Robert Starshak, M.D.

Dr. Robert Starshak and Ross Draegert are two names that Milwaukee will likely never forget. Their community involvement spans decades, and includes both extensive community service roles, and significant financial support for gay and lesbian organizations and causes as well as political candidates supporting our causes.

Initially, Ross took the more active role in community involvement, while Robert concentrated more on his work as a physician. But together they have always been extremely generous in making financial contributions to worthy GLBT causes- including $100,000 to defeat the amendment to ban gay marriage, the 2003 rescue of PrideFest after its financial crisis that year, and large annual contributions to the Cream City Foundation and other groups and causes.

But Robert also became more involved in community work beginning in the mid-1990s, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Cream City Foundation.

Robert lives with his long-time partner, Ross Draegert, in their handsome house, "Birch Lodge", in River Hills.

Robert and partner Ross appear in this Dec. 1990 photo
of the Board of Directors of the Cream City Foundation

with partner Ross in PrideFest Parade, 1997