Former Front Royal mayor and council member Robert J. Traister Sr., age 59 years, 2 months, 15 days, died early Wednesday morning, August 31, 2007 at his home on Manassas Ave. following a long illness.

Traister, 59, who served on the town council from 1986-1990 and one term as mayor (1990-92), was a self-employed computer programmer and author of several computer programming books. He also worked for several years as an engineer for WFTR radio, where he hosted a special program each year to help raise money for the American Cancer Society, then hosted a cancer society telethon on the local Adelphia access channel until the early 1990s.

In addition to his support for the American Cancer Society, Traister was involved with the Samuels Public Library Golf Tournament and the Northern Shenandoah Valley Walk to Cure Diabetes.

He was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Front Royal since 1978, and was active in nearly every fundraising effort by that club, including its annual scholarship golf tournament and Front Royal Night at Camp Fantastic, a weeklong summer camp for children who suffer from cancer.

Former Chamber of Commerce president Kelly Walker sat with Traister at Rotary Club meetings. "Everybody's got a great Bob story," Walker said Wednesday. "You didn't want to get into a verbal scuffle with him because he was way quicker than you could ever think of being. He was just so funny. He'd make you laugh at yourself."
Walker said Traister's passing was "a great loss for the town, because he loved Front Royal."

Not only was he an avid golfer and hiker, but a scuba diving enthusiast who co-owned a diving instruction enterprise in recent years.

Kym Crump, whose husband David was the town attorney when Traister was mayor, recalled that the municipal swimming pool opened under Traister's watch. "At the dedication and grand opening, Bob jumped into the pool in his business suit to be the first one in," she said.

Traister's sense of humor endeared him to everyone in the community who knew him, said Rotary Club president Doug Stanley. "Bob's wit provided countless moments of humor at our weekly club meeting," Stanley said. "Bob Traister will be missed by his fellow Rotarians as well as the community he served. Bob will be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to know him."

Rhonda North, now the Middleburg town clerk, held the town clerk position in Front Royal when Traister was mayor. During that time, and also when Traister served as a councilman, North said he was always involved. "He was just so supportive of the employees," she said. "He made sure we had the tools to accomplish any goals." When Traister left the town, North said she kept in touch with him. When she ran into Traister and current Councilman Eugene Tewalt on their way to a Rotary Club meeting last month, they found time to stop and chat briefly. For the entire community, North said, Traister's death is a great loss.

Clay Athey, as a former Front Royal mayor, recalled Traister as a teacher and mentor. "I learned just about everything I know about politics and public service from him," Athey said, adding that Traister was committed to progress for citizens in Warren County. Once he was out of the public spotlight, Athey said, Traister recruited and spoke with Republican candidates in the area. He wanted to ensure improvements in areas like education and employment. "At the core he was a great guy," Athey said. "A lot of people will miss Bob Traister. You can count me as one of them."

Mayor Jim Eastham, who asked to comment by e-mail, echoed Athey's sentiments. "Our community has suffered a tragic loss with Bob's passing," Eastham wrote. "He made an indelible mark on Front Royal not only as its mayor but as a selfless volunteer." Among those volunteer efforts, Eastham wrote, was his involvement with the local cancer society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For those organizations, he raised thousands of dollars. For Eastham, Traister was a talented man who shared those talents with family, friends and his community.
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Bob Traister was born August 16, 1948, in Front Royal, Virginia, the son of the late John Edwin and Mary Fristoe Traister. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a son, Robert J. Traister Jr.; two stepdaughters, Johanna Trumbull and Elizabeth Trumbull; a stepson, Peter J. Trumbull; a brother, William E. Traister; and a sister-in-law, Jennie Lee Traister.

Bob was predeceased by his brother, John Earle Traister, in 1997.
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Former Front Royal mayor and council member Robert J. Traister Sr., age 59 years, 2 months, 15 days, died early Wednesday morning, August 31, 2007 at his home on Manassas Ave. following a long illness.

Traister, 59, who served on the town council from 1986-1990 and one term as mayor (1990-92), was a self-employed computer programmer and author of several computer programming books. He also worked for several years as an engineer for WFTR radio, where he hosted a special program each year to help raise money for the American Cancer Society, then hosted a cancer society telethon on the local Adelphia access channel until the early 1990s.

In addition to his support for the American Cancer Society, Traister was involved with the Samuels Public Library Golf Tournament and the Northern Shenandoah Valley Walk to Cure Diabetes.

He was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Front Royal since 1978, and was active in nearly every fundraising effort by that club, including its annual scholarship golf tournament and Front Royal Night at Camp Fantastic, a weeklong summer camp for children who suffer from cancer.

Former Chamber of Commerce president Kelly Walker sat with Traister at Rotary Club meetings. "Everybody's got a great Bob story," Walker said Wednesday. "You didn't want to get into a verbal scuffle with him because he was way quicker than you could ever think of being. He was just so funny. He'd make you laugh at yourself."
Walker said Traister's passing was "a great loss for the town, because he loved Front Royal."

Not only was he an avid golfer and hiker, but a scuba diving enthusiast who co-owned a diving instruction enterprise in recent years.

Kym Crump, whose husband David was the town attorney when Traister was mayor, recalled that the municipal swimming pool opened under Traister's watch. "At the dedication and grand opening, Bob jumped into the pool in his business suit to be the first one in," she said.

Traister's sense of humor endeared him to everyone in the community who knew him, said Rotary Club president Doug Stanley. "Bob's wit provided countless moments of humor at our weekly club meeting," Stanley said. "Bob Traister will be missed by his fellow Rotarians as well as the community he served. Bob will be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to know him."

Rhonda North, now the Middleburg town clerk, held the town clerk position in Front Royal when Traister was mayor. During that time, and also when Traister served as a councilman, North said he was always involved. "He was just so supportive of the employees," she said. "He made sure we had the tools to accomplish any goals." When Traister left the town, North said she kept in touch with him. When she ran into Traister and current Councilman Eugene Tewalt on their way to a Rotary Club meeting last month, they found time to stop and chat briefly. For the entire community, North said, Traister's death is a great loss.

Clay Athey, as a former Front Royal mayor, recalled Traister as a teacher and mentor. "I learned just about everything I know about politics and public service from him," Athey said, adding that Traister was committed to progress for citizens in Warren County. Once he was out of the public spotlight, Athey said, Traister recruited and spoke with Republican candidates in the area. He wanted to ensure improvements in areas like education and employment. "At the core he was a great guy," Athey said. "A lot of people will miss Bob Traister. You can count me as one of them."

Mayor Jim Eastham, who asked to comment by e-mail, echoed Athey's sentiments. "Our community has suffered a tragic loss with Bob's passing," Eastham wrote. "He made an indelible mark on Front Royal not only as its mayor but as a selfless volunteer." Among those volunteer efforts, Eastham wrote, was his involvement with the local cancer society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For those organizations, he raised thousands of dollars. For Eastham, Traister was a talented man who shared those talents with family, friends and his community.
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Bob Traister was born August 16, 1948, in Front Royal, Virginia, the son of the late John Edwin and Mary Fristoe Traister. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a son, Robert J. Traister Jr.; two stepdaughters, Johanna Trumbull and Elizabeth Trumbull; a stepson, Peter J. Trumbull; a brother, William E. Traister; and a sister-in-law, Jennie Lee Traister.

Bob was predeceased by his brother, John Earle Traister, in 1997.
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