Robert McKane Obituary

Robert Bruce McKane, 86, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024, after a long illness, surrounded by his loving family.

Robert, known as Bob to his friends, was born on January 14, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York, to Edith (Uhlig) McKane and Denton McKane. The grandson of German and Irish immigrants grew up in Garden City, working hard to earn his tuition to local Adelphi University. It was there that he discovered his life's three big passions: mathematics, the German language and his wife Beatrix Gerarda Peters. Bob first met Beatrix, an exchange student from the Netherlands, in a crowded lunchroom during his master's program in 1962. On their first date at Brooklyn's Coney Island they fell madly in love and were inseparable for the next 62 years.

After receiving his master's degree in Mathematics from Adelphi in 1962 he pursued his doctorate at New York University. He was awarded a PhD in Mathematics in 1969 in the academic family line of the renowned mathematicians David Hilbert and Carl Gauss. He moved his young family to Long Island to take a position as an Assistant Professor with C.W. Post College (now Long Island University), where he remained for the duration of his career. Bob and Beatrix ultimately settled in Centerport, New York, where they raised their children Derek and Cindy. For 20 years, he taught college courses at Chaminade High School through Long Island University's FAST Program. Generations of students benefited from his passion for teaching, and Bob became an integral member of the community.

As a professor Bob touched the lives of many students, but nowhere was his impact greater than at home. He supported Beatrix as she furthered her education and pursued a successful career as a CPA and partner in an accounting firm. He shared his love of mathematics with his children, providing daily lessons. His teaching schedule allowed him to be there, welcoming them off the school bus every day. Summers were for cross-country road trips, camping in tents and many multiplication tables. When his grandchildren arrived he continued the tradition, proudly cheering them on in all their endeavors - and teaching them the principles of math and physics. He was the family storyteller, renowned for his creative bedtime stories and handwritten birthday cards. Many members of the extended family came to his table over the years, ostensibly for calculus lessons, but more so for his snacks of Dutch herring and life advice.

After he retired in 2008 Bob's days continued to be characterized by a commitment to intellectual pursuits. His passion for knowledge led him to extensive studies in mathematics and physics, much of which was in German. The family home holds thousands of textbooks which he studied daily until the time of his death. He was committed to his Duolingo streak which finally ended the day he died at 2,840 days without a break. Bob was fortunate to be able to live fully, experiencing all that life has to offer, informed by intellect, curiosity, steadfast dedication and passion.

He is survived by his beloved wife Beatrix, his son Derek McKane (Susan), daughter Cynthia McKane Stewart (Christian) and his grandchildren Hunter, Saskia and Ava McKane and Luke and Georgia Stewart. He is also survived by his brother Douglas McKane (John), sister-in-law Tineke Parker, sister-in-law Monica Peters and his nieces and nephews Miranda, Michelle, Danielle, Sean, Adam, Kenny, Vicky and Amy. While services will be private, we hope that you will remember Bob fondly and, if you like, solve a math problem in his memory.