Bob Wilden, described as a man with a giant heart who searched around the City of Falls Church to find the best ways to donate his financial resources and persuade others to do likewise, died in his sleep early today, May 6.

Wilden was diagnosed in the late stages of pancreatic cancer and had just entered hospice care when he died sooner than his doctors expected. Wilden decided to devote his resources and energies to founding the Wilden After-School Program for the Falls Church City School System, aimed at providing tutoring and other assistance for economically-underprivileged youth. The program, named for his late wife Imogene, was run under the auspices of the non-profit Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF). Wilden was present at the annual dinner of the FCEF last month when over $15,000 was raised in a live auction to buy computers for his after-school program.  As recently as last week, Wilden, accompanied by FCEF Executive Director Donna Englander, visited students in the Wilden After School program to congratulate them on their progress. They, in turn, presented him with “thank you” cards that Englander said touched him deeply. Wilden had also worked closely with the Falls Church Housing Corporation for the advancement of affordable housing. He is survived by a brother. More information will be provided as it becomes available.