Robert W. Kurtz, a longtime telephone public relations official who wrote speeches delivered by the utility's executives, died Tuesday of carcinoid cancer at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The Towson resident was 63.

During his 25-year career with the old Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., later Bell Atlantic, he edited The Message Register, a biweekly newsletter distributed to 18,000 employees. After his retirement from the phone company 10 years ago, he became a consultant in the telecommunications industry.

Born in Pittsburgh, where he attended Shadyside Academy, he earned a degree in journalism in 1961 at Ohio University, where he was in Army ROTC. After college, he was commissioned a second lieutenant.

He spent the summer as a reporter for The Pittsburgh Press, assigned to its city desk, and then was called to active duty and was stationed at the Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird in Dundalk. After leaving active duty, he worked for several years at the Glenn L. Martin aircraft facility in Middle River, where he helped handle publicity for the Gemini space program.

He began working for C&P; in 1967 as a public relations manager and wrote and edited various company newsletters, bulletins, videotapes and guides. He also wrote and delivered talks on the telephone industry to local organizations and civic groups.

"He was a great person to work with. He could sit at a meeting, listen to people talking back and forth, and out of that fashion a really good story for the employee paper," said John G. Schisler of Towson, a retired C&P; division manager and a friend. "I don't think he ever had to go back and ask, 'What did you say or mean?' He had a total recall. He had the ability to synthesize various thoughts and data and make them into an interesting story. In his years in Baltimore, he energized and professionalized the employee information program."

Mr. Kurtz later moved on to Chesapeake & Potomac group headquarters in Washington. There he oversaw employee information for telephone systems in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As part of his duties he wrote speeches for telephone executives.

"He was successful at what he did because he had such a sense of humor," said Harriet Meyers, a Columbia free-lance writer and former Bell Atlantic colleague. "He enjoyed people and brought a positive outlook to his writing -- and life. He got along equally well with the operators, the linemen, the installers and the managers. He appreciated the work they all did. And they loved seeing their name in the company paper."

After his 1992 retirement, he worked as a telecommunications consultant for Sprint PCS, Digex (Digital Express Group), and KMC. He commuted to Washington on MARC commuter trains, indulging his affection for rail travel. He vacationed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe by train. He also played squash at Meadow Mill Athletic Club in Woodberry.

For many years, he sang bass in the choir of Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6700 York Road, where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, the former Susan Rugemer; a daughter, Elizabeth A. Kurtz of Baltimore; a brother, Earl L. Kurtz of Etters, Pa.; and his parents, Harold and Harriet Kurtz of York, Pa.