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billreyer@gmail.com posted a condolence
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Bobby and I met at the Conn Barracks in Scweinfurt, Germany’s one of the least wonderful gifts from our German hosts, in September 1965. Bobby, a platoon leader had just won a raffle that his CO sandbagged him into buying for troop
morale boosting and lucky dog he bagged a brand new Ford T5, a German made Mustang. There was no one he knew to share his good fortune as he ran into the parking lot where hr found me, a newly arrived dentist washing my new car, and excitedly told me about his win. I was not as excited as he probably wished but despite that we remained friends growing old in parallel through homecoming to Long Island, girlfriends, marriages, divorces, great dinners, Arthur Avenue, the Oyster Bar, Smith and Expensky, a heart attack, some kids, a crazy trip to the Costa del Sol and final days after 55 years. We talked on Facetime when he was in his bed at Cornell just two days before he was snatched away. I think of him every day A part of me has gone with him.
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Marcia Jaeger posted a condolence
Monday, June 29, 2020
Bob was my dear friend and my mentor in all things Italian. He was a great raconteur and was very knowledgeable on many topics. His infectious love of Italy, as well as the photos he sent me, impelled me to visit him in Padua. He was my generous guide through Carnevale in Venice and was the only person I knew who had a street map of that wondrous city on his IPad! For me, it was a treasured time of exploring places I would never have gone to had it not been for Bob’s tutelage, Trieste being just one example. Experiencing an opera in Venice was, for me, a great thrill. We went sailing together many times. His boat was named for his first granddaughter, Ella; his dinghy named for his second granddaughter, Quinn. He adored them. As the driving force behind the re-birth of Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club, he afforded us the opportunity of making many wonderful friends and enjoy sailing the Sound. He will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace, Bob. Marcia Jaeger
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Änne Troester posted a condolence
Monday, June 15, 2020
I'm very saddened to hear of Bob's death. He was a colleague of my father's at McCann, and I hope I can say that they were also friends. I know that with his knowledge of American customs and business practices, he helped my father settle in the shark tank that's the NYC advertising business. They shared a common interest in the history of advertising, and, having been stationed in Germany, Bob was always happy to share his stories with a German family.
To me, as a teenager in Scarsdale, and as an American Studies scholar later on, Bob himself represented parts of American history, as a G.I. in Germany, as the descendant of immigrants, as an East Coaster, and, with his generosity, he was an example of what's best and good and kind in American culture. When I looked at him, I always also saw my dad, a fellow Mad Man. In my adult years, Bob and I exchanged infrequent comments, mostly about things he posted about Italy or about advertising Americana, on Facebook. The last one was about sailing.
I will miss him.
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Antonina Rivituso lit a candle
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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RIP
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Antonina ivituso Rivituso posted a condolence
Sunday, June 14, 2020
So sad to hear your gone Bob so soon, we knew each other through facebook and through our surname our ties are from the same place in Sicliy we tried together to find our origins you were always kind, thanks for sharing your memories. Deepest simpathy & condolscences to Nina and family.
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Jenny George posted a condolence
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Many years ago as a new resident of Larchmont I called the Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club inquiring if they offered charter sails around the sound. My cousin was visiting from Europe and I wanted to treat him to a sail on the sound. HHYC told me they were a private club and didn’t offer charters but might know someone that would be kind enough to take us out on a sail. Bob volunteered his time and sailboat and spent hours sailing around with my husband and my cousin visiting from Europe - two complete strangers to him. He wouldn’t take money from us or the wine we brought him. My whole family was very touched by Bob’s generosity that day. Later on our family joined HHYC as members and we got to spend time with Bob on the porch at HHYC and out sailing with him. We learned about his time in Italy and his interesting life. We are lucky to have known him. Bob will be greatly missed. Jenny George
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Julie Carney uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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We are devastated by Bob's passing, and the hole in the world that's left will be very hard to heal.
I've known Bob for 40 years, he was my first boss at McCann-Erickson and his wisdom, sense of humor, and kindness helped me navigate the world of NY advertising and established a life-long friendship. He attended my son's first birthday party and gave him his first 'bicycle'; a Radio Flyer, propelled by tiny feet. "Riv" appreciated quality in everything, especially Italian quality! The food, the country, the architecture, and the people. He marveled at the world, railed against its' injustices and studied everything he was interested in. He was a true Renaissance Man and there was nothing he loved more than sharing his interests with his family and friends.
His Famous Feuerzangenbölle Party was a perfect example of that; he gathered all those who loved him and put on a great show, alighting a cone of sugar over mulled wine in the German tradition, while sharing stories of his time during the war, the culture, and basking in the loving attention of his many, many friends, spanning his entire life. I was amazed at how many decades-long friendships Bob maintained in his life.
I cannot believe he is gone, and I grieve deeply with his family, Sue, and his friends from the many walks of life that this extraordinary man took. You will be missed so much more than you ever realized, Bobby. RIP and love from all of us. Hope you are dancing the Tarantella and eating great food to your heart's content in Heaven. --Julie Hug Carney
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Jennifer Rose posted a condolence
Sunday, June 14, 2020
I will always treasure my conversations with Bob.....he was a true gentleman.
I will miss his friendship.
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Robin Holt posted a symbolic gesture
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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God Bless you, Bob. You will be deeply missed. You live on in Nina and your precious grandbabies. Every time I see Virgil, I will smile and think of you.
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The family of Robert S. Rivituso uploaded a photo
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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The family of Robert S. Rivituso uploaded a photo
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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