Robert James Doersam

Robert James "Bob" Doersam, age 69, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away surrounded by his family on
February 24, 2023. Bob was born to Robert James Doersam, Sr. and Elizabeth Ann "Betty" (McCarthy)
Doersam on July 3, 1953 at St. Ann's Hospital. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Bob persevered
through a host of challenges to have a family and career of which he was proud.
Bob graduated from Gahanna-Lincoln High School and went on to Ohio Dominican University. After
being nominated for outstanding political science major, Bob received his Bachelor of Arts in
December of 1976. He later obtained his social studies teaching certificate from Ohio State.
Bob began his career at the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. He dreamed of teaching history and
getting a law degree, but encountered too many accessibility barriers. Instead, he served the state for
over 20 years in both training and IT at the Ohio Office of Budget and Management. Throughout his
career, Bob would often rise at 4:00a.m. to get ready for work independently. He listed his proudest
achievement as leading "the 'normal as possible' life prescribed by my neurologist in 1973."
Bob loved his family. He married his wife, Susan Russell Doersam, on July 13, 1985. Together, they
raised their son, Robert Russell Doersam.
A long-time disability rights activist, Bob volunteered at MOBILE, Central Ohio's center for
independent living, for decades. After serving on MOBILE's board, Governors Strickland and Kasich
appointed Bob to successive terms on Ohio's Statewide Independent Living Council. He took pride in
having been a part of the community that advocated for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities
Act in 1990, helping to ensure that those who came after him enjoyed those opportunities which the
world denied him.
Bob's parents and brother, Paul C. Doersam, preceded him in death. Besides his wife and son, Bob is
survived by his brothers, Mark (Shelly) Doersam and Bill (Brenda) Doersam; and sisters, Elizabeth
Mitchell, Ann (Patrick) Bristle, and Theresa Armentrout.
Bob's sense of humor led him to leave his family a "memorial guide," which instructed them to review
a "letter of last instruction," which in turn referenced an "obituary worksheet." His obituary worksheet
described him as dying "following an explosion in a spacecraft enroute to Saturn," and noted that he
was survived by "humans that knew him."
As Yogi Berra put it, "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours."
Calling hours will take place on Tuesday, February 28, from 4:00 to 7:00p.m. at Egan-Ryan Funeral
Home, 403 East Broad Street. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish,
600 Hill Road North in Pickerington, on Wednesday, March 1, at 10:00a.m.
Donations in Bob's memory may be made to Disability Rights Ohio Long Term Care Community Coalition Catholic Relief Services
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