Lakewood is mourning the passing of Robert (Bob) Kirschner, a devoted educator, businessman, and community figure whose life was deeply bound to the town where he was born and raised. Bob was the son of Nathan and Jeanette (Warm) Kirschner and the grandson of Nathan Warm, who had the zechus to serve as the personal driver for Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, founder of Beth Medrash Govoha and architect of Lakewood’s transformation into a world center of Torah.
Growing up in the Lakewood of the 1940s and ’50s, young Bob spent his days exploring Lake Carasaljo, racing soapbox cars down Forest Avenue, and engaging in hobbies such as collecting stamps and coins. He attended Lakewood Public Schools, graduating in 1957, where he was an active member of the Boy Scouts and a talented athlete, playing football and pitching for the Shore Conference and Central Jersey Championship baseball team.
During his junior year of high school, Bob joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, serving two years with the Atlantic Fleet after graduation. He went on to earn his B.A. and M.A. from Montclair State Teachers College, where he met his future wife, Frances (Fran) Stern.
Bob began teaching at Lakewood High School in 1963 and served the district for 36 years as a teacher, guidance and career counselor, and administrator. He supervised five academic departments, spearheaded the district’s technology program, and oversaw the computerization of school libraries—earning a Certificate of Distinction from the New Jersey Department of Education for his innovative work.
As a career counselor, he established a state-funded job placement program that helped thousands of Lakewood students enter the workforce. The Career Center he created became a nationally recognized model, replicated in districts throughout the state.
Bob and Fran worked side by side at Lakewood High School, quietly assisting students in need with clothing, sneakers, and other necessities. They even welcomed a couple of students into their home temporarily. For 36 years, they shared lunch together every school day until their retirement.
Alongside his education career, Bob founded and operated Robert Kirschner Real Estate, Inc., specializing in sales, building rehabilitation, and residential relocations.
In 1992, driven by his love for his hometown, Bob co-organized the Lakewood All-Class Reunion in honor of the town’s centennial and went on to found the Lakewood High School Alumni Association, serving as its first president. He led efforts to host Hall of Fame luncheons and raise scholarship funds for local students.
Bob also served for over 15 years on the Lakewood Industrial Commission—many of them as Chairman—helping to develop one of New Jersey’s largest municipally run industrial parks and expanding the Lakewood Airport. His civic service extended to the Lakewood Rotary Club, Lions Club, and various mayoral committees. In 2003, he and Fran were named Citizens of the Year by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
His contributions to preserving Lakewood’s history were no less notable. Bob played a central role in designing and restoring the Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum, donating items and ensuring the town’s story would be told for generations.
In addition to his professional and civic work, Bob assisted Fran in her public relations business, Frantasy Enterprises, often chauffeuring her to events and offering input on her projects. Together, they dedicated over 70 years to education and public service.
Bob was a devoted husband, proud father, and loving grandfather. A master of puns, loyal New York Yankees fan, and staunch supporter of the State of Israel through Israel Bonds, he was known for his warmth, humor, integrity, and concern for every individual.
He is survived by his wife Frances; son Brian and daughter-in-law Caren of Elkins Park, Pa., and their son Nathan; daughter Pamela Weinfeld and her husband Mark of Newton, Mass., and their children Andrew, Jessica, and Alyssa; and sister Carole Snyder of Florida. He was predeceased by his parents Nathan and Jeanette Kirschner.
In remembering Bob, the Lakewood community also recalls with kavod his family’s unique place in the town’s Torah heritage—through his grandfather, Nathan Warm, whose faithful service to Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l connected the Kirschner family to the earliest days of Lakewood’s emergence as a makom Torah.
The levaya will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood.
