Funeral Details

Search and Rescue, Theater, Blues, family and so many friends have lost the multitalented Robert S. (Bobby) Rothman. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, in 1944. Bobby passed away October 14, 2023, from Polio Syndrome after beating non Hodgkin’s lymphoma at Warren Barr Rehabilitation Center, Chicago. He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Rothman and mother, Audrey (Campbell) Rothman. He is survived by sister, Joy (Rothman) Silverman, nieces, Cori (Silverman) Zuckerman & Sheri (Silverman) Swerdloff, nephew, Todd Silverman, first cousin, David Garbor and his sons Joshua, Benjamin, and Thomas, (godson), plus many more cousins, and significant other, Lynn Funkhouser.

Robert served in the US Army as a PVT during the Vietnam War from 1961 - 1967. He then served his country as a first responder at Ground Zero - 9/11 (cause of non Hodgkins lymphoma ), Katrina, California Fires, Haiti, Utica, IL, etc. He was doing Search & Rescue in Kentucky after a tornado with his 160 lb. Turkish Kangal dog, Hugo (a.k.a. Buddy 2), 5 weeks before he was found comatose 1/21/22 from cancer in his home. He was an amazing S & R dog trainer and traveled extensively with Louie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Buddy, his 1st Turkish Kangal as well as Hugo, his true loves. He also owned Emergency Management Agency (NFP).

Robert earned his Associate in Arts Degree in 1977 and Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 at Thomas A. Edison College, NJ.

Robert Rothman was an actor, starring in the lead role as Claude in the ground-breaking original musical, HAIR, in LA. He starred in Twilight Zone, a movie with Shirley MacLaine, Dynasty, etc. He owned Full Circle films, wrote, produced, directed and starred in the movie Sara and Sam and many shows with the Free Shakespeare Theatre. He was a playwright, wrote jokes for comedians, did improv at Second City and so much more. Bobby loved working out. He walked his dog 3-4 miles every day & then worked out at Bucktown Fitness Club with his buddies, he considered brothers, 3-5 days a week.

Acting & Film Career include:
VIDEO ACTOR
Dark Romances Vol. 1 (1990) Demetrius, actor in Grand Gugnol
Cards of Death (1986) 'Hog' Johnson
Dynasty (1981) Vice President
Tales from the Darkside (1986) Archie Fenton
Shirley MacLaine in Shirley's World (1971) Hank

VIDEO DIRECTOR
Michael Landon in Highway to Heaven 1987 1 episode

FILM ACTOR
Sam and Sarah (1989)
The Music of Erich Zann Charles Dexter Ward (as Robert Ruevain) 1980
A Hunger Artist (1982)

FILM PRODUCER
Sam and Sarah (1989)

FILM WRITER
Sam and Sarah (1989)

As a Blues singer Bobby was known as Chicago Babe, and sang often at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Kingston Mines, Blues, and Bill’s Blues to name a few. Bobby’s life was well lived and he was well loved!!!

Services will be held Tuesday, October 24, at 2:30PM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077. You may eulogize him if you wish. Interment will be Wednesday, October 25, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (military), 20953 Hoff St., Elwood, IL, 60421. It is located approximately 50 miles SW of Chicago and is 982 acres, second in size only to Calverton, NY. Bobby arranged his resting place. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com