Bob Nissen, a television engineering pioneer and prominent member of the Port performing arts community for 50 years, died July 14 of pulmonary fibrosis.
Bob led a creative life that rode the technological and political waves of the 20th century. Blacklisted in the McCarthy era, he had an illustrious career spanning both coasts, from the golden age of broadcast television to the high-tech boardrooms of Madison Avenue.
Born in Kansas in 1928, “Bobby Joe” spent countless hours tinkering with automobiles, and learning electricity and carpentry. He once won a bet that he could run a Model-T on butter.
The family moved to Oregon, and Bob got his FCC Radio license at 14 and worked at KWIL announcing Big Band songs and war news. At Oregon State, he studied physics and philosophy, did theater, and became class president of 5,000 students.
Moving to New York, Bob emceed at nightclubs and met an actress from Louisville, Henrietta Schlossberg. After one week of romance, he proposed and she accepted.
One week later, Bob sailed to India. He emceed at nightclubs and wrote newspaper articles as a stringer. He interviewed Prime Minister Nehru, who said India was willing to help negotiate peace in Korea.
After a severe bout of malaria, Bob shipped home. Nine days after arriving, he and Henrietta married. She changed her name to Cinde, short for “Cinderella.”
They settled in San Francisco, where Bob worked at KRON-TV and KQED-TV, achieving television “firsts” including the first coast-to-coast broadcast via microwave.
At home, Bob and Cinde recorded albums by the Limeliters and Pete Seeger. They joined the peace movement and hosted singer/activist Paul Robeson.
The House Un-American Activities Committee called him to testify. Referencing his Nehru interview, the Committee called him a traitor, who “offered his services to a foreign government” while a Marine. Asked to identify Communist friends, Bob pled the Fifth.
In 1962, Bob and Cinde moved with their children to Saint Louis. When he became General Manager of KETC public television, the Globe-Democrat ran articles co-written by conservative politician Pat Buchanan, calling him “a communist running our educational station.”
Bob received threatening phone calls, and every morning checked his car for explosives.
Silence from colleagues made it clear he was on a blacklist. After a brief move to Schenectady, the family settled in Port Washington in 1967. At the Hubert Wilke Organization, Bob designed over 200 TV studios and telecommunications facilities in 50 countries.
Port Washington provided ample performance opportunities for Bob’s family of actor/musicians. Port residents may remember them from the many Play Troupe cast parties at their Ridge Drive home.
In 1990, Bob turned all his efforts to caring for Cinde, who had Alzheimer’s disease. She died in 2002, a year after their 50th anniversary.
Bob then met and fell in love with Lilli Dzierzawski, a longtime theater friend of Cinde, and they registered as domestic partners. He spent his last years gardening, traveling, writing, and enjoying visits from his children Naomi, Gregory, Tim and Peter, and grandchildren Callum, Lucy, Henry, Irina, and Alison.
He is remembered for his passionate sense of purpose as an iconoclast, activist, atheist, technologist, handyman, gardener, and devoted husband and father.
His life will be commemorated through readings and performances at the Landmark on Main Street on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. The venue requires proof of vaccination for entrance. Please RSVP at tinyurl.com/bobnissencelebration.
