Robert Craig Rosenberg

Robert Craig Rosenberg, a loving husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away on March 24, 2023, at the age of 57. He was born on May 24, 1965, in New York. He was preceded in death by his father, Alan Rosenberg, and his mother, Ilse Rosenberg, both of whom he cared for in his home in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, until their death. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Rosenberg; his twins, Adam Rosenberg and Chelsea Cooper, and his son-in-law, Daniel Cooper; his nieces and nephews, beloved family, “framily” (i.e., your friends who are your family), and friends.

Robert was the loving husband to Charlotte for 35 years. Robert and Charlotte met in high school at Horace Mann School, where Robert had been a student since pre-school. Robert and Charlotte were best friends during high school, and, after their senior year, a year spent singing in the glee club, acting in plays, and otherwise skipping class to sail his father’s sailboat, Robert and Charlotte fell in love. The couple married during their senior year of college.

After Robert graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Urban Studies, he moved back to New York where he earned his M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business. In New York, Robert built a career in commercial real estate, working for Olympia & York, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and built a life and family with Charlotte.

Robert adored the family that Charlotte and he created together. Robert was the best, most devoted father to his twins, Adam and Chelsea, his son-in-law, Daniel, and their “sister,” Riley, a 15-year-old miniature poodle, who lives a more leisurely life than most. His children know with certainty that Robert loved nothing more than being their father. Robert also loved his nieces and nephews, who he goofed around with, instigated into causing trouble, and always supported in pursuing their dreams.

Robert was a person who made strangers into friends and friends into family. Robert’s friends became the siblings he always wanted to have, and these friends and their children, his “nieces” and “nephews,” became part of his family. 

When Robert moved his family to Wilmington, North Carolina, he founded the Wilmington Development Group. As founder and president of the Wilmington Development Group, Robert and his business partner, Kaylie O’Connor, opened The Hive, a 15-suite boutique hotel in two buildings, in 2019, along with several other commercial projects throughout Wilmington over the years. Robert loved his adopted hometown of Wilmington; he worked constantly to improve the city that he loved and served formerly as the chairman of Wilmington Downtown, Inc.

Robert had an irrepressible charm and personality, was driven, intelligent, curious, creative, compassionate, empathetic, honest to a fault, earnest, playful, and a lover of life. He had a sharp mind and wit, could be extremely silly and mischievous, and was known to tell dead pan jokes at the most inappropriate times. One might even say he was devilish.  Robert loved to entertain through homecooked meals and was a consummate host.  To his core, he was a good, loving person, who made everyone feel cared for. If he loved you, you knew it, and you knew that he loved you just the way you were. 

Robert decided to donate his organs, eyes, skin, and bones to give life to others. Robert's gift of life was a fitting final act: he loved to surprise his family, and his decision to gift life was a quite a surprise. Robert was also a deeply generous person, who would do anything for his family, friends, and community. He believed in fighting for the underdog and could not bear injustice. His family and loved ones should have known that, until the very end, Robert would chart his own path, make his own decisions, share love, and give parts of himself to others, now literally. 

Robert will be missed by so many. 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel. Interment will follow immediately after at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

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