Robert “Bob” S. Zarchen passed away at his home in Miami, Florida, on September 7, 2026, at the age of 89. Bob was predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years, Susan (Neiditch), and his sister, Arlene Norman. Bob is survived by his sons, Louis (Janet) of West Simsbury, CT, and John of Los Angeles, CA, and his grandchildren, Nicky of San Francisco, CA, and Matthew of Arcata, CA.

Born in Hartford, CT, Bob attended Williston Academy and obtained a degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University in 1959, where he was also captain of the squash team. He married Susan in 1959.

Following the sudden death of his father, Bob ran the family business, Hartford Tire, on Hudson Street in Hartford. In those days, the business sold and recapped tires, in addition to selling small appliances and bicycles. Hudson Tire became the first Honda motorcycle dealer in Connecticut, selling what was then the ubiquitous Honda 50cc scooter. Bob had one fitted with a baby seat, and following a minor accident while riding with his wife and son Louis, he also became the shortest-duration Honda motorcycle dealer in Connecticut.

Following the sale of Hartford Tire, Bob went to work for Continental Life Insurance Company, achieving numerous sales awards and earning his CLU designation. In the late 1960s, Bob started Tech Tune Up Centers, a chain of auto repair shops located throughout Connecticut and in Springfield, MA.

Bob frequently sought new challenges, and in 1974, he purchased a Luders 24, a classic wooden racing sailboat. The boat was in tough condition, and he had it moved from Maine to the backyard in Connecticut on a large trailer. Bob, with the help of family and friends, spent many months refurbishing the boat. The boat was renamed BLUE, simply because of its navy-blue hull color and the fact that the stern was so narrow it could accommodate only four letters. The family joined the Thames River Yacht Club and spent many enjoyable outings on Long Island Sound.

It was at that point that the sailing bug bit. Bob and Susan purchased an Alajuela 38, an ocean-going sailboat, keeping the name BLUE. They took delivery of the new BLUE in Key Largo and spent the winter cruising the Bahamas. Over the following years, they sailed the far-flung islands of the Caribbean in the winter and north to Connecticut during the summers, traveling many miles offshore and navigating by sextant several times. When returning south, they traveled the Intracoastal Waterway, in the days when one could pull alongside a crab boat and bargain for soft-shell crabs. Bob became proficient in Morse code and obtained his ham radio license, in addition to his 500-ton master’s license.

Bob and Susan permanently relocated to Miami in the mid-1980s, purchasing a condominium in the first high-rise building on Claughton Island, now known as Brickell Key. Susan and Bob sold BLUE and became captain and crew aboard a corporately owned sailboat, Balancing Act. They enjoyed many memorable adventures and formed lifelong friendships with the company’s chairman and his family. Following Balancing Act, Bob became a yacht broker, specializing in large sailboats. He worked for many years at Merrill Stevens and then Sparkman and Stephens. He was very active in the Florida Yacht Brokers Association, becoming a director and serving as president in 1996 and 2016.

Bob and Susan were active supporters of many organizations, including the New World Symphony, Pérez Art Museum Miami, MOCA, ICA, and Fountainhead Arts. Bob always enjoyed Art Basel, and, with the exception of work by a cousin, their art collection featured exclusively artists local to the 305.

Bob was a gentleman and a wonderful husband and father. He was an astute businessman with a penchant for finances. He always loved discovering how things worked and how to fix them, and he rarely shied away from a challenge or an adventure.

The family would like to express special thanks to Junior Joseph and Neysi Morales, who provided compassionate care during both Susan’s and Bob’s final months.

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no public service. In his memory, the family welcomes memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, to Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT (https://cbict.org/), or an arts organization of your choice.