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Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Fireman's Service will take place during the visitation hours from 4-5 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa
Robert Allen DeGraw, age 80, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 1, 2016 in the comfort of his own home.
From the day he was born and for the rest of his entire life Bob called the town of Wayne his home. Born on Thomas Terrace, he grew up on Mountainview Boulevard right behind the barber shop that, to this day, still remains in business. In 1955, he moved to New Street and lived there for many years before moving to Van Ness Place. When the state bought him out of that house to build a highway, Bob found a home along the shores of the Pompton River on River Road in the Hoffman Grove Section. After putting up with too many floods, he eventually retreated to higher ground and, in 2008, he returned to that house on New Street which was still in his family.
Bob enjoyed a storied childhood full of adventures. Growing up, a typical day in young Bob’s life consisted of doing things like feeding his chickens and riding bareback on his horse named Princess to check his traps to see if he caught any muskrats or foxes. A childhood story about Bob that gave everyone a lot of laughs was when Bob put a penny on the train tracks near his house. Coincidentally, the next day, that train came down the track and ended up derailing from those tracks. Although it wasn’t truly the case, everyone had Bob convinced that his penny on the track caused the train to derail. This sent Bob into his barn to hide. At age twelve his father gave him an engine that he rebuilt and at sixteen, he and his buddy built a dragster race car.
After graduating from Wayne High School with the Class of 1955, Bob had a few odd jobs including working for a local butcher and unloading train rail cars for Wayne Builders Supply. But those childhood experiences, when he would hang out at the local blacksmiths shop, learning about working with metals, and tinkering with rebuilding engines and building race cars, equipped Bob with a skill set that was destined for greater things. As a member of Operating Engineers Local 825, his dad was presently working for Franklin Contractors, and when Bob turned twenty, his dad helped him get his union card too, along with a job as a mechanic for Franklin Builders. For the next 47 years, Bob enjoyed a wonderful career as a union mechanic and long boom crane operator with Franklin Contractors, Braen and Sons, and Vergona Crane, Inc. Some of the more notable projects that Bob was involved with included the construction of Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands and operating the crane that put up tower cranes for the construction of the World Trade Center. During the 1970’s when the economy was choked by runaway inflation and work was scarce, Bob maintained his union card but also started his own business, Bob DeGraw and Sons specializing in paving and masonry projects. He also built and installed redwood pools. Retirement ultimately came in 1996.
If Bob wasn’t at work and he wasn’t home, his three sons always knew there was usually only one other place where he could be…..the firehouse! Bob was a life-member of Wayne Township Community Fire Company Number 1 where he volunteered for 54 years. He was extremely dedicated and his expertise on how to fight a given fire was often sought. In the great floods of 1968, Bob’s rescue boat was renamed “Noah’s Ark” because of all the resident’s animals he helped rescue from the flood-ravaged homes of Wayne. In the firehouse itself, they also relied on his mechanical abilities as Bob did most of the repairs on all the fire apparatus. When they were old enough, Bob encouraged his three sons: Allen, Robert “Mugs” and Tom to join too. Because the four of them frequently made fires together, in an effort to diminish the chance that a whole family of firefighters could be lost in one fire, the department had to instill a new policy that only two family members could be on the same rig.
Led by Bobby and his two buddies Tom Chapman and Dickie Saunders, the members of the Fire Company Number 1 rebuilt a 1899 Christie Steamer. It was a Class A pumper formerly owned by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Originally a horse-drawn fire apparatus, in 1912 it was retro-fitted with a gasoline engine perfected by Mr. Walter Christie, American engineer and inventor. Company 1 purchased it in 1975 and, led by the mechanical expertise of Bobby and his buddies, the whole rig was stripped down to its frame. For the next couple of years, over 5,000 parts were re-nickeled and polished down so that each moving part fit and functioned perfectly. For Bobby, this was a labor of love. The guys proudly showed the Christie Steamer all over the east coast and it trophied a lot! Deep down inside, Bobby really didn’t care about the trophies. It was the challenge and satisfaction from a job well done and the camaraderie of doing the work with his fellow-firemen that gave him the most joy. Bobby was very instrumental in the rebuilding of a 1930 Ahrens Fox Pumper too.
It seemed that there was nothing Bob couldn’t make or fix. He had such a sharp mechanical mind so it’s not surprising that others often turned to Bob when they needed something done. Bob was always ready and willing to pitch in. When the town wanted to build the Wayne PAL, Bob donated the bulldozer and time and expertise to clear all the land for the new construction. While he gladly accepted a little mash (moon shine) and some corn as a thank-you offering, for fixing Mountainview Farmer Bob Brown’s tractor, he never did it to get a reward. Many times his boys and even their friends needed a little help with a car repair and Bob was always happy to help.
Bob adored his eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He really got a kick out of watching them grow and he had a great time cheering them on at their many sporting events including his granddaughter’s competitive soccer league games which took place from Syracuse, NY to Florida. At another granddaughter’s high school games, he was officially named the number one fan.
Bob was a jokester. He could dish it out but his good-natured disposition enabled him to be the brunt of a good joke too. He can rest in peace, knowing that he enjoyed the admiration of those who knew him for his selfless approach to life. Most importantly, he can rest in peace knowing that he was loved by God, not because he was perfect, but because God loved him so much despite his imperfections.
Surviving are Robert’s three sons: Allen and wife Dawn DeGraw of Ogdensburg, Robert DeGraw of Wayne, and Thomas and wife Margaret DeGraw of Lincoln Park; eight grandchildren: Bryan, Christie, Kayla, Robin, Jennie, Steven, Brittany, and Tara; eleven great-grandchildren: Noah, Josie, Landon, Tiffany, Zach, Kayla, Ryan, Skylar, Emma, Christian, and Steven, Jr.; and his aunt: Hilda Van Gieson of PA.
Bob’s family would also like to express their heartfelt special thanks to Raphael, Bob’s caregiver for the last six weeks of his life who treated Bob like he was his own father. God bless you Raphael!
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Robert’s name are asked to consider a donation to Community Volunteer Fire Company One, 97 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Fireman's Service will take place during the visitation hours from 4-5 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, August 7, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. A Fireman's Service will take place during the visitation hours from 4-5 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM from the funeral home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa
Robert Allen DeGraw, age 80, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 1, 2016 in the comfort of his own home.
From the day he was born and for the rest of his entire life Bob called the town of Wayne his home. Born on Thomas Terrace, he grew up on Mountainview Boulevard right behind the barber shop that, to this day, still remains in business. In 1955, he moved to New Street and lived there for many years before moving to Van Ness Place. When the state bought him out of that house to build a highway, Bob found a home along the shores of the Pompton River on River Road in the Hoffman Grove Section. After putting up with too many floods, he eventually retreated to higher ground and, in 2008, he returned to that house on New Street which was still in his family.
Bob enjoyed a storied childhood full of adventures. Growing up, a typical day in young Bob’s life consisted of doing things like feeding his chickens and riding bareback on his horse named Princess to check his traps to see if he caught any muskrats or foxes. A childhood story about Bob that gave everyone a lot of laughs was when Bob put a penny on the train tracks near his house. Coincidentally, the next day, that train came down the track and ended up derailing from those tracks. Although it wasn’t truly the case, everyone had Bob convinced that his penny on the track caused the train to derail. This sent Bob into his barn to hide. At age twelve his father gave him an engine that he rebuilt and at sixteen, he and his buddy built a dragster race car.
After graduating from Wayne High School with the Class of 1955, Bob had a few odd jobs including working for a local butcher and unloading train rail cars for Wayne Builders Supply. But those childhood experiences, when he would hang out at the local blacksmiths shop, learning about working with metals, and tinkering with rebuilding engines and building race cars, equipped Bob with a skill set that was destined for greater things. As a member of Operating Engineers Local 825, his dad was presently working for Franklin Contractors, and when Bob turned twenty, his dad helped him get his union card too, along with a job as a mechanic for Franklin Builders. For the next 47 years, Bob enjoyed a wonderful career as a union mechanic and long boom crane operator with Franklin Contractors, Braen and Sons, and Vergona Crane, Inc. Some of the more notable projects that Bob was involved with included the construction of Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands and operating the crane that put up tower cranes for the construction of the World Trade Center. During the 1970’s when the economy was choked by runaway inflation and work was scarce, Bob maintained his union card but also started his own business, Bob DeGraw and Sons specializing in paving and masonry projects. He also built and installed redwood pools. Retirement ultimately came in 1996.
If Bob wasn’t at work and he wasn’t home, his three sons always knew there was usually only one other place where he could be…..the firehouse! Bob was a life-member of Wayne Township Community Fire Company Number 1 where he volunteered for 54 years. He was extremely dedicated and his expertise on how to fight a given fire was often sought. In the great floods of 1968, Bob’s rescue boat was renamed “Noah’s Ark” because of all the resident’s animals he helped rescue from the flood-ravaged homes of Wayne. In the firehouse itself, they also relied on his mechanical abilities as Bob did most of the repairs on all the fire apparatus. When they were old enough, Bob encouraged his three sons: Allen, Robert “Mugs” and Tom to join too. Because the four of them frequently made fires together, in an effort to diminish the chance that a whole family of firefighters could be lost in one fire, the department had to instill a new policy that only two family members could be on the same rig.
Led by Bobby and his two buddies Tom Chapman and Dickie Saunders, the members of the Fire Company Number 1 rebuilt a 1899 Christie Steamer. It was a Class A pumper formerly owned by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Originally a horse-drawn fire apparatus, in 1912 it was retro-fitted with a gasoline engine perfected by Mr. Walter Christie, American engineer and inventor. Company 1 purchased it in 1975 and, led by the mechanical expertise of Bobby and his buddies, the whole rig was stripped down to its frame. For the next couple of years, over 5,000 parts were re-nickeled and polished down so that each moving part fit and functioned perfectly. For Bobby, this was a labor of love. The guys proudly showed the Christie Steamer all over the east coast and it trophied a lot! Deep down inside, Bobby really didn’t care about the trophies. It was the challenge and satisfaction from a job well done and the camaraderie of doing the work with his fellow-firemen that gave him the most joy. Bobby was very instrumental in the rebuilding of a 1930 Ahrens Fox Pumper too.
It seemed that there was nothing Bob couldn’t make or fix. He had such a sharp mechanical mind so it’s not surprising that others often turned to Bob when they needed something done. Bob was always ready and willing to pitch in. When the town wanted to build the Wayne PAL, Bob donated the bulldozer and time and expertise to clear all the land for the new construction. While he gladly accepted a little mash (moon shine) and some corn as a thank-you offering, for fixing Mountainview Farmer Bob Brown’s tractor, he never did it to get a reward. Many times his boys and even their friends needed a little help with a car repair and Bob was always happy to help.
Bob adored his eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He really got a kick out of watching them grow and he had a great time cheering them on at their many sporting events including his granddaughter’s competitive soccer league games which took place from Syracuse, NY to Florida. At another granddaughter’s high school games, he was officially named the number one fan.
Bob was a jokester. He could dish it out but his good-natured disposition enabled him to be the brunt of a good joke too. He can rest in peace, knowing that he enjoyed the admiration of those who knew him for his selfless approach to life. Most importantly, he can rest in peace knowing that he was loved by God, not because he was perfect, but because God loved him so much despite his imperfections.
Surviving are Robert’s three sons: Allen and wife Dawn DeGraw of Ogdensburg, Robert DeGraw of Wayne, and Thomas and wife Margaret DeGraw of Lincoln Park; eight grandchildren: Bryan, Christie, Kayla, Robin, Jennie, Steven, Brittany, and Tara; eleven great-grandchildren: Noah, Josie, Landon, Tiffany, Zach, Kayla, Ryan, Skylar, Emma, Christian, and Steven, Jr.; and his aunt: Hilda Van Gieson of PA.
Bob’s family would also like to express their heartfelt special thanks to Raphael, Bob’s caregiver for the last six weeks of his life who treated Bob like he was his own father. God bless you Raphael!
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Robert’s name are asked to consider a donation to Community Volunteer Fire Company One, 97 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.
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