In loving memory of Robert Lee Strahlendorf

Obituary

Robert Lee Strahlendorf Sr. peacefully passed away on April 17, 2024 with his loving wife, Linda Lee Strahlendorf, by his side. Bob, as many knew him, was born on June 8, 1950 in Philadelphia, PA. He grew up in Roxborough where he spent much of his time as a child playing sports with specific interests in baseball and golf. His younger brother, Gerry, enjoyed the same, and they were fortunate to be close enough in age to play together throughout their childhood. Their parents, Robert H. and Doris, started a longstanding family tradition of vacationing in Wildwood, NJ. A summer never passed without young Bobbie, as affectionately referred to by his mother, enjoying the silky sand and warm waves of the Wildwood shoreline.

Bob earned a B.A. in mathematics at Temple University where he played shortstop on the baseball team. One of his jobs following college was as a math teacher at Mastbaum High School in Philadelphia. He was one of three “Mr. Strahlendorfs” on the faculty at the time as his brother and father were biology teachers.

The Strahlendorf family’s love for Wildwood later turned into a business opportunity as the brothers purchased a four-story rooming house along with their parents. The Marlborough Apartments was formed, coincidentally on Roberts Avenue, in Wildwood and it stayed within the family for over 30 years. Fittingly, Bob met the love-of-his-life at the Marlborough while she was looking for a summer rental in 1980. Robert and Linda instantly fell in love and were married on November 15 of that same year. A year later in 1981, Robert Lee Jr. was born and later in 1985 his sister, Lindsay Lee, arrived.

The children were raised in a warm and loving home led by their father who wanted nothing but for his children to grow up and experience true happiness. Whether working as a math teacher at Wildwood Catholic, an actuary for Blue Cross Blue Shield, or running the family’s Summer business, Bob was always striving to provide a better life for his wife and kids.

Lindsay shared the athletic abilities of her father, and he watched her proudly at basketball and softball games. She learned to enjoy all the amenities Wildwood had to offer from her father. They took frequent trips to the boardwalk to ride the Sea Serpent roller coaster or circle endlessly on the bumper cars for hours.

Bob’s first task when taking the family to the beach was to create the “babysitter”. This was simply a large hole at the high tide line with a wall of sand in front. He knew the kids would not stray far from this as he sat back and enjoyed the sun with Linda. As the kids grew older, trips to the beach involved body surfing and tossing the frisbee.

Robert Jr. enjoyed a personal calculus tutor at home in high school. His father was never too tired to help with homework and explain derivatives and integration. Robert Jr. benefitted as he went on to earn a math degree just like his dad. Later in life, Bob taught his son how to play golf. They shared many rounds together at Cape May National Golf Club, in Lower Township, NJ where Robert Jr. tried his damnedest to reproduce Bob’s natural, smooth golf swing.

The last chapter of Bob’s life was spent in Fort Myers, FL. He and Linda sold the Marlborough in 2005 started Aqua Care Pool and Spa. Together, they experienced the warm sunny weather of Southwest Florida while my father ran the business. Golf and tennis were frequently on the agenda. But one thing that never changed, Bob and Linda were together in-love until the very end.

Bob knew pure happiness. He felt it raising children. He felt it being loved and cared for by Linda. He experienced it with the birth of his four grandchildren; Piper Isabel, Henry Lee, Lucy Lee, and Nathan James. He knew how to turn a double play with his glove and stick a 3-wood a few feet from the pin over 225 yards out. He knew how to party; whether it was accompanying Linda dressed as Beetlejuice at a club Halloween event or day drinking and shooting pool with Lindsay and Robert Jr. at North Wildwood Irish Festival. And although he is gone, he can rest peacefully knowing that his wife, son and daughter will live on with the happiness that he taught them to enjoy.

“It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live.” -Ayn Rand (a philosopher admired by my father)

Robert Sr. is survived by his wife Linda, son Robert and his wife Megan with children Henry Lee and Nathan James, daughter Lindsay and her husband John Pszwaro with children Piper Isabel and Lucy Lee, and sister-in-law Carol Strahlendorf. He is predeceased by his mother Doris Strahlendorf, father Robert H. Strahlendorf and brother Gerry Strahlendorf. A celebration of Robert Sr.’s life will be held at a later date in New Jersey.