Dead officer described as ‘fantastic’ father, husband

YOUNGSTOWN — Robert Deichman liked to serenade his daughters every night at bedtime with his version of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

The girls are older now, Jenna is 15, and Julianna, 11, but he would sing to them, said Deichman’s wife, Lori.

First, she would sing to them, and then Robert would perform the familiar lullaby, she said.

The girls won’t get to hear him sing it anymore.

Detective Sgt. Robert Deichman of the Youngstown Police Department died early Thursday when the unmarked police car he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer on Salt Springs Road, not far from his home.

“He was on his way home,” Lori Deichman said, adding that she believes he had been playing darts, a favorite game, with friends before the 3:20 a.m. accident.

“He was a fantastic father and husband,” she said.

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