The Russell Sage Foundation mourns the passing of former RSF trustee Robert E. Denham on March 15, 2025, at the age of 79. Denham served on the RSF board of trustees from 1997 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2014. During his three terms as trustee, Bob served twice as Chair of the Board, was a member of the audit committee, the compensation committee, conflicts of interest committee, the nominations committee, and the finance committee.
Denham was a long-term partner at the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson. His practice focused on mergers and acquisitions and advising clients on strategic, financial, and corporate governance issues. Denham received a bachelor’s degree (1966) from the University of Texas, a master’s degree in government (1968) from Harvard University, and his J.D. (1971) from Harvard Law School, where he was a Case and Developments editor of the Harvard Law Review.
RSF President Sheldon Danziger noted, “Bob's profoundly generous service as a leader of the foundation has been transformative, quintessentially important to our mission, and enduring.”
In addition to serving on RSF’s board of trustees, Denham was a former elected chair of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. He also served as vice chairman of the Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles, and served as a trustee of the James Irvine Foundation, the New Village Charter High School, and Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation.
Denham is survived by his wife, Carolyn, his children, Laura Denham-Evans and Jeff Denham, and four grandchildren. The foundation extends its deepest sympathies to Denham’s family and friends for their loss.