Goldberg, Robert B.

Robert Goldberg, 80, lost his 41-year valiant battle with heart disease March 24 at Saint Francis Hospital with his wife, Carole, by his side. Bob, of West Hartford, survived a near-fatal heart attack at 39 and endured many medical procedures, but lived an active life. He made friends easily and had a sharp mind and sense of humor.

Son of the late Morris and Ethel Goldberg, Bob graduated from Conard High School in 1959 and Dartmouth College in 1963, where he was a featured concert pianist and sang with the college's a cappella group. He retired from a career in sales and marketing of educational materials.

Bob and Carole met in 9th grade and married in 1963. And then amicably divorced in 1994. And then remarried in 1997.

“We tried to make the divorce work but just couldn't,” Carole says. “It was like a sabbatical that taught us what and who were most important to us.”

Their sons are Jonathan, of Boston, senior artist-inresidence for musical theatre at Emerson College, and Jeff, a sports journalist and author who lives in San Diego with his wife, Susan. He also leaves a brother, Barry, of Longmeadow, Mass.

“I owe my love of music and my career as a musician to my dad.100 percent,” Jon says. “Without him that just would not have happened. He wanted to be a professional musician but his parents didn't support that. I am blessed and privileged that he gave me that opportunity.”

“Dad and I had a unique Connecticut relationship,” Jeff says, ”as he grew up a rabid Yankees fan and I went with the Red Sox. So much of our life was defined by the back-and-forth of the rivalry, and it fueled my passion for sports and sports writing. My dad loved making people happy. He always took time to try to get to know every waiter, every check-out cashier, every customer rep. He made everyone he encountered feel important. That was his gift.”

Bob loved bargain shopping with Carole, their second home on Cape Cod, watching “Judge Judy” and sports on TV, gardening, bird watching and his cat Sweetie and San Diego granddog Rocky.

He was a supporter of the Saint Francis Hospital Foundation and treasured his long friendship with his cardiologists, Dr. Joseph Sappington and the late Dr. Robert Cohen.

His funeral was private, and a memorial service is being planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Saint Francis Hospital Foundation, 95 Woodland St. 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105 or www.saintfrancisdonor.com/giving/.

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