Rob Fishin’ - The man loved being on the water.

I was saddened to hear of Rob's passing.  He was one of the first people I met upon arriving at Princeton my freshman year as he and I were roommates and played together on the freshman football team.  We remained friends throughout our four years at PU during which our nickname between one another was "Roy" (adopted from a passing interaction we had had with an upperclassman on the way to class one day who couldn't put Rob's name to his face, awkwardly calling him "Roy"... to Rob's great amusement).  At the end of our four years at Princeton, Rob helped me get my first post-graduate job which was with Central Telephone Company, the company for which his dad was the CEO.   Since the job was up in the Chicago area and Rob had gotten his first job after Princeton up there as well, we became roommates once again in an apartment located in Mt. Prospect.  After about a year, though, I was transferred from the company's Chicago office to a new position I'd been given in Tallahassee, Florida, after which Rob and I lost direct contact. Fortunately, our common friend, John Fahey (our "other" roommate from freshman year at Princeton) provided some continuing connectivity with Rob after John moved to Tallahassee himself, but Rob and I never did see one another again.  My memories of Rob include his music (amongst which, "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople and Gordon Lightfoot's Greatest Hits, remind me of Rob every time I hear them), a spring break adventure in Florida (which we survived by the grace of God) and his great family (mom, dad and sister).  Rob was a very good friend during a very formative phase of my life and I regret not maintaining our connection throughout our adult lives, but I packed in a ton of memories during the time we did have together, and I will never forget him.    

Dear Anne, Cameron and Family,

Your Dad lived across the hall from me in Bates House in 1972-3. He was a great football player. In fact when we sorely needed to gain a yard or two, I focused on Rob in the huddle...looked him in the eyes and he always nodded...he knew what I was asking him without saying a word! And he never let us down! Junior year he had knee surgery...I think it was junior year. I would go into his room while he was rehabbing and count down from 10 while he held the weight aloft. One time I added fractions to the timer...he let out a piercing scream! I never did that again. Didn't see a lot of him after high school...Rob likely had his pick of colleges and I picked the school that said I could go there. I understand Robs path wasn't always smooth. But he was a fighter! I know he battled hard  during the final years of his life. He attended our 50th reunion exclaiming "I'm still here!" He was a good friend and a great teammate!