It is with great sadness that we share that Past Clarkson Trustee Robert K. Goldman ’79 passed away yesterday at Francis House in Syracuse, NY after a long illness. He served as a Trustee from May 2012 to October 2017, and was a member of the Coulter School Advisory Council prior to his board service. Below is the obituary his family shared yesterday evening.
Robert K. Goldman (June 29, 1957 – July 1, 2021)
Robert Kevin Goldman, 64, of Fayetteville, NY passed away on July 1, 2021 at Francis House in Syracuse, NY after a long illness. Bob was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 29, 1957 and was raised in Stamford, CT. He is predeceased by his father Neal Goldman; his mother Geraldine Hoogendijk-Goldman; and his mother-in-law Peggy Niles.
Bob graduated from Clarkson College of Technology in 1979 with a BS degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, later served for five years on the Clarkson College of Technology’s Engineering Advisory Committee and Clarkson University’s Board of Trustees for over five years. Bob was awarded the Clarkson University’s most prestigious alumni award, the Golden Knight Award, in 2019.
Bob was a Professional Engineer for 37 years, starting at O’Brien & Gere Engineers. After five years Bob left to join a new company, Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc. (BBL) in 1984 and held successive management positions becoming President in 1997, President and CEO in 2001 and CEO and Chairman in 2003. BBL was sold to ARCADIS in 2005 and Bob was then named Global Director-Environmental and a member of the Senior Management Committee of the Dutch parent company, travelling the world as part of his responsibilities. His final five years were spent as the Executive Vice President of ARCADIS US Operations until Bob retired from ARCADIS in 2015. Bob was co-founder of Blue Eagle Strategies LLC, along with his good friend Rob Scott (2015-2018). Blue Eagle was a vehicle for providing select clients with strategic advice focused on robust financial performance and growth while supporting a positive company culture.
Bob has always been generous with his time and talent serving on the United Way of Central New York Board of Directors from 2001 -2006, and serving as the overall Campaign Chairman in 2005 and 2006, even diving into the pond behind his office and recreating a Blues Brothers performance to celebrate BBL’s successful United Way campaigns. Bob also served on the Foundation Board of the Museum of Science and Technology and served on the NY State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology. Bob also was a Volunteer Firefighter/First Responder/Emergency Medical Technician for the Town of DeWitt Fire Department until his illness forced him to step down.
What was most important to Bob was his family, including his wife of 37 years, Karen (Niles) and children: Christine, Steven, Timothy and Samuel. All four kids made him incredibly proud. In addition to his immediate family, Bob is also survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Lynn (Steve) and Maryann Manion (Lang), niece and nephew Lindsay Skae and John Skae (Alexandra), father-in-law David Niles and brother-in-law Mark Niles.
In his youth, Bob would spend many summers as a camp counselor at the YMCA Camp Hi-Rock in the Berkshires. He would take his campers on canoe trips into Quebec, Canada for weeks at a time, navigating rivers, rapids and camping along the way. This experience fueled his passion for protecting the environment and his continued interest in climate change. Bob enjoyed ice cream, trips to Hawaii with family and friends, mentoring young engineers, his red Mini Cooper, teaching his kids new skills and watching them take on new adventures, spending time at his kids’ sporting events, time at the Cayuga Lake house, fishing in Canada with the boys, collecting antique maps and books, theater, Yankees and SU basketball fan, family vacations and spending time with family and friends. Bob was a loving husband, devoted father and he led an honorable life. He was loved and respected by many friends and family who are left to cherish his memory.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to Francis House and Hospice of CNY.
For more information or to send conodolences, please contact Kelly Chezum, Vice President for External Relations and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees, kchezum@clarkson.edu.