Hulett, Robert Lee

Robert L. “Bob” Hulett, 81 of Webster Groves, MO, died peacefully at Sunrise Webster Groves Assisted Living on November 18, 2024. He will be deeply missed by his four children and their spouses, his 9 grandchildren, his brother and scores of extended family members and friends.

Bob lived a full and happy life defined by devotion to his family and friends along with 40 years running R.L. Hulett & Company, the M&A advisory firm he founded in 1981. He enjoyed spending time with family, watching football, some occasional travel and most of all he enjoyed teaching and helping people.

He was born January 26, 1943, in Columbia, Missouri to George William “Bill” and Elvie Lee (Whitesides) Hulett.  He attended Hickman High School in Columbia where he played football, baseball and basketball.  Fellow Hickman alumni included WalMart founder Sam Walton and Ken Lay, founder and former CEO of the now-bankrupt Enron Corporation.

Bob came from a long line of entrepreneurs, and he was very proud of that family heritage.  His father acquired what is now Hulett Heating & Air Conditioning in 1932 from the founder for $500.  Bob worked for his father a few summers and after some late nights out with his friends, he was put on roof duty in the summer heat, a not-so-subtle reminder from Dad about behaving himself.

Bob’s older brother, George, attended Mizzou where he played baseball and basketball and went on to play professional baseball for the Kansas City Athletics before the team moved to Oakland.

At the age of 18, Bob joined the army and did his training at Ft. Leonard Wood.  It was during peacetime so he was never called up to active duty.  After a year, he decided to go to college and attend the University of Missouri like his older brother where he earned a degree in accounting.  He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity at Mizzou and by all accounts he enjoyed his time there very much.

Upon graduation in 1966, Bob joined the accounting firm Peat Marwick in St. Louis.  A few years later, he met his first wife, Kathy, while on the Emerson Electric account where Kathy worked.  Bob and Kathy would marry and raise three kids together, Trevor, Chris and Kelly until their divorce in 1987.

Bob worked at Peat Marwick in the mid 70’s when he decided to buy a printing and packaging firm called Letterhead and Check Corp.  He would take his boys into the shop on Saturdays while he worked.  In 1977, he accepted an offer to return to Peat Marwick, only this time in the New York City office.  He moved the family to a home in Stanford, CT.  He and the family spent three years in Connecticut where they had many weekend trips to landmarks, museums and places of historical significance throughout New York and Connecticut.

In 1981, Bob decided he was going to start his own investment banking firm and moved the family back to St. Louis in the very house where he had lived prior to going to Connecticut.  The kids went back to the same school they had previously attended.  Bob would work for the next 40 years for the firm he founded achieving many milestones and much success.

In 1987, his first marriage ended and he spent the next three years as a bachelor.  He got remarried to Jan, his second wife, in 1990.  Bob and Jan moved to University City in St. Louis where they had a daughter, Claire.  They lived in the University City house until 2012.

In 1998, Bob was diagnosed with a hemangioblastoma brain tumor, fortunately benign, but nonetheless requiring surgery.  Unfortunately, the surgery had lasting effects on his left side that impaired his eyesight, hearing and mobility.  In 2012, he was diagnosed with another tumor that required a second surgery and further impairing his mobility.  It was at this time that Bob moved in with his son, Chris, and his family, where he spent the next two years.

He then moved to Bethesda Orchards Independent Living in Webster Groves in 2014 and would stay there until 2023 when he moved to Sunrise Assisted Living in Webster Groves.  He enjoyed his 9 years at Orchards and made many dear friendships there.

Bob was a devout church member of Grace Episcopal and later Emmanuel Episcopal.  He served as Treasurer on the board of Holy Communion Church.

He was a generous donor to many charities and was beloved by many of those who he supported.

Bob made sacrifices for many.  He always put the needs of others before his own.  He was generous to his family, to the church and to many charities that he donated to.  He enjoyed teaching and helping people.  In business and with family, he was always helping others and teaching every chance he got.  He was not flashy.  He wasn’t out to impress anybody.  But he was a man of substance.  His word meant everything to him.  He was strong and had tremendous courage.  Since his first brain surgery in 1998, he dealt with many health challenges that got progressively worse over time from lack of mobility, loss of hearing and sight on his left side to many others.  But he kept a positive attitude and fought through these challenges with inspiring strength and courage.  One of his favorite phrases was from Jimmy Valvano that he would utter often: “don’t give up.  Don’t ever give up.”  He was a fighter up until the very end.  He led by example.  His actions spoke louder than words.  He would often say do the things you ought to be doing and don’t do the things you ought not to be doing.  Friends and family were everything to Pop.  He got along with just about everyone.  And he would just as soon talk to the mailman as he would a high powered CEO.  Had a calming demeanor about him.  He had the ability to keep things simple and as a result just always seemed comfortable no matter what challenges were thrown at him.  He was the type of person who you felt better after talking to him than you did before.

Bob is survived by his four children and their spouses Trevor (Lynda) Hulett, Chris (Liz) Hulett, Kelly (Ben) Foster and Claire (Eli Katz) Hulett.  He is also survived by his grandchildren Alissa, Kathryn, Jack, Chris Jr., Hayden and Hanna Hulett, Hale and Harrison Foster and Evan Hulett-Katz.  He was also a beloved brother of George (the late Jeanne) Hulett and uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to many.

Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd. 63123 on Friday, November 22 from 11:00 am. until Prayers Service at 1:30 pm. to Emmanuel Episcopal Church (9 S. Bompart Ave. Webster Groves, Mo. 63119) for Funeral Service at 2:00 pm. Interment at Park Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions to Emmanuel Episcopal Church appreciated.