Roberta S. Zucker

Roberta Swire Zucker, 87, beloved wife of Martin Zucker, mother to Jane, Michael, Miriam, and Daniel Zucker, and grandmother to Lily Zucker, died Monday, May 20, 2019 in Providence, RI after a long illness. Roberta was the only child of late Isadore and Sylvia Swire, and grew up in Flushing and Canarsie, NY, spending summers traveling and camping on Lake George in NY with her parents.

Roberta graduated from Syracuse University before earning degrees in fine arts and art history from University of New Mexico and University of Wisconsin Madison, and a degree in education from Columbia University Teachers College. Certified as a teacher, Roberta taught art in public schools before marrying Martin in 1958 and settling in eastern Long Island to start a family.

Roberta frequently engaged in artistic activities with her children, and continued to create art through most of her life, specializing in water color paintings of floral compositions and outdoor scenes at Lake George. She also enjoyed cooking, and was an early adopter of international cuisines and natural foods. While raising four children and organizing their educational and extracurricular activities, she also volunteered for the Sisterhood of Jewish Center of the Moriches and was a member of Hadassah. Roberta shared her appreciation of the outdoors and wildlife with her young family by planning local outings to woods and beaches, and after the children had left home, engaged in international ecotourism with Martin.  In 2011, Roberta and Martin moved to Miami, FL. In 2018, Roberta traveled to Rhode Island to receive care.

Graveside services for Roberta Zucker will be held Thursday, May 23rd at 1:00 p.m. in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 43 Main Street, Center Moriches, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Hadassah, 74 Hauppauge Road, Room #53, Commack, NY 11725.  Shiva will be private.