Robert E. Kalbacher
Robert E. Kalbacher, the founder of Kalbacher’s Auto in Springs, died on July 19 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He was 82. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. He had been in ill health for a few years, his family said.
Mr. Kalbacher, known as Bob, started his auto repair business in 1964 and expanded it to include storage in 1981. Kalbacher’s Auto, which specializes in imported cars, is now run by his son Robert Kalbacher of East Hampton.
He was a founding member and past commander of the East Hampton Power Squadron. Mr. Kalbacher was a recreational sailor, an interest he shared with his wife of nearly 57 years, Frances Kalbacher, who is known as Billie. The couple were frequently on the water, entertaining friends and family aboard their boat, the Bobil, which got its name as a combination of Bob and Billie.
While the automotive repair and storage business kept Mr. Kalbacher busy for nearly three decades, he always had time to work with his fellow members of the power squadron. He received nearly every award and honor given by the squadron to its members, including the Edward Corner Award as most valuable member in 1993.
In the days after Mr. Kalbacher’s death, a large wreath of carnations in the shape of a life ring was placed on the aft deck of the Bobil at its berth in Three Mile Harbor.
He was born in Ozone Park, Queens, on April 20, 1932, to Robert Kalbacher and the former Elise Wehringer. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in New York City and later studied mechanical engineering at Columbia University.
Mr. Kalbacher served in the Air Force from 1956 to 1960, reaching the rank of staff sergeant. While in the service, he was a senior automotive mechanic in charge of inspection of vehicles before and after repair.
He met Frances Emma Hudson in New York City, and they were married on Oct. 26, 1957. As a young man, Mr. Kalbacher and his friends had been frequent campers at Hither Hills in Montauk, and he fell in love with the area, deciding once he was married to start a family here.
Mr. and Mrs. Kalbacher were active in numerous local service organizations and were founding members of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Amagansett, where Mr. Kalbacher’s memorial service was held on July 24.
Mr. Kalbacher is survived by his wife; two sons, Robert Kalbacher and Richard Kalbacher, both of East Hampton; two sisters, Joanne Shaughnessy of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Paula Easevoli of Amagansett and Key Largo, Fla.; two brothers, Steven Kalbacher of Amagansett and William Kalbacher of East Hampton, and four grandchildren. Another brother, John Kalbacher, died in August 2004.
“My parents moved to East Hampton in 1962, after they finished building their home on Gardiner Avenue in Springs,” Richard Kalbacher said at his father’s memorial service in July.
“My mom wanted to raise Rob and me in East Hampton. My dad’s job was in New Jersey. He worked for Volvo and later for British Leyland-Jaguar Rover Triumph for a total of 24 years. He was the service supervisor for dealer development and traveled continuously throughout the U.S. to all the dealerships for B.L.-J.R.T. He commuted to New Jersey on Mondays and came home to East Hampton every Friday. So needless to say our weekends were all about family and doing things together.”
In an article in The East Hampton Star in 2008, Mr. Kalbacher said, “I have been doing this for 65 years. When the business opened, we decided we didn’t want to be on the main highway, that’s why we are deep in the woods. I don’t want people walking into my shop saying, ‘I want my car fixed now.’ You can’t do that in a doctor’s office, so please, make an appointment.”
“People originally told my dad, ‘You’ll never make it,’ ” Robert Kalbacher said.
Donations have been suggested to Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 6301 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton, Fla. 33433, in care of the Rev. Robert Endruschat.