Robert Asekoff, 79

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – It is with great sorrow that we mourn the loss of Robert “Bob” Asekoff, of Portsmouth. He passed away on April 26, 2025.  

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Jacob and Anne (Fox) Asekoff.  

Bob had a lifelong passion for helping others and for learning, which guided his career path. He served as a special education director in the Easton (Massachusetts) public school system and the North Providence (Rhode Island) school district and later consulted at Global Learning Charter Public Schools, in New Bedford, before retiring.  

Once Bob retired, he became a world traveler, visiting over 50 countries. He was always eager to share the newest foreign word he learned. He was also a proud collector of coffee and chocolate – being a bit of a chocoholic himself – from every place he visited. On his adventures, he loved meeting new people, exploring museums and learning about other cultures. He enjoyed taking photos wherever he went and can be seen in quite a few with elephants, camels, birds, monkeys, koalas and any other wildlife that had the good fortune of crossing his path.  

Everyone he met was a potential friend, whether a complete stranger or a neighbor in his community. Some would become lifelong friends. He was very chatty, with a fun, dry sense of humor, and ready to start a conversation about any topic at a moment’s notice. He was also a voracious reader, favoring spy thrillers, sci-fi, mysteries and crime novels.  

Bob spent the last 25 plus years on Aquidneck Island, one of his favorite places. During that time, he would head to the beach (never during tourist season), learned how to sail, rode his bike, took long walks and fed snacks to Luggy, the neighbor’s hungry cat. He had a bird feeder that he kept filled as he masterminded new ways to keep those pesky squirrels away! The turkeys on his property were always a treat for him, particularly the one he dubbed “Tommy, the Turkey.” You could frequently find him at Custom House Coffee, Anna D’s Cafe or Blue Plate Diner, where he was well-loved and always ready to strike up a conversation.  

Bob is lovingly remembered by his son, David Asekoff, and wife, Susan Nathan, of Brooklyn, New York; his son, Jonathon S. Friedman, and wife, Sarah Friedman, of Marlboro, Massachusetts; his sister, Nancy Rakatansky, of Framingham, Massachusetts; his niece, Leah Camara, and her husband, John Camara; his nephew, Alex Rakatansky, and his wife, Felicity Heath; and his cousin, Rozzie Glaser. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.  

Donations are suggested to the following charities: Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice, of Middletown, Rhode Island, or RIPIN, of Warwick, RI.