ALCOAST 352/19 - NOV 2019 DEATH OF A RETIRED FLAG OFFICER

R 130653 NOV 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//VCG//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05360//
ALCOAST 352/19
COMDTNOTE 5360
SUBJ:  DEATH OF A RETIRED FLAG OFFICER
A. United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3 (series)
1. It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Vice Admiral Robert I. Price, USCG (retired),
who passed away on Sunday, 20 October 2019 in Washington, DC at the age of 98.
2. VADM Price was born on 22 September 1921 in New York City, New York, and was a 1945 graduate of the
United States Coast Guard Academy. His early assignments included a three year tour as a deck watch
officer and Navigator onboard the icebreaker NORTHWIND. Notable deployments included patrols to the
Arctic and participation in the 1946-47 Antarctic Expedition “Operation High Jump” where NORTHWIND
accompanied 13 other ships in the establishment of the Antarctic Research Base Little America IV.
From June 1950 to July 1953, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completing his
post-graduate studies in Naval Engineering.
3. VADM Price was nominated for flag rank in 1974 while serving as Deputy Chief, Office of Marine
Environment and Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters. Upon promotion to Rear Admiral, he assumed
the role of Office Chief. Additional flag assignments included Commander, 11th Coast Guard District
and Commander, Atlantic Area, a position he held until his retirement in 1981.
4. Throughout his career VADM Price was deeply involved with international marine safety and
anti-pollution standards, contributions that earned his election as a Fellow of the Royal Institute
of Naval Architects of London in 1972, and a designation as a Fellow of the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers in 1980. He was also a member of the Society of the Sigma Xi and
the American Bureau of Shipping.
5. Following his retirement, he was appointed senior vice president of a leading naval architectural
firm. He spent 20 years traveling around the globe as an independent marine safety consultant for
cruise lines, inspecting ships under construction and conducting annual safety inspections.
6. VADM Price is preceded in death by his wife Virginia, who passed away on 03 March 2016, just
months short of their 70th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his daughters, Andrea Price
Stevens (Garrett) and Keven Price Chriss, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
7. Funeral services are planned for Arlington National Cemetery; details and half-mast instructions
will be sent via separate message. Donations in his honor may be sent to: Coast Guard Foundation,
394 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, CT 06378.
8. VADM Price's full obituary can be found at:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/washington-dc/robert-price-8895947/.
9. ADM Charles Ray, Vice Commandant, sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.