Bobbie Anker

Bobbie Marie (Bernstein) Anker, of Saranac Lake, passed away peacefully at home November 19, 2018 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was born November 29, 1960, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, after living briefly in Oregon she moved to Saranac Lake.

She was a graduate of Saranac Lake High School and earned a Bachelors’ degree from Keuka College before obtaining a Masters Degree from Old Dominion University. After graduation she began her professional career in Student Services at North Country Community College (NCCC) where she served for 31 years. Bobbie retired as Director of Campus and Student Life in 2016

Bobbie was an active member of the State University of New York Career Development Organization (SUNY CDO) serving as President of the Organization for the 2007-2008 term. She received the Excellence in Programming Award as well as the Outstanding Service Award. Bobbie’s colleagues remember her for her strong leadership and work ethic, positivity, supportive friendship, and incredible sense of humor. She was always curious to learn and grow.

In the Saranac Lake community, Bobbie was well known. She was a member of the Village Improvement Society serving first as Secretary and later as President from 2006-2015. For many happy years, she lovingly took care of the Vest Pocket Park next to the Saranac Lake Free Library.

Bobbie’s passions, besides family, community, and the NCCC students included music (especially Steven Sondheim) and theater (especially Broadway). She played the piano and sang with the Greg Smith Singers in high school and later transcribed music for the group. She loved flowers and anything recommended by Roger Steinbruck of Scott’s Florist. Over the years she enjoyed the companionship of her spaniels AJ, Brock and Maia.

Bobbie is survived by her husband George, sons Joey and Josh Karp, brother Arthur Bernstein and his wife Chris, stepmother Meg Bernstein, stepson Christopher Anker and his wife Ali, and their daughters Lilly and Chelsea. She was predeceased by her mother Pearl (Gross) Bernstein, her father Emmanuel (Manny) Bernstein, and her sister Vauna Bernstein.

Family and friends are invited to call on Saturday December 1st 2018 from Noon to 2 p.m. at the Fortune-Keogh Funeral Home, 20 Church Street Saranac Lake, NY 12983. A service Celebrating Bobbie’s Life will begin at 2 p.m. Friends are asked to join together for a reception at the Ampersand Bay Resort, 31 Bayside Drive, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Memorial donations can be made to fund a Scholarship being set up in Bobbie’s name as a legacy to her devotion to North Country Community College student success.

If you wish to make a donation, checks should be made out to the NCCC Foundation, 23 Santanoni Avenue, Saranac Lake NY 12983 with a memo identifying the “Bobbie Bernstein Anker Scholarship.”

If you have any questions about the Scholarship, please contact Diana Fortune, NCCC Foundation