Robert H Hess

 Robert Harry Hess of Livingston, New Jersey passed away at the age of 90 on April 25th, 2026.

He was born on April 20th, 1936 in Weehawken, New Jersey to Charles Lewis Hess and Frances Barry Hess, and was raised in West New York, NJ where he attended Public School #1, and went on to graduate from Memorial High School in 1956.  He played on his high school football team helping them to continue their 9year consecutive winning streak as the NJSIAA Group IV champions, a record still yet to be topped in the state.

Robert joined the National Guard after graduation, and then enlisted in the United States Army, along with 21 of his fellow high school classmates.  He served from 1957-1959 as Private 1st Class and was stationed in Germany for a large portion of his tour of duty. 

After his honorable discharge from the service, he decided on a career in photography and attended the New York Institute of Photography to learn the craft.  He worked as a professional photographer for several companies before founding his own, Artisan Studio, in Closter, NJ which he maintained for 20 years.  There he worked countless weddings and other events, including assignments in the US and abroad, aerial photography, as well as for professional baseball, primarily for the NY Yankees.

He was a member of the Professional Photographers Association of NJ (PPANJ) and served as president for both the state organization and the Bergen-Passaic Chapter.  A highlight of his career, in 1975 he was chosen as Mr. Professional Photographer of the year.

Later he worked for various Audio Visual Event Service Companies, as the Senior Account Executive supervising meetings, conferences, programs, and events for various Fortune 500 companies and charities including the Clinton Global Initiative.  In 2016 he finally retired at the age of 80.

Robert was a long-time member of the Closter Elks Lodge #2304. He was bestowed the honor of  “Elk of the Year” and often played for their senior softball team.  He was an active member of the Gene “Stick” Michael Fund including the chapter of “The Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund” in Hackensack, NJ for many years.  Bob, as he was known to most, not only enjoyed watching sports, baseball, especially the Yankees, as well as football, and golf, but was also an avid golfer himself, playing well into his senior years, on courses all across the US, especially in NJ. 

He is predeceased by his parents Charles and Frances Barry Hess, his siblings Charles Hess Jr., Dora Moran nee Hess and identical twin Richard Hess; his ex-wife Joan Hess nee Carcich, and son-in-law Joseph Ulrich.

He is survived by his daughter Loreen Ulrich and her children Morgan and Devon Ulrich; his partner of over 36 years, Sylvia Verbesky and her daughter (his step-daughter) Dr. Suzanne Verbesky and her husband Dr. Charles Kopec; as well as nieces, nephews; grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

The memorial visitation will be held at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ on Saturday May 16th from 1-4 PM.

In lieu of flowers donations in the name of Robert H. Hess, may be made to the American Red Cross Blood Services. At the bottom of the page you can check “Dedicate this gift to a friend or loved one” and enter his name.  www.redcross.org/donate/blood-services-donation.html/

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Robert H Hess, please visit our Tree Store.