Bob Postman

He is survived by his wife of over 57 years, Elizabeth (aka Betty Ann), his adult children Chad, Blaire and Ryan; his grandson, Quinn; and his children-in-law, Mary Beth, Gary and Erin.

He was born on July 13, 1941 in Jersey City, NJ to Edith (originally of Manchester England), and Benjamin (original last name Pismeni, born in the pre-revolutionary territories of the Russian Empire, possibly Ukraine), and had fond memories of his Jewish immigrant extended family.

He was a self-admitted highly under-achieving student at Kearney High School in Kearney, New Jersey, probably because he was bored beyond belief. Despite this, he did manage to teach himself how to recite the alphabet backwards at top speed, and had a notable football career.

Upon high school graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, which was an interesting choice for someone who hated being told what to do. But it was in the USAF that he was given a battery of standardized tests for the first time, and declared “super smart.” He was rewarded for this achievement by the USAF with placement in the relatively intellectually rigorous USAF Weather Service, including a tour of duty on an isolated Air Force Base in Greenland, where he took his first college course.

He returned to New Jersey and took a summer job as a lifeguard at Willow Lake Day Camp in Lake Hopatcong. There he met Betty Ann, and they were married in August 1965.

When they first met, Betty Ann was already enrolled at Newark State Teachers College (now Kean University). Bob thought that seemed like a pretty good plan, enrolled in the same program, and proceeded to finish it in just three years. Subsequently, Bob was awarded a full fellowship to Columbia University where he received his Doctorate in Math Education.

In 1971, after a few years in Upper Manhattan, and the birth of his first two children, Bob and Betty Ann bought a home in Closter, New Jersey. He would call Closter home for the rest of his life.

Bob was an author, professor, and dean with expertise in test preparation, mathematics, technology, and strategic planning. He was Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Bob was also held in high regard for his long service as Dean, where he improved quality, enrollment and developed many successful graduate programs, including programs in mathematics and technology. This regard extended to his faculty position and role as Director at Columbia University, and for founding the Urban Teaching Academy.

His scores of books and computer programs have reached tens of millions, and are found in schools and in bookstores throughout the United States and Internationally. He is widely recognized, including in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Technology, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in Science and Engineering.

After retirement from the college, Bob continued to make significant contributions to school mathematics through his elementary and high school mathematics books, his widely used ACT and SAT books and his published works about mathematics instruction, as well as through his efforts at the Hunter College Schools and other schools and organizations,

An active member of the community, Bob served on various Boards that foster educational opportunity and quality, as an elected member of the Closter N.J. Board of Education, and as founding coach of the Comets youth soccer team. He was also a founding member of both The New York/New Jersey Metro Stars (now Red Bulls), and the NYCFC.

Bob enjoyed camping & driving trips all over the United States and Canada. And we do mean ALL over. For example, in 1984, he took his family on a three-and-a-half week long, cross-country trip in a station wagon that included attending the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. He also loved days on his boat and at his summer home of 30 years in Wilmington, North Carolina, talking to interesting people (often complete strangers), watching his grandson play a multitude of sports, studying the stock market and investing, walking the pier in Piermont, N.Y., and, most of all, his family.

He started with nothing, and ended with everything important. He was brilliant, and difficult, and interesting, and mischievous, and motivated, and challenging, and creative, and dynamic, and tenacious as hell, and we shall not see the likes of him again.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the name of Robert D. Postman to the The Glioblastoma Foundation at https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate

Remembrance and Ceremony Details:

• Sunday, March 26, 2023:

o Visitation, 2-6PM, Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ

• Monday, March 27, 2023:

o Funeral Mass: 10AM St. Elizabeth’s Church 700 Wyckoff Ave, Wyckoff, NJ

o Funeral Interment: Maryrest Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Ave, Mahwah, NJ

o Post Interment Repast: home of Chad & Mary Beth Postman