Obituary of Robert Fischetti

Robert "Bob" Fischetti, a loving spouse, son, father, grandfather and great-grandfather entered into rest Saturday, June 21, 2014. He was born June 7, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Fischetti. He is survived by his sister Grace Ragusa and brother Frank Fischetti. He was predeceased by his sisters Phyllis Gagliano, Lucille O'Gorman and Veronica Megonnell. He married Rachel "Rae" A. Rabideau on August 26, 1950 and had a very happy 58 years of marital bliss. Bob volunteered for the U.S. Navy during WWII. He attended Middlebury College in Vermont as a V-6 candidate on March 1, 1944. He was eventually assigned to Attack Personnel Destroyer 108 as a Radioman 3/C and was discharged on June 15, 1946. Bob was employed by IBM on January 2, 1952 as a Customer Engineer and nine years later transferred from Long Island to Poughkeepsie. In 1969 he was awarded IBM's "Outstanding Achievement" award. After 35 years, he retired on February 1, 1987 as a Staff Engineer. He attended Champlain College and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in New York. He was a lifelong member of Wappingers Falls Elk Lodge 2609. He enjoyed many hobbies – stained glass, carpentry, leather craft, and wine making, which he passed on to his children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He was a vigorous participant in many sports – dancing, golf, bowling, tennis, handball (Watson Trophy), Ships Boxing Team and more. He received his amateur radio licenses in May of 1998. He also loved to play bridge, pinochle and many other card games. Robert is predeceased by his wife, Rachel and daughter, Lisa. He is survived by his children, Robin Hauptman and spouse, Bill, Bruce Fischetti, Robert Fischetti, Jr., Kevin Fischetti and spouse, Felicia, and Kimberly Diamond. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Christopher Famelette, Will Hauptman, Andrew Hauptman, Alexis Berry, Rachel Fischetti, Kristin Fischetti, Sandy Ricketts, Jennifer Chianelli, Robert Fischetti, III, Brock Fischetti, Nicole Stabell, Joseph Fischetti, Harry Diamond and Jessie Diamond, as well as 15 great-grandchildren, Enzo Famelette, Colin, Lillian, Sophia and Asher Berry, Isaya Jones, Brianna, Natalie and Ava Ricketts, Annabelle Chianelli, Ptolemy Fischetti, Maysin Stabell, Lillian Fischetti, Julia Shackelford, and Damian Tapley. The family would like to thank Mary Michaels for the companionship, love, care and support of Bob. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 26 at Fishkill Rural Cemetery, Route 9, Fishkill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dyson Center, c/o The Foundation for Vassar Brothers Medical Center, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. For directions or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com. If you ever come across a smiling face, pause for a moment, I may be sending you a message to "Have a great day!"- Bob