1955 - 2026
Robert grew up in West Newton and attended the Belmont Hill School, where he was a member of the glee club, the madrigal group, and the varsity wrestling team. After graduation, he attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he met the love of his life and wife of 48 years, Karen (Scholz) Bachrach. While at Carleton, he met two primary mentors, composer Phillip Rhodes and Arthur Berger of Boston. Recognized for his musical abilities, Robert earned his BA in music (composition) and was later invited to present his work at a concert celebrating 70 years of Carleton composers.
Upon graduating, Robert joined the family business, the acclaimed portrait studio Bachrach Inc.—one of the world’s longest-operating photography studios. As part of the fourth generation of photographers, Robert captured portraits of leaders in the arts, business, sports, and politics, including nearly every American president since Abraham Lincoln. He personally photographed Meryl Streep, Julia Child, George H.W. Bush, Pearl Bailey, Charles Addams, Mitt Romney, John Cage, and Riccardo Muti.
After retiring from photography, Robert enjoyed a brief stint as one of New England’s top salesmen at Jos. A. Bank before returning to composing music full time. Outside of his professional life, Robert was an avid gardener, gym-goer, cook, reader, film enthusiast, rock musician, and painter. He loved his home of 31 years in Holliston, where he cared for his beloved cats and delighted in the abundant wildlife in his backyard. In later years, he joined the cover band Throwback, playing guitar and keyboards and singing.
Robert is remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, doting grandfather, cherished sibling, and dear friend. With wide-ranging interests, he was a great conversationalist known for his quick and wicked sense of humor.
In addition to his wife, Karen, Robert is survived by his children: Kristina Bachrach and her husband, Aaron Basch, of La Grange, Illinois, and Erik Bachrach and his wife, Laura, of Mendon, Massachusetts. He also leaves behind siblings Pamela Bachrach (David Giannini) of Becket, Massachusetts; Gretchen Bachrach (Fred Gevalt) of Arlington, Massachusetts; and Louis Bachrach (Carlin) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; as well as three grandchildren, Jamie and Abby Basch and Teddy Bachrach.
A private memorial gathering will be held later in the year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s memory to the Metrowest Humane Society (https://metrowesthumanesociety.org/donate/) or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (http://dana-farber.org/gift).
