Robert Woodward Adelberg

The world lost Robert “Robbie” Woodward Adelberg on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the age of 40. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Robbie graduated from Louisville Collegiate School in 2003 and later attended Guilford College, where he played tennis, majoring in psychology. While school didn’t hold his attention for long, life did.

Robbie’s restless spirit and endless curiosity sent him traveling the country in a vegetable-oil-powered truck, learning botany in the mountains of North Carolina, and working jobs as varied as prize-winning goat farmer, falconer, and most recently, a cherished driving instructor. Whatever he tried, he mastered—not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

He was a problem solver—fearless in the face of any challenge. He never hesitated to help someone in need and had a rare ability to connect with anyone, anywhere. Where others saw walls, Robbie saw doors. His calm approach to stress revealed solutions others missed, and he taught us all that humor, empathy, and levity are the first steps toward overcoming the impossible. For Robbie, the obstacle was never the end of the path; the obstacle was the way.

He was naturally athletic, and highly competitive. He brought intensity to ping pong tournaments, epic wrestling matches, and basketball trick shots that achieved legend status. Yet alongside that fire was a quiet gentleness, most visible in the things Robbie loved: his garden (especially his watermelons), his animals, bean burritos, video games, and above all, his people.

He was the kind of person who could make you laugh until your ribs hurt, usually with a joke that was a little too dark and a little too true, a master of making you feel “comfortably uncomfortable” in the best way. He collected stories the way other people collect souvenirs: these stories were his treasures, and he shared them freely. His humor was unmatched, but so was his heart. He was generous, magnetic, and unselfish to his core.

Robbie’s kindness wasn’t theoretical—it was lived. Less than a week after his own wedding, he flew across the country to help a grieving friend pack up and drive home. When an elderly neighbor fell ill and left behind a litter of kittens, Robbie didn’t just take them in, he made weekly visits to the neighbor to share a slice of pizza and check in. When a stressed stranger needed a tire fixed, Robbie first took them on a calming walk. This was who he was: the man who showed up, no matter what, never expecting anything in return.

His love for building connections shone brightest in his role as the ultimate uncle. He was always ready for adventures with his nieces and nephews—whether it was hiking and teaching them about which plants were safe to lick, whitewater rafting in the Rocky Mountains, or building epic sleepover forts complete with video games, “Aunt Robbie”, as he was affectionately called by his Colorado crew, wasn’t just their uncle, he was their Peter Pan, where every day with him felt like a trip to Neverland.

To say Robbie leaves behind memories doesn’t quite cover it. He leaves behind an entire universe of laughter, connection, and stories no one else could have created—his treasures. His spirit will be carried forward by his wife, Kari Vanzant; his sisters Amy Adelberg & Abby Adelberg (Frank Berry); his mother, Cindy Adelberg; his in-laws, Eric and Sherry Vanzant; Jaime Vanzant (Stanley Candio); and Kyle Vanzant (Lindsey); along with a host of family and friends who considered him their own. Left to carry on his spirit of eternal youth are his greatest treasures of all, his nieces and nephews—Parker, Sloane, & Connor (Denver, CO); Logan, Brooks, Cody, & Alana (Columbus, IN), and Kyra & Isaiah (Versailles, KY).

In true wrestling fashion, Robbie has left the ring—but not before delivering a 40-year show that left the crowd on its feet, laughing and crying all at once.

To honor Robbie’s life, love and legacy, a Celebration of Life will be held at Jefferson Memorial Forest.

Please click the link for additional details about the Celebration of Life taking place November 1, 2025.

https://www.esvanzant.com/Robbie%20Memorial/Celebration%20of%20Life_FAQs.htm

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Rob’s honor to one of the following organizations:

The Pete Foundation

https://www.thepetefoundation.org/donate

Wilderness Louisville, Inc.

https://www.wildernesslouisville.org/get-involved/donate/wilderness-louisville/

Kentucky Humane Society

https://www.kyhumane.org/donate/