Obituary of Robert Gargano

Robert K. Gargano, 86, beloved husband of Patricia (Zareski) Gargano, of Vernon, passed away on Sunday, February 26^th, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital after a fall at his home. He was born in Hartford on Halloween (Trick or Treat, we’re not sure?) to the late Oscar and Isabella (Lielasus) Gargano.  

A life well lived, Bob grew up in Hartford, a member of the Knot Hole Gang at Bulkeley Stadium that positively influenced and shaped him from a young age, and he went on to proudly serve his country in the United State Marine Corps.  After attending college, he was a Pinkerton Detective and found Pat and married in 1961.  Bob then discovered the Aerospace Industry ultimately retiring as Vice President of Precision Speed Manufacturing, in Windsor. 

A proud father of 3 children and 3 grandchildren, “Bumpa” has been an amazing influence - even if he did sneak Oreos upstairs to the 3 granddaughters when Graimie wasn’t looking - and a source of strength to many.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, son Christopher Gargano and his wife Tracy of Manchester, Barbara McDonald and her husband Kevin of Scarborough, ME, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Tanner and her husband George of Willington; his 3 Darlings: Granddaughters Jillian Tanner, Katie Gargano, Megan Gargano and her fiancé Jason Rice; his brother Eugene Gargano of St. James City, FL, his sister-in-law Susan Zareski of Palos Verdes Estates, CA, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Enrico Gargano, sister-in-law, Marianne O’Boyle and brother-in-law Norman Zareski.  

Bob taught many lessons to those in his life from making the best Italian sauce & meatballs, to crafting a deck with a center cutout around an apple tree, to car & home maintenance, golf, financial planning and to finding the best sales at every grocery store in a 5 mile radius.  Resourceful and able to fix anything, he inspires us to look out for others, as he demonstrated on three separate occasions performing the Heimlich maneuver to save lives.  Overall, he taught us to find the joy and embrace family and life with loving and generous hearts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 3^rd, 2023, at Church of the Assumption, 27 Adams Street South, in Manchester at 10:00 a.m.  Internment with Military Honors at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Middletown will be private.

Robert’s family would like to offer a special note of thanks to the Vernon First Responders for their extraordinary professionalism and care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association, Inc., P.O. Box 951, Vernon, CT 06066.