Obituary of Robert Edwin Tompkins

August 21, 2015 Robert “Bob” Tompkins died on Friday, August 21st 2015 at the age of 61 after a brief illness. Bob was born and raised in Fredonia, NY before moving to the Albany area and graduating from Shenendehowa HS. He earned his Bachelors in Sociology from Oswego State University. There he found his lifelong loves, his wife Claudia and the fight for social justice. Soon after graduating he and Claudia helped to successfully organize a fight against another nuclear power plant in the area. Upon moving to Syracuse Bob could not ignore his true calling and left Syracuse University one semester short of a Masters in Education to join Syracuse United Neighbors, dedicating himself to helping the poor and disenfranchised of this city fight for their rights. It is a cause he would fight for throughout his career, as a member and eventual director of CNYCOSH, as an organizer and representative for the Service Employees International Union, and finally the Public Employees Federation. All who encountered him at these positions testified both to his passion for the work and his compassion for the people for whom he fought. Bob retired from the Public Employees Federation in 2014. Bob was a long time member of South Valley Presbyterian Church. At the time of his death Bob was an active member of Drumlins Tennis Club, pursuing his post-retirement career as a tennis instructor. Just as with his work, Bob’s teammates and students spoke often of the vigor with which he played the game and the kindness he showed to all around him. Bob is survived by his wife Claudia Varacalli-Tompkins, his son Brian Tompkins, daughter Sanela Delic, all of whom reside in Syracuse, and his brother William Tompkins of Clifton Park, NY. He is pre-deceased by his parents William and Jeanne Tompkins and his sister Lois Palmieri. Calling hours, service, and reception will be held at University United Methodist Church at 1085 E. Genesee St. Syracuse, NY; calling hours on Friday, August 28th from 5 pm – 8 pm, service on Saturday August 29th at 11 am with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Syracuse Northeast Community Center at 716 Hawley Ave Syracuse, NY 13203. It is an organization that serves the people of Syracuse much in the way Bob did throughout his life.