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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 155 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Robert R. Rasp, age 78, of Pompton Plains, passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.
Born in Wallington in the year that Amelia Earhart was lost at sea, Benny Goodman and Guy Lombardo were enjoying musical success with their bands, and the Hindenburg crashed, Bob was the oldest of four sons born to Herman and Stella Rasp. He was raised in Clifton where he graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1955.
Following high school, Bob tried several different jobs – first with Curtiss Wright Corporation, the then with the A&P store in Paterson. When he went to work for American Airlines, he really began to hit his stride. He started as a keypunch and soon got involved with the new technology that American Airlines was launching called the Sabre Reservation System – the first computerized flight reservation system ever used in the airline industry. He went on to truly enjoy a long career in information technology culminating with the position of Vice President of Electronic Data Processing Audit with Republic National Bank of New York. While working full-time Bob persistently continued his pursuit of a college degree by taking classes in the evening at Fordham University. He graduated in 1991 with a B.S. degree in psychology.
One of the facets of that job that Bob loved so much was being able to travel the world as he conducted those audits, mostly in Latin America, Asia and Switzerland. Once while on a business trip in Mexico City, he was kidnapped by a gypsy taxi service. They took him to a bank ATM machine but Bob refused to punch in his personal identification number (PIN). Then they tried to take his wedding band but he was able to talk his assailants out of that too by tugging on their heart strings. In the end, he got stabbed in the leg and the taxi assailants fled. Bob simply hailed another cab to take him to a hospital – this time a legitimate cab. It should be noted that Bob also served as a member of the U.S. National Guard. While he was never called to official action by the Guard, the training he received was likely very helpful in handling this altercation he experienced in Mexico City.
Bob met Rita Mafull when they went out on a double blind date set up by Rita’s girlfriend. The two couples went to a restaurant near Greenwood Lake. Bob was all dressed up in a three-piece suit and was acting very sure of himself. Rita saw through that faux confidence and, while it wasn’t love at first sight for her, this couple soon became steady partners and love grew. They were married on Saturday, April 27, 1963 by Father Henry at the Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield. After a great reception at the Rock Spring Corral in West Orange, Mr. and Mrs. Rasp honeymooned in Acapulco. Since Bob was working for American Airlines at that time, they flew first-class and the airline tickets were only ten dollars each! They lived in various places throughout their almost 53 years of marriage, most recently in Wayne before moving to Pompton Plains in 2012.
Bob’s love of travel didn’t stop when he and Rita moved into their retirement years. That sense of adventure was still there and he and Rita began to travel the world. They toured much of Europe including a trip to Italy where they had the opportunity to meet part of Rita’s family. They also enjoyed trips to Greece, Israel and to the sunny Caribbean Islands. Bob was never into having the trip all mapped out, preferring to “wing it” seeing each day as an adventure to unfold.
Bob and Rita were regular parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Church of Wayne. They always went to the Saturday night mass and had a long-standing tradition of going out with friends for dinner after mass. Since Bob loved to sing, he also attended mass every Sunday morning at Our Lady of Good Council Church in Pompton Plains where he had the opportunity to help lead the parishioners in worship as a member of the church’s choir.
Surely Bob’s greatest love became the joy of being with his cherished grandchildren who all left their special footprints on his heart. His daughter Lisa adopted four girls from Latin America. Bob and Rita were even able to go on some of those trips when Lisa went there to pick up the girls. Those trips made a real impression on Bob and they gave him a real heart for kids who lived in the orphanages. Bob’s grandsons were his proudest name sakes – Justin and Braden Rasp. He loved being present to cheer on Justin at his basketball and football games and Braden at his soccer games and, when both boys were younger and involved with the Boy Scouts, he loved going to events like their pinewood derby races. The boys were always welcome and were oftentimes at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. Bob was a softhearted guy and enjoyed also the company of his rescued pets – his dog T.J. and his Persian cat Abigail. He became very concerned about their care when he was too sick to care for them himself.
Bob was a great guy and his family and others who knew him enjoyed his great sense of humor and optimism. He had cancer for many years but he never complained about it. When friends called and asked him how he was doing, no matter what shape he was in at the time, the answer was always “I’m doing great!” He was a real people person and his warmth and friendliness made him a wonderful family member and a friend to many.
For now, Bob leaves behind his beloved wife Rita; his two dear children: Lisa and husband Michael Chalkan of Lincoln Park, and Jeffrey and wife Dana Rasp of Parsippany; seven adored grandchildren: Michael and wife Jessica, Ingrid, Gisella, Adrianna, Justin, Gianna, and Braden; and his brother Gary of California. Bob was predeceased by his two other brothers: William and Rich Rasp.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Robert’s name are asked to consider Hospice of NJ, 400 Broadacres Drive, 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
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 Friday, February 12, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 155 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, February 12, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 155 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Robert R. Rasp, age 78, of Pompton Plains, passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.
Born in Wallington in the year that Amelia Earhart was lost at sea, Benny Goodman and Guy Lombardo were enjoying musical success with their bands, and the Hindenburg crashed, Bob was the oldest of four sons born to Herman and Stella Rasp. He was raised in Clifton where he graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1955.
Following high school, Bob tried several different jobs – first with Curtiss Wright Corporation, the then with the A&P store in Paterson. When he went to work for American Airlines, he really began to hit his stride. He started as a keypunch and soon got involved with the new technology that American Airlines was launching called the Sabre Reservation System – the first computerized flight reservation system ever used in the airline industry. He went on to truly enjoy a long career in information technology culminating with the position of Vice President of Electronic Data Processing Audit with Republic National Bank of New York. While working full-time Bob persistently continued his pursuit of a college degree by taking classes in the evening at Fordham University. He graduated in 1991 with a B.S. degree in psychology.
One of the facets of that job that Bob loved so much was being able to travel the world as he conducted those audits, mostly in Latin America, Asia and Switzerland. Once while on a business trip in Mexico City, he was kidnapped by a gypsy taxi service. They took him to a bank ATM machine but Bob refused to punch in his personal identification number (PIN). Then they tried to take his wedding band but he was able to talk his assailants out of that too by tugging on their heart strings. In the end, he got stabbed in the leg and the taxi assailants fled. Bob simply hailed another cab to take him to a hospital – this time a legitimate cab. It should be noted that Bob also served as a member of the U.S. National Guard. While he was never called to official action by the Guard, the training he received was likely very helpful in handling this altercation he experienced in Mexico City.
Bob met Rita Mafull when they went out on a double blind date set up by Rita’s girlfriend. The two couples went to a restaurant near Greenwood Lake. Bob was all dressed up in a three-piece suit and was acting very sure of himself. Rita saw through that faux confidence and, while it wasn’t love at first sight for her, this couple soon became steady partners and love grew. They were married on Saturday, April 27, 1963 by Father Henry at the Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield. After a great reception at the Rock Spring Corral in West Orange, Mr. and Mrs. Rasp honeymooned in Acapulco. Since Bob was working for American Airlines at that time, they flew first-class and the airline tickets were only ten dollars each! They lived in various places throughout their almost 53 years of marriage, most recently in Wayne before moving to Pompton Plains in 2012.
Bob’s love of travel didn’t stop when he and Rita moved into their retirement years. That sense of adventure was still there and he and Rita began to travel the world. They toured much of Europe including a trip to Italy where they had the opportunity to meet part of Rita’s family. They also enjoyed trips to Greece, Israel and to the sunny Caribbean Islands. Bob was never into having the trip all mapped out, preferring to “wing it” seeing each day as an adventure to unfold.
Bob and Rita were regular parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Church of Wayne. They always went to the Saturday night mass and had a long-standing tradition of going out with friends for dinner after mass. Since Bob loved to sing, he also attended mass every Sunday morning at Our Lady of Good Council Church in Pompton Plains where he had the opportunity to help lead the parishioners in worship as a member of the church’s choir.
Surely Bob’s greatest love became the joy of being with his cherished grandchildren who all left their special footprints on his heart. His daughter Lisa adopted four girls from Latin America. Bob and Rita were even able to go on some of those trips when Lisa went there to pick up the girls. Those trips made a real impression on Bob and they gave him a real heart for kids who lived in the orphanages. Bob’s grandsons were his proudest name sakes – Justin and Braden Rasp. He loved being present to cheer on Justin at his basketball and football games and Braden at his soccer games and, when both boys were younger and involved with the Boy Scouts, he loved going to events like their pinewood derby races. The boys were always welcome and were oftentimes at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. Bob was a softhearted guy and enjoyed also the company of his rescued pets – his dog T.J. and his Persian cat Abigail. He became very concerned about their care when he was too sick to care for them himself.
Bob was a great guy and his family and others who knew him enjoyed his great sense of humor and optimism. He had cancer for many years but he never complained about it. When friends called and asked him how he was doing, no matter what shape he was in at the time, the answer was always “I’m doing great!” He was a real people person and his warmth and friendliness made him a wonderful family member and a friend to many.
For now, Bob leaves behind his beloved wife Rita; his two dear children: Lisa and husband Michael Chalkan of Lincoln Park, and Jeffrey and wife Dana Rasp of Parsippany; seven adored grandchildren: Michael and wife Jessica, Ingrid, Gisella, Adrianna, Justin, Gianna, and Braden; and his brother Gary of California. Bob was predeceased by his two other brothers: William and Rich Rasp.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Robert’s name are asked to consider Hospice of NJ, 400 Broadacres Drive, 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
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