ROBERT SIEGEL's Obituary
Bob Siegel was born in Brooklyn in 1930, the younger brother of Joan Sirota, to Isadore and Sara Siegel. Kind of a wise ass and a bit of a trouble maker, he was a natural "tinkerer," working as a movie projectionist and TV repairman before graduating Erasmus Hall high school and enrolling at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute to major in electrical and electronics engineering. After meeting and falling in love with his beloved Ruth Siegel, marrying her in 1953, and serving in the Navy in Norfolk, VA, he began an illustrious career as an engineer, starting work on some of America's most top-secret aeronautical projects as the SR-71 (the first high altitude, super-sonic, "Batplane"), which brought the family to California in the early-60s, and NASA's lunar module, bringing his now family of five back home to NY.
His career flourished in what was still the relatively new computer field, and he typified the Baby Boomer American dream -- serving in the Navy during the Korean War, being able to go to College on the G.I. bill, leaving the city for the suburbs of Long Island, where he and Ruth raised three boys in a beautiful home. Both of them always emphasized scholastic achievement, and as you all know, the Siegel Boys are all professionals, renowned in their chosen fields. In fact, I've had the pleasure of knowing Larry and Ricky since the late 80s/early 90s, and later Ruth, through our mutual involvement with Planned Parenthood -- Ruth and Bob retired and followed the boys to FL when their first grandchild Layne was on the way.
From then, Bob & Ruth continued living their dream, being devoted and indispensable grandparents to Layne, and then 9 years later, Corey -- nothing or no one has ever brought them greater joy. They travelled to Philadelphia to be with Skip and Val and witness the birth of their second grandchild in 2002.
Of course, Corey and Layne held their hearts til their last days, and they settled into the role of grandparents with gusto, forgoing their lifetime of travelling nearly every corner of the globe. Bob & Ruth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2003 by taking the whole family on a cruise.
Like Ruth at Planned Parenthood, Bob also volunteered extensively, serving as a docent at the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Boca Raton and the Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum in Delray. He found another late-in-life passion for teaching, and volunteered as a tutor at Christa McCauliffe Middle School, and Bridge Prep Academy, where his grand-nephew Paul Sirota is the principal. It was inevitable that he would "un-retire," and he enjoyed a rewarding position as a math tutor at Kumon Learning Centers.
Both Bob and Ruth continued working until they could no longer, relishing every day of being Grandma & Grandpa, and kvelling over their sons' accomplishments. Sadly, the family lost Ruth just shy of their 60th wedding anniversary in 2013.
While these last few years posed significant health challenges -- dialysis 3x/week, several hospitalizations for mysterious bleeding, intubations and transfusions -- Bob always bounced back and maintained that wicked sense of humor we all know and love. He constantly shared with anyone who'd listen about how much he loved and appreciated his family, both his blood relatives and those adopted through marriage, especially the Layne/Taylor clan! And though he'd sometimes complain about his declining health and quality of life, his last couple of years had some of his happiest moments -- the honor of marrying Elissa & Chris, Layne's surprize visit home after moving out West, his indescribably special relationship with Xuan [pronounced like swan], his hours of interviews with Cynthia working on his biography, and lately, enjoying daily visits from Ciara, that time at the pool with Layne's half-sisters Rhyan and Elle (which he talked about for 2 wks.), and being able to celebrate his 90th birthday one month ago on a Zoom call with friends & family all over the country.
We celebrate this wonderful man's life...
A Private Service will be held on Tuesday, August 4th.
Donations may be made to the Sage Institute for Family Development, 18672 Shauna Manor Dr., Boca Raton, FL 33496, (561) 426-0066, www.sageinstitute.org
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