The Recent Loss of “Pioneer” Robert W. Strovink of the North Shore

These are the words of Eric Strovink, describing the numerous positive qualities of his father, Robert Strovink, who passed away on July 17, 2026.

Robert was born in Boston on October 25, 1935. He grew up in Medford, Massachusetts, and attended Malden Catholic High School. He enjoyed playing football and driving a lobster truck in Bar Harbor, Maine.

After graduating from high school in 1953, Robert attended Boston University, where he majored in communications. During the Cold War, while attending college, he was also enrolled in an ROTC program that prepared him to become an officer at the Army Pictorial Center. He collaborated on military training and war films with Jerry Reed, who later became a well-known singer and actor, especially for his role in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Robert met his future wife, Sheila Ann Connolly, who was a flight attendant for TWA. She later left her job and moved to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to live with him. At night, Robert used his considerable intellect and humor to moonlight as a disc jockey near the military base. Briefly using the radio name “Bob Robin,” he received an award for his work on the air that was later prominently displayed in his office.

Strovink’s photograph and a summary of his military service are proudly displayed at VFW Post 6249’s Suffolk County World War II and Military History Museum in Rocky Point.

In 1958, Robert married Sheila, and they quickly started a family with the births of Mary and Bobby, who is deceased. After Robert was honorably discharged, the family lived in Hempstead and Miller Place before eventually settling in Wading River.

Robert created Strovink Films, where he directed, wrote and presented notable productions for Bell Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Pan Am, Ski-Doo and Brookhaven National Laboratory. With a keen eye for detail, Robert operated the camera for the Emmy Award-winning CBS series “The Body Human: The Magic Sense” in 1979. He also photographed the construction of the Apollo 11 lunar module at Grumman’s Bethpage facility.

Much of his work, including “Island Long,” focused on his home region of Long Island and was shown in local schools. Robert was a gifted filmmaker who chronicled the growth of Long Island’s suburbs, schools and infrastructure, as well as sports scouting and development, health-related issues and other subjects. The Strovinks loved the area and soon expanded their family with the births of Nancy and Eric. Always armed with a big smile, Robert enjoyed coaching Eric in Little League baseball, woodworking, rebuilding two wooden fishing boats, developing computer programs and taking his family on trips across Long Island Sound and Great Peconic Bay.

Robert nursed injured animals back to health, played Santa Claus at the Wading River Fire Department and, on at least 10 occasions, counseled children who had run away from Little Flower Children and Family Services. He often encountered these troubled children near his home, treated them to a meal, asked about their situations and advised them to return to their residence rather than run away.

During Eric’s youth, the Strovink home was always open to his friends and teammates. Robert took numerous photographs that contributed to the development of many local athletes and teams. He was a wonderful role model to Keith Osik, a 10-year professional baseball player and member of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame.

Robert’s photographs and videos also gave the teams of Shoreham-Wading River wrestling coach Joseph Condon a competitive advantage. Condon is a highly successful coach and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Robert devotedly followed the athletic progress of his grandchildren Brennan and Kyle, who became feared local, county, state and collegiate baseball players and wrestlers before later becoming coaches. Ahead of his time, Robert evaluated baseball statistics and studied how they could be applied to improve hitters’ consistency. He also taught Eric methods for visualizing future baseball situations.

Those methods helped Eric thrive as a baseball player. He became one of the most feared hitters in New York State, played for Louisiana State University and C.W. Post, and later joined the Texas Rangers’ farm system. Many of Robert’s lessons have since been taught to thousands of players through Eric’s school, travel and clinic programs, helping them harness their baseball abilities.

For years, Robert was widely respected for his ability to handle diverse projects, including a film titled “How to Prevent a Heart Attack.” Robert’s talents helped such famous figures as William Devane, Cliff Robertson, four-time Olympic gold medal-winning discus thrower Al Oerter and New York Giants legend Frank Gifford professionally achieve their goals.

Always looking for a challenge, Robert photographed North and South Pole explorer Ann Bancroft, who praised his ability to bring films to life. “It’s so wonderful to work with someone who knows how to light,” Bancroft said.

Most notably, Robert collaborated with legendary “Godfather” actor Marlon Brando, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, actress Jaclyn Smith and the “Piano Man,” Billy Joel.

Thriving on new challenges, Robert created programs for his Apple II computer, established a baseball statistics program that aided the Shoreham-Wading River baseball team, took photographs for the Suffolk County Legislature and assisted local production companies.

Although this is a difficult time for the Strovinks, Robert’s grandchildren smile when they recall the impact their family patriarch had on their lives.

Now the proud father of two children, Brennan said, “He will be missed dearly, but I know my siblings and I will keep his legacy alive within our family.”

Kyle said, “My grandfather had a larger-than-life personality that would instantly take over a room. He taught me the power of making somebody smile, as well as making that person feel special.”

Katie, a proud flight attendant like her grandmother, spoke about the enduring power of her grandfather, “who, even when he was unable to communicate, could still convey his love, kindness and humor to others.”

Christina said he had “the remarkable gift of turning ordinary moments into unforgettable adventures. Whether we were taking a trip to the local dump or watching ‘Cats’ on Broadway, he made every event exciting.”

On July 22, family members, friends, former colleagues and local military figures gathered to recall the tremendous memories created by this North Shore gentleman, who made every moment count and devoted his life to helping others.

Those present at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point watched as an Army honor guard fired a volley of shots, folded the American flag and presented it to Eric as his family stood behind him. The honor guard then offered a final salute recognizing Robert W. Strovink’s lifelong military and civilian service.

With his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren present, this remarkably accomplished family will certainly carry Robert’s legacy forward for generations to come.