Robert Szal

Robert “Bob” Anthony Szal, age 81, of Wayne, passed Sunday, December 1, 2024.

He was the son of Anthony and Jane Szal, of Passaic, and raised in Garfield before the family moved to Elmwood Park.  Bob attended St. Leo’s Elementary School in Elmwood Park before graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in Paterson, with the Class of 1961. He continued his education at Fordham University’s School of Pharmacy in the Bronx, NY, with the Class of 1966.

Bob initially worked for his uncle Anthony, who owned the Steigner Pharmacy on Main Street, in Paterson. He was drafted into the US Army in 1969 and served during the Vietnam War.  While in the Army, a pharmacist assignment was not available, so he volunteered for Graves Registration Duty, where he was tasked with helping to identify human remains.  After he was Honorably discharged from the Army in 1971, he worked as a pharmacist in Englewood, NJ, and then at Plains Pharmacy in Pompton Plains, and at CVS Pharmacy in Wayne, before retiring in 2010.

He was a dedicated man who served as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 108 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne.  His passion for learning is evident, as he would frequent the Wayne Public Library on almost a daily basis.   Apart from his commitment to scouting and reading, Bob was an avid angler who enjoyed fishing in lakes, ponds, and even some deep-sea fishing at the Jersey shore in Pt. Pleasant and Lavallette.  Bob passed on his love of fishing to his beloved son Bryan, creating a special bond between them through their shared passion for the sport and fishing gear.  Despite his busy schedule, Bob managed to prioritize his family, especially his two granddaughters Juliana and Elena, whom he has lovingly cared for since the day they were born.

Bob was very proud of his Polish heritage, and kept it alive by maintaining his family's many holiday traditions.

Bob, a man of remarkable intelligence and creativity, had a deep passion for gardening that extended to vegetables, flowers, and even trees.  His love for nature was evident in the way he tended to those trees and plants, finding solace in the soil as he nurtured his garden and shared his tomato harvest with many. There was nothing like the taste of tomatoes from the abundance of the Szal Farm crop that Bob lovingly shared with great joy.  Bob’s commitment to sustainability was reflected in his daily composting routine, a practice he diligently followed.  Beyond his green thumb, Bob possessed exceptional crafting skills, especially with his granddaughters, and was known as a proficient fixer of all things broken. He was always ready to lend a hand and help solve any problem that came his way.  His legacy lives on through the beauty he cultivated and the skills he shared with those around him. He was also a devoted dog lover, and recently experienced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved yellow lab, Lacie. Their bond was one of unconditional love and companionship, as Lacie was not just a pet but a cherished member of the family. Despite the grief of losing Lacie, Bob found solace in the joy and love they shared, forever grateful for the special bond they had. Those who knew Bob also knew he had a passion for collecting flashlights, pocketknives, tools, and was one of the biggest lovers of anything LL Bean.

Bob and Marian initially met as children, when Marian was a pianist and soloist at concerts, and he was working as a coat check.  While Bob was in the Army stationed in Virginia, he was re-introduced to Marian by his dear cousin Eleanor Brangan on one of his trips home.  From this point on, Bob would return to New Jersey on weekends to spend time with Marian, gaining many speeding tickets while driving his bright yellow Corvette. There's nothing like speeding home to see the love of his life of 52 years.  Marian and Bob maintained their relationship even after he was sent to Vietnam.  Marian would send him letters and he would correspond back.  Upon his discharge from the military their relationship flourished, and they fell in love.  Bob and Marian married on July 15, 1972, at Saint Joseph’s Church in Passaic, and they honeymooned in Barbados.  After they were married, they lived in Garfield for one year before moving to Wayne over fifty years ago.

Bob was the loving husband of Marian (Halka) Szal; devoted father of Janine (Szal) Paavola and her husband Tommi of Oakland, and Bryan Szal of Ventura, CA; he was the cherished grandfather of Juliana and Elena Paavola.

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In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be greatly appreciated (we will have donations cards at the funeral home).