Robert William Bennett

Bob Bennett passed away peacefully with a book on his lap on Sunday, November 17th, in his Milton, DE home. While his departure was sudden, his 72 years were packed with love, laughter, and adventure.

Born in Brooklyn, Bob grew up in Sunset Park and honed his charm at St. Agatha's before moving to Staten Island, where he attended St. Ann's and Monsignor Farrell High School. After earning a psychology degree from Richmond Community College, he dabbled in teaching and the bar business before getting his Masters in Public Administration and finding his true calling in healthcare administration, dedicating years of his career to Brookdale Hospital.

Bob found his first great love, Frances Amalfi, in psychology class in college. Their story was pure magic—culminating in a Central Park horse-and-buggy proposal and three wonderful children: Ryan, Courtney, and Drew. Together, they made countless road trips in their old Dodge Ram, spending summers camping in the Catskills and visiting national parks across the country. When Fran fell ill with breast cancer, Bob cared for her with the devotion that defined their 24-year marriage. Even after her passing, Bob honored her memory by caring for her mother, spending hours in her 100-degree house, hearing the same stories, until the day she died, seven years after Fran did. He was a saint. After Fran’s passing, he launched the FAB for Life Foundation to support special education students in Staten Island and provided scholarship awards to 150 students since inception, a legacy that will continue to change lives.

Lightning struck twice when Bob met his second great love, Coleen, in 2004. He was immediately smitten with her. A few years later, he proposed under the Rockefeller Center tree, and they married in 2009. They traveled often, as far away as Ireland and Paris (where he proudly wore a beret) and as close as the Trout Parade in Livingston Manor, which they frequented for many years. Bob also embraced Coleen’s three children, Don, Kelsey, and Caitlin, loving them as his own. His six kids were his pride and joy, and his four grandchildren—Ada, Jack, Chase, and Tatum—were the light of his later years.

An avid music fan, Bob lived as if every day was his favorite song. He loved attending concerts, photography, kayaking, biking, community events, and annual trips with his lifelong friends. He was quite possibly the busiest retired person that ever lived.

Bob is survived by his wife, Coleen; his six children and their partners: Ryan (Megan), Don (Kate), Courtney, Kelsey (George), Drew, and Caitlin (Kazi); his grandchildren, Ada, Jack, Chase, and Tatum; his siblings and their spouses, Greg (Colleen), Carol (Bob), and Alice (Dave), Fran’s sister Jessica, Coleen’s siblings Teri and Casey, and a community of family and friends. He reunites now with his parents, Bill and June, his brother Bill, and Fran.

He taught us all how to be a spouse, a father, a Grandad, a sibling, a caretaker and a friend, but most importantly, how to love unconditionally with no judgments or expectations.

Wherever he is, we know he’s got a fresh itinerary, a book tucked under his arm and the Beatles on the radio.

A visitation for Robert will be held Monday, November 25, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, 1091 Forest Ave, New York, NY 10310. A committal service will occur Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 11:15 AM at Moravian Cemetery, 2205 Richmond Rd, New York, NY 10306.

"In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the FAB for Life Foundation so Bob's work can continue to live on"