It is with great sadness and deep regret that I inform the membership that our beloved past-president Robert Wise passed away on September 14, 2005 at the age of 91.

For more recent members who did not know Bob, his service to the Guild was legendary. He served as DGA President from 1971 to 1975; was a founder and chair of the Special Projects Committee for nearly 26 years — from its inception in 1976 to 2001; and served on the National Board of Directors for many years. He joined the Guild in 1945.

The Guild gave Bob all the honors which we have the power to bestow, but all the recognition did not exceed his contributions to our organization and to directors. He was a father-figure to so many directors, mentoring them individually — and had the vision to create the Guild's Special Projects department so that education and learning could touch so many more.

His devotion to the craft of filmmaking and his wealth of head-and-heart knowledge about what we do and how we do it was a special gift to his fellow directors. As President of the Guild his decades of hands-on leadership were an inspiration to us all. We will deeply miss him.

Michael Apted, President