Robert Alan Fivel

Dominican Republic-Robert Alan Fivel, formerly of Troy, passed away on December 27, 2020, while in the Dominican Republic. Robert attended Troy High School where he lettered in swimming and soccer. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in biology from the State University of New York at New Paltz and received a Masters Degree from RPI. He began his career as a microbiologist at the New York State Health Department. He later worked at the Sterling Drug facility in Rensselaer, and finally for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals from which he retired. Robert and two of his science colleagues pioneered the development of a method for determining whether facilites which were responsible for testing public water supplies conducted accurate testing procedures. They formed a company called QC3 Associates, Inc. The method involved preparing a water sample with a certain count of bacteria and holding that count constant until a water testing lab could perform a test to determine the bacteria count and sending the results of their test back to QC3 to verfify the tests' accuracy. Robert was an accomplished saxaphone player and performed with an Averill Park dance band for several years. He was a tournamentlevel handball player and formed many lasting friendships on and off the handball court. His quick and intelligent sense of humor was his trademark quality. If you tried to repeat a joke he told, it just did not sound as humorous as when Bob told it. Robert is survived by his brother, Norman Fivel, his sister-in-law Joanne Fivel, his cousin, Ronnye Shamam, and his niece and nephew, Michelle Fivel Douglas and Scott Fivel, both of whom he adored. Funeral arrangements will be performed in the Dominican Republic. A remembrance will be held for his state-side family and friends when health conditions permit. http://www.lastingmemories.com/robert-alan-fivel