Who is Roberta Zaktzer? ‘Golden Bachelor’ Pays Tribute to Best Friend of Contestant Ellen Goltzer

We all knew The Golden Bachelor was going to be an emotional ride just based on the backstory of its star, widower Gerry Turner, but we were not prepared to learn about Roberta. Ellen Goltzer, 71, was the second woman to emerge from a limousine, yelling "Roberta! We made it!" as she did so. She then explained that Roberta Zaktzer was her best friend of 60 years and a huge Bachelor fan.

At the time of filming, Roberta was battling cancer and was cheering on her best friend from home. Then, a card at the end of the episode revealed that Roberta had since died. "This season is dedicated in loving memory to Roberta Zaktzer, 1952-2023," the tribute read.

Ellen posted a photo of the screen on her Instagram with the caption, "True friendship is forever."

Roberta died from cancer on Sept. 10, 2023, barely three weeks before Ellen's Bachelor debut. On Sept. 6, Ellen shared her friend's story with her new social media followers.

"Good times and bad, happy and sad, it’s a friendship that will last a lifetime," Ellen wrote on Instagram. "We watched The Bachelor together from the very beginning. She convinced me to apply for The Golden Bachelor and here I am because of her. She’s going through some difficult times now and I want her to know that true friendship is precious. Thank you Roberta. I’m here because you believed in me and and I believe in you too. Love you bestie!"

Roberta was a mother and grandmother who lived in Freeport, New York. Her daughter Courtney Gold posted on Instagram about watching the Golden Bachelor premiere with Ellen. "So glad I got to snuggle with you tonight," she wrote to Ellen, and tagged the show. "Thanks for honoring my mom."

Ellen also spoke at Roberta's funeral and was introduced as the person who had known Roberta the longest. She described her friend as "an amazing person who lit up every room she entered," who loved her friends and family nearly as much as she loved "jewelry, shoes and all clothes." She was dressed to the nines at all times and had a personal salesperson at Bloomingdale's shoe department. Every day with Roberta was "an adventure," she said.

Ellen also spoke about their love of pickle ball, and shared a story of when a pickle ball lesson turned into a giggle fit. "I believe I will see her again," Ellen said. "And when it is my turn, she will make sure there's a reservation at a pickle ball court, and a heavenly version of Piccolo's with a glass of Pinot Grigio at the ready."

During the Golden Bachelor premiere, which was filmed in early August, Ellen continued to send Roberta shout outs throughout the episode, gleefully shouting, "Roberta, he's a hunk!" at one point. Hopefully, Roberta got to hear all about what hunky Gerry when filming concluded. Or, depending on how far Ellen makes it in the show, maybe they got to meet! She did get the first rose during the rose ceremony, and clearly, her friendship with Roberta made an impression on the whole production.

The premiere episode started with Gerry's own tale of grief. In June 2017, he and his wife Toni finally retired and closed on their dream home. Just a month later, she got sick from a bacterial infection. Gerry took her to the ER, and she never came home. Something tells us the tears — and the Roberta references — will continue all season long.