Robert Paul Sarnoff

Robert Paul Sarnoff
June 11, 1948 to January 30, 2025
Robert Paul Sarnoff was born on June 11, 1948 in New York City to Edward and Annette Sarnoff. He joined his older brother Jerry to complete the nuclear family. As a child he was known for insisting on a bologna sandwich for lunch every day. He was also known, throughout his life, for his loud and infectious laugh and sometimes mischievous smile.
As Robert matured, he developed what became a lifelong interest in helping people. He also developed an interest in all aspects of photography, including the technical aspects of film and lenses and developing his own photos.
Robert graduated from Queens College in 1972 with a degree in Psychology and began a career in drug counseling. But Robert sought a less traditional, more rural and meaningful life, moving first to Vermont and later to an Oregon commune. In Oregon he built a house and all his furniture using only hand tools. He adopted a vegan lifestyle. Although the commune was primarily a farm, Robert's skills led to his becoming their primary woodworker.
In his late thirties, Robert's soul searching took him back to his religious roots and he took Aliyah. He went to Israel and joined a kibbutz to farm but was soon exercising his woodworking skills there as well. Members of the kibbutz encouraged him to focus his skills less on craft and more on art, resulting in Robert's focus changing to exclusively carving and sculpting Judaica.
By the time he left Israel his parents had retired to Delray Beach, and he moved there to pursue his art. His parents encouraged him in his art (his mother was a talented painter). However, they suggested that he also turn his gifted hands to a more practical pursuit that could support his artistic interests. He returned to school and earned a degree in massage therapy. Additionally, Robert returned to his childhood hobby of photography, inspired by the beautiful flora and fauna of south Florida.
Only one part of his life was then left unfulfilled. Robert began to attend Jewish dating programs, where he met a young woman who had spent much of her adult life caring first for her injured father and then for her chronically ill mother. Robert and Nancy Gabrilove fell in love, married, and continued to care for Nancy's mother until her death.
Nancy supported, and partially adopted, Robert's veganism. She also encouraged him to show and sell his photography and sculpture, and to create and market a series of massage training videos.
Later Robert was called upon to perform his greatest caregiving role, when Nancy developed the same debilitating bone disease that her mother had suffered from. He was the most attentive, caring, and capable caregiver to every one of his clients, but never more than when he cared for Nancy. Robert was a devoted husband who brought relief and comfort not only to his wife, but to countless people through his work as a massage therapist.
In June 2023, after 32 years of blissful marriage, Nancy succumbed to her illness. Robert was filled with profound sadness and grief and felt utterly lost without her. Friends and family tried to console him, distract him, and offer suggestions on ways to cope and move forward, but he never recovered from Nancy's passing.
Robert died on January 30, 2025. Despite his healthy lifestyle, nothing could prevent his heart from breaking.
He is survived by his brother, Jerry (Susan) Sarnoff, nephew Asher Sarnoff, niece Rebecca (Jason) Breska, great-nephew Nathaniel Mass, cousins Malorie (Pete) Currier and Sherry Alberti.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Robert's favorite charity, the Southern Poverty Law Center.
"Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul."
-Robert Hunter