Robert Jay Glickman, the only son of Harry and Beatrice Glickman, was born in New York City in 1928 and received his primary, high school, and college education there.
Having specialized in Romance Languages and Adult Education at Brooklyn College of The City University of New York, Bob graduated with a B.A. summa cum laude in 1948. He then continued his studies at Brown University where he received a Master's Degree in Spanish Language and Literature in 1951. The following year, he attended Columbia University on a scholarship to The Russian Institute. His plans for a Ph.D. in Russian Studies were interrupted by the Korean War.
Between 1952 and 1954, Bob served in the U.S. Army's Counter Intelligence Corps. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he earned a Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature at UCLA and taught Spanish at UC-Riverside and Harvard University. He left Harvard in 1963 to accept an Assistant Professorship at the University of Toronto. In addition to teaching his Spanish courses, he continued with his pioneering work in the application of computer technology to language and literature. He retired in 1994 with the rank of Full Professor and was then appointed Professor Emeritus by the University of Toronto in June 2002.
Bob organized and participated in numerous academic and business conferences in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. In addition, he created computer software, recorded online lectures for his website, and published books and articles in areas as diverse as Hispanic Studies, Military Affairs, 19th and 20th Century Literature, the Arts, and Digital Pedagogy.
Over the years, individuals and organizations in a wide variety of fields sought Bob's advice to achieve their academic and professional goals. He was a mentor to many.
He was affiliated with several military and academic organizations and associations.
In 2024, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alumni Association at Brooklyn College of The City University of New York.
Bob's full life was further enriched by his marriage to Dr. Ruth Jones. Their life together was an exciting, creative experience which brought a wealth of meaning and fulfillment to them both.
Bob passed away in Toronto in February 2025. His funeral service was conducted by Veterans of the American Legion in Ontario that he had belonged to for many years. The funeral service was in keeping with parts of the USA Army's Funeral Tradition.