Roberta Kunin

Madison - Roberta "Bobbie" Kunin died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, November 9th.
Bobbie was born January 14, 1924 in Gardner, MA to Harold S Shine and Leah Rubin Shine. The family moved to Taunton, MA where she graduated from Taunton High School during WWII. After graduation, Bobbie worked as Assistant to the architect in charge of designing and building an Army Staging Camp in Taunton. Following its completion, she stayed on as Secretary to the Army Colonel in charge of the Camp.
On December 9, 1945, Bobbie married Dr. Kalman Kunin. Their marriage lasted 68 years until his death in November 2013. Shortly after her wedding, Bobbie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Psychology.
As a young couple, they lived in Philadelphia, Tulsa and Cleveland while he completed his medical residencies and she worked a variety of jobs as a substitute teacher, social worker and secretary. They settled in Youngstown, OH where Dr. Kunin practiced obstetrics and gynecology and Bobbie was a homemaker who took care of their three children. She also volunteered her time with the PTA and local chapter of Planned Parenthood.
When her children were in middle school, Bobbie went back to school and earned an MA in Sociology from Kent State University. She then taught Sociology at Youngstown State University before earning a PhD in Mental Health Counseling from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She opened her own therapy practice in Youngstown where she practiced mental health counseling for several years before retiring and moving to Madison in 1988.
In Madison, she spent time volunteering with the Rape Crisis Center, as a tutor in the Madison Metropolitan School District, on the Board of the Madison Opera, with Jewish Social Services and on several committees for Temple Beth El.
Bobbie's greatest joy and delight all her life was her wonderful friends and family, whose welfare was always her primary concern. She is survived by her children: Dale Kunin & Les Goldsmith (Madison), Jay & Gabrielle Kunin (San Diego), Rick & Dusty Kunin (Framingham, MA); her grandchildren: Noah Kunin-Goldsmith & Stephanie Judge (Madison), Josh Kunin-Goldsmith & Laurence Noisette (St. Louis), Seth Kunin-Goldsmith (Dallas), Lauren Kunin (San Francisco), Heather Kunin (Cambridge, MA); and her great-granddaughter: Ayla Kunin (Madison).
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (TODAY), November 11, 2015 at TEMPLE BETH EL, 2702 Arbor Drive, Madison, with Rabbi Jonathan Biatch officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434