Robert G. Moyer Sr.

On Thursday July 11th, Robert Gordon Moyer Sr aged 96 passed peacefully in his home surrounded by his beloved family. Robert was born to Wallace Sr. and Anna May Moyer in 1928. It was an eventful year, Herbert Hoover was elected, penicillin was accidentally discovered and the first colorized television transmission was presented to the world. Robert was the second of three boys (Wallace Jr. & Donald) born to Wallace and Anna May in their small home in Oceanside which his father had built. It was in that home that the Moyer family braved the Great Depression as well as World War II. His father did what he could helping to build new roots for the community in the form of affordable housing, rarely making anything that could be called a profit. Wallace Sr. had what you might call a farmer’s mentality, prioritizing his community before himself as a rule. He passed that on to his son Robert, Bob as he would be come to known. Robert was steadfast in his belief that it was his duty to serve the country in the war despite being just underage for enlistment. Undeterred he marched down to the war office and tried to convince them he had his parents’ permission. He did not and his mother was called to take him home. Robert did not follow his father into construction as it was expected he would. His thirst for knowledge and love of the classroom drove him to pursue higher education in the form of a degree in business from Lycoming college. He came alive in class, continuing to challenge his professors as he attended college classes well into his 90s. From the outside, Robert lived what may have appeared to some as an ordinary life. He met the love of his life Mary (nee Paterson) when he boldly asked if she needed help removing her boots by the fire on a skiing trip. She wasn’t impressed but he eventually won her over with his undeniable charm and more than a bit of perseverance. They went on to have rambunctious twins Robert Jr. and Richard (wife Amy), and their little girl, Cindy (husband John), who he described as his joy. He served as an executive at GMAC for 38 years, retiring in 1988 when his first grandchild was born. Bob delighted in being a grandfather to his three grandchildren, Ashlyn, Kayley and Trevor. He was infamous among their elementary school teachers, always to be relied upon for extra homework requests so they would ‘stay ahead’. When his grandson, Trevor was diagnosed with autism, Robert stepped up as one of his greatest teachers and fiercest advocates. What many didn’t know about Bob was that he was an explorer at his core, infinitely curious about advancements in science and technology, foreign places, politics, always eager to make friends and understand what it truly means to serve his community. He may have seemed old fashioned at times but he knew what it meant to be committed, to do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. He expected those around him to live up to these high standards, the same way he expected it of himself. He was the longest serving member of the Oceanside Fire Department having acquired 75 years under his belt, culminating in the honor of being named Honorary Chief in 2023; a gesture he was humbled by and immeasurably proud of. He also served diligently as treasurer up until his passing. Bob could always be counted on as a loyal friend and he was brave in a way that was grounded in decisive action. It was the bravery of a firefighter. Like most firefighters, he was never fully off the job, a fact that almost cost him his life as young man when he found himself fighting an unwinnable battle against an electrical fire on a friend’s boat. His refused to abandon ship as his wife begged him to jump to safety. She had wisely already jumped in the cold water below, her fur coat offered little in the way of protection but must have been quite the visual. The fire got the boat and the ocean got the coat but neither got them so we’ll call it a draw. He also achieved the rank of 32nd degree Freemason, falling short of the highest degree only by a failure to pursue a career in politics. That’s not to say he wasn’t political. Though he didn’t seek to lead, he often found himself in leadership positions serving as a president of Kiwanis, treasurer and arbitrator in the fire house, and a campaign manager in a state assembly race. Bob found a new kind of happiness in his retirement, refocusing his boundless energy from business and politics to something he loved even more, world exploration. And he believed in traveling in style, he was one of the first people to ride the short-lived Concorde! It was noisy and small but it broke barriers and he was an instant fan. His favorite means of travel, however, was cruising, perhaps because he was fantastically good at making friends. It wasn’t unusual for him to be invited home as the guest of honor by someone he had just met who wanted to share stories. He and his wife Mary earned their way to diamond plus memberships of the Royal Caribbean cruise line and towards the end of his cruising career, were invited to dine with nearly every Captain they sailed with. When Bob wasn’t off exploring the world he was most likely found playing cards with his granddaughter Kayley or being chauffeured around in a golf cart by his son Rob at the Rockville Links golf course, both of whom cared for him tirelessly in his final years. He believed in being generous and in the power of combined effort. In 2002 when South Nassau looked to add the revolutionary Gamma Knife program to their facilities, he championed the fundraising cause. More recently, the SIBs program at South Nassau, which offers respite for siblings of children under medical care, became very dear to him. Bob Moyer was a man who was larger than life, leaving behind memories of laughter, love, and loyalty. His legacy lives beyond words, but I think he would have approved of these from Emily Dickenson “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” Bob and his family are proud supporters of SIBS place and the Oceanside Fire Department (Salamander) and are requesting in lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in his name to continue their amazing work!