Born on May 10, 1938 in Bronx, NY, Robert “Bob” Connolly was a gem of man. He was known for his kindness; his devotion to his wife, kids, grandkids, and in-laws; and his humility, grace, and generosity of spirit. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1959.
Returning to NYC, he married Marie Gibson in 1964, his wife of 60 years. Their love for each other was the foundation on which they built everything in their lives. Bob completed his undergraduate degree and MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University. A financial analyst by trade, he worked for MetLife, Shell Oil, Scholastic Books, Potters Industries, and the State of New York, over his 46-year career in finance. He lived his life in service of his family.
He coached sports teams through elementary school in his hometown of Cresskill and remained an avid fan of each of his kids and grandkids as they participated in track and field, cross country, football, and basketball. For 10 years, he taught the Confirmation program at St. Therese Catholic Church in Cresskill. Trips to college campuses across the northeast were a regular occurrence for nine years, moving kids in and out of dorms and traveling to watch basketball games.
With his wife, he traveled the country and the world, both to visit his children and experience new places. Upon retiring in 2005, he turned his attention nearly full time to his three grandchildren in NJ. From math instruction to shuttling kids from lessons to games to home, “PopPop”, as he was known to all his grandchildren, was a central figure in their lives.
He was an avid Yankees and Giants fan and he loved the Jersey Shore, particularly the family home of 50 years at Seacrest Beach in Lavallette. Bob is survived by his wife, Marie; his children, Cecilia, Timothy, Allison, and Robert; his son-in-law, Anthony, and daughter-in-law, Heather; his five adoring granddaughters, Madalyn, Hannah, Elena, Malena, and Amelia; his grandson-in-law, Danny; his great grandson, Drew Anthony; his siblings William, Elizabeth, Edward, and Kevin, and their respective spouses, Eileen, Tim, Carol, and Rhonda. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Sarah, and sister, Anna.
Robert Joseph Connolly passed peacefully on January 10, 2025. A funeral mass will be held on February 1, at 11:00 AM at St. Therese Parish in Cresskill.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Bob’s name to Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, 380 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94102 (or https://give.kidsclub.org/campaign/619789/donate); or to the Carmelite Mission, 55 W. Demarest Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631, attn: Fr. Joseph O’Brien.
