Obituary for Robert H "Bob" Greenwald
Robert H. "Bob" Greenwald died Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ. He was 86.
Bob was born in the Bronx, NY on December 14, 1932 to the late Laura (Nicotra) and Morris Greenwald, living in Springfield, NJ before moving to Berkeley Heights in 1963.
He received his BS in Education and Hygiene at Panzer College in East Orange NJ, and a Masters in Education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ.
He served in the US Marines during the Korean War.
Bob worked for the Summit Board of Education as an elementary P.E. Teacher for 36 years and he also coached the high school swimming and soccer teams at Summit High School. He started the Summit High School Boys Swim Team in 1968 and the Girls team in 1971. In 1978 he coached the girls swim team to their only State Championship. In 1969 he coached the Boys Soccer team to the Group 3 State Championship and in 1979 began the Girls Soccer program.
He was the Pool Manager at Beacon Hill Swim Club for 42 years - retiring in 2018 at the age of 85. Bob also worked at the Berkeley Swim Club in Berkeley Heights, and the Minisink Swim Club in Chatham, NJ. He was the Aquatics Director at the Connection in Summit, NJ and was most recently active as a coach and referee for youth programs in soccer, swimming, baseball and lacrosse.
He was a faithful communicant at Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights where he was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Bob had a magnetic personality and was loved by so many for his quick wit and sense of humor. He had a way of making people feel important and that is what made him a loving father, a caring grandpa, a memorable teacher, an inspiring coach, and a loyal friend. He left a legacy in the lives that he touched and the stories that will preserve his memory in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to have known him.
Bob was pre-deceased by his wife Mary A. (Albright) Greenwald in 2004, and a son Robert Paul in 1957.
He is survived by his six daughters: Anne Marie (Mario) Pizzi, Donna (Mark) DeCarlo, Laura (Tony) Curcio, Eileen Legg, Barbara (William) Lyons, and Cheryl (Scott) McKinney. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Vanessa (Gerry) Pizzi and Courtney (Scott) Christy; Justin (Amanda), Kyle, and Cherylin DeCarlo; Tony Curcio, Allie and Nicole Legg; Michael and Matthew Lyons, Ryan and Chris McKinney, and 5 great-grandchildren: Ellie (Pizzi) MacGregor, Calleigh and Brayden Pizzi; and Zachary and Owen DeCarlo. He is also survived by two half sisters Louise Novella-Wood and Carol Maestre, and leaves behind many dear friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 4-8 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, September 25, 2019 10:00 AM at Church of the Little Flower, 290 Plainfield Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ. Committal prayer will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, NJ. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to may be made to St. Jude. Children's Research Hospital.
Bob was born in the Bronx, NY on December 14, 1932 to the late Laura (Nicotra) and Morris Greenwald, living in Springfield, NJ before moving to Berkeley Heights in 1963.
He received his BS in Education and Hygiene at Panzer College in East Orange NJ, and a Masters in Education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ.
He served in the US Marines during the Korean War.
Bob worked for the Summit Board of Education as an elementary P.E. Teacher for 36 years and he also coached the high school swimming and soccer teams at Summit High School. He started the Summit High School Boys Swim Team in 1968 and the Girls team in 1971. In 1978 he coached the girls swim team to their only State Championship. In 1969 he coached the Boys Soccer team to the Group 3 State Championship and in 1979 began the Girls Soccer program.
He was the Pool Manager at Beacon Hill Swim Club for 42 years - retiring in 2018 at the age of 85. Bob also worked at the Berkeley Swim Club in Berkeley Heights, and the Minisink Swim Club in Chatham, NJ. He was the Aquatics Director at the Connection in Summit, NJ and was most recently active as a coach and referee for youth programs in soccer, swimming, baseball and lacrosse.
He was a faithful communicant at Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights where he was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Bob had a magnetic personality and was loved by so many for his quick wit and sense of humor. He had a way of making people feel important and that is what made him a loving father, a caring grandpa, a memorable teacher, an inspiring coach, and a loyal friend. He left a legacy in the lives that he touched and the stories that will preserve his memory in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to have known him.
Bob was pre-deceased by his wife Mary A. (Albright) Greenwald in 2004, and a son Robert Paul in 1957.
He is survived by his six daughters: Anne Marie (Mario) Pizzi, Donna (Mark) DeCarlo, Laura (Tony) Curcio, Eileen Legg, Barbara (William) Lyons, and Cheryl (Scott) McKinney. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Vanessa (Gerry) Pizzi and Courtney (Scott) Christy; Justin (Amanda), Kyle, and Cherylin DeCarlo; Tony Curcio, Allie and Nicole Legg; Michael and Matthew Lyons, Ryan and Chris McKinney, and 5 great-grandchildren: Ellie (Pizzi) MacGregor, Calleigh and Brayden Pizzi; and Zachary and Owen DeCarlo. He is also survived by two half sisters Louise Novella-Wood and Carol Maestre, and leaves behind many dear friends.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 4-8 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home 1012 Valley Rd., Gillette, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, September 25, 2019 10:00 AM at Church of the Little Flower, 290 Plainfield Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ. Committal prayer will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, NJ. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to may be made to St. Jude. Children's Research Hospital.