Obituary of Dr. Robert Fitz Randolph Freeman

Robert Fitz Randolph Freeman, Sr. of Lavallette, formerly of Highland Park, NJ died peacefully on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. He was the son of Marie (Connors) and William Shourds Freeman. Bob was born on November 16, 1920 and was raised in Highland Park. He was a member of the first graduating class of Highland park High School in 1938. At the graduation ceremony he received a wrist watch as a symbol of his athletic achievement in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1942 where he was a member of Pi Beta Kappa and a member of Scabbard and Blade. He played lightweight football and varsity basketball. He enjoyed competing against schools such as Lafayette, Lehigh, Columbia and Fordham. He graduated as a Lieutenant from ROTC and went for training in South Carolina. Later he was stationed in Mississippi, where he met his future wife, Gwendolyn Ransom. They were married in Coleman, Texas on October 9, 1943. At the time he was a student at the Coleman Flying School. Bob graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1943 following his older brother Bill through medical school. Bob interned at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, NJ and opened a private practice in Highland Park in 1953. For many years he was the school physician and enjoyed attending football games and getting to watch the players throughout the years. Those players included his older son, Robert (class of 1963) and his younger son, Donald (class of 1971). He was also a member of the Highland Park Volunteer Fire Department. Bob and Gwen moved to Kaui in 1973, where he continued to practice family medicine. They split their time between their homes in Kaui, on the north shore of Oahu, and in Lavallette. After closing his practice in Lehui, Kaui, he worked in locum tenens. This allowed him and Gwen to live and travel in many states, including Montana, South Dakota, Nevada, Louisiana and Maine. Bob was predeceased by his sisters, Antoinette and Thelma, his brother, William, and his son, Donald. His son, Robert, lives in Bonnerdale, Arkansas with his wife Cynthia and their children Ashley and Grant. His daughter, Gwendolyn, lives in Clinton, New Jersey with her husband Thomas. His Daughter, Storm lives in Arlington, Virginia. His three other grandchildren are Keith, of Milford, New Jersey, Gregory, who lives in his grandparents home in Oahu and Timothy who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. There will be a Memorial Gathering on Friday, October 26th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ 08809. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Temple University School of Medicine c/o Class of 1943, Suite #143, 3223 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19140.