Rabbi Robert Raab, retired head of Wantagh temple, dies

At the age of 84, Rabbi Robert A. Raab obtained a degree as a psychotherapist. It was typical of a man who never stopped being active during a career that included 36 years as head of The Suburban Temple in Wantagh, his family said.

"He wasn't looking backwards. He was always looking forward," said one of Raab's sons, Joel, of Newtown, Pa. "He wanted to do the next thing."

Raab, the author of three books, died on Wednesday at the age of 86 after a battle with cancer. He used to live in Wantagh but was residing in Manhattan at the time of his death.

Raab's family recalled that he was so active, he continued to give classes at Nassau Community College as recently as last spring, even though his health was faltering. "He could barely walk and get into the classroom," his son said. Up until two months ago he was still counseling patients as a psychotherapist.

Raab grew up in Cleveland, and attended religious schools. Even as a youth a local rabbi predicted Raab would sometime join the ranks of the rabbinate.

Raab went on to attend Case Western Reserve University and then entered the Hebrew College in Cincinnati where he was ordained. He earned a master of Hebrew letters degree and, later, a doctorate of Hebrew letters.

He subsequently served as a chaplain in the Air Force in Cheyenne, Wyo., then moved to Chicago where he worked at Temple Shalom as an assistant rabbi with Louis Binstock.

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In 1954, Raab joined the Temple B'nai Israel in McKeesport, Pa., followed by his move to The Suburban Temple. He retired from there in 1998, becoming rabbi emeritus.

At Nassau Community College, he served as an adjunct professor of sociology, and at one point was named Adjunct Professor of the Year, his family said.

His three books dealt with universal themes: "Coping with Death," "Coping with Divorce," and "The Teenager and the New Morality."

He was ever the perpetual student, his family said. In 1981, he obtained a master's of social work from Yeshiva University in New York, followed by the degree in psychotherapy from the Washington Square Institute for Psychotherapy and Mental Health two years ago.

Raab also is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marjorie Rabb; another son, Daniel Raab; four grandchildren and two daughters-in-law.

A funeral will be held at Temple B'nai Torah at 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh, at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The family asks that donations be sent to Genitourinary Oncology Research Fund, c/o Dr. David Nanus, 1305 York Ave., New York, NY 10021.