IN MEMORIAM: Robert Mason, Jr., 94;

Newspaperman, AT&T Exec, WWII Vet

VAN HORNESVILLE – E. Robert Mason Jr., retired director of employee communications for AT&T and a former newspaperman, died at his home here on Feb. 27. He was 94.

Born in Orange, N.J., Bob Mason graduated from Columbia High School and Lafayette College, earning a B.A. in English with honors. Immediately after college, he served in the Naval Reserve as a communications officer, participating in the invasions of Normandy, southern France, the Philippines and Okinawa during World War II.

After the war he joined the Newark (N.J.) Evening News as a reporter, later becoming suburban editor. He then moved to AT&T, where he rose to the employee communications position. He retired in 1981.
During his retirement years, Mason founded and edited “Legacy – Annals of Herkimer County.” He also served as president of the Van Hornesville Community Corp. and assisted in the production of the book, “Herkimer County at 200.”

Mason leaves his brother, William A.; four children: Catherine Ruth Mason, Stephen Robert Mason, Martha Anne Robertson, and Paul Douglas Mason; and three grandchildren.
A private memorial service is planned for late spring.