Obituary of Bob Gladstone

Robert Gladstone, 1942 – 2020

 

Bob was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Betty and Al Gladstone.  He graduated from Abington High School in 1960, from Ursinus College in 1964 and later completed a JD (law) degree from Rutgers University.  In 1964, he married his college sweetheart, Barbara Cranmer. 

 

Bob spent his early career working with property tax law, and then at age 29, he became the City Attorney of Trenton, NJ.  When the mayor’s term ended, Bob spent some years working as the principle litigator for a law firm in Princeton until partnering with colleagues to build a new firm, Schaff, Motiuk, Hornby, and Gladstone.  That firm later merged with Shanley & Fisher, through which he handled significant environmental litigation, until they were absorbed by Drinker, Biddle & Reath.  While at Drinker, he was elected by a group of lawyers for mostly Fortune 500 companies to preside as Chair of two Superfund (hazardous waste cleanup) sites. 

 

While practicing law and raising his family, Bob was also very involved in New Jersey based community activities, particularly local and state level politics.  In the early 1980’s, he ran a campaign to elect the Mercer County Republican candidate for County Executive, and then became the Republican County Chairman.   In 1983, he ran unsuccessfully for State Senate.  In the late 1990’s, NJ Governor Christie Whitman appointed him as the President of the Board of Trustees of Trenton State College, which changed to the College of New Jersey during his tenure.  He was selected for membership on the Supreme Court Committee for the Tax Court, Chair of the NJBA Committee for Property Taxation, and Chair of the Local Government Law Section.  In 2005, he was selected as a New Jersey “Super Lawyer”. 

 

Bob and Barbara raised two children (Fred and Elizabeth) in Mercer County, and then spent a number of years in Somerset County, before retiring to Florida in search of warmer weather and an active lifestyle. 

 

Bob died four months after losing his beloved wife of 56 years.  They are survived by their children Frederick Gladstone (wife Peggy) and Elizabeth Roland, and grandchildren Victoria, Elizabeth, William and Miles. 

 

Due to the current social distancing guidelines, memorial services are temporarily postponed. 

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