Robert C. ALexander, Sr.

Robert C. Alexander, Sr. (“Bob”), age 90, of Wayne, N.J, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Eleanor, their six children: Roberta Napoli and her husband Paul of Rockaway, Heide Alexander of Manhattan, Eleanor Kino and her husband Alan of Waldwick, Christine Alexander and her husband Richard Molinaro of Wayne, Tammy Rossi of Nutley and Robert C. Alexander, Jr. and his wife Karen of Wayne; nine grandchildren: Nicholas Napoli (Paula), Michael Napoli (Christina), Hunter Kino, Alexander Rossi, Anthony Rossi, Gabriella Molinaro, Brooke Alexander, Kaitlyn Alexander, and Christian Alexander; three great-grandchildren: Isabella Napoli, Paige Napoli, and Owen Napoli; and one surviving brother Gorman Alexander of Naples, Florida.

Bob was one of ten children born in Newark, NJ, in 1929, the year of the Great Depression.  He was only 13 when asked to hold a job as a porter in a local bakery for his older brother (drafted into the Army to fight the war in Europe).  His hard work and reliability impressed the bakery owner who offered him an apprenticeship.  He soon excelled at all baking skills from making breads to decorating wedding cakes and, as a “Master Baker”, eventually opened his own bakery in North Arlington, NJ, the “Alexander’s Ridge Bakery” on Ridge Road.

Bob owned and operated his bakery for seventeen years.  Along the way he married the love of his life, Eleanor, who helped him handle some of the baking tasks and operate the store front.  It wasn’t long before their children came along – six altogether.  A business owner and family man, Bob made sure to make time to enjoy life by taking road-trips with his family to other states, spent summer days at his shore house on Long Beach Island and gave back to the community and to his trade.

Bob was President of the North Arlington Businessmen’s Association bringing his creative ideas to improve the town by organizing holiday parades honoring the local citizens, bringing Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for children to visit and hanging Christmas lights to brighten Ridge Road.

Bob was also very active in the North Jersey Bakers Board of Trade helping to organize annual events such as the summertime Baker’s Picnic, Christmas Party and a formal dinner-dance Banquet.  The bakery owners in North Jersey got to know each other and became life-long friends through the organization.  He also helped the young baker graduates of the North Jersey Vocational School find jobs through the Baker Board of Trade network.

Bob had good mentors advising him to invest in real estate, which he wisely did.  He eventually sold the bakery to manage his properties full time, built a beautiful home in Wayne, NJ, and in 1969 moved from North Arlington with his family to enjoy the open space of the suburbs and the good education of the Wayne school system.

Bob was always a compassionate and generous person helping whenever he could.  He lived his life with boundless energy, ideas and determination for constant improvement and, with the never ending support and dedication of his loving wife, Eleanor, made a nice life for his family and for those lucky enough to have known him. Bob lived a good, long and productive life and will be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.