Robert J. (Bob) Kelsey, a well-known packaging consultant, editor and author, passed away on August 8, 2010, at age 83. Before starting his own international packaging consulting company, he was the editor-in-chief of Modern Packaging magazine. Even after founding Kelsey Corp., he continued writing, editing and mentoring newcomers to the packaging field as the technical editor of Food & Drug Packaging (now Food & Beverage Packaging). During his career, he received two Jesse H. Neal Awards for editorial excellence.

 He also authored a book, Packaging in Today’s Society, and co-authored the third edition of the Handbook of Package Engineering, a reference still used today as a textbook. He was the first chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for the Center for Packaging Science and Engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (New Brunswick), and taught a course there in packaging law.

He was active in many professional organizations including the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP), Naperville, Ill., and its predecessors, the Packaging Institute and the Society of Packaging and Handling Engineers. He served as an officer of the Eastern Equipment Committee for many years and was founding chairman of IoPP’s Packaging Consultants Council. He was inducted into the Packaging Hall of Fame in 1990.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in food technology. An avid outdoorsman and mountain climber, he authored Walking in the Wild, a best-selling camping guidebook, and wrote articles and took photographs for a number of outdoor magazines. He also was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and established a high adventure explorer post in Northern New Jersey.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Theodosia “Teddy” Kelsey; four children, Robert, Patricia, Charles and Christopher; seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Aug. 11,  at Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River, N.J., where he was a communicant. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601.