Robert Edwin Oppenheimer

Robert Edwin Oppenheimer, longtime resident of Raritan Township NJ, died peacefully in his home on December 6, 2020 after a long illness.

He was born July 22, 1940, the first child of Edwin Charles Oppenheimer and Ruth Nather Oppenheimer of Park Ridge, N.J. where Robert spent an idyllic childhood. After graduating from high school in Green County, N.Y. in 1959, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served proudly until 1962, at which point he returned to Flemington, N.J. to help support his family after the passing of his father. Soon after Robert met, wooed, and married the love of his life, Jutta Heiduk Oppenheimer of Flemington. They were married 45 years, until her death from cancer in July of 2014. They are survived by their cherished daughter, Laura Oppenheimer, of Jersey City.

Robert was employed as Chief Accountant at Hooper Holmes in Basking Ridge for more than 30 years, but in his free time and in retirement he was a man of many hobbies and interests. His wife Jutta bemusedly described these as combining at least two of the following traits: expensive, loud, messy, time-consuming, or sticky. They included, but were by no means limited to: woodworking, taxidermy, beekeeping, making jam, canning fruit, fly-fishing, grafting fruit trees, playing the guitar, blowing glass, throwing pottery, and oil painting.

Robert enjoyed gardening and it was a point of pride that his vegetable patch each year produce at least one fully ripe tomato by the 4th of July. At age 60, he decided to take up acoustic guitar so he could play the bluegrass music he so dearly enjoyed listening to. After a time, he overcame his long-held stage fright and regularly sang lead vocals while playing guitar with a band at monthly live events.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Ruth Ann Zorn of Bound Brook. He is survived by siblings Joyce Oppenheimer and her partner Nanci Wainwright; Linda Oppenheimer; Cheryl Oppenheimer Olenick and her husband Paul Olenick; and Ronald Oppenheimer and his wife Rhonda Oakes Oppenheimer. Others who will miss Robert dearly include his cousins Richard Oppenheimer and Kenneth Nather, a great many nieces and nephews and their children, and Alice Horner, a very dear friend who brought him much comfort and companionship in recent years.

Robert’s family, fellow beekeepers, fellow bluegrass musicians, childhood friends, former co-workers, and neighbors - all will miss his singular sense of humor and love for life.

Visitation is scheduled from 4-6pm on Saturday, December 12th at the Holcombe Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. A funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, December 13 at 1pm followed by interment at the Prospect Hill Cemetery at 69 Capner Street, Flemington, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to a veteran charity or the charity of one's choice.

Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information, or to send condolences.