Robert S. Sisti

Robert S. Sisti, age 95 of Wayne, died on Saturday, December 31, 2022. He grew up in Paterson, NJ but moved to Wayne in 1957 with his wife, Mary, and their infant son Robert and has lived there ever since. They happily grew their family adding their daughter Kathleen in 1958 and Noelle in 1967. Noelle, and her husband Jack became the homeowners of his residence in 2001 after he was widowed so he would not have to live alone.

Bob was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in Europe. At the conclusion of the war, he served on the Morgan Line in northern Italy in disputed territory along the Yugoslavian border. Having experienced Europe during the World War II era, he was profoundly grateful to be an American, proud of his time in the service, and he remained a loyal patriot throughout his lifetime.

After being discharged from the Army, Bob took advantage of the G.I. Bill and went to Oklahoma A&M College where he earned his degree in Civil Engineering. Licensed as an engineer in 1955 he was employed by Passaic County as the Assistant County Engineer for roughly 10 years. He then returned to the private sector as a Project Engineer for Goodkind & O’Dea where he performed various design and construction planning associated with road and bridge projects throughout the tri-state area. He retired in 1992 after

42 years of active employment.

In 1989, Bob lost his son, and in 2000, his beloved wife, Mary. In the years that followed, he found comfort in researching his family heritage, and it soon became a passion. A “paisan” and friend, Vince Stamboni, helped him trace his family line all the way back to the 1700’s. He enjoyed sharing all his discoveries with everyone. Raised by first-generation immigrants, he cherished his heritage but always maintained pride in being born in America- and appreciated all it had to offer.

Bob lived a devoted Catholic life and was a lifelong, active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Wayne. He was past president of the Parish Council of Men and co-chaired many communion breakfasts. He proudly ushered every 10:30 mass at I.H.M. for over fifty years and was an active member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society for over twenty-five years.

As an active member of the Eastside High School class reunion committee, Bob enjoyed organizing and attending class reunions faithfully throughout the years. With his passing, his daughters know of only two alumni remaining from the Eastside High School class of 1944. The three remained in contact right up to this years’ holiday season.

He was a huge YANKEES and NY GIANTS fan, he heartily enjoyed watching the games on TV…in early years he watched with his son-in-laws David and Jack, later adding his nephew Ryan, and in his last years he would watch Yankee games while on the phone with his younger brother, Frank and they would exchange commentary and yell at the TV as if they were right in the stadium!

Bob was an intelligent man, an avid reader and lover of crossword puzzles. He loved learning new things and when his granddaughter, Marielle began bringing home “new” math or science textbooks, he would steal them to read for pleasure!

He was huge fan of local diners and it was a Sunday ritual to treat his family for breakfast after 10:30 mass where they would share their stories of the week, have great laughs, and form the family bonds he so cherished.

He was generous and charitable and loved by many. From the waitresses where he ate, to the nurses who cared for him when he had hospital stays, to the home health aides at the end, ALL expressed that he was a kind, generous gentleman who was a pleasure to serve.

Bob lived his life with adoration of God, Family, and Country. A devoted Catholic, he read aloud his morning and nightly prayers to the very end, even after a stroke made speaking nearly impossible. His family was his greatest worldly priority, and he cherished each and every relationship he was blessed with. He greatly looked forward each year to a hosting the annual Sisti Family Christmas gathering on December 26th at home. It was nothing short of chaos, but he loved every minute of it!

Bob is survived by two daughters; Kathleen Fisher and her husband David of Albion, RI, and Noelle Bikoff and her husband Jack of Wayne, two grandchildren; Ryan Fisher and Marielle Bikoff, his brother, Frank Sisti of Randolph, and all his nieces and nephews whom he adored. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary (Sullivan) in 2000, by their son, Robert Sisti, Jr. in 1989, by his sister Josephine Chakiris in 1990, by his two brothers: Armand Sisti in 2010 and William Sisti in 2007, and by his nephews; Christopher Sullivan in (2018) and William Chakiris in 2021.

For those wishing to make a donation in Bob’s memory, please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.