Robert J. Durant, UFO Researcher and Actor, Dies

Bob Durant, 75, a well-known UFO researcher, friend of Ivan T. Sanderson, and Member of the Board of Directors of the (now defunct) Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained, died on May 21, 2014. He passed away peacefully at his Pennington, New Jersey home, following a two-and-half-year struggle from the effects of a stroke. (By coincidence, I had just written about "UFO Deaths" on May 16th.)

Durant had a UFO "close encounter" experience at age 14, and became a self-described "UFO fanatic," as a result.  He tried to quit doing research in the field many times, but was never entirely successful.  Durant wrote many articles published in the MUFON Journal, IUR, and a few other specialist journals. He was a member of the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena advisory group. 

Ingo Swann (14 September 14, 1933 – January 31, 2013), at the end of the table, 

with his last student and friend Bob Durant (July 7, 1938 – May 21, 2014).

Durant saw himself as a Fortean, and besides UFOs, was intrigued by remote viewing.

Robert J. Durant was also associated as an actor, host, and/or himself in Roswell? Yes! (2002), The Larksville Ghost (2006), and Mirage Men (2013). In the television program, Best Evidence (2007), Durant was in the episode entitled "The Roswell Incident."

Director Steven Spielberg said of Roswell? Yes!:  "One of the best films I've ever saw regarding Roswell."

Robert Joseph Durant was born on July 7, 1938, in Akron, Ohio, to Ronald Joseph and Mary Linnane Durant.

Durant graduated from the Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio in 1960 with a degree in electrical engineering. Upon graduation, he entered the US Navy as a Naval aviation cadet, and following flight training, was commissioned a Lieutenant, flying Sikorsky helicopters for six years in various international locations.

After the U.S. Navy, Durant joined Pan American World Airways in 1967, flying six different types of airliners for Pan Am, primarily on international routes serving as navigator, flight engineer, copilot and captain. He was also a flight operations manager for two-and-a-half years supervising 1100 pilots and flight engineers. Durant moved from Pan Am (after they went out of business) to Delta Airlines in 1991, where he flew until his retirement at 60 years of age, in 1998. He continued to serve as President of the Pan Am Pilots' Retirement Foundation, Inc. for several years.

Durant was a licensed ham radio operator (Call Sign KC2FXH), proficient in Morse code. 

Bob Durant was preceded in death by his parents and a brother. He is survived by his wife, Mauricette, son Stephen R. Durant, and daughter Jennifer L. Mohr, wife of R. Colin Mohr and granddaughters Lilian Durant Mohr and Marin Mohr. He is also survived by a sister, Mary Dianne Durant and a brother James Michael Durant and his nephews Christopher and Jeremy Durant. 

A loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, PAA/DL Capt. Robert J. Durant will be sorely missed by family, friends, and Forteans.