Robert Schleifer

He was born on July 4th 1953 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Staten Island and was the first child of Murray Schleifer and Josephine Miceli. His early years were spend in Dongan Hills attending St. John the Baptist school until the 8th grade. He then moved to Great Kills with his parents and brother David, where he attended Tottenville High School.

After high school he served as a camp counselor at Camp Sebago on Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park. He loved playing football and was a lineman for the Aquehonga Titans Football team, being featured in articles about them in the Staten Island Advance.

In 1977 he met his devoted wife of 41 years, Lydia West, and they went on to have two beautiful daughters that he was incredibly proud of, Lauren Schleifer and Lisa Schleifer Williams.

His career started working for the New York City Housing Authority Police Department. After 10 years, he made the move to the FDNY - working at Engine 158 for the majority of his career and retired from Engine 164 in 2000, with 17 years on the job. He found himself helping to deliver two babies - one while working for NYC Housing Authority PD - in addition to helping to deliver the first “new year” baby born on Staten Island in 1984, while on the FDNY.

He was actively involved in recovery efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11 (he had retired a year before) - and when he couldn’t be there, would frequently bring food / supplies to the Recovery Operation at Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.

Robert and his one-of-a-kind sense of humor will be deeply missed by his friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 41 years Lydia Schleifer, daughters Lauren Schleifer (partner Katie Murphy), Lisa Schleifer Williams (husband John Williams), grandsons John Williams, Jacob Williams and Emmett Murphy in addition to brother David Schleifer and sister Karen Maria Schleifer.

Services for the wake will be held at Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308 on Thursday, February 6th - 2pm - 4pm & 7pm - 9pm. Funeral services will be at Messiah Lutheran Church, 205 Jefferson Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10312 at 10:00am on Friday, February 7th.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, in Robert’s name.

The family appreciates all the love and support during this difficult time.