Robert Oxnam Obituary
The community mourns the passing of Dr. Robert Bromley Oxnam, an internationally recognized scholar on China and respected former president of a prominent cultural and policy organization, who served from 1981 to 1992. Dr. Oxnam passed away recently, leaving behind a rich legacy of growth and innovation in educational and cultural exchanges with Asia.
Under his leadership, the organization expanded significantly, relocating to its present headquarters in New York and launching its first Asian center in Hong Kong in 1990. Prior to his presidency, Dr. Oxnam was instrumental in developing new departments focused on contemporary affairs and policy issues, and played a pivotal role in public education about China following diplomatic developments in the 1970s.
Dr. Oxnam was also a valued advisor and lecturer, sharing his deep knowledge of China with influential figures such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and former President George H.W. Bush, along with Mrs. Barbara Bush. He served as a senior advisor to the Atlanta-based Society of International Business Fellows, guiding business leaders on numerous delegations to Asia. His insights reached a wide audience through his role as a special correspondent for the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, where he hosted a critically acclaimed nine-part special on China.
An accomplished author, Dr. Oxnam wrote several non-fiction works on Asia, two novels, and a memoir. His academic roles included positions at Trinity College, Columbia University, and Williams College, as well as visiting professorships at Beijing University and the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. In his later years, he pursued an artistic career, creating sculptures inspired by traditional Chinese scholars’ rocks.
Dr. Oxnam’s educational background, equally distinguished, holding a Bachelor’s Degree from Williams College and both a Master’s and Ph.D. from Yale University. In 2012, his nearly four decades of dedicated service were honored with the establishment of an innovation fund named partly in his honor.
The local community and those who knew him worldwide remember Dr. Oxnam for his significant contributions to cultural understanding and education. His enduring impact on international relations and education will become remembered by many.
