Obituary of Robert E. Tooker

~~Robert E. Tooker, 52, of Parsippany, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at his home.  He was born in Point Pleasant, and graduated from Point Pleasant High School in 1982, where he was among the highest scorers in the National Merit Scholarship Program and received numerous awards for his expertise in Audio Visual Technology.  Rob graduated from The State University of New York at Purchase in 1986 and began a 30 year career in lighting design working as a project manager at The Lighting Design Group of New York, Crestron Electronics, and PRG Light, Inc.

Rob was an experienced hiker and photographer, documenting his many adventures to The Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park.  He was a long-time volunteer with the New York and New Jersey Trail Commission, building and maintaining hiking trails.

He was predeceased by his father, Edward Tooker, brother, Kenneth Tooker, brother-in-law, George Smitte, and stepfather, Arthur Terasaka.  He is survived by his mother, Patricia Tooker Terasaka of Madeira Beach, Florida; sister, Barbara Smitte of Seminole, Florida; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Buzz Ackerman of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Kristine Tooker, of Glover, Vermont; nephews, Jake Smitte and Max Ackerman; and a niece, Jaime Smitte.

Funeral Services were held May 17th in Largo, Florida at St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church.  A whitewater rafting trip and celebration of Rob’s life will be held on Monday, July 17, 2017 in northwest New Jersey along the Delaware Water Gap.  Memorial donations may be made to the Parsippany Animal Shelter or the NY/NJ Trail Commission.