A Tribute To Bob Schifellite From The Optimizer’s Senior Editor

Robert “Bob” Schifellite
1958 - 2023

I first met Bob in 1985, when he was with IECA - the Independent Election Corporation of America – when he came to call on us at the old Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company to explain what the newly formed IECA was all about. His smiling face, his calm, thoughtful and modest manner - and his passion for the company mission - made an immediate and very strong impression on us – as it did with everyone he met throughout his career.

Not long thereafter, Bob moved to ADP where, with Rich Daly – the founder of the ADP Investor Communications business – their business grew rapidly – and steadily – year after year. In 2007 Broadridge Investor Communications was spun-off from ADP - but the same keen focus on speed, innovation, minute attention to detail, to customer service - and respect for employees – which Bob epitomized - is baked into the Broadridge DNA.

Today, as we know, Broadridge has become a truly indispensable provider of services to publicly traded companies – and to millions and millions of their shareholders of every size, shape and description – and is widely and deservedly recognized as a “World Class Employer.”

And Bob, despite, but perhaps because of his quiet and modest manner is widely and rightly recognized as a World-Class Person by his colleagues, friends, and by the community at large. Throughout his career, Bob actively supported numerous local charities – and served as a Director of the L.I. Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

In 1993 Rich and Bob decided to hire members of the Fountain House Community to work at Broadridge during the “busy season.” Fountain House is a 75-year-old nonprofit that provides lodging, counseling, educational opportunities, a sense of community - and meaningful work to “Members” with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) – many of whom have physical impairments as well. For almost 30 years Broadridge has been its largest employer – and is far and away the number-one place where Members want to work. They love how clean and neat everything is there. They love the cafeteria. They love the work. But most of all, they love the respectful ways they are treated as valuable members of the Broadridge Team.

For over 25 years Broadridge has also been a major supporter of Fountain Gallery in NYC, where Members work to create and sell their art – and to run the Gallery. Both Rich and Bob have been honorees at annual Galas – and both have brought in record crowds – and record donations – and both of them are true heroes to Fountain House Members.

Here is what a Fountain House staffer had to say about Bob, which really sums him up: “He could not contain how inspired he was by our members at Broadridge and how much he valued Fountain House’s mission. When walking into a room, he had that type of contagious light that naturally motivates those around him. He was a true champion for mental health and will be sincerely missed” – as he will be by all of his family, friends and colleagues.