Obituary for Robert E. Dobres
Robert E. Dobres (Bob) was a caring and devoted, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. After living a long, rich, and fulfilling life, God called him home on March 28, 2022, at the age of 87.
He was born in Manhattan, New York, on August 1, 1934, to parents, Albert Dobres and Mary Byrne. He was the fourth of 6 siblings. As a young child, Bob began his life of service to his family and community. At age 14, after the death of his mother, he helped support his family through jobs as a newspaper carrier and a soda jerk, while simultaneously indulging his love of sports, playing stickball on the street, and slipping into Yankee Stadium to watch his favorite team play. In 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served his country as a radio operator during the Korean War. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1957, he transferred his knowledge of radio operations into a job as a teletype operator.
His quiet and caring smile caught the fancy of the young Polish Brooklyn-born beauty, Carolyn Belchick, whom he met at his cousin’s wedding in August, 1957. Bob and Carolyn were married on September 27, 1958, and for their honeymoon, they boarded a Greyhound bus for the picturesque Pocono Mountains. The newlyweds moved into an apartment in Brooklyn, and two soon became three with the birth of their first child, Catherine, in 1959, quickly followed by an “Irish twin,” Robert, a year and five days later. Bob’s and Carolyn’s devotion to family brought two more daughters, Jennifer in 1968 and Erica in 1974.
Early in their marriage, the couple traded the city life for the country life of Long Island, specifically, Lindenhurst, New York. Around the same time, Bob chose a new career path and began working as an office manager for Hormel Foods. Once again highlighting his devotion to family, he also worked part-time as a salesman for Gimbels Department Store. He went on to achieve success as a salesman at Hormel, where his high-achieving performance and outgoing personality over 30 years gave both him and Carolyn opportunities to travel abroad to places including Israel, Hong Kong, Italy, France, and Morocco.
Bob’s devotion to family and community led to decades of service to his church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help; the Holy Name Society; the Knights of Columbus; and the American Legion. His gifts of leadership and commitment were evident in his many roles such as K of C Grand Knight and District Deputy; trustee for the church; and Chairman of the Yearly Catholic Ministries Appeal. Bob gained a reputation for accountability, persuasiveness, and perseverance. People knew: If Bob was taking care of it, it would be done.
Bob’s early retirement in 1992 afforded him the opportunity to spend extra quality time with family, including his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His love of sports transcended into precious moments teaching his grandchildren golf and baseball, as well as taking them on trips to the beach, theme parks, and aquariums.
In addition, his early retirement offered him time to develop deep relationships that built long-term bonds of friendships in all corners of his life. Together with Carolyn, they organized exciting trips around the United States and abroad that made these friends feel like family. Their unique collaboration brought out their individual strengths, including Carolyn’s visionary planning and organization, and Bob’s talent as gregarious master of ceremony and entertainer.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary Dobres, and his siblings Anne Connolly and Charles Dobres. Bob is survived by his wife, Carolyn Dobres, children Catherine Jackvony (Kenneth), Robert S. Dobres (Larisa); Jennifer Kinahan (Robert); Erica Jones (Andrew); his siblings, Margaret; Jane (Frank); Edward (Marilyn); and his much-loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his dear cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Throughout his life, Bob never let an obstacle stand in his way—his strong will and love of life kept him physically, mentally, and socially active until the very end, providing an inspiring and vigorous example for all of us to remember forever.
He was born in Manhattan, New York, on August 1, 1934, to parents, Albert Dobres and Mary Byrne. He was the fourth of 6 siblings. As a young child, Bob began his life of service to his family and community. At age 14, after the death of his mother, he helped support his family through jobs as a newspaper carrier and a soda jerk, while simultaneously indulging his love of sports, playing stickball on the street, and slipping into Yankee Stadium to watch his favorite team play. In 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served his country as a radio operator during the Korean War. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1957, he transferred his knowledge of radio operations into a job as a teletype operator.
His quiet and caring smile caught the fancy of the young Polish Brooklyn-born beauty, Carolyn Belchick, whom he met at his cousin’s wedding in August, 1957. Bob and Carolyn were married on September 27, 1958, and for their honeymoon, they boarded a Greyhound bus for the picturesque Pocono Mountains. The newlyweds moved into an apartment in Brooklyn, and two soon became three with the birth of their first child, Catherine, in 1959, quickly followed by an “Irish twin,” Robert, a year and five days later. Bob’s and Carolyn’s devotion to family brought two more daughters, Jennifer in 1968 and Erica in 1974.
Early in their marriage, the couple traded the city life for the country life of Long Island, specifically, Lindenhurst, New York. Around the same time, Bob chose a new career path and began working as an office manager for Hormel Foods. Once again highlighting his devotion to family, he also worked part-time as a salesman for Gimbels Department Store. He went on to achieve success as a salesman at Hormel, where his high-achieving performance and outgoing personality over 30 years gave both him and Carolyn opportunities to travel abroad to places including Israel, Hong Kong, Italy, France, and Morocco.
Bob’s devotion to family and community led to decades of service to his church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help; the Holy Name Society; the Knights of Columbus; and the American Legion. His gifts of leadership and commitment were evident in his many roles such as K of C Grand Knight and District Deputy; trustee for the church; and Chairman of the Yearly Catholic Ministries Appeal. Bob gained a reputation for accountability, persuasiveness, and perseverance. People knew: If Bob was taking care of it, it would be done.
Bob’s early retirement in 1992 afforded him the opportunity to spend extra quality time with family, including his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His love of sports transcended into precious moments teaching his grandchildren golf and baseball, as well as taking them on trips to the beach, theme parks, and aquariums.
In addition, his early retirement offered him time to develop deep relationships that built long-term bonds of friendships in all corners of his life. Together with Carolyn, they organized exciting trips around the United States and abroad that made these friends feel like family. Their unique collaboration brought out their individual strengths, including Carolyn’s visionary planning and organization, and Bob’s talent as gregarious master of ceremony and entertainer.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary Dobres, and his siblings Anne Connolly and Charles Dobres. Bob is survived by his wife, Carolyn Dobres, children Catherine Jackvony (Kenneth), Robert S. Dobres (Larisa); Jennifer Kinahan (Robert); Erica Jones (Andrew); his siblings, Margaret; Jane (Frank); Edward (Marilyn); and his much-loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his dear cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Throughout his life, Bob never let an obstacle stand in his way—his strong will and love of life kept him physically, mentally, and socially active until the very end, providing an inspiring and vigorous example for all of us to remember forever.