Robert Maiberger

Robert “Bob” J. Maiberger, age 93, a sixty year resident of Wayne, passed Monday, January 3, 2022.

He was born in the Bronx, New York and lived in Rochelle Park, NJ and Saddle River Township having graduated from Lodi High School with the Class of 1945.

Just after high school Bob enlisted in the US Navy on September 19, 1945 and served for three years and nine months before being honorably discharged in July of 1949. He attained the rank of Boilerman Third Class and served aboard the USS Navasota for 8 months and the USS Macon for 28 months. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal for his service. For many years Bob would annually attend the Macon Reunion.

After his service Bob attended Florida Southern University on the GI Bill for one year then went to work.  He initially worked as a truck driver for Menzel Trucking in Bergen County, as a Heavy Equipment Operator for PTL in Paramus, and retired in 1997 as Director of Public Works after 16 years with the Township of Cranford.

Bob was a founding parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne.

Bob will be remembered for his quiet way, famous unrepeatable sayings, and dry wit. He enjoyed Lionel model trains and because of his many years aboard Navy ships could be referred to as an “Old Salt.” Most of all Bob was happiest when his family was all around him. He was a great husband, loving father, and devoted grandfather. He was also a pet lover and was devoted to his late cat TopGun and his grand-dog Bailey.

Bob met Connie on a blind date she didn’t want to go on. Her friend Ginger pressed her and she finally agreed to go to a movie so she wouldn’t have to talk to him so much.  They saw the movie Magnificent Obsession.  Their first real date was to a New Year’s Eve party at Donohue’s Restaurant on Route 23 in Wayne. Bob asked Connie’s mother for her hand in marriage and she reluctantly agreed as Bob was just a truck driver. They married on October 19, 1952 at Saint Mary’s Church in Passaic and had a reception at the Belmont Park in Garfield. The Butts family who owned the reception hall gave use of the hall as a gift as they were family friends. Bob’s brother-in-law offered his blue Ford Fairlane, as it was a new car, to them to drive to Florida. They honeymooned at a hotel in Hollywood, Florida, which was owned by a cousin, and given to them complimentary as well. They enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage of sixty-nine years that was blessed with two children Robert and Cindy.

Bob was the loving husband of Connie Maiberger; devoted father of Robert (Ann) Maiberger of LaMarque, TX, and Cindy LaMin of Wayne; he was the cherished grandfather of Matthew (Kaitlin), Andrew, Robert, and James LaMin, and Zachary Maiberger; he was the loved brother of Betty Dearstine of Frederick, MD and the late Lorraine Hare.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Navy League - https://www.navyleague.org/giving/ would be greatly appreciated.