Robert Deland Bachrach, 71, of Holliston, passed away at his home surrounded by family on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Janice (Daugherty) Bachrach and Louis Fabian Bachrach Jr.
Robert grew up in West Newton and attended the Belmont Hill School. There, he was a member of the glee club, the madrigal group, and the varsity wrestling team. After graduation, he attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he met the love of his life and wife of 48 years, Karen (Scholz) Bachrach. While attending Carleton, he met one of his two primary mentors, composer Phillip Rhodes; the other being Arthur Berger of Boston. Rhodes recognized his musical abilities and persuaded him to earn his BA in music (composition). The two kept in touch, and Robert was invited to present his music at a concert celebrating 70 years of Carleton composers in 1997.
Upon graduating from college, Robert joined the family business, the acclaimed portrait studio Bachrach Inc. Founded in 1868, Bachrach Inc. is thought to be one of the longest-operating photography studios in the world. Robert was among the fourth generation of photographers who captured portraits of leaders in the arts, business, sports, and politics, including nearly every American president since Abraham Lincoln. Robert personally photographed Meryl Streep, Julia Child, George H.W. Bush, Pearl Bailey, Charles Addams, Mitt Romney, John Cage, and Riccardo Muti.
After retiring from photography, Robert served a brief stint as one of New England’s top salesmen at the clothier Jos. A. Bank. Following that, he returned to composing music full time. Outside of his professional life, Robert was an avid gardener, gym-goer, cook, reader, film enthusiast, rock musician, and painter. He loved his home of 31 years in Holliston, where he cared for his beloved cats and delighted in the abundant wildlife in his backyard. In his later years, he joined the cover band Throwback, where he played guitar and keyboards and sang.
Robert is remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, doting grandfather, cherished sibling, and dear friend. With his diverse interests, he was a great conversationalist with a quick and wicked sense of humor.
In addition to his wife, Robert is survived by two children: Kristina Bachrach and her husband, Aaron Basch, of La Grange, Ill., and Erik Bachrach and his wife, Laura, of Mendon, Mass. He also leaves behind his siblings, Pamela Bachrach and her husband, David Giannini, of Becket, Mass.; Gretchen Bachrach and her husband, Fred Gevalt, of Arlington, Mass.; and Louis Bachrach and his wife, Carlin, of Virginia Beach, Va.; as well as three grandchildren, Jamie and Abby Basch and Teddy Bachrach.
A private memorial gathering will be held later in the year. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s memory to the Metrowest Humane Society, https://metrowesthumanesociety.org/donate/, or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, http://dana-farber.org/gift.
