Glasser, Robert

Following his graduation from Bishop Loughlin High School, Bob worked in a law firm as "clerk and office boy" while struggling to put himself through Fordham University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Social Science with a major in government degree at the end of four years.

Bob entered the military service in 1941 with Anti-Aircraft Coast Artillery, and was shipped to the Hawaian Islands in February 1942. He returned to the States in July to attend Officer's Training School and emerged as 2nd Lieutenant. He celebrated the event by marring the former Rita McWeeney of Brooklyn in October. They left for Fort Bliss,Texas where Bob instructed troops in anti-aircraft and served as assistant intelligence officer. He was a member of the War Department general staff, detailed to the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence Division, and is particularly proud of the assignment. Naturally, the "cloak and dagger" business is "classified" but Bob tempered enthusiasm with a smile.

Back to civilian life, Bob returned to Spence, Hotchkiss, Parker and Duryee in the daytime and to Fordham Law School at night to complete his education. Bob, Rita and two children settled in a basement apartment in Flatbush, here the children developed cold after cold. Bob went house hunting in the country where the children could enjoy the normal comforts and a place to play in the sunshine. This took them to Cambridge Avenue, and they became Bethpage residents.

Realizing early on he was not ment to be a Wall Street Lawyer, and in 1948 he left the firm and hung his shingle outside his own home. Later he shared an office on Stewart Avenue with Louis Sisia. Here Rita worked as his secretary and right hand man, at the same time, tending to the children. A routine was followed seven days a week, "when you're alone and starting out, you have to do it" he says.

1950 Bob became President of the Theodore Roosevelt Republican Club and served the office for three years. While he had no political aspirations, he urges every Joe Doe to join a local club "where political purposes have their start".

He was named assistant Town Attorney to Theodore Summers and spent three years at Town Hall, Oyster Bay. He was appoined deputy and acting Town Attorney after Summers' death. His brother, Francis V. Glasser, a Fordham University and N.Y.U. Law School graduate took over the Broadway office while Bob was at Town Hall.

The Glasser family was outgrowing the Cambridge Avenue house (a family of five children), and they met the owner of the nine room farm house, located at Powell Avenue and Broadway who intended to have the house moved and build on the property. They bought the house and had it moved to the cornor of Barbara Street and Broadway. This provided room for baby buggies, bicycles and a fenced in yard for little tots safety.

Bob is a past president of Kiwanis; was chairman of the joint committee on the first parking area in Bethpage and is currently working on grade crossing elimination with the Chamber of Commerce commitee.

The Glasser family are members of St. Martin of Tours Church; Bob is a member of the Holy Name Society and Rita is an inactive member of the Rosary-Alter Society, and will go back to active membership when she has the time. She is co-leader of Girl Scout Troop 133 and a member of the Powell Avenue PTA. The children, 12 year old Robert, a Jr. High student enjoys little league, boy scouting and being an alter boy at St. Martin's. Ten year old, Jean, enjoys dancing and Girl Scouting while attending Powell Avenue School with her brother, Mark - 6 years old. Rita is amazed at the amount of learning aquired by Mark in his normal pursuit of being a first grader. While Dorothy 4 1/2 and Reness 3 enjoy blocks and dolls at home.

Bob Glasser has been described by a friend as "prolific and photogenic" and admires him for his candid approach to every client and problem. Firm in his own convictions, he listens intently to your story, states his own views, and then your're on your own. No "snow job" there.

Bob considers himself "very happy and extremely fortunate" with the acceptance and encouragement of the people of the community. "After all, I have five youngsters and a nine room house", which he says in a tone "who could ask for anything more"!

Information from BETHPAGE NEWSGRAM - February 2, 1956