Obituary of Robert J. Piazza

Robert John Piazza

A life measured not by years, but by faith, family, service, and friendship, Robert John Piazza
passed away suddenly on July 28, 2026.

Born on April 4, 1940, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bob was the beloved son of the late Joseph
Piazza and Pauline (Cristiano) Piazza. He graduated from Central High School in Bridgeport and
later attended West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

On August 28, 1965, he married the love of his life, Dawn Dalrymple. Together they shared nearly
61 wonderful years of marriage, building a life rooted in faith, family, friendship, laughter, and
service to others.

Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Dawn; his daughters, Amy Piazza and her husband, Robert
Schweer, of St. Augustine, Florida, and Gina Davey of Bangor, Pennsylvania; his sister, Eleanor
Moser; his niece, Dana Wilkinson and her husband, Dean, of Naples, Florida; and many cherished
relatives, lifelong friends, and countless people whose lives were enriched by knowing him. He was
preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Joseph Piazza Jr.; his nephew, John Moser; and his
brother-in-law, Brent Dalrymple.

Bob began his career as a Purchasing Manager with Lycoming Helicopter in Connecticut. In 1966,
he and Dawn made Belvidere, New Jersey, their home. He worked for Celanese before realizing his
dream of owning The Sportsman Shop in Belvidere. After selling the business, he joined his
longtime friend B.J. Wauhop at Block Plant Designs as Purchasing Manager before retiring from
FiberMark in Alpha, New Jersey.

Although proud of his professional accomplishments, Bob found his greatest purpose in serving
others. For more than 50 years he was an active member of the Belvidere Lions Club, volunteering
countless hours to improve his community. He also served on the Belvidere Board of Education, the
Pequest River Municipal Utilities Authority, the Belvidere Shade Tree Commission, and was a
proud member of the Belvidere American Legion.

His Catholic faith guided every aspect of his life. At St. Patrick Church in Belvidere he served as a
lector, sang in the choir, participated in the Men's Club, and, together with Dawn, counseled
couples through Marriage Encounter. His lifelong commitment to faith and service was recognized
with the Four Chaplains Medal of Honor.

Bob proudly served in the Connecticut Army National Guard and later in the Easton, Pennsylvania,
National Guard, where he became an instructor and mentor.

He was one of the founding members of the S-Every Hunting Lodge in East Dixfield, Maine. Every
November he looked forward to gathering with lifelong friends for hunting camp and fellowship. One
of his proudest traditions was wearing the camp's Chef Hat, passed down from his father-in-law
and, this past November, lovingly passed on to his son-in-law, Rob Schweer.

Golf was one of Bob's greatest passions. As a member of the Wednesday Night League at Harkers
Hollow, he and his partner, Greg Hudson, enjoyed competing with—and often keeping pace
with—the younger golfers.

Bob was also a lifelong New York Yankees fan. His love of baseball began as a young boy
attending Yankees games with his father, memories he treasured throughout his life.

His generosity extended far beyond his own community. Every week he collected food from local
grocery stores for the Methodist Church food pantry. Through friends Harold and Kelly Swisher, he
also helped organize donations of food, furniture, clothing, and household goods for families in
need in West Virginia.

Family was Bob's greatest joy. He believed in gathering around the dinner table every evening at
five o'clock, carrying on the tradition of the large Sunday dinners he enjoyed growing up in his
close-knit Italian family. Family game nights, Pinochle with friends, vacations to Holden Beach,

North Carolina, and annual choir trips to Canada—where Bob proudly drove the Class A
motorhome—created treasured memories for everyone fortunate enough to share them.
Bob was rarely seen without a smile. He loved making people laugh with card tricks he spent hours
perfecting, enjoyed crossword puzzles, loved a good card game, and was often the mastermind
behind harmless pranks that became legendary among family and friends. He had a remarkable gift
for explaining complicated ideas in simple terms, earning the respect and trust of everyone who
knew him.

To know Bob was to love him. He lived with humility, kindness, integrity, and an unwavering desire
to help others. His legacy lives on through his family, his faith, his community, and the countless
acts of generosity that quietly changed lives.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at
MacFadden Funeral Home, 325 Hardwick Street, Belvidere, New Jersey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at St. Patrick Church, 327 Greenwich Street,
Belvidere, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Belvidere Lions Club or St. Patrick Church, honoring
Bob’s lifelong commitment to faith, service, and community.

Though his voice is now quiet, the lessons he taught, the traditions he created, the laughter he shared, and
the countless acts of kindness he gave so freely will continue to live on in all who had the privilege of
knowing him. He showed us that a life is not measured by what we accumulate, but by the love we give, the
people we lift up, and the difference we make. His life was truly one well lived, and his memory will forever
remain a blessing to all who knew and loved him.