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Robert “Bob†Knight Dix, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at his home in Redding. He was 94.
Mr. Dix was born in Gallatin, Mo., on June 10, 1917, son of Robert Young Dix and Esther Knight Dix. A musician from an early age, he studied piano, trumpet and organ but opted for a career in chemical engineering. He received a bachelor of science degree from Iowa State University and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After college, Mr. Dix took a position with Exxon Chemical Company (then Esso), where he remained for 35 years.
He married Mary Frances Murphy in 1941 and they had four children. The family lived in Baton Rouge, La. from 1943 to 1959 and then moved to New Canaan after Mr. Dix’s transfer to New York City. Starting at the Baton Rouge refinery, he held various positions in the petrochemical, process, technical and coordination departments, and served as operations superintendent for all of the refinery’s petroleum and chemical plants. His career progressed through a series of management positions and in 1970 he was promoted to senior vice president for the Exxon Chemical Company.
Mr. Dix retired from his business career in 1977 to dedicate time to musical composition. His compositions, which have been widely performed, exemplify the expressive range of 20th Century classical music, encompassing lyrical passages as well as inventive dissonances, his family said. His body of work includes compositions for strings, woodwinds, various chamber ensembles, wind ensemble, chamber orchestra, and full symphony. Along with composing, he was actively involved with many musical organizations, including the Silvermine Guild of Artists through its Summer Music Series, the Waveny Chamber Music Society, Connecticut Composers, Inc., the Connecticut Alliance for Music, and the Renee B. Fisher Foundation for young pianists.
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