Robert W. Vagell, Sr.

Robert W. Vagell, Sr. “Pepsi Bob”, age 84, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday, February 28, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Bob was born in Passaic and was raised in Garfield and was the older of two sons to William and Rosemarie Vagell.  While growing up in Garfield, Bob attended Garfield High School graduating with the class of 1955.  Following his graduation from high school, Bob found work quickly with the Hackensack Post Office where he was employed for several years.  Bob then transitioned, accepting a position with the Pepsi Cola Corporation in Moonachie as a salesman.  Bob continued to work for Pepsi Cola his entire career retiring at an early age more than twenty years ago.  While employed at Pepsi Cola, Bob also ran his own landscaping business called Vagell & Son Landscaping.  Bob owned and operated Vagell & Son Landscaping for many years during his time at Pepsi and following his retirement.

As a very young man just out of high school, Bob met an attractive young lady by the name of Mary Ann Viola.  The couple fell in love and became husband and wife on May 17, 1958, on Mary Ann’s birthday.  The newlyweds settled in Hackensack for a short time then moved to Saddle Brook, and soon after the town of Fair Lawn.  Over the years they welcomed the births of their three children, Cindy, Lynn, and Robert.  Unfortunately after many years, Bob and Mary Ann split apart and got divorced.  Following his divorce, Bob did find love again.  In 1995 Bob was at the Whiskey Bar in Lyndhurst for a night of line dancing.  Bob caught the eye of an attractive lady named Grace Noble.  Bob and Grace danced together that night and hit it off great.  The couple were together until 2007 when they decided to make it official and became husband and wife.  Bob and Grace settled in Wayne and called it their home for the rest of their lives.  Bob and Grace cherished twenty three years of marriage until Grace’s passing in 2018.

Bob was a long time member of the Elks Lodge #1895 in Pompton Lakes where he was awarded his affectionate nickname “Pepsi Bob.”  Bob and Grace continued frequenting their line dancing events throughout the years.  They also enjoyed traveling to various destination such as Hawaii, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas.  Aside from all of Bob’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Bob than providing for and spending time with his children, and grandchildren.  Bob was a “character” and had, what some would say, an outrageous sense of humor.  He loved kidding around with people and leading them on playfully.  You also did not have to be a part of Bob’s “inner circle” to get teased, he kidded around with everyone he met.  Bob was a truly special person.  He was generous and genuinely put the needs of others before his own.  He will be sincerely missed by his and friends.

Bob is survived by his two daughters; Cindy A Vagell-Bacigal and her husband Frank of Campbell Hall, NY, and Lynn Levy and her husband Jerome of Barrington Hills, IL, one son Robert W. Vagell, Jr of Indio, CA, his step-son Roy Giarmo of Paterson, one brother Craig Vagell, Sr. and his wife Marilyn of Cedar Knolls, NJ, four grandchildren; Corrine Bacigal of Baton Rouge, LA, Paige Bacigal of Campbell Hall, NY, Gabrielle Levy of Chicago, IL, and Lucca Huth Vagell of Indio, CA, one nephew Craig and one niece Kristy Lynn.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 www.stjude.org or Ronald Mc Donald House, 267-07 76th Street, Queens, NY 11040 www.rmhc.org