Robert Howard Roisman, known as “Robbie” to his family growing up, “Bob” to his wife of 50 years Ellen Roisman (nee Sobel), “Dad” to his daughter Jodi M. Wilsher (nee Roisman) and his son Glenn I. Roisman, and most importantly, “Papa” to his favorite human beings, his grandchildren Nathan Robert Roisman, Rayelle Millie Wilsher, and Sienna Lark Wilsher, was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 20, 1948. As a young boy, Robert, together with his now deceased parents Leo and Sylvia Roisman (nee Moskowitz), and his bereaved younger brother, Daniel Roisman, lived in the Brooklyn home of his grandfather, Paul Roisman.

Having to leave Brooklyn for Levittown, NY was a mixed blessing for Robert. He missed the structure of the educational experiences and his peers in the City. Yet arrival on Long Island also meant eventually meeting Ellen Sobel at Division Avenue High School in Levittown and eventually marrying her after dating while they were both attending college at SUNY Oneonta, where both trained to be educators. The move to Long Island also meant meeting friends like Bobby Goldberg and John Metzner, including those who were part of the Mustang club, friendships that turned out to be life-long, even as the ill-fated 1967 Mustang he raced rusted in the backyard. Still, there were a conspicuously large number of racing trophies in the basement that testified to an exciting time in Robert’s young adult life that hinted at a time when—perhaps—it was OK to exceed the speed limit.

Robert’s friends likewise recall many fun college days and nights, including those spent at the Royal Bar in downtown Oneonta. Indeed, these times were so exciting that Robert for a brief time acquired another nickname among his dear friends—Chico. Robert himself fondly recalled those days playing pinball and drinking beer drafts with his future wife Ellen and Mich Fitzgibbons Miroff (Ellen’s roommate). But he also saw that time as something of a cautionary tale: On a bet one morning near the end of his time at college at Oneonta (perhaps after a night at the Royal) Robert took and passed with flying colors an exam that qualified him to work in the US Post Office.

The absence of jobs in education at the time and Robert’s deep desire to be sure his young family was well cared for led to a long and award-winning, even if not entirely satisfying career as a postal clerk. The benefits were good, as was the fact that he was able to retire at age 55. And his time at the post office overlapped with a very productive period at home. His son Glenn was born in 1976 and his daughter Jodi followed in 1979. Though a glutted market made teaching not a professional option, Robert seized the moment to invest in his family and his community of Central Islip, NY. He was very proud of his children’s accomplishments while they were in school and was likewise proud to serve as a T-ball coach for many years, PTA President of Andrew T. Morrow elementary school, and later as a member of the Board of Education (an honor he achieved after a run-off victory when the original election resulted in an unprecedented tie!). He later was elected to the Board of the Central Islip Library and served many years as Treasurer and in other roles on the steering committee for Boy Scout Troop #223, many years (it should be noted) after his son was no longer affiliated with the Scouts on Long Island. As in many of his volunteer positions, in the Boy Scouts, Robert cultivated a small number of exceptionally loyal friendships, including an especially close one with Andy Braun.

Robert was himself a committed and loyal man and husband. He was also stubborn and quixotic, and took pride in both. In his later years, in addition to enjoying time with family and friends including Ellen and Richard Ellis, Robert took on new responsibilities as the Auditor of the Central Islip School District, while also doting on his grandchildren at home. His final job out of the home leveraged his intellect and detail-oriented personality, and his final and perhaps most treasured interpersonal role as grandparent leveraged his big heart for his family.

The last two years during the pandemic were challenging for Robert, but he nonetheless rose in new and unanticipated ways to return home following a fall and other medical setbacks. In the end, he bravely insisted on returning to his home for the final act of his life, one that mirrored a lifetime of meeting life transitions on his own terms. He will be missed by those who knew him and his efforts on behalf of his community will have continued positive impacts on those who did not.

Robert is survived by his wife Ellen Roisman, brother Daniel (Rebecca) Roisman, daughter Jodi (Keion) Wilsher, son Glenn (Chryle) Roisman, grandchildren Nathan Roisman, Rayelle Wilsher, and Sienna Wilsher, sister-in-law Marji Sherman, brothers-in-law Paul Sobel and Mike Sherman, nieces Stacey Kelly, Genine Longacker, and Cori Lewis, along with his many beloved cousins with whom he spent his early and later years.

Life celebration services officiated by Rabbi Aaron Benson will take place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in Shalom Memorial Chapels, 760 Smithtown Bypass, Smithtown, NY 11787 under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Please direct all questions regarding the service to Wright & Ford at 908-782-3311.

Everyone is kindly asked to begin to arrive at the funeral home beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. All persons are respectfully requested to wear masks during the entirety of the service, as well as social distance when possible. The health and safety of all attendees is of paramount importance to Bob’s family.

Burial in the family plot will follow at New Montefiore Cemetery, 1180 Wellwood Avenue, West Babylon, NY 11704. All are welcomed and encouraged to join with the family at this time. Additionally, you are encouraged to bring a stone or rock from your home or other area that holds a place in your heart. As most people who knew Bob know, he loved all persons equally and greatly appreciated that people came from all places and backgrounds. Traditionally when visiting a person interred at a Jewish cemetery, it is custom to leave a stone or pebble on the grave-marker to indicate the visit. There are many varying interpretations as to why this is done, but for Bob, placing your stone will remind all present that no matter where we go, our foundation is based on the love of family and friends.

Realizing that some may be unable to attend due to the pandemic, the life celebration service on Tuesday, followed by the graveside services, will be live-streamed, with the stream being active starting at 12:45 p.m.. The link is the same for both locations and there will be a short pause after the service at the funeral home until the funeral cortege arrives at the cemetery. To watch, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker enabled. (If you are having issues with clicking above, please follow this link: https://livestream.com/aritonvideolive/roisman).

If you are unable to attend the funeral but would like comments from your heart read on your behalf, please send an email with the comments and your contact information to careteam@wrightfamily.com.

Shiva will take place on Tuesday (2/15), Wednesday (2/16) and Thursday (2/17) from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the family home, 248 Sugarwood Lane, Central Islip, NY. Out of respect to the family, it is politely requested that only fully vaccinated and masked individuals make Shiva calls.

You are encouraged to visit Robert’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

As is custom in the Jewish faith, no flowers please. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation either to a cause that reminds you of your relationship with Robert or to one of the following: Long Island Cares Food Pantry (https://www.licares.org/donate-now/), Penguins International (https://www.penguinsinternational.org/donate/) or Rock the Vote (https://www.rockthevote.org/about-rock-the-vote/donate/). And remember Robert’s admonition: If you don’t vote, don’t complain.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”