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May 23, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, June 3, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
Bob was raised in Harlem, NY and graduated from Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan with the class of 1939. He began working for his uncle and learning the insurance business. Shortly thereafter, he found himself drafted into the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II.
Bob served proudly throughout the Pacific and was involved in the Battle of Luzon and the Southern Philippines. He was a crewman on a Heavy Mortar team and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He served for more than three years before being discharge in 1945 at which time he returned to New York City.
Bob immediately went back to work with his uncle as an insurance underwriter, establishing what would become his lifelong career. He took advantage of the GI Bill and, while working full-time by day and taking classes at night, he successfully earned his Master’s Degree from St. John’s University. His career took him all over the U.S., to most major cities, where he would meet with the various companies and individuals that he conducted business with. He enjoyed a lengthy career, working right into his 60’s before retiring.
Bob was always a very religious man. Raised in a Catholic home and Catholic schools, he has always had a deep faith in the Lord. His aunt was the Mother Superior at his elementary school which meant he could get away with absolutely nothing and his parents always received a full report on his behavior. Fortunately, he was a good kid and managed to keep out of trouble. He maintained his faith throughout his life and was a devoted parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Wayne, and a member of the Holy Name Society.
Right out of high school, Bob met Dorothy O’Malley from the Bronx. He and Dorothy were at a St. Helena’s Dance when he asked her if she would dance with him. Dorothy loved to dance and accepted. Within the first few steps, she realized he was a terrible dancer, but she was polite and finished the dance. That first dance began a courtship of more than five years, including while Bob was overseas in the Army. He wrote to her faithfully throughout the War and upon his return the set a wedding date of September 11, 1948. They exchanged vows at Holy Family RC Church in the Bronx and honeymooned in Bermuda. They settled in Stuyvesant Town on the east side of Manhattan before moving to Wayne in 1965. Bob wanted a home in the country and was initially set on moving to West Milford but settled on Wayne because Dorothy needed a town that had at least one grocery store! It was still a big move, from Manhattan to Wayne, but they fit comfortably right into the Packanack Lake community and they’ve been there ever since. Over the years, they traveled a great deal to Puerto Rico, Florida, and two trips to Hawaii! Hawaii was Dorothy’s favorite and together they visited every island while they were there. They have been married for nearly sixty five years and together for almost seventy. Dorothy will truly miss her beloved Bob.
Bob is survived by his wife Dorothy of Wayne, his nieces: Tara Edward of Washington, D.C. and Geri Rock and her husband Barry of New Hampshire, one nephew; Blair Edwards of Ohio, one sister; Eileen Barrett of Spring, Texas and one cousin; Robert Barrett of Spring, Texas. He was predeceased by his daughter Dorothy in 2011.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, June 3, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
May 23, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, June 3, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
Bob was raised in Harlem, NY and graduated from Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan with the class of 1939. He began working for his uncle and learning the insurance business. Shortly thereafter, he found himself drafted into the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II.
Bob served proudly throughout the Pacific and was involved in the Battle of Luzon and the Southern Philippines. He was a crewman on a Heavy Mortar team and was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He served for more than three years before being discharge in 1945 at which time he returned to New York City.
Bob immediately went back to work with his uncle as an insurance underwriter, establishing what would become his lifelong career. He took advantage of the GI Bill and, while working full-time by day and taking classes at night, he successfully earned his Master’s Degree from St. John’s University. His career took him all over the U.S., to most major cities, where he would meet with the various companies and individuals that he conducted business with. He enjoyed a lengthy career, working right into his 60’s before retiring.
Bob was always a very religious man. Raised in a Catholic home and Catholic schools, he has always had a deep faith in the Lord. His aunt was the Mother Superior at his elementary school which meant he could get away with absolutely nothing and his parents always received a full report on his behavior. Fortunately, he was a good kid and managed to keep out of trouble. He maintained his faith throughout his life and was a devoted parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Wayne, and a member of the Holy Name Society.
Right out of high school, Bob met Dorothy O’Malley from the Bronx. He and Dorothy were at a St. Helena’s Dance when he asked her if she would dance with him. Dorothy loved to dance and accepted. Within the first few steps, she realized he was a terrible dancer, but she was polite and finished the dance. That first dance began a courtship of more than five years, including while Bob was overseas in the Army. He wrote to her faithfully throughout the War and upon his return the set a wedding date of September 11, 1948. They exchanged vows at Holy Family RC Church in the Bronx and honeymooned in Bermuda. They settled in Stuyvesant Town on the east side of Manhattan before moving to Wayne in 1965. Bob wanted a home in the country and was initially set on moving to West Milford but settled on Wayne because Dorothy needed a town that had at least one grocery store! It was still a big move, from Manhattan to Wayne, but they fit comfortably right into the Packanack Lake community and they’ve been there ever since. Over the years, they traveled a great deal to Puerto Rico, Florida, and two trips to Hawaii! Hawaii was Dorothy’s favorite and together they visited every island while they were there. They have been married for nearly sixty five years and together for almost seventy. Dorothy will truly miss her beloved Bob.
Bob is survived by his wife Dorothy of Wayne, his nieces: Tara Edward of Washington, D.C. and Geri Rock and her husband Barry of New Hampshire, one nephew; Blair Edwards of Ohio, one sister; Eileen Barrett of Spring, Texas and one cousin; Robert Barrett of Spring, Texas. He was predeceased by his daughter Dorothy in 2011.
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