Robert Louis Zucker Sr.

Robert L. (Bob) Zucker, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 16, 2021 at the Rosewood Health Center at the Cypress of Raleigh. Bob was born in Raleigh on January 5, 1931 to the late Louis T. Zucker and Dorothy Stephens Zucker. A lifelong Raleigh resident, he attended Broughton High School and was an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill class of 1953. Following college, Bob was inducted into the US Army where he served during the Korean War. He later met and married the love of his life, Anne S. Strickler, with whom he would spend the next 60 years until her passing in 2020.

An avid Tar Heel fan, Bob was a lifelong member of the Ram’s Club and UNC Alumni Association. He was a season ticket holder of both Carolina Football and Carolina Basketball for many years, and you could find him in the stands on game days listening to Woody Durham on his headphones and cheering for the Heels.

His love of the University of North Carolina caused Bob to give back to the school in many ways. Bob and Anne endowed a UNC swimming scholarship and helped fund the building of Carrington Hall for UNC’s School of Nursing. However, his commitment to philanthropy went far beyond the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, giving to numerous charities and other nursing programs including East Carolina’s and UNC-Pembroke’s, whose nursing school came to mean a great deal to him and Anne.

When he wasn’t at a Carolina game, Bob could be found on the golf course, at Atlantic Beach or at Lake Gaston. A member of Northridge Country Club, Bob played in many golf tournaments, and he and Anne developed many lifelong friends along the way. He even won the Swing into Spring Tournament on one occasion. In addition to golf, Bob loved the water. He grew up going to Atlantic Beach with his parents and enjoyed swimming and fishing in the surf there throughout his life. Bob was also at home on his boat at Lake Gaston and reveled in entertaining family, friends and business associates at his home there. In later years, he found new friends at his condo in Highland Beach, Florida.

Bob loved people. He was a born salesman with a strong work ethic and competitive spirit which he used to grow his family’s business. After being discharged from the army, Bob went to work with his father at Raleigh Auto Supply. Eventually the business was incorporated, and Bob started a second corporation, Outdoor Equipment Distributors, Inc. Bob worked hard and learned to grow the business from the “hard knocks” he experienced throughout the years. Bob eventually brought his sons into the company; however, he continued to work at OED until the end, as it was one of the prides and joys of his life.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, everything Bob worked for and accomplished in life was for his family. His love affair with Anne lasted almost 60 years, and watching them face life together was an inspiration to everyone who witnessed it. Bobby took pride in all of his children and loved his grandchildren fiercely. He cherished every moment that he spent with them.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Strickler Zucker. He is survived by his daughter Vickie Goldman and husband, Doug of Dunwoody, GA; son Rob Zucker and wife, Elizabeth of Raleigh, NC; son David Zucker and wife, Tonya of Raleigh, NC; and eight grandchildren: Alan, LeeAnne, Benjamin, Madeline, Thomas, Jacob, Ashley and Michael.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke School of Nursing either online at uncp.edu/give and by selecting “School of Nursing” or by mail by sending a check made payable to “UNCP Foundation” and entering “School of Nursing” in the memo and mailing it to: PO Box 1510, Pembroke, NC 28372.