Robert Ehrlich Obituary

Ehrlich, Robert "Bob" Sherman, formerly of Arlington, Brookline, and Watertown died March 31, 2013 at age 78. For nearly 52 years, he was the treasured husband and beloved soulmate of Margery (Cohen), much loved and cherished father of Scott and his wife Sivan Ehrlich of Winchester, and Alison and her husband Harvey Eskenas of Foxborough, and doting Papa of his adored grandson, Brian Eskenas of Foxborough, and "friend" to all the family cats. Bob was a fine man, very kind and compassionate and loving. Bob will be sorely missed, not only by his family, but also by those lucky enough to have really known him. Bob was very proud of his stamp collecting hobby, of which he had a vast collection, and also of his large collection of baseball cards and related memorabilia. He had a profound knowledge of baseball history and of anything related to WWII. Born in Boston to the late Dr. Simon and Lillian (Sherman) in 1935, Bob was graduated from Watertown High School in 1953 and, on a full scholarship, attended Boston University, graduating in 1957, where he also received an army commission and served as an artillery lieutenant. He obtained an MA in Philosophy from Boston University in 1959 and another MA in History of Ideas from Brandeis University in 1961. Seven years later, he received his Ph.D in History also from Brandeis. Bob taught at Mohawk Valley Community College (Utica, NY), Fitchburg State University, Boston University, Boston State College before it merged with the University of Mass., Suffolk University, and at Raytheon. During the recession of the 1970's, he held an insurance license and counseled police officers about financial planning. Bob had a great sense of humor (you either laughed at or mostly groaned at his jokes), and he had a wonderful, retentive, creative mind. He was a voracious reader and could accurately quote all kinds of facts and figures and knowledgeably expound upon almost any subject. Bob loved to be involved in all types of political, historical, philosophical, religious, and sports discussions.
Bob published several works on philosophy and wrote articles on religion and education. He was extremely interested in linking science and religious thought concerning the concept of a limited deity. Bob and his family are very appreciative of the superb medical care he received from all his physicians, starting with Dr. Steven Levisohn and Dr. David P. Ryan, and the great, incomparable nursing staff on Yawkey 7 & 8, and on Lunder 9 at Mass. General Hospital. Beginning in 2002, when Bob was found to have Stage IV colon cancer, he fought hard for three years and won that battle, becoming miraculously "cancer-free" for seven wonderful and well-appreciated years. However, in 2011, when that cancer recurred, Bob, again, courageously fought very hard, but, this time, the cancer won, and Bob lost. We all lost. Graveside services on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 1pm at Lindwood Memorial Park, 497 North St., Randolph. Memorial observance at the home of Alison and Harvey Eskenas following the burial through 8pm, continuing Thursday 4-8pm, and Friday 12-3pm, and at his late residence on Sunday from 1-8pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or The Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, 02284-9168