Dr. Robert D. Strauss M.D.

A life of healing, service, and example

Robert D. Strauss, M.D., died at the age of 88.

In the fullest sense of the word, Dad was a healer. He lived a life shaped by service-steady, generous, and purposeful. Leadership, as he understood it, began with humility; influence came from example rather than authority. That belief was a compass for his life.

To those who knew him well, Dad was simply a mensch-a good man who lived with integrity and honor. He radiated deep kindness, a zest for life, and a warm, steady sense of humor. He made people feel at ease–capable and valued. He is remembered less for what he said than for how he made people feel.

Dad was Everyman: a highly skilled surgeon with working class ethics, grounded judgment, and no pretense. His humor was disarming and inclusive. He drew people in rather than setting himself apart. He was serious about his responsibilities but wore them lightly. People smiled when they met him, smiled when they talked about him, and now smile when they remember him.

His education followed a steady path: Upper Moreland High School, class of 1955; a biology degree from Franklin & Marshall College in 1959; and a medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in 1963. While at Temple, he received the O. Spurgeon English Psychiatry Award-early recognition of the attentiveness and humanity that would define his career.

Service followed. As a Captain in the United States Air Force, he was appointed Director of the Medical Clinic at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Residency training in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery was completed at Abington Memorial Hospital while maintaining a private practice. Board certification came in 1973, followed by induction as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Over the years, his roles included Chief of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital, and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Sacred Heart Hospital, where he helped develop the hospital's open heart cardiac surgery program.

Titles mattered to others more than they mattered to him.

What mattered to him was people.

Medicine drew Dad because it offered direct, practical service-the relief of suffering. He chose surgery not for status, but for clarity and purpose. At the center of his work was a deep conviction: the secret to caring for patients is caring about them. Medicine, as he practiced it, was not just technical problem solving, but listening attentively-one person to another-and standing by patients in uncertain times. His relationships with them were sacred, and they could feel it.

At the center of Dad's life was his wife, Elaine. Married for 54 years, she was the love of his life. He treated her like his queen and showed all of us-by his daily example-what a strong, healthy marriage looks like. In one of his letters, he wrote that marrying Elaine was his greatest achievement. Nothing meant more to him than their partnership.

Dad was an affectionate father who expressed his love openly-through words, touch, and encouragement. He noticed the strengths in his children and named them clearly. He was curious without judgment and protective without control. We respected him as a mentor and trusted him as a friend. He taught us to value life deeply and to marvel at its richness.

Outside of medicine, gardening was his second calling. Nurturing living things brought him joy. After retirement, he was certified as a Master Gardener, a title he cherished for the rest of his life. For Dad, gardening was simply another way of celebrating life.

How will we remember him?

a warm hug;

a firm handshake;

a game of horseshoes;

a fanny-pack filled with hard candy;

a shirt pocket stuffed with index cards;

a slip note piano melody drifting through the house;

a shared holiday reading;

a fresh batch of mint juleps;

a familiar headlamp worn with a smile-the quiet sign of a healer at work.

Family time mattered most to him-music nights at home, shared meals, memorable vacations. Bringing people together came naturally. If asked to buy flowers, he returned with armfuls; if encouragement was needed, he gave it in abundance.

In later years, Dad depended on devoted caregivers. Caroline Owiti lived with him continuously, providing companionship and steadfast support. She became his protector and his best friend. Dad came to know Caroline as 'his girl' and treated her like a daughter. Through the power of his love, she became part of our family. Anne Onyambu also cared for Dad with kindness and dedication, and we will always remember her service with gratitude.

Dad will want all of us to remember that example is the great teacher: how one lives matters more than what one says. He was that steady example in our lives and the lives of others-a safe refuge and a source of deep joy. Those who knew him were shaped by his love and guided by his example. We will miss him every day, but he'll be there in our relationships-how we care for others, show up for them, and help them shine. This is his lesson to all of us-and how we honor the life he lived so well.

Family: Dr. Strauss is survived by his sons, Dr. Robert A. Strauss and his wife Mary Jannelli of Chapel Hill, NC, Attorney Eric R. Strauss and his wife Claudia Bayona of Barto, and Dr. Kevin A. Strauss and his wife Zineb Ammous of Chicago; his daughter, Megan E. Hallman and her husband David A. of Coopersburg; his sister, Ruth L. Moyer of Lansdale; 13 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Elaine (Ramsey) Strauss; his granddaughter, Gabriella Strauss; and his brother, Frank W. Strauss.

Memorial Service: A memorial service for Dr. Robert D. Strauss will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Zenz Community Center in the Villa at Fellowship Community, 3000 Fellowship Dr., Whitehall, PA 18052. Visitation will be from 1–3 pm prior to the service. Arrangements are by Heintzelman-Stephens Funeral Home, P.C.

Honoring: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2124 Lehigh St., Suite 100, Allentown, PA 18103.