Robert S. Gay

Robert S. Gay of Rye, NY and Fenwick, CT passed away on March 25, 2026.

Known as Bob to his friends, Robert Stephen Gay was born June 30, 1947 in Dearborn, MI to Phyllis (née Jameson) and Robert Samuel Gay.

Bob attended East Lansing High School where he lettered in both football and swimming and then went on to Michigan State University where he graduated with Honors and received his BS in Mechanical Engineering in the class of 1969. His membership in the Delta Chi fraternity provided lifelong friends and plenty of stories. Bob then attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he received both his Masters and Doctorate in Economics. Madison is also where Bob met Jessica Field; they married on April 6, 1974 in New Haven, CT, first living in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, DC before settling in Rye, NY to raise their three children.

Bob’s career began as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Brooklyn College, by 1977 he was a Senior Economist for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC. In 1985 Bob left the Fed for Wall Street where he spent the next two decades in research and strategy at several investment banks, including Morgan Stanley and Bankers Trust. He often appeared in newspapers, television and radio newscasts for his economic analysis. In 2005, he started his own financial advisory practice and also developed domestic sources of alternative energy as a partner in Monarch Wind. He often found roles sharing his expertise, serving as a trustee at the Rye Presbyterian Church and as Treasurer of the Borough of Fenwick, as well as serving on other committees.

Bob and Jessica enjoyed traveling together and with their children, having many adventures all over the world. Among many other adventures, they climbed Machu Picchu, hiked Mount Vesuvius, scuba-dived the Great Blue Hole in Belize, rode horses across the Bob Marshall and slept in the canopy of the Amazon rainforest. Throughout his life Bob especially enjoyed swimming, sailing, biking, and skiing. Two of his favorite places to relax were his parent’s California horse ranch - ‘Rancho de Robles’ - and Fenwick, Connecticut. On Lynde Point he was surrounded by blue water, a green golf course, and longtime friends. He often swam out to the lighthouse and once swam across Long Island Sound. He also loved a good book - anything from a dense biography to a geeky economic tome, while PG Wodehouse and Mark Twain remained perennial favorites he enjoyed sharing with his children and grandchildren. Bob was an avid golfer while in Fenwick and was honored to at last win the Morgan Cup, proudly sporting his winner’s flag, green jacket, and home-edited “X-Wannabe” hat. He loved to tell stories of favorite family moments, especially self-deprecating stories with a hint of mischief or an underdog, and to brag about his loved ones. Bob cherished his grandchildren and spent many hours with them playing card games and completing puzzles.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Jessica (2020) and sister Diana (2024). Robert is survived by his three children, Stephanie Thrower (Albert), Elizabeth Jones (Ryan), Jameson Gay (Isabel), grandchildren Grayson, Wyatt, Theo, Elliott, Caleb, Virginia Grace, Zebulon, Clara and Ryan, as well as nieces and nephews Robert, Paul, Shari, Will, Sam, Robb and Eliza. He is also survived by his companion, Candice Eggerss. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea in Fenwick, on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 11am.

Bob had endowed a scholarship at Michigan State University, in line with his strong belief in the value of education. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fenwick Improvement Fund or to his endowment at MSU. (To make a gift to MSU online:

https://give.msu.edu/?appeal=ONLINE; Search "AN1834" to add the Robert Gay Dissertation Fund to your cart and select "Establish this gift in memory”)