Mr Robert H Zagoren

It is with great sadness in our hearts that we announce the death of our husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away on August 14, 2016 at his home in Lenox, MA. Although he was named Robert, he answered to Bobby (when he was young) or Bob his whole life, and many close associates at CBS referred to him by his nickname “Ziggy”. Bob was drafted into the Army at age 18 towards the end of WWII and shipped to Germany where his aptitude for all things mechanical allowed him to become a Tech Sargent. It was his experience and training in the Army that led to his engineering career. He rose to become Vice President of Engineering at the Columbia Broadcasting Company, where he worked for thirty-six years. Bob was fortunate to begin his career at the beginning of TV, and was proud of having been in charge of engineering for the network, and in that capacity, covered many political conventions. Bob was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 19, 1927 and loved all things Brooklyn, from Brooklyn Blackout Cake to the Dodgers. He often re-counted the story of being at the game when Jackie Robinson stole home. Bob also loved the 1972 Knicks, and could name every player on the team. Classical music and Broadway show tunes were always playing and he could be heard humming the first line of his favorite songs. He lived for many years in Great Neck, NY, on Long Island; after retiring to Manhattan, he was asked to help with engineering projects for the then new Museum of Broadcasting in NYC-now known as the Museum of Television & Radio. Bob was a long-time resident of Lenox, where as an amateur photographer, he trudged up Monument Mountain many times with his camera backpack, and loved going to Camera Club meetings at the Pittsfield Museum. Bob is survived by his wife, Shirley Draper Gard; his daughter Robyn Zagoren-Martichuski and son-in-law Alex; son Glenn Zagoren and daughter-in-law Angela; step-son Greg Gard and step daughter-in-law Alicia; and five grandchildren: Berek, Skye, Genna, Kara, and Cam. A small private ceremony was held at Tanglewood, on the hill over-looking Stockbridge Bowl – one of his favorite spots in the Berkshires-to celebrate Bob’s life. It was just the way Bob would have wanted it. -Shirley Draper Gard & Robyn Zagoren-Martichuski

Mr Robert H Zagoren

July 19, 1927 - August 14, 2016