Robert Fragen Obituary

Fragen, Robert J.

Robert (Bob) Joseph Fragen died Saturday, July 26th, 2025. He was 90 years old. Bob was born on January 18th, 1935, in Ann Arbor, MI. He was raised by his parents Nathan and Ruth Fragen in Whiting, IN. Bob met his wife Joan (Joani) Arenson when they were both teenagers at a Chicago Federation of Temple Youth conclave. They were life-long partners, married 68 years. They were passionate about travel, family, learning and sports. Bob received his undergraduate, medical school and residency training at Indiana University. After residency, he served two years as head of the anesthesia department at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, SC. In 1964, Bob came to Chicago to head the anesthesia department at Ravenswood Hospital. In 1974, he joined the faculty at Northwestern University and the anesthesia department at Northwestern's hospital. Bob authored more than 60 publications related to his research, including two academic books. Bob retired as a full professor at the end of 2012. He is survived by his children Daniel Scott Fragen and his partner Sharon Cognetti, Kathleen Susan Fragen and her husband Louis Weiss, Michael Phillip Fragen and his partner Cheryl Birkett, Patricia Beth Fragen and her husband Carlos Sandoval and Tatjana Popovic. His grandchildren include Gina Picha and her husband Deric, Melissa Anna Fragen (deceased), Danielle Elizabeth Fragen and her husband Justin Hartman, Gabriel Edan Aharoni and his wife Brianne, Sara Ashley Olson and her husband Jack Olson, Shanna Alexa Fragen and Ari Michael Fragen. Bob's great grandchildren include Nolan and Cort Picha, Nick, Blake and Brynn Olson and Addison Aharoni. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 29th at 11 a.m. at Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202. Interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076. The funeral will be live streamed at https://bethemet.livecontrol.tv/e70cc997 . Funeral arrangements are being made by Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd, Wilmette, IL 60091, 847.256.5700. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Normal Moments (normalmoments.org) or the charity of your choice.

Sign Guest Book at legacy.suntimes.com