Robert Dominick Powell

Robert Dominick Powell, 68, of Coral Springs, Florida passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at University Hospital in Tamarac. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 30, 1942 to Ralph Piccola and Dorothy Mendelson. He had one younger brother named Gary Piccola. Robert was educated in public schools, and graduated from Massapequa High School in 1959. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He continued his formal education by receiving a JD from John’s University School of Law and a LLM in Internal Law from Georgetown University Law Center. Robert practiced trial law from May of 1973 to August of 2003 when he moved to Florida. Robert married Pamela Van Horn on August 19, 1978. They had 5 children (Robert, Emrys, Taliesin, Teyrnon and Aislyn) who Robert encouraged to pursue their interests in theater, film, sports, law and education. He valued the ideals of family and cultural heritage which was evident in all family gatherings. In addition to enjoying sports, football, baseball and lacrosse, he began an interest in theatre at Massapequa High, appearing in "Julius Caesar" as Marc Anthony. He began guitar lessons in 1955, and was a member of several rock 'n roll bands, performing in and around New York City and Philadelphia. As a member of the University of Pennsylvania's "Penn Players", Robert performed the role of Curly in "Oklahoma", Billy in "Carousal", Emil, the Frenchman, in "South Pacific", as well as Jason, in "Medea", and the title role of Macbeth. In the early 1960's, Robert began playing folk music, and appeared at the Second Fret and the Gilded Cage, in Philadelphia, performing at times with Bob Dillon, Joan Baez, and Carolyn Hester. While in Law School in New York, Robert worked as a studio musician, and played and sang back-up on several tracks with Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, as well as on the Cyrkle's hit song, "Red Rubber Ball". Robert Powell returned to the stage after a 44 year hiatus, mostly spent in a different form of theatre, the practice of trial law, to play the role of Governor/Innkeeper, in the 2007 season of Broward on Broadway's (BOB) highly successful production of Man of LaMancha. In the Spring of 2007, he joined the cast of BOB's "The Pajama Game", playing the principal role of "Prez". Robert is survived by his wife, Pamela Van Horn Powell; 8 children, Todd Powell, Devon Powell, Jackson (Lance) Powell, Robert Shuman-Powell, Emrys Powell, Taliesin Powell, Tyernon Powell and Aislyn Powell; daughers-in-law, Tanya Powell, Emily Powell, Robyn Powell, Renee Shuman-Powell, and Melissa Sevestre-Powell; 5 grandchildren, Morgan Powell, Tyler Powell, Alexander Jackson (AJ) Powell, Jackson Powell, and Aveline Shuman-Powell. Funeral arrangements are private. A memorial service will take place 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Savino Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2950 North State Road 7, Margate, FL 33063. 954.977.5244. Robert was uninsurable due to his multiple illnesses, so our family will not receive any life insurance or death benefits, aside from a very small sum from social security. In lieu of flowers we are accepting assistance to help pay for the cost of cremation and the service. For anyone offering assistance please send it to her paypal account: pvpowell@gmail.com. Thanks to all for your thoughts and supports. Savino Funeral Home & Cremation Services is entrusted with handling all funeral arrangements

Robert Dominick Powell

March 30, 1942 - April 27, 2010