Robert Lee Graeff

1935 - 2021

Robert Lee Graeff, 85, of Reading, Pennsylvania passed away in Northfield, New Jersey on May 30, 2021. Bob, as he was called, was born on August 4, 1935 in Reading, PA to Catherine and Benjamin Graeff. His father was an Industrial Arts teacher and later superintendent of the Reading School District. Bob attended Northeast Jr. High School and Reading High School where he played basketball and soccer; he also ran track, with hurdles being his favorite track event. Bob ran track and played soccer at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, where he graduated with a B.S. degree in June 1957; his major was biology. Bob’s nickname on the F+M soccer team was “Hound Dog”. Bob also played professional soccer for the Reading Americans or Amerks. In 1961, Bob graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School with a D.D.S. degree. Shortly after this he received his active-duty orders to report to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. As an Army dentist, Bob worked at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; Fort Bliss at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, in El Paso, Texas; Kirkland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the US Army Institute of Dental Research at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. Bob had a private dental practice in Reading, PA until 2016. As a young man, Bob belonged to the Young Men’s Christian Association; worked at Camp Conrad Weiser in Wernersville, PA; and played basketball for the Olivet Boys Club Team and the Army Basketball Team, both in Reading PA. He belonged to the Chi Phi fraternity. Bob was a member of the American Dental Association, Berks County Dental Society, Penna Dental Society and the Greater Philadelphia Dental Society. He was also a member of the Avalon fishing pier, the Stone Harbor Yacht Club, the YR’s in Wyomissing, PA, The German Club in Reading, PA and the Reading Liederkranz. Bob loved listening to jazz, spending time in his garage doing woodwork, fishing in North Carolina, Canada, Avalon and Stone Harbor, and reading 100’s of books with Mark Twain as his favorite author, but his favorite hobby of all time was drinking beer. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Mike and his wife, Rita. Bob is survived by his son, Robert L. Graeff and wife, Cammy; his daughters Karen Graeff; Jodi Miner and husband, Michael; Debbie Sharrah and husband Ray; and Lisa Parsons; his grandchildren: Whitney, Robert, Samantha, Benjamin, Turner, Jee-Anna, Weston, Kim, Jon, Matt, Whitney and Brittney; and his great- grandchildren: Cameron, Naomi, Avery, Mina, Merrick, and Irie. Arrangements by the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home, Linwood - Ventnor. Condolences may be extended to the family at ghwimberg.com