Always enterprising, he held diverse, part-time positions while still a student in high school, and in college. He began his professional career as a trainee in The Chase Manhattan Bank credit training program, where he worked for a number of years. While at Chase, he was posted for several years to Caracas, Venezuela, an experience he valued greatly. On his return to New York, he assumed an investment banking position at Merrill Lynch. From 2002 he resided in Bronxville, New York, before returning to New York City in 2019.

 

In 1987, he met the love of his life, his beloved wife Julie Brenton, whom he married in 1992. Their happy marriage was blessed with two sons, Robert and Woodward “Buz”. From the outset of fatherhood, he devoted himself to and was supremely proud of his “stay-at-home dad” role, embracing it at every level, understanding fully that this life’s work was his most important. The results of this life’s work are easily seen in the qualities of his sons. Alongside his care for his sons was his care and love for his wife, to whom he equally and fervently devoted his life allowing her to live the happiest existence that accompanies a life wrapped with deep and unconditional love. He was a proud husband and father who rightfully found ultimate satisfaction in the achievements of his wife and sons.

 

Beyond family, Bob was fully dedicated to his community and helping the people around him. A supporter of the Student Sponsor Partners, he forged relationships with at-risk young boys whom he supported through private high school education. In Bronxville, Bob volunteered his time and energies to numerous community and school organizations. He was elected to the Bronxville Non-Partisan Committee where he served as an officer; served as Treasurer of the Parent Teachers Association of the Bronxville School; founded and ran the Middle School Dad’s Club, bringing valuable content to fathers less exposed to the important decisions impacting the lives of their children; was passionately devoted to the historic Lawrence Park Hilltop Association in Bronxville, serving multiple terms as president; was a member of the Reformed Church of Bronxville where he served as a greeter but was most valued in his role as Santa Claus, distributing presents to under privileged children at an annual holiday event; and coached countless boys’ soccer and baseball teams over a decade. He brought tremendous dedication, enthusiasm and patience to all of these volunteer roles.

 

Bob was a man of diverse interests. He was an avid – though often frustrated – student of current affairs. He devoured numerous newspapers and magazines, and he maintained a lively commentary on their content. Bob was a member of the Bronxville Field Club, The Quogue Field Club, The Quogue Beach Club and the Shinnecock Yacht Club.

 

Bob was a morally grounded and genuinely happy man. He will be most remembered for his interest in and kindness toward all people he encountered as he spread happiness each day. Through his love and acts of kindness he has left a magnitude of gifts on this earth. He now leads us, walks ahead of us, continues to show us the way.

 

He is survived by his wife Julie, his sons Robert and Woodward (”Buz”); brother Eugene (Irene) of Jakarta, Indonesia; his father and mother in law, J.C. (Buz) Brenton and Sue Rutledge Brenton; his brother in law, Kenneth Rutledge Brenton, and sister in law, Lockie Brenton Markusen; his nieces and nephews, Max, Jack, Carrie, Charlie, and Tripp Markusen and Will and Eliza Brenton; and numerous additional family and friends who loved him dearly.

 

Services with a reception to follow will be held at 11:30 am on October 2nd at the Reformed Church of Bronxville. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s name may be sent to the Lenox Hill Hospital 8th Floor ICU.