Obituary of Estelle Robertson

Estelle R. “Chris” Robertson (Estelle Marie Rodriguez) Born June 10, 1921 in New York City, passed on  September 13, 2019 quietly by natural causes, with daughter Pamela by her side in Bridgewater, NJ.  She was 98.

Mrs. Robertson was married to James Foster Robertson, who passed in November of 1987.  They were married for 45 years, and resided for most of their marriage in Basking Ridge, NJ.  Mrs. Robertson was a resident of Basking Ridge for over 50 years. 

Before retiring at age 82, Mrs. Robertson was a bookkeeper for several local organizations after the death of her husband.  But, most notably, she was the Transportation Coordinator for Bernards Township Public Schools from 1971 to 1986.

Mrs. Robertson grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and Old Greenwich, Connecticut.  She attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn.  Graduating high school early in 1937, for college, she attended the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City; completing her final semester at Columbia University, then graduated in 1939.   Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were married in 1942 soon before Mr. Robertson set off to serve during World War II in Naval warfare over the Pacific.

After college, Mrs. Robertson worked for Alcoa, the Trap Rock Quarries, then became personal assistants to socialites H. Nelson and Denniston Slater of New York City for many years.  In the late 1950s, she and Mr. Robertson moved to Upper Saddle River, NJ to start a family, then moved to Basking Ridge in 1966.  She soon began volunteering at Oak Street and Cedar Hill Elementary schools before taking the job as Transportation Coordinator.

Mrs. Robertson was an avid knitter, bridge player, and artist; a lover of animals, playing the piano, and gardening.  She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Foster Robertson and Grandson, Jason Thomas Clingensmith, both of Basking Ridge. 

Vistation will be on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ from 10:00 - 12:00. With a service at the funeral home at 11:30am. For further information, or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com