Robert E. Oswandel passed away suddenly on June 20 at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank. He was born in Rahway on March 12, 1938. He played football at Rahway High School and was selected as an All-State football player in 1955. He was also inducted into the Rahway Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. He was a graduate of West Point, class of 1960. He was a member of the Army football team and played center for Army from 1957 to 1960. The 1958 football team, under coach Earl Blaik, was ranked third in the nation and the last undefeated Army team. After graduation, he spent 20 years in the military, sta- tioned in Germany, Vietnam, Korea and throughout the United States. While in the Army, he received many accom- modations, including the Bronze Star and the Air Medal for service in Vietnam. He received a master’s degree in engi- neering from Georgia Tech and was an instructor at West Point from 1969 to 1972. He also was an assistant football coach for the second team during those years. He retired from the Army in 1980 and shortly thereafter joined ITT Corporation in Clifton as a program manager, where he spent 25 years. During that time, 1933 to 2006, he had the privilege to working on the Bowman Program in Hampshire, England, winning a contract for the United States. These were special years for Bob and his wife, Cathy. They had the opportunity to travel throughout Great Britain, Ireland and Europe. He retired from ITT in 2006 and started a new life of trav- el and golf. He was a member of the West Point Football Team Golf Club and enjoyed their yearly tournaments. He was a great fan of the New York Yankees, New York Giants, golf, theater, New York City and long walks with his dog, Summer. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was predeceased by his brother, Edward C. Oswandel; and his nephew, Kenneth R. Oswandel. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cathy Dunsmore Oswandel of Little Silver; his daughter, Donna Frances Oswandel of Fair Haven; his sister-in-law, Joanne Oswandel; a nephew, Edward Oswandel and his wife, Pamela; and two nieces, Kelsey and Lauren of York, Pa. Visitation was held on Thursday, June 25 at the Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank.A funeral service will be held at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, on Friday, June 26 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.
