Bob was born in Hackensack on September 1, 1939 to the late Edward James and Dorothea “Dolly” (Mack) McSpirit. Bob grew up in the Glendale section of Hillsdale which is now preserved as McSpirit Memorial Park. A graduate of Pascack Valley High School in 1957, he was an accomplished athlete in football, basketball, and track, and was one of the decision makers of the PVH Indian mascot and signature green and white school colors. Bob attended the University of Tulsa where he was president of Sigma Nu fraternity. He proudly served in the US Army overseas during the years 1962-1963. After serving his country, Bob began his 38 year long career with American Airlines, climbing the corporate ladder in various managerial positions. It was there where he met the love of his life, Barbara Herfurth. They married in 1966 and raised their family in the Continental Woods section of Emerson. Determined to complete his college education, Bob received his Bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1969.
After retirement, Bob and Barbara moved to Plymouth Lake in Stillwater in 2001 and last settled to their beautiful hillside farm in Sandyston in 2018. Bob always enjoyed being outdoors. Fishing, boating, camping and birding were some of his favorite hobbies. He also enjoyed growing a vegetable garden every summer with the best Jersey tomatoes. He was fond of puzzles, reading books, and rooting for the New York Giants and Yankees. Most importantly, Bob loved spending time with his family and cherished going on his annual family vacation to Lake George. Bob was fun loving and had a great sense of humor. He sang countless old time fun songs to his children and grandkids which are memories that will be cherished by them forever. He was a lung cancer survivor and has always given the stern advice to all “DO NOT SMOKE”.
Beloved husband to Barbara McSpirit for 56 years, Robert is survived by his children Kelly McSpirit (Christopher Hanlon), Laura McSpirit and Christine McSpirit; his grandchildren Summer McSpirit, Shane McSpirit, Brayden Grier, Lillian Hanlon, George Hanlon and Hudson Grier and his sister-in-law Margie McSpirit. Along with his parents, Robert is predeceased by his siblings Eddie McSpirit and Dottie Garrabrant, brother-in-law Bert Garrabrant, and grandparents Maude Marie Bascom Mack and Thomas McSpirit of Hurley, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 210 US-206, Sandyston, NJ 07826. Interment will take place privately at Branchville Cemetery at a later date. The family kindly requests that attendees to the funeral partake in the wearing of the green.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad PO Box 232, Branchville, NJ. Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.net
