Robert N. McKay, Esq.

April 28, 1946 - November 5, 2025 

Past President 1985 - 1987

Robert Newton McKay, Esq. the son of John Newton McKay and Elizabeth Rose Nigro was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 28, 1946. He graduated from Fordham University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, America’s most prestigious academic honor society, founded in 1776. While still a student at the New York University School of Law, he was elected to membership in the Society on December 18, 1967 through his ancestor Captain John Rippey, who fought with the 6th Company, 8th Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia of Colonel Henry Slagle's Regiment.

After graduating from NYU Law, Mr. McKay served as an attorney at the firm of Brown, Wood, Ivey, Mitchell and Petty (later merged into the firm known today as Sidley & Austin) in New York City where he rose to become a partner. His service to and involvement with the Society was significant and tireless. Besides serving as President from 1985-1987, he served as Secretary from 1977-1985, Chairman of the Speakers Committee from 1975-1986, Chairman of the Real Estate Committee, and a tenant Lease Enforcement Officer. He was instrumental in securing and enforcing the Society's ownership of the trademark of Fraunces Tavern® through his own efforts as well as oversight of outside counsel.

At the time of his passing, he was Chairman of the Special Committee on Emergency Preparedness, Chairman of the Employees’ Retirement Plan Committee, and an active member on several other committees that oversaw the Society's plans for the United States 250th Anniversary Commemoration, Annual Church Service and Flag Day commemorations, as well as the Society's Audit, Development and Long Range Planning, Insurance, Law, and Museum and Art functions. He was also a Veteran Color Guard member and regularly attended the Society's programs and events as well as our monthly Board of Managers meetings acting in his capacity as a Past President ex-officio member.

Mr. McKay's commitment to the preservation of the Fraunces Tavern complex of historic buildings was evidenced by his leading contributions to the Society’s Building Maintenance Endowment Fund as part of the Society’s 250th Anniversary Campaign. We encourage those who wish to honor Bob to make a gift in his name to the same Fund. More information can be found here.

During Mr. McKay's life in New York City, he lived in Manhattan's West Village and Brooklyn's Flatbush and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods. In addition to becoming a Life Member of SRNY on March 28, 1983, he was also a Life Member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Oliver Tilden Camp #26, SUVCW. He was predeceased in death by his parents and brother Bruce Alan McKay, M.A., a fellow member of the Society, whom he memorialized with the gift of a representation of the battle colors of companies led by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton at the siege of Yorktown Virginia in 1781, presented at SRNY's George Washington Birthday Ball in 2013.