Obituary - Robert Weisberger
Dr. Robert "Bob" Weisberger, a beloved physician, community leader, and devoted father, passed away at home surrounded by family on April 9, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. He was 76.
Bob was born on July 15, 1949, in Děčín, Czechoslovakia, to Louis and Lili Weisberger, both survivors of the Holocaust. Shortly after his birth, his parents fled communist-controlled Czechoslovakia in search of freedom, spending two years in a displaced persons camp in Vienna before emigrating to New York City. Bob grew up in the Bronx, where he attended Jewish day school before earning a place at the Bronx High School of Science, where he played baseball and served as editor of the school newspaper.
He went on to study English at Stony Brook University, where he also published poetry. A year studying abroad in Jerusalem in 1969 changed his course: he decided to pursue medicine. He enrolled in medical school in Antwerp, Belgium, where he met Dr. Sarah Day, who would become his wife and the mother of his four children. After completing his degree at New York Medical College, Bob settled in Richmond, Virginia, which would remain his home for nearly five decades.
He built a distinguished career as an emergency room physician across Richmond area hospitals for over 25 years, serving as medical director of the St. Mary's emergency department, helping plan and launch the emergency department at St. Francis Medical Center, and serving as medical director of Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad for 30 years. He retired from emergency medicine in 2007, then earned a Master of Science in Health Administration from VCU in 2008 and taught for years in that department as an adjunct lecturer.
Bob was a passionate member of Richmond's Jewish community. He served on the board of the Weinstein JCC and the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, was a dedicated supporter of Israel, and made regular trips there. He was honored with the Maimonides Distinguished Service Award by the JCFR and the Chesed Award at Rudlin Torah Academy, where he later served as president from 2015 to 2017. He was a longtime member of Or Ami and more recently of Keneseth Beth Israel.
Outside of medicine and community life, Bob was an accomplished amateur pianist with a deep love for Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Mozart. He was also an avid tennis player and longtime member of the Avalon Club. And as a lifelong sports fan, especially of the New York Yankees, his favorite pastime was yelling at the TV. He could often be found eating tuna salad at Joe's Inn.
He is survived by his sister, Deborah Gregor; the mother of his children, Dr. Sarah Day; his children, Ben, Katie, David, and Bill Weisberger; his son Bill's wife, Rachel Weisberger; and his grandchildren, Zoe Smith, Nora Weisberger, and Victor Weisberger.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 12th at Bliley's Central Chapel. Interment will be private.
The family will be sitting Shiva. Visitors are welcome from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17.
