PORGES--Robert F, 82, died peacefully at home on November 1, 2012.

He is survived by his adoring wife Felicia Axelrod-Porges, his children John and Vicki, and their respective spouses Alexandra Gillespie Porges and Joseph Eisner, as well as his four grandchildren, Dylan, Erin, David and Jesse.

Born in Vienna, Austria on September 11, 1930 to Dr. John C. Porges and Suzanne F. Porges, he emigrated to America with his parents and younger brother, George, in May 1938.

Robert's passions included tennis, medicine, and family. The tennis began at Forest Hills High School where he was a member of an impressive team and continued throughout his life.

The medicine was probably a genetically imposed talent since he was the third generation to pursue this career. His premedical years were at Dartmouth College and then completed at Downstate Medical School. Following an internship at Beth Israel, where his father was on staff in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Albert Einstein. After a stint at Lackland, Texas Air Force Base, he ultimately found his medical home at NYU Langone, Medical Center where he served over 50 years as teacher, surgeon and administrator par excellence. He has left an indelible impression on numerous students, residents and colleagues for his teaching skills. He served as acting chairman for almost 10 years. Medicine also served to lead him to his third passion, family. For it was during his tenure at NYU that he met his wife Felicia Axelrod, a budding medical student and then went on to enjoy 47 years of wedded bliss.

He enjoyed many wonderful family adventure vacations with his wife, children and grandchildren to locations such as Tanzania, Alaska, Costa Rica, Bahamas and Mexico and they will always treasure those wonderful memories.

Robert will be remembered as a well-respected doctor to his many longtime and loyal patients as well as a patient and passionate teacher to his many students.

To his family, he was our rock and patriarch and will forever be missed.

Memorial service Friday, November 2, 2012 at 1:30pm at Frank E Campbell, 1076 Madison Ave, New York.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dysautonomia Foundation, 315 West 39th St, NY, NY 10018 or
NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 First Ave, NY, NY 10016.