ROBERT BIRNBAUM

BIRNBAUM--Robert. Robert "Bob" Birnbaum, 85, of Scarsdale NY, died unexpectedly on Friday, August 19th. He was en route to the airport to visit family members when the driver of his taxi lost control of the vehicle. Bob is survived by Nina, his beloved wife of over 55 years, his daughters Sarah and Beth, and his four grandchildren. The son of Martin and Esther Birnbaum of Brooklyn, NY, Robert attended NYU University Heights, where he was elected class president, and subsequently Harvard Law School. He spent a long and fulfilling career as a trusts and estates attorney; he had no plans to retire and was a full-time practicing lawyer at the time of his death, finding great meaning and purpose in his work managing the affairs of his clients. Robert was a classical music lover who enjoyed playing "name that tune" with every symphony he heard on the radio, a voracious reader with a deep interest in history, a curious and adventurous world traveler, and a bon vivant who delighted in a platter of ripe tomatoes and fresh-picked corn. Thanks to his insatiable intellectual curiosity, he served as a search engine in the days before the internet, and the breadth of his knowledge never ceased to astonish - no matter the topic, anyone asking him a question could count on an informed answer. Throughout their lives, his daughters knew that they could call on him anytime, for anything from sterling advice to a ride home from a questionable party, and he would immediately deliver. His devotion to his family was total, and at the same time his colleagues saw him as endlessly generous with his time. Family, friends, and clients trusted and relied on him for his knowledge, sound judgment, empathy, and kindness. He leaves a gaping hole in the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to know him, and who now will never stop missing him. A memorial service will be held Sunday, August 28th at 9am at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, 630 Amsterdam Ave., followed by a shiva gathering at the family's residence at 3pm.