Robert Joseph "Rob" Torres

ROBERT JOSEPH "ROB" TORRES, of Florida, formerly of Hillsdale, New Jersey, a well-known comedy and mime entertainer, passed away on June 26, 2018. He was born in Rockland County, New York, started his formal education in Chestnut Ridge, New York, then moved with his family to Hillsdale, New Jersey where he went to George G. White School and graduated from Pascack Valley High School in 1991. While in high school, he was an active member of the cross country track team and the marching band. He was always willing to reach out to help others and was a Peer Counselor. In 1990 Robert was voted on and inducted into the National Caring Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., and later went on to serve as a member of their Board of Directors. In his early years he was also a member of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, Junior Choir, Youth Group, and a member of Hillsdale Boy Scout Troop #91, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After his high school graduation, he went on to volunteer as an intern at Give Kids the World, for terminally ill children in Kissimmee, Florida.

"Rob" was accepted into the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and after graduation from there he traveled with Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus for several years as Head Clown, then as their Advance Clown. Then "Rob" became an entrepreneur forming his own company, "Funeestuff Productions" and began his worldwide travels, performing at locations such as Walt Disney World, FL, Tokyo Disney, Japan, Big Apple Circus, Cruise Ships such as Costa Cruise Lines, just to name a few, as well as festivals and performances around the world, earning many awards for his ability/creativity to make people smile, laugh and brighten their day. He was known as THE INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MIRTH.

Robert was a very humble person, who continued throughout his life to reach out to help others, through his work, and in many quiet ways. He, along with his grandfather, father, brothers, and several uncles, were/are members of the Masonic Order. He is survived by his parents, Efrein and A. Marguerite (Hampton) Torres; sister, Allison Torres; and brothers, Thomas and (Diane C.) Torres; Andrew and (Sarah S.) Torres; nieces and nephews, Selena, Aiden, Elijah, Aurelia, also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends, at home and abroad.

For the past 22 years "Rob" has been an avid admirer of the Estudio Pantomime, first as a student of comedy and mime then as a continued advocate of the Estudio and its creator and founder, Sigfredo Aguilar, who has numerous international students. Because of Rob's love of his work in comedy, pantomime and caring, and so that his joy and vision of reaching out to others may continue, Rob's family has requested no flowers. Memorial donations may be sent to: Sigrido Aguilar, C/O Tzintzun Aguilar, 454 Gulf Road, Belchertown, MA 01007 or to a Go Fund Me account (gofundme.com) which has been established to accept donations in the name of "Rob Torres Memorial Fund".

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Rob will be held at Hillsdale United Methodist Church, 349 Hillsdale Avenue, Hillsdale, NJ on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 2:30PM.