Robert Theobald, 70, Futurist And Author

SPOKANE - Noted futurist and author Robert Theobald has died at his home here.

Mr. Theobald, 70, died of cancer Saturday, according to his friend Robert Stilger.

"He helped people think about what future they wanted," Stilger said, calling him one of the most influential futurists of the century.

Mr. Theobald wrote books, prepared and appeared on broadcasts, and lectured around the world to governments, businesses and organizations.

The son of a British businessman, Mr. Theobald was born in 1929 in India and moved to England at age 7. He studied economics at Cambridge and eventually continued his studies at Harvard University.

He moved to Spokane two years ago to be closer to friends as he battled cancer, Stilger said.

Mr. Theobald argued that blind confidence in economic growth, technology and the culture of materialism destroyed the environment and failed to provide opportunity and income for many people.

"We've halved the size of our families, doubled the size of our houses and have to fill four times as much space with stuff," he said in an interview two years ago with The Spokesman-Review newspaper.

His latest book "Reworking Success" called for fundamental change at the new millennium.

"If we do not change direction rapidly, the impact of technology will deprive many people of the possibility of earning a living and will lead to despair and disruption," he wrote. "In addition, rampant technology will leach the meaning out of life."