Robert (aka “Robbie”) and Sharon first met in 1982 when Robbie was doing his 3rd year medical school Psychiatry rotation on the same Bellevue unit that Sharon was the Head Nurse of. Married in 1984, they’ve been “crazy in love” ever since.

Robbie comes from a Holocaust Survivor family, where his father, Frank Herman z’l, was credited for saving the lives of 12,000 Jews by rerouting a packed train that was headed to Auschwitz, returning it back to its origin in Czechoslovakia. Subsequently forced into hiding in underground storage spaces in Hungary with Robbie’s mother Marta, they survived the war and later emigrated with their 2 young children to the Bronx in 1949. After a 3rd son was born, they moved to Woodmere in 1957. Robbie, their youngest, was born shortly thereafter. A graduate of HILI yeshiva, Robbie was the first student from HILI to ever attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1979. Graduating NYU Medical School with AOA honors at the top of his class in 1983, he completed his internship, residency and Chief Residency at NYU-Bellevue in 1989. After completing his Gastroenterology training at North Shore University Hospital in 1991, Sharon and Robbie moved to Great Neck and have been members of the GNS since. Robbie has remained in the same practice he had joined in 1991, operating as the managing partner for over 25 years. Acting as a role model for young physicians, Robbie is thought of as one of the premier Gastroenterologists in the area, known for his diagnostic acumen, calming demeanor, sense of humor and compassionate caring, putting thousands of his patients at ease while he renders their care.

Sharon’s father, Joseph Adler, z”l, served in the United States Army during World War II, while her mother, Muriel, z”l, was an integral leader in B’nai B’rith. Sharon was born and raised in Queens. She graduated from Hunter College – Bellevue School of Nursing in 1978. After graduation, Sharon had worked in the medical psychiatry unit at Bellevue Hospital, quickly being promoted to the Head Nurse of that unit. Working at Bellevue for over 9 years, she retired from nursing in 1987 after their son Michael was born. Almost 7 years later, one became three when Allie and Brittany arrived. Sharon began her second working career in 2003 as a substitute preschool teacher, where she had quickly realized that she enjoyed being with young children more than working in a hospital. In 2006, she was offered a position in the newly opened Shalom ECC, where she worked as an assistant pre-k teacher and school nurse until her retirement 16 years later. It was the highlight of her work career.

It is true what they say….“the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. Robbie’s father, Frank, realized the importance of Jewish institutions in the continuation and maintenance of Judaism, having witnessed the almost complete eradication of European Jewry during the Holocaust. As such, Frank dedicated his life to ensure “Never Again” would truly be never again. With the unrelenting support of his wife, he purchased the land where the Young Israel of Woodmere currently stands and became its first President. He was integral in the creation of the South Shore Yeshiva, the expansion of Temple Beth Shalom in Lawrence where he had served twice as President, the creation of the Boca Raton Synagogue, and the formation of the Cherry Lane Minyan. It must be in the genes! Once COVID subsided, our GNS, among all other synagogues, had the Herculean task of being revitalized, retooled and repopulated. With his insight and affable personality, in 2 short years, Robbie has become an integral part of the GNS Board of Trustees, the Catering Committee, CSS, and the GNS Men’s Club Board, helping to restore GNS to where it is today. Never saying no, he has always remained “on call” for our synagogue and its members whenever he is needed. 
 
Sharon and Robbie are the proud parents of 3 sets of married children: Michael and Aura, Allie and Michael (MG), and Brittany and Daniel, as well as the extremely proud Nana and Pops of Winnie, Kaydin, Liam, Jaymes, Nathan, and Benjamin.