Robert Selig Bernstein

Secaucus NJ - Robert Selig Bernstein, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather died on December 16, 2025. Bob was born June 17, 1931, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he grew up engaging in such shenanigans as accidentally sticking a pitchfork through a little girl’s foot (a future life-long friend) and eating sacks of White Castle hamburgers. He was a talented and handsome crooner with early plans to become an entertainer. Bob enlisted in the Army on April 3, 1951, during the Korean War, and served for three years in Army intelligence, stationed for part of that time in Japan.

Following his military stint, Bob attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before accepting a job with IBM. He married Gloria Israel, also from Elizabeth, in 1952 and together they raised five children, moving between the east coast and the midwest, as business opportunities arose. After Gloria died in 2001, Bob found happiness again with Leah Wexler, who was just behind Gloria in high school. Following Leah’s passing, Bob remained active and engaged with many friends, including his lifelong childhood friend, Alan Simberloff, and his late-in-life companion, Thelma Gold. Bob played doubles tennis until he was 88. He loved his weekly poker games, and was a voracious reader. He never met a meal he didn’t love, and was especially fond of oysters and martinis. Bob loved opera as well as the New York Giants. For decades, he conquered the New York Times crossword everyday (in ink!), including Sundays. He was adored by his grandchildren.

Bob is survived by his five children and their spouses, Amy Bernstein (Clifford Mitchell), Susan Driscoll (Dan Driscoll), Laura Bristow, Jane Bernstein (Steven Nadler), and Daniel Bernstein. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Rose, Ben, Hannah, Joe, Sam, Cassandra, Jules, and Arlo; and three great-grandchildren, Nora, Teddy, and Miriam.

A service will be held at Gutterman’s Funeral Home, Hackensack, NJ, today Saturday, December 20, 2025. Shiva will be held at 2103 Harmon Cove Towers, Secaucus, NJ, following the service on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 pm to l 5:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bob’s name to the American Kidney Foundation or any other charity of your choosing.