My beloved friend/dad passed away on September 27th. I love him so, so much. In honor of him, I wrote this song and performed it at his memorial. Rough recording- professional recording coming soon. All money raised from track donations will go to his memory (see organizations below). Here is the obituary I wrote with my mom and my sister.

We share the news of our beloved Bob’s passing on September 27 after 5 years living with cancer. Though he was Jewish only by affiliation with his wife, Lauren, we note that Bob died on Kol Nidre. It is said that those who pass on the High Holy days are Tzadik, righteous. Anyone who knows Bob will agree.

Bob touched everyone he met with his wacky creativity, love of people—especially children—and enthusiasm to connect deeply. He was an artist and maker of things. His wildly colorful kinetic art called attention and brought joy to mundane parts of life. He performed with the sculpture carnival on his truck in the Walmart parking lot and beyond, in other words, where you would least expect it.

Bob was forever madly in love with Lauren. He was wholly dedicated to his daughters in everything they did. We remember him as a flamboyant dancer who ran like Hermes, rode or drove many unsafe vehicles, then finished every day at home cooking with his family. In Western Massachusetts, Bob taught art at the Smith College Campus School for fifteen years. He loved to be active in his communities. He volunteered as a cook at the Amherst Survival Center and designed and helped build a playground for Leverett Elementary School. In his short time living in Las Cruces, NM he was a Justice Advocate, a volunteer for AVID in the Chihuahuan Desert (working with detainees at the Otero Detention Center), a bus driver for Las Cruces Public Schools, and a rider with middle schoolers in the Scorpion Bike Club. Bob always pushed himself to be more just. He loved biking and hiking in the Organ mountains and driving his 1946 pickup.

Bob had a magical, magnetic energy. He inspired others with his thoughtfulness and humility and was fearless and generous with his love. He will be remembered always by Lauren Rosenberg, daughters Bess and Ella Hepner and their partners Parker Ziegler and César Ignacio Pérez De la Rosa, parents Anne and Charles Hepner, sister Liz Hepner, and many friends. Memorials may be given to: Optimist Club of Las Cruces (attn Scorpion Bike Club www.lascrucesoptimistclub.org/programs/fundraisers/), AVID in the Chihuahuan Desert (avid.chihuahuan.org/give/), LCPS Bus Drivers Union (check made to PO Box 16117 Las Cruces, NM 88004), New Mexico Dream Team (COVID Relief for Undocumented Families in NM) (www.gofundme.com/f/covid-relief-for-undocumented-families-in-nm), Organ Mountains Desert Peaks (organmountainsdesertpeaks.org/donate/)

We invite you to please share your favorite memories of Bob.