Robert Chanson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Chanson, age 87 of Wayne, NJ.

Bob was born and raised in Paterson, NJ and was the only child to Andrew and Lucy Chanson.  As a student, Bob attended high school in Paterson where he played organized football and worked part time at a local pharmacy to help his parents make ends meet.  

As a young man shortly after graduating from high school, Bob felt it in his heart to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  Bob served honorably and proudly in the army as an MP.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Army, Bob found employment quickly as a Pressman with Unified Printing in Fair Lawn, NJ.  After approximately twenty years, Bob left the printing industry and accepted a position with the Wayne Board of Education.  Bob worked for Wayne BOE for more than twenty-five years until his retirement in 2011.

As a young man just out of the army, while at a local dance, Bob met an attractive young lady by the name of Betty Oakley.  Bob asked Betty to dance, and they hit it off great.  They immediately started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and Bob and Betty became husband and wife in Totowa, NJ.  After getting married, the newlyweds moved to the town of Wayne and called it their home for more than sixty years.  While living in Wayne, Bob and Betty welcomed the births of both of their children Roy and Cheryl.

One of Bob’s favorite pastimes was landscaping.  Friends and family could often find Bob in his yard grooming his lawn.  Bob kept his front and back yards meticulously manicured and pristine all year round.  He not only meticulously cared for his lawn but also for his automobiles, keeping them in tip-top shape throughout his entire life.  He enjoyed traveling with his wife Betty throughout the Caribbean and held a time share in Dewey Beach, DE where they spent a great deal of time together.  Aside from all Bob’s talents, hobbies and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Bob than providing for and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  He attended all their sporting events and was a little league coach for his son’s baseball team.   He was often seen with his long red horn at Wayne Hills High School football games cheering on his grandsons.  Bob and Betty cherished more than sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Bob’s heart truly broke when his beloved wife Betty passed away in 2022.

Bob was not only devoted to his family but also cherished his Catholic Faith.  He attended mass at Our Lady of Consolation every Sunday, where he treasured the many friendships he made.  

Bob was the perfect example of a gentleman.  He was kind, caring, and compassionate.  He loved to interact with people and could talk to anyone about anything.  He was truly a special person who touched the lives of many people.  He will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Robert is survived by his son Roy Chanson and his wife Amy of Princeton, NJ his daughter Cheryl Romeo and her husband Ralph of Wayne, NJ, four grandchildren; Nick Romeo and his wife Allie of Wayne NJ, Mark Romeo and his wife Kristy of Little Silver, NJ, Eric Chanson of Princeton, NJ, and Alex Chanson and his wife Nicole of Atlanta, GA, and seven great grandchildren, Mason Romeo, Tenley Romeo, Sienna Romeo, Charli Chanson, Brooke Romeo, Simon Chanson, and Judith Chanson.  Bob was predeceased by his wife Betty in September of 2022, and by his granddaughter Melissa Romeo in 1995.