Robert Allen Siskind

Mr. Robert (Bob) Allen Siskind, son of the late William Siskind and Ruth Allen Siskind, was born October 16, 1948 in Baltimore, MD. Bob passed away on February 17, 2020 from pancreatic cancer. For last six years of his life, he also had Parkinson’s disease. He attended the public schools of Montgomery County, Maryland and was a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Bob attended and earned a B.S from the University of Maryland College Park and a M.S. from Johns Hopkins University. Bob was a public school teacher in Howard County for 39 years where he taught middle school science at Patapsco Middle School, and high school biology, astronomy, physics, and advanced placement physics at Oakland Mills High School, Long Reach High School, and Marriotts Ridge High School. Bob was recognized as both the senior class teacher of the year and the parent teacher association teacher of the year on multiple occasions at all three of the high schools where he taught. Notably, Bob was recognized as the Educator of the Year for Howard County, Maryland in 1996. As a high school teacher, Bob volunteered his time to help lead many student organizations including, the Student Government Association, the National Honor Society, Students Helping Other People (SHOP), and Peer Leaders of Oakland Mills (PLOOM). Bob was also the Science department chair at Long Reach High School where he was revered for his leadership and mentorship of the younger faculty members. Bob’s passion for teaching and mentoring was evident to all that knew him both professionally and personally.

Bob was always an active member of his community. He was a long-time volunteer of the Special Olympics where he helped organize volunteers for Special Olympics events for over 10 years. He also volunteered with the American Red Cross where he organized blood drives and donated blood every 90 days continuously for over 35 years. When Bob’s children were in school, he spent his summers volunteering to manage their swim teams. He also served as a board member of the Beaverbrook Home Owners Association in Columbia, MD and the Casa del Sol Homeowners Association in Ocean City, MD. Bob was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous where he celebrated 32 years sobriety as well as sponsored many people on their own journeys in sobriety and made many life-long friends. In retirement, Bob continued his love of teaching by tutoring physics and developed a hobby in wood working where he created many pieces that will be enjoyed by those he loved long after his death.

Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years Barbara Wirtz Siskind, M.D. Bob and Barb enjoyed gardening; cooking; bread making (and eating); fishing and boating; the peace of their Beach house in Ocean City, Maryland; their many trips visiting national parks and forests; and the company of their children and grandchildren.

Bob’s beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of his children: Leah (Jarlath) Treacy of Louisville, KY and Robin (Nathan) Ragan of Cibilo, TX; grandchildren Eva, Kieran, Samantha, and Ethan; sisters Marian (Chuck) Osher and Sherry (Dan) Trahan; brother-in-law Robert (Carol) Wirtz, Jr.; a host of devoted nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and many friends. A viewing is scheduled on February 23, 2020 at 10am at Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc. (5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 20145) with a celebration of life to follow at 11am also at Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc. Internment service to follow the celebration of life at Judean Memorial Gardens (16225 Batchellors Forest Rd, Olney, MD 20832). In lieu of flowers, Bob requested donations be made in his name to the following organizations: Gilchrist Non-Profit Hospice Care (https://www.gilchristcares.org); The Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Disease Research Foundation (https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate); or The Tumorigenesis and Therapeutic Options Laboratory (ToTOL) at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center (https://uoflbrowncancercenter.org/ways-support and designate the ToTOL Lab Group).