Obituary of Robert Elliot Rachlis

Known to many as Grandpa Bob, Robert Rachlis born on August 29, 1933 passed away on March�18, 2020.Bob was 86, a lifelong musician, with a passion for playing folk music. He graduated from Music and Art High School and the City College of New York. He served as a Ranger in the US Army from 1954 to 1958 which forever changed him, igniting his activism to work for social justice.Bob put his military experience to use training activists in self-defense techniques for Freedom Summer (1964); and protested against the war in Vietnam from inception. He continued to fight for Social Justice for the remainder of his life.Bob, who was agnostic, was extremely active at both Temple Beit Torah and Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs. He led and participated in Torah Study, led services, taught Hebrew and assisted with B'nai Mitzvah preparation for both youngsters and adults. His greatest joy came from singing with the Choir at Temple Beit Torah.He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Frieda Rachlis; his brother, Benjamin Rachlis; and first wife, Susan Donner Rachlis. Bob is survived by his children, Charles Rachlis (Charu), Leah Rachlis (Lydia) and Marc Donner (Ronnie Halper); his niece, Lynne Rachlis (David Moore); nephew, Ken Rachlis; his grandchildren, Gretchen Rachlis (Aaron Torres), Aaron Donner, Jackson Rachlis-Graham (Olivia), Shanti Chuva Rachlis and Kyle Graham (Kelsey); and grand-nephew, Daniel Moore. He is also survived by cousins, Bob Gotthelf (Judy) and Kathi Doyle (Bill); and a plethora of Shrobe cousins and second cousins.The Talmud teaches us that whoever raises a child, it is as if they gave birth to the child. One of the biggest blessing in Bob's life was the opportunity to raise Kisha Weiser and Derek Teaney with his longtime friend and companion, Sigrid (Teaney) Bauer. Their family has grown to include Sigrid's husband, Gert; Derek's wife, Rachel Boykan and their son, Noah; Kisha's husband, Dan and their daughters, Emma and Sophie.Bob was an optical engineer with a broad interest in the vast subjects of mathematics and physics. On a lighter side, he had a song for every life event, conversation or thought that was shared by anyone, anywhere, anytime. He will be missed by all who knew him, he was a sweet soul whose spirit was guided by his love and compassion.�Now he belongs to the ages.Due to the current health restrictions, services will be held privately at Temple Shalom on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 1:00PM Mountain Time.�Please join the family via this link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTw9yqJ9icfZg77VWpBO5Tg?app=desktopA direct connection to the link has been added below in the contributions for your convenience. �You may check the link prior to 1:00PM. At 1:00PM the channel will have a live feed you may join.In lieu of flowers (as delivery of flowers to the family or Temple is not preferred with the current health restrictions) please consider planting a tree in Bob's memory. Events Memorial Service Sunday, March 22, 2020 1:00PM LIVE WEBCAST of SERVICE Youtube Colorado Springs, CO 80909