James Robert ("Bob") Barlow

James Robert (“Bob”) Barlow, 99, died from a stroke at his home in Dryden on October 10th, 2026, just shy of his 100th birthday. He was born December 23, 1926 in New Haven, CT to parents James Evans Barlow and Georgia Alice Manson Barlow. He grew up in Portland, ME where his father was City Manager from 1928 to 1946. Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947, mainly in Italy. He received an AB degree cum laude from Bowdoin College in 1950 and an MPA (Master in Public Affairs) from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs in 1952.

While in grad school, Bob married the lovely young woman he had dated in college — Nancy Schmalz (“Nan”), an elementary school teacher who dearly loved young children and taught in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia and finally 19 years in the Ithaca City School District. They had three children — Jacqueline Wood of West Chester, PA; Jeffrey Barlow of Wilton Manors, FL, and Gregory Barlow of Sequim, WA.

Bob’s first job was with the Atomic Energy Commission at its Washington headquarters, serving initially in the Commission’s Secretariat and then as assistant to one of the five Commissioners, Eugene M. Zuckert, later Secretary of the Air Force. When Zuckert’s term ended, Bob joined the newly-formed Atomic Industrial Forum in New York City, serving as reporter and ultimately editor of the Forum’s monthly journal reporting and analyzing atomic energy news for a management audience.

In January 1963, Bob became Special Assistant to President Kennedy’s Science Advisor, with staff responsibility for energy policy (including R&D programs, environmental considerations, electric power reliability and water desalting). He was also given responsibility for the office’s public affairs, including Congressional liaison, public information and press relations, as well as general management of the office. He was especially proud of his assignment to manage the Presidential award ceremony for the National Medal of Science, beginning with the first-ever award by President Kennedy and continuing annually under Presidents Johnson and Nixon — for which he received several letters of commendation.

Bob was a member of the U.S. Delegation to the International Conference on Atoms for Peace in Geneva and the annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, both in 1964. He was also a member of the U.S. team in the U.S.-Soviet Exchange on Water Desalting Technology in 1964, and toured a number of sites in the Soviet Union.

In 1971, Bob became Assistant to Cornell President Dale Corson, responsible for liaison with Federal and State government and for advice and assistance regarding governmental policies and programs. He also frequently represented the University in the deliberations of higher education associations. Under President Rhodes, he concentrated more on governmental relations, becoming Director of Federal Relations until his retirement in 1991.

In Ithaca, Bob served in several volunteer capacities with the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and as its President in 1982. He was on the boards of Lifelong and Foodnet, and was a member of the Education Committee of the Business Council of New York State. He was a member of the City Club of Ithaca and its President in 1998. In Washington, he was a member of the National Press Club (and became a “Golden Owl” for more than 50 years of membership) and numerous committees of higher education associations.

In 1979, Bob and Nan purchased a hillside cottage overlooking Coral Bay on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they spent many happy vacations and extended time in retirement.

Music was an important part of Bob’s life. He played the clarinet in the high school and college bands and an Army band, and the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He loved opera, a taste he acquired in Italy. He sang in the Bowdoin College Glee Club, the Bowdoin and Princeton chapel choirs and the Tompkins Community College chorus. He loved classical music, Sousa marches and New Orleans jazz. He also loved skiing (both cross-country and downhill), swimming (he earned a Red Cross Lifesaving Instructor’s certificate) and the outdoors generally, especially birds. Bob and Nan both loved dogs and owned several.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, his beloved wife, Nan, of 60 years, and his sister Esther. He is survived by his children and by grandchildren Tyler and Cory Barlow of greater Houston, TX, and Julia Wood Davidson of Glen Burnie, MD.

Interment will be at an undetermined date in Dedham, MA. Donations may be made to Planned Parenthood or Habitat for Humanity.