Robert Olin Niles, 74, TV executive

Robert Olin Niles, 74, of Phoenixville, a retired ABC-TV vice president who devoted 24 years of service to the Methodist Home for Children, died of asbestosis Monday at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse.

Mr. Niles joined the board of the home, which provides services for children and families, in 1985 and became chairman in 2001. When he stepped down last year, the home's chapel was renamed the Robert Olin Niles Chapel of the Four Children.

In 1999, he was board vice chairman when Angele Parker became the home's president and chief executive officer. With a "gentle presence and "steadfast guidance," she said, he recruited strong and devoted board members and donors and encouraged and empowered the board and staff.

Mr. Niles retired in 1999 as vice president and director of engineering for ABC stations worldwide. He began his career in the 1950s as a technician for television stations in Columbus, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla. In 1958, he helped start WKBW-TV in Buffalo, and eventually became the station's chief engineer.

He moved to Philadelphia in 1975 to be director of engineering for Capital Cities Communications and worked out of the offices of WPVI-TV. A 1985 merger created Capital Cities/ABC, and the Walt Disney Co. bought ABC in 1996. Though ABC's corporate headquarters were in New York City, Mr. Niles maintained his office in Philadelphia.

Mr. Niles grew up in Upstate New York. He completed an advanced-technology course at the RCA Institute in New York City.

While battling his lung disease, he never wanted to focus on it, his son Tim said. "He wanted to talk about how you and your children were doing instead of about himself," he said. Mr. Niles enjoyed treating his extended family to annual vacations that included Caribbean cruises.

An accomplished genealogist, Mr. Niles traced his roots to John Olin of Wales, who was forced to serve aboard a British man-of-war. The penniless 14-year-old jumped ship in Boston Harbor in 1678.

In addition to his son, Mr. Niles is survived by his wife of 14 years, Kathleen Dougherty Olin; another son, Brian; stepdaughters Margie Harper, Michelle Judge, and Tracey Simonelli; a sister; 10 grandchildren; and his former wife, Elaine.

A funeral will begin at 11 a.m. today at Berwyn United Methodist Church, 140 Waterloo Ave., where friends may call from 10 to 10:45.

Memorial donations may be made to the Methodist Home for Children, 4300 Monument Rd., Philadelphia 19131.