Bob was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to the late Arthur and Marie (Fee) Melley and graduated from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA in 1960.
After graduation from Holy Cross, Bob attended Officer Candidate School and received a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy and began his lifelong love of the sea. Bob was stationed in Hawaii and served on the USS John S. McCain (DL 3) in the early 1960s and later served in the reserves.
After serving his country in the Navy, Bob began a long and successful career in the investment industry, working for First National Bank of Boston, Fidelity Investments, and Integrity Investments. In 1994 Bob relocated from Sudbury, MA, to Sarasota, FL, where he eventually retired.
Bob enjoyed fishing, big game and bird hunting, writing, and spending time with his family. He loved sharing stories about his time spent in the Navy, traveling the world and embarking on many adventures. His most recent experience was relocating from Florida to Texas, where he spent time with his son and family before his unexpected passing.
Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan Marie Melley, his daughter Suzanne Melley Gransoki, his parents Arthur and Marie Melley and his brother, Peter J. Melley.
Bob is survived by his son R. Christopher Melley and his wife Christine (Pizzi) Melley of Montgomery, TX, his daughter Megan (Melley) Moussa and her husband Chai Moussa of Franklin, MA, his sister-in-law Maureen Melley of Evanston, IL, and his long-time live-in girlfriend Lynne Stansell of Lakewood Ranch, FL. Bob was a proud grandfather to Emma, Mia, Jackson, Kelly, Matthew, and Robbie.
Due to the pandemic's current circumstances, a private memorial service and burial will occur later in Pearl Harbor, HI, where the Navy stationed him.
In place of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), www.woundedwarriorproject.org, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.
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Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516
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