ROBERT MELTZER

MELTZER--Robert Michael,

73, born September 26, 1943, of Southampton, NY, died suddenly and peacefully on Wednesday, April 19. Born in Brooklyn, he is the son of of the late Abe and Florence (Seaman) Meltzer. He graduated from Boston University in 1965 and immediately married his college sweetheart Meryl Helsel. Their love and devotion to one another for nearly 52 years made them a perfect couple in the eyes of many. Soon after their wedding, Bob went to work for Triangle Pacific Corporation which was founded by his father, Abe Meltzer. At Triangle, he built up their division of kitchen cabinet manufacturing to become the largest in the United States. He moved his young family and that division to Dallas, TX in 1974 where soon after he commissioned Charles Gwathmey to build the corporate headquarters. At that time he served as trustee of the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies which was an important architectural think tank in New York. There he befriend many of the most renowned architects of the time. He was also a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art and helped direct their move from Fair Park to downtown Dallas. In 1981, he retired as President of Triangle Pacific and moved to Manhattan. Soon thereafter, he acquired the Miami Carey Corporation in Middletown, OH in a leverage buyout. After seven years of building that company he the sold it in 1989. He was the former President and Chairman of the American Federation of the Arts and a longtime board member of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. In addition he served on the board of the Peconic Land Trust where he shared and developed his passion for the preservation of landscapes. A generous and dedicated husband, father and grandfather, he took great joy and pride in keeping his family close and together. Loved and cherished father to his daughter, Sara Meltzer, son, Neal Meltzer, daughter-in-law, Graciela (Braslavsky) Meltzer, the most loved and special Papa to his extraordinary grandchildren, Marley and Sam Meltzer and Stella and Max Ames. He will be deeply missed by his sister, Gale Meltzer Brudner and Dan Tzivanis and his brother, Bruce Meltzer and Diane Lederman. He was the brother of the late Irving Meltzer and brother-in-law to the late Eileen Helsel Swartz. And, a beloved uncle, cousin and friend to many. Bob was a man of impeccable taste, great curiosity and deep passions for art, travel, architecture and the landscape; he devoted many hours to his treasured garden. Whatever he applied himself to he did so with the greatest intensity. He lived life to the fullest in every way and believed in spending each day learning and experiencing more and surrounding himself with those he loved. His kindness and generosity touched the lives of all of those who knew him. He will be deeply missed. A private funeral service will be held on Friday, April 21 at 11am at Congregation Emanu-El of New York City. The family will be sitting shiva at their apartment on: Saturday, April 22 (7:30pm-10pm), Sunday, April 23 (2pm-6pm), and Monday, April 24 (7pm-9pm). Contributions in Bob's memory can be made to the Peconic Land Trust of Southampton, New York.