Robert Len Rickmeyer

Known as Robert to his immediate family and Bob to everyone else, he was born August 24, 1942, in New Hyde Park, NY to Frederick and Gertrude Rickmeyer. Bob was the second of three children including Carole, his older sister, and Douglas, his younger brother.

Bob enjoyed growing up in New Hyde Park near the rest of the Rickmeyer family. There he loved spending time with his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and his cousin, and received the first of his many nicknames, Cookie, from them. He spent his childhood riding bikes with his friends, and swimming in the town pool. His love of discovery and adventure kept his parents on their toes and occasionally got him into trouble; including the time he crawled out his second-floor bedroom window and decided to use the telephone wire as a tightrope, and the time he climbed a tree and jumped into a pile of leaves to entertain his friends. As an adult, he often reminisced about the red schoolhouse he attended, and the stores he walked to while running errands for his mother, knowing where he was and understanding his surroundings was a passion for Bob. Wherever he traveled he researched it extensively beforehand.

It was also here in New Hyde Park, that Bob began to nurture his faith as a Christian. He loved attending Sunday school at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in New Hyde Park, and was so proud of his father, the Sunday School Superintendent. This was a faith that sustained him throughout his life.

When he was still in elementary school his family moved to Cleveland, OH where he continued to find new adventures including Boy Scouts. His father passed during this time and his mother moved the family back to New York where they moved into their new home in Hicksville, the home he later raised his family in.

Bob graduated from Hicksville High School and attended Hofstra University. Before graduating he was drafted into the Army where he served two years during the Vietnam War. It was during his time in the Army that he began his lifelong career in IT. Bob worked in this field growing his skills and responsibilities as the field of computing grew. He retired as the manager of a design group.

He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of computers with anyone who asked him for help, sometimes acting as late-night computer support to his children away at college. After he retired he learned how to develop websites and did so for members of his community including creating the first website at Good Shepherd Church, and Genevieve’s Helping Hands Charity.

When Bob was 21 he met his future wife, Anne through the church youth group. He became her math tutor and eventually they began dating. They were married in the spring of 1969. Although their families said the marriage wouldn’t last, they enjoyed 54 years together. He said marrying Anne was the best thing he ever did.

Bob and Anne had three children together Elizabeth, Genevieve and Paul whom he loved deeply. He was always active in their lives, from helping coach sports teams and leading Scouting troops to cheering from the bleachers and siting through dance recitals. He was immensely proud of their accomplishments, he ended conversations with his Army officer son Paul by telling him to “go save the world”, and he grieved the death of Genevieve until his dying day. Several days before passing he told her he was coming.

He also loved and was proud of his daughter and son in-laws, and six grandchildren. He enjoyed hearing about their varied careers and their many activities. He marveled about how different their lives were from his, their use of technology, and how smart his grandchildren were. He would watch every video of every activity with pride. His only wish was that they lived closer.

Bob's most notable passion was for sailing, something he and Anne started doing shortly after they returned to NY from California early in their marriage. Summers were spent as a family sailing around Long Island sound, first on Rapture and then Spirit. After giving up his own sailboat to pay for college for his children, he began crewing on a friend’s boat, and found new joy in racing, and the comradery of the crew, some of whom became close friends. He even brought Paul along, and passed on his love of sailing to him, and always regarded Paul as the better sailor. He regularly crewed on Mon amore and then Loki and loved The Around Long Island Race, the Wednesday night races, racing Block Island, Key West, and Mexico. Family vacations were planned around his sailing schedule because he never wanted to miss anything or leave his crew shorthanded.

Bob was also a man who held deep beliefs in his Christian faith, the importance of the bonds of family and friends, in hard work , education, honesty, and being truthful and straightforward, even when it was uncomfortable. As an adult, he was a faithful and active member of Faith Lutheran church and then Good Shepherd. He was a member of the church council, served on the stewardship committee, taught confirmation, and even sang in the choir. As his illness progressed, he became frustrated that he could not do more.

He was a deeply patriotic man, and proud of his service in the Army and of the service of Genevieve and Paul.

Bob was interested in all aspects of life and got involved in various activities. He earned several affectionate nicknames due to his various escapades, including Bob Overboard, which is another story all its own. Bob is remembered for his dry sense of humor, great storytelling, his habit of getting himself into jams, and his generosity of his time and talents.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Doug and his daughter, Genevieve. He is survived by his wife, Anne, his sister, Carol, his daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Seth, his son Paul and daughter-in-law Melissa as well as his six grandchildren, Ava, Elise, Jordan, Lydia, Annlouise, and Eleanor. He will be greatly missed and always loved.