Robert “Poppy” Roberto of Monmouth Beach passed away peacefully Aug. 6, 2022, with his family by his side.
Poppy grew up in Newark and moved to the Jersey Shore with his family in his early teens. He attended Long Branch High School and excelled in football; he was named All State and received a scholarship to Gettysburg College. In college he was nominated as an All American football player and his love for football would remain with him for the rest of his life.
He met and married the love of his life, Patricia Goodwin, and lived, worked and raised his family in Rumson before moving to Monmouth Beach in 2000.
Poppy had a successful real estate business that allowed him to have the freedom to never miss a Pop Warner, high school or college football game for his sons. In his later years you could find Poppy at the practice field five days a week watching his beloved grandchildren practicing every day for their football, basketball or baseball games. The true loves of his life were his 10 grandchildren who adored him as much as he adored them.
He was a member of Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club for most of his life and loved spending time at the beach both there and in Captiva, Florida. He was a quiet, gentle and fiercely loving man who was always by his family’s side for every minute possible. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him knew about his great sense of humor and his ability to make everyone laugh unexpectedly.
In the last seven months of his life, he lived at Sunrise of Shrewsbury where they affectionately called him Coach. He lived out the remainder of his life with the compassionate care of the Sunrise aides and Grace Hospice caring for his every need, while his family was able to see him smile and interact with the people who so lovingly cared for him.
He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Rose Roberto; his sister and brother-in-law Delores and Jerry Makris; and his grandson Alexander “AJ” Heagney. He is survived by his wife Patricia of 65 years and his children, Cheryl McCauley, Robby and his wife Lisa Roberto, JV Roberto, and Leigh and her husband Chris Greves; nine grandchildren, Michael (Jess) Roberto, Keri Roberto (Dom) Procopio, Danny Roberto, Shannon Roberto (Rahgav) Mehra, Kailee Heagney, Cody, Chandler, Morgan and Peyton McCauley; as well as four great-grandchildren, Brady, Ella and Rory Roberto and Meadow Procopio.
Poppy, we will love and miss you with all of our hearts. Fly high and rest peacefully.
Services are private. Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the August 18 – 24, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
