Dear Robert,
I just heard of your passing.  I am sorry I missed your services.  You have been on my mind a lot lately.  We were always making plans to get together but our follow through left much to be desired!!!  I was just talking with my daughter, Kate and she too immediately was saddened by the loss of your zeal for life and generous spirit.  Our condolences are with your family for who will miss your love and spirit so.  Eileen do you remember Robert having us meet up in Ireland!  Such fun!  So him!
Robert I know you know how you are loved.   You will truly be missed until we meet again some day.
Lots of love, Lynne and Charlie

A beautiful day joining him at one of his favorite locations, The Cloisters. 



It was 40+ years ago that my friendship with Robert began. 
We met on the telephone at ABC News. 
As an entry level Desk Assistant at World News Tonight,  I was required to order show transcripts or seek information from the media/video tape library. The person I often spoke with was Robert. 
From our first hello we somehow engaged in conversation becoming fast friends. 

I always dreamed of living in NYC. 
So, how lucky was I to be friends with Mr. New York City, 
Robert George Rorke ?!

Robert pursued his professional writing career with perseverance, confidence, and the strongest work ethic culminating in being a published novelist.

The fun, laughs and love of life he shared with his friends will keep him with us always. 
His love of family and family pride was always felt. 

My heart is heavy with grief while at the same time full of joy having known him. 

Blessings of love, peace and comfort to Robert’s mother Joan,
 his Fab Four Sisters and the entire Rorke family. 

Sincerely with love,
Tracy Gamble and Family


So sorry. Robert was a great journalist, a hoot as a friends and a tertific guy!

Robert was my dear friend and long-time editor at TV Guide and the New York Post. But more than that, he was the voice on the other end of the phone when something in life was a particular challenge. Once, I was prepping to take the GRE, hoping get into a great graduate program at USC and become a college professor. As I ranted and raved about the difficulty of the vocabulary in the English section - and admitted that, as a professional wordsmith, I felt like a fraud - he would cackle and insist that I read "Pride & Prejudice" and "Brideshead Revisited". All those mysterious words would be in classic British novels, he assured me. And what in the world was the matter with my high school and undergraduate education? I swore. He laughed. He was right. And I will be forever grateful.

Dear Robert,

You will be missed, our Nazareth Class of 1973 is sad because of you loss. We will miss you at the reunion. Thank you for you wit and heart.

Love 
Jesus of Nazareth 

In a witty family, Robert was the wittiest. He also always came to visit and provide fun companionship if you were in a far-flung place. He was a hilarious writer, a lover of books, museums, plays,  gossip, adventure and travel and a wonderful pal to have around at family parties. We'll miss him so much. Ellen, Pete, Grace and Luke Kelleher Barber

This is me, Brian Cahill and Robert @the Cloisters. We were probably 16 or so. His sense of humor, love of culture and most of all his love for his mother and sisters is my memory of Robert. And of course that laugh……!!! He was always talented and he knew it. 
I will keep all of you on my prayers for God’s comfort @ this loss. He is irreplaceable but  will always be in your hearts.

Sincere Regards,
Eileen Courtien


Robert and I shared the personal and the journalistic. He worked with me at Soap Opera Digest, Talk TV and Seventeen. He helped me stay focused and determined as my novel went on to be published. He was beloved by my husband and three children—that wit, that laugh and that biting humor could bring you up from the worst days. We love Robert and will miss him.
Meredith, Jordan, Greg, Lauren and Connor Berlin

My wife Carol and I want to express our sincere sorrow at this difficult time for the entire Rorke family. 

I will remember Robert most  for his extraordinary wit and humor and true sense of the absurd which helped keep so many of his friends sane during our crazy high school years — and well beyond. He is already truly missed.  

Brian Cahill and Carol Hooper-Cahill

43 years ago TODAY. We all grieve Robert's passing. 
High school buddies (l-r) Brian, Gee, & Stephen (at his 'elopement' in Amagansett).

I knew Robert when he was a student at Warren Wilson, and I adored talking to him.  What a wonderful and outrageous sense of humor he had.  I loved talking with him.  Someone who gave others so much pleasure.  I read news of his death with great sadness and wanted to send love to his family and friends.  

OBITUARY

Robert George Rorke

August 1, 1955 – August 12, 2023

Joseph G. Duffy

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