Robert, "Rip," J. Haley

Robert “Rip,” J. Haley, 97, of Ithaca, NY passed away July 28th, 2026 at Bridges Cornell. He was born on May 24th, 1929 in Uniontown, PA, the son of the late John and Hannah Haley. He was a 1947 graduate of South Union High School, in Uniontown, PA, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete and a 1951 alumnus of Cornell University where he lettered in football and baseball. In 1957, he received a masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh Business school.

Rip married Patricia Driscoll Haley of Connellsville, PA in 1955. Their journey started in Pittsburgh, PA where he worked for Frick Gallagher Manufacturing Company. He then went back to Cornell University in1963 to work in the fundraising field. In 1975, he moved to Potsdam, NY where he served as Vice President of Alumni Relations and Development at Clarkson University. In 1979, he held a similar position at Johns Hopkins University and Hospital in Baltimore, MD where he retired in 1994 after 16 years. Following his retirement, he and his wife of 71 years moved to Ithaca, NY where he worked as a fundraising consultant with Grenzeback Glier & Associates for five years.

He is survived by a son, Christopher Haley and his wife Megann Holland of Penobscot, Maine, and a daughter, Kathryn “Tiki,” Somogyi and her husband Dave of Corsicana, Texas; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by many nieces and nephews and Bob and Nancy Ramin and families.

Friends will be received at Bangs Funeral Home for calling hours on Monday, August 3rd from 4-6pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, August 4th at 1030am at St. Catherines at Sienne. A private burial will take place at Pleasant Grove Cemetery Association. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Cornell University General Athletics Fund.