MA with their children, grandchildren and the many dogs that came in tow. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Mr. Rewey is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Suzanne; daughters, Barbara Rewey Newman (Nick) of New Canaan, CT, Katherine Rewey-Sexton (John) of New York, NY; Anne Rewey Lalas (Alexi) of Manhattan Beach, CA; son, Robert Livingston Rewey, III (Anne) of Summit, NJ; 9 grandchildren; and sister Carol Rewey Griffin of Springfield, OH.