York - Robert (Bob) Eugene Poletti, age 94, passed away Saturday March 6, 2021 in his home in York, PA. Born to Frank and Mary (Coletti) Poletti in New Philadelphia, OH on August 19, 1926 in a house his father built and now a historic landmark as the "canal house". After spending his first 5 years on the farmstead property his family moved to Brooklyn, NY where his father (WWI army veteran) worked as a subway construction laborer. At 17 years old, Bob delayed his high school education and enlisted in the Navy during WWII. His assignments while in Pearl Harbor included seaman on a bomb target boat for fighter plane training, fire fighter, and coxwain on a vessel where he transported USO Entertainers. After the war, he was honorably discharged, left the Pacific Theater, and returned home working on a Hudson River steamship. While a volunteer at the Free Catholic Library in Queens he met his wife of 63 years, Marianne Adel Maroney, and married in 1957. The newly married couple lived in Brooklyn and had two children, Bernadette and Robert. Bob worked as a Mechanical Draftsman commuting to Connecticut to work on bowling alley designs and the Titan Missile System project for AMF. Silo design turned to installation and he spent the next few years living in Colorado (James born), Idaho, South Dakota, Washington State, and California (Donna born). Bob was reassigned to Connecticut for one year and finished his work with AMF in York, PA where they had three more children, Daniel, Michael, and David. Due to AMF layoffs, Bob spent his final 25+ years working for companies such as Tele-Dyne McKay, Koppers, and Pfaltzgraff. Bob was well-loved as a man of faith, family, and love of community everywhere he went. Over his lifetime, he readily volunteered for various positions and concluded his final service to others as a VFW chaplain at the Hellam post conducting visitations, prayers, and post activities until he was 91. He was a skilled letterman, fisherman, and woodworker. Bob's unique tradition of holding an annual New Years' eve day picnic for 40+ years is an example of how he loved to celebrate life's moments with his family and the community he lived in.

He is survived by his wife (age 85), 7 children, 21 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, his brother Albert (age 92), and many nephews and nieces. He was proceeded in death by his sister Norma (age 94) and brother Joseph (
A Celebration of Life is planned to be held on May 24th at 10 am at Yorkshire United Methodist Church, 125 Edgewood Rd, York, PA. Military honors will be conducted at the National Cemetery in Fort Indiantown Gap later that afternoon on May 24th at 2 pm. A private memorial service was conducted at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in East York shortly after Bob's passing.

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Published in York Daily Record on Mar. 28, 2021.