Bob died in late 2010. He had just turned 97. The Gallery One staff was extremely fortunate to have had a warm relationship with Bob and his wife, Isolda, who died in 1995.

Robert Laessig was born in New Jersey in 1913. He attended the Textile Design School of Plauen, Germany, specializing in the study and painting of flowers. He was a WWII combat artist with the 13th Air Force before studying at the Art Students' League, NYC. He came to Cleveland as an art consultant and spent years as art director at American Greetings. He was a regular May Show participant and a prize winner at the Butler International Art Show. He is listed in Whose Who in America and was a member of the National Academy of Design. He was chosen to paint the official White House Christmas Card for five years during the Johnson Administration. He won an Ohio Watercolor Society Gold Medal, the Winsor Newton Award and the top award in the National Academy of Design Exhibition.