Robert “Bob” Phillip Behrens, Jr., 66, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, passed away on March 7, 2024, at the Medical University of South Carolina after a courageous battle with illness.

Born on April 30, 1957, in Summit, New Jersey, Bob grew up in Cranford, where he attended Cranford High School. He later studied at Florida Institute of Technology before beginning a life full of adventure, service, and music.

Bob’s passion for the water began early. He was a lifeguard at the Cranford Pool for decades, later serving as maintenance supervisor, and spent countless hours diving shipwrecks across the tropics. In 2007, he moved to South Carolina with his beloved wife, Laura, of Linden, NJ, and their daughter, Abigail. There, he worked in maintenance at several national parks and community pools, always known as the one who could fix just about anything.

Music was one of Bob’s greatest joys. He was a proud and active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, competing nationally with the Carolina Statesmen and singing locally with the Lowcountry Chorus of Surfside Beach. He also instilled a deep love of music in his daughter, taking her to her first concert—the Grateful Dead—at just two years old, and inspiring her to later study music at Belmont University.

Bob was equally proud of his more than 30 years of sobriety. He not only cherished his own recovery but also gave back by teaching AA courses to inmates at a local prison, helping to change countless lives with his compassion, humor, and honesty.

A fighter to the end, Bob bravely faced Acute Myeloid Leukemia beginning in 2021. After enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy, he received a successful bone marrow transplant in October 2022. Throughout his treatment, he never lost his humor, often brightening hospital rooms with dad jokes, handmade gifts, and his deep gratitude for his nurses and doctors.

Outside of work and music, Bob enjoyed playing piano, attending concerts, and caring for the many dogs he loved over the years—Moose, Mikey, Hunter, and Garcia (named after his favorite band).

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Martha Jean Behrens and Robert Phillip Behrens, Sr. He is survived by his loving wife, Laura Behrens; his cherished daughter, Abigail Behrens; his sister, Barbara Behrens; sisters-in-law Cynthia Daly (John) and Denice Harris; niece Tyler Poore; nephew Clinton Daly; and many dear friends.

Bob will be remembered for his resilience, humor, generosity, and the joy he brought to every room he entered. He touched countless lives with his kindness and optimism, and his legacy lives on in the music, laughter, and love he shared so freely.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Bob's name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or to the Hope House in Charleston, SC. 

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