Bob Wilmers, who turned a small bank into one of the largest U.S. regional lenders, died on Saturday night. He was 83 years old. Mr. WIlmers became chief executive of M&T Bank in 1983 and during his reign, expanded the firm to include nearly 800 branches across the U.S.
“Words cannot describe the depth of involvement and passion that Bob Wilmers brought to Western New York when he became CEO of M&T Bank Corporation in 1983. In the late 1980s, he became a member of Roswell Park’s 15-member Community Council under the leadership of then-Institute Director Dr. Thomas B. Tomasi.
Always a quiet force behind the scenes, Bob, in partnership with Dr. Tomasi, was instrumental in making the case to Albany for a new governance model. He brought the region’s most respected business minds to the table to advocate on behalf of Roswell Park. And he underwrote the cost of retaining a national consultant to analyze operations and propose new governance models that would allow the Institute to grow and prosper.
Eventually, his efforts, along with those of the Roswell Park Alliance founders, Anne and Donna Gioia and Pamela Jacobs, led the Legislature to pass the Major Modernization Authorization in 1992, which secured $241.5 million in funding for rebuilding and expanding both the clinical and scientific facilities on campus; at the time, this was the largest New York State health care construction project ever funded.
Over the past three decades, Bob Wilmers was a trusted advisor, helping steer the Institute through some difficult times. Always generous, both personally and through the M&T Bank Foundation, he created the M&T Bank Endowed Chair in Cancer Research in December 2007 with a gift of $1 million. Dr. Tom Tomasi has held the chair since that time, continuing his leadership in the field of immunological research. M&T also provided a major gift to underwrite the new Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center and has been a sponsor for many years of All Star Night and The Ride For Roswell.
Bob was last at the Institute on September 19, when we held a reception honoring Dr. Tomasi for his achievements during his 10-year tenure. His pride in Roswell Park, the institution that it has become over the past 30 years, and our role in the economic revival of the city, was on display, as was his close friendship and admiration for Dr. Tomasi. Little did we know that it would be our last opportunity to publicly thank him for all he had done for Roswell Park and the Western New York community. He will be remembered and missed by many.”
0 Comments