Robert Estrin

Robert “Bob” Lester Estrin, 97, of Coconut Creek, Fla., formerly of Dunellen and Plainfield, died Aug. 28, 2018. Born in Ohio, he grew up in Dunellen.

Mr. Estrin worked for Public Service Electric and Gas and the U.S. Postal Service before he and his wife, Gertrude, opened their dry-cleaning business, Orbit Cleaners, in Piscataway.

He graduated from Dunellen High School, where he played baseball.

A World War II veteran, he enlisted in the Army Air Force, where he was assigned to the Ninth Air Force, 397th Bomb Group, as a crew chief and flight engineer. He served in Europe and supported the D-Day Invasion of Occupied France.

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He refereed basketball locally, played golf, and enjoyed playing tennis until he was 89 years old.

While in New Jersey he was very active in the community, including serving as chairman of the March of Dimes, a member of the Dunellen Recreation Commission and the Board of Health, president of the Piscataway Rotary Club, a chapter and life member of the Triboro Post #5479 Veterans of Foreign Wars, member of Foreign Legion Post #199, president of Tri-County B’nai B’rith Lodge #2935 in Plainfield, and a member of the Jewish Community Center of Plainfield, where he served on the Athletic Commission. He was also an active member of Temple Beth El in Plainfield.

Upon moving to Wynmoor Village in Coconut Creek, he was director of his building for 25 years and then president of his Portofino 2 Village for 11 years. He was also president of B’nai B’rith Wynmoor Lodge #3097 and then president of B’nai B’rith’s North Broward Council.

He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Gertrude; two daughters, Barbara (Jeffrey) Rubin of Piscataway and Sandra (Edward) Kanitra of Lawrenceville; two sons, Joel (Sharon) of Buckeye, Ariz., and Allan (Stephanie) of Mt. Laurel; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services were held Aug. 31 with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston. Memorial contributions may be made to Jewish War Veterans.