The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) board and staff were saddened to learn of the death of Rob Kugler. Rob was a founding member of the CFSJ Board when it was established in 2007 and was named an Emeritus member of the Board in 2020.
“Rob had retired from the Board when I joined the Community Foundation; however, I had the opportunity to speak with him as we honored his leadership,” said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer. “He was always gracious and so appreciative of the Foundation’s success in becoming a catalyst for change in the region. He conveyed a heartfelt appreciation for being named an emeritus trustee. He shared his knowledge of the Foundation’s early history. He will be greatly missed by our board, staff, and all who knew him.”
According to Kyle Ruffin, another founding Board Member, “Rob guided the early Board through the steps of creating the Community Foundation of South Jersey and establishing the legalities of its affiliation with the Community Foundation of New Jersey. He was also the very first Legacy of Giving Honoree in 2013. The Legacy of Giving honors the contributions of South Jersey’s most generous philanthropists. CFSJ was only one of the many organizations to which Rob contributed his time, talent, and treasure–the currency of philanthropy. The Community Foundation exists because of Rob’s ability to help us navigate the challenges of being a start-up.”
Chris Rollins, CFSJ Secretary, and longtime Board Member agreed, “As a member of the exploratory steering committee to consider, evaluate, and launch CFSJ, it was a pleasure to work with Rob, who was also instrumental in our original incorporation and bylaws and was appropriately our first Legacy of Giving honoree.
Former CFSJ Board Chairman John C. Connell, Esq. said, “I knew Rob for many years as a law partner and then as a friend. His life was a paragon of professional excellence and servant leadership. He never lost sight of his responsibilities to the larger community and inspired others to do the same. All that he touched he made better. He was quiet but enormously effective. He will be dearly missed. May his memory be a blessing.”
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Rob’s passing,” said Sidney Hargro, President of the Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia and former CFSJ Executive Director. “As a founding board member of CFSJ, Rob was highly engaged and committed to a bold vision of what philanthropy in South Jersey could achieve. He was what the moniker “Live. Give. Love. South Jersey” was all about. I will be forever grateful for his guidance and support both during my tenure at CFSJ and afterward.”
In addition to the CFSJ and his legal work at Archer & Greiner, P.C., Rob was a member of many professional organizations including the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Camden County Bar Association, the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the Risk Management Associates South Jersey Chapter, the Community Associations Institute, and the Dartmouth Lawyers’ Association. He also served the community as a member of the American Cancer Society Board, Symphony In C Society Board, Dartmouth Alumni Council, Haddonfield United Methodist Church Board, the Historical Society of Haddonfield Board, and Partnership for Haddonfield.
Rob Kugler is survived by his wife, Sandy; children, Justin, Lindsay, and Kelley; their partners, June, Holali, and Ryan; grandchildren, Imanie and Josiah; and brother, John. Our condolences to all.
Please visit www.robertrkugler.com for details, donations, and to reflect on the memories he leaves behind.