Robert Fischer, 84, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2020 at Community Hospice Hadlow Center in Jacksonville, FL. Bob was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia on June 16, 1935. He spent his early years Bob and his mother and sister came to the United States when he was 13, where his brother was born later as the family made Miami their home. Bob attended college at the University of Florida and graduated from University of Miami in 1958. His first job brought him and his new wife, Linda, to Jacksonville to be the Director of the Jacksonville Jewish Center. It was here that they were blessed with daughter Lori. Bob's passion for Jewish communal service and working with kids became his focus and led him to a path where changed the lives of so many of us. His next career step took him to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Director of Congregation Beth Shalom, where he continued to work with the entire community and make a permanent mark on everyone he met. His later career took him to New York City where he worked for the JCC Association for thirty years, again being dedicated to helping and giving back to the Jewish community.
After losing first wife Linda, Bob returned to Jacksonville and was fortunate enough to find love again with Phyllis Glossman whom he married in 2009. Again, Bob made major changes for the community by starting the first Holocaust Survivors' Group in the city and then being called on to expedite the closing of Beth Shalom Synagogue. He became passionate about speaking on the Holocaust, educating students, churches, clubs and prisons all over the city.
Spending his final years in Jacksonville was a great opportunity for Bob to reconnect with old friends, campers and co-workers who had remembered him so fondly as he impacted many of their lives deeply. His former campers even became his card playing buddies and enjoyed their time together immensely. The many people that had the opportunity to know Bob when they were younger kept in touch with him for the rest of their lives and always remember how special he made everybody feel. Bob was clearly loved by all.
Bob was passionately devoted to his wife, daughter, granddaughter, and all of his family who survived him and preceded him in death.
He loved his family and friends with the kind of love that will keep him in our hearts forever.
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