U.S. Navy Commander Robert S. “Hap” Day, executive director of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce for 14 years, died in his sleep yesterday at age 93, according to a report from his daughter this morning. Day had been moved to from his Falls Hills home to a Sunrise assisted living facility due to failing health two weeks ago.
Day, who was a submarine commander in the Pacific theater during World War II, moved to Falls Church following his subsequent service for Naval Intelligence and ran a successful insurance business, becoming active in the Chamber, where he served as president and was recipient of its coveted Pillar of the Community Award before becoming its executive director in 1985. He and the Chamber office manager Lois Jones retired from the Chamber together in 1999. Jones, herself the wife of a late war hero, died at her Northern Neck home just last week.
Day’s wife died in the 1980s, and he is survived by three children. No arrangements have yet been made for a memorial or burial for Day.
