Robert Blaise Schinelli
August 29, 1935 ~ June 24, 2016

Where do I begin to sum up the life of my husband, Robert Blaise Schinelli?

Bob Schinelli was, on one hand, a simple man with a sweet gentleness, a funny man with a good sense of humor, a people person, a foodie before there was such a term. He gave great big hugs and he loved and was in his gentle, good heart, a romantic. On the other hand, Bob had a very dark side that teetered on the edge of a constant downward spiral. This dark side was very complicated, angry, fragmented and it consistently sought to destroy the good in his life. It eventually overshadowed and overtook the sweet "Gentle Ben" that was "my Bob Schinelli".

Bob had many health issues the greatest of which was increasing memory loss and forgetfulness. But that sweet man was never completely gone and he would emerge from time to time to let me know that my Bob Schinelli was still "here" and still the same person that loved and appreciated me and he said he knew this was hard. It always broke my heart to hear this - he was truly a tortured soul.

All that being said, Bob has a pretty amazing life that was filled with enormous blessings.

Bob grew up in a large combined family home in New York City. Bob was blessed with many, many friends. His group of neighborhood friends, not only became best life-long friends but stayed in touch. He had another great group of Stumble Inn friends that shared many summers at the Jersey shore and had annual gatherings up to this past year. And perhaps the most significant was his membership in the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 28 where he had many friends, colleagues and 60 years of rewarding, life and work experiences.

Bob travelled Europe in his youth and he loved travelling to new and familiar places, poking around to find the interesting, the off-beat. He loved New York City, especially Chinatown. the Union Square Farmer's Market, the Metropolitan Museum of Art were among his favorite places. As a "tin knocker" he worked on many of the large buildings in the City including the Javits Center and the renovations to the Statue of Liberty. In 2004 Bob moved to Florida and never ceased to enjoy the sunny warm weather.

Bob is survived by his wife Deborah Lyon, and his three children and five grandchildren -- Matthew Schinelli (Kathiane) Sophia, Luca and Angelina of Little Falls, New Jersey and David Schinelli and Michael Schinelli (Lusya) Anthony and Alessandro of Cary North Carolina.

Bob will be cremated and his ashes scattered in places that he loved. His soul is now at peace and in a place of unconditional love. I will miss My Bob Schinelli - his sweet smile and Gentle Ben hugs. Out of the darkness the light and good memories will remain and last. Rest now, my dear, you did your very best.

Deborah

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