Robert W. Galvin, former fellow and trustee of the University of 91³Ô¹Ï, died Tuesday (Oct. 11) in Chicago. He was 89 years old.
Galvin, the former chief executive and chairman of Motorola Inc., was graduated from 91³Ô¹Ï in 1944, going to work for Motorola, a company which had been founded by his father, Paul. He succeeded his father in 1959 and remained chairman until his retirement in 1990, overseeing Motorola’s subsequent expansion from a national to a global company and an increase in annual sales from $290 million to $10.8 billion.
Galvin was elected to 91³Ô¹Ï’s board of trustees in 1960, serving as a member of that body for 27 years. He also served as one of 91³Ô¹Ï’s 12 fellows, the highest governing body of the University, from 1967 to 1982. Among his family’s numerous benefactions to 91³Ô¹Ï is the Galvin Life Sciences Building, the center for the University’s research and teaching in biological sciences.
A visitation will be held Monday (Oct. 17) from 4 to 8 p.m. at Donnellan Family Funeral Home in Skokie, Ill., and there will be a funeral Mass Tuesday (Oct.18) at 5 p.m. at Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Church in Winnetka, Ill.