Robert DeBenedetto, a lifelong resident of Hoboken who served his city as a public school teacher and businessman, died Wednesday at Hoboken University Medical Center, where he was born on January 15, 1944. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Catherine.
Bob was a proud member of the first class to graduate from Hoboken High School in 1963, where his senior epithet was ‘Most Hoboken.’ He then attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, and he enjoyed regaling his family with stories of road trips across the desert plains. After graduating, he returned to Hoboken to begin his teaching career. Over the course of four decades with the Hoboken Public School District, he taught social studies in various schools, served as a grant writer, and was program director for the School to Work Program, where he assisted dozens of children with getting practical work experience outside the classroom.
While assigned to the David E. Rue School, he started dating another teacher, Nancy Caiezza. They soon married, and their wedding reception was, by all accounts, a legendary party. Bob and Nancy soon bought their dream house on 12th & Garden, where they lived for fifty years and raised their family of four. Bob was devoted to Nancy, and together they loved to listen to music and invite family and friends over for long, leisurely meals, or a game of cards. Bob was the king of assembling the holiday antipasto.
Following in the footsteps of his parents, who ran the Kentucky Derby carnival game and the Shell Gift Shop on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, Bob was also an entrepreneur. He owned and operated several successful businesses including Dynamite Decor, Adams Video, and Hoboken Premium Cigars. Bob delighted in being at the forefront of market trends, and also enjoyed talking politics, and arguing over baseball with his best friend, Anthony Russo, at his cigar store, or during their shopping trips to Acme.
Bob also served as vice chair of the Hoboken Rent Leveling Board, where he was a strong advocate for tenants rights, and was also a supporter of building Pier A park and public access to the waterfront.
Above all, he cherished his time at home with his family and took great pride in the achievements of his children, including that two of his children are teachers, and two are entrepreneurs. Bob was a generous and kind man who loved Doo Wop music, cowboy westerns, and the New York Yankees. In later years, he found special joy in his relationship with his grandson, Otis. He especially loved sneaking Otis a glass of chocolate milk and playing together with toy soldiers.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy; sons Damian (Nora), James (Thomas), and Alex (Kathleen); daughter Mariah (Daniel); grandson Otis, and his sister, Linda Friezo (Joseph); beloved in-laws, Mary Carol, Constance, and Bob.
Visitation at the Failla-McKnight Memorial Home will be held Monday, November 18th, 2024 from 2:00PM to 8:00PM.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis RC Church on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 beginning at 10:00AM.
Interment will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ.