Robert W. Curtis
February 28, 1941 — July 4, 2025
Robert W. Curtis of South Amboy entered into Gods Care on July 4, 2025, he was 84 years old.
He went by Bob, Bobby, Dad, Pop, Uncle Bob, Robert, Mr. C and Mr. Curtis. He was the guy who helped you build the treehouse and the go-kart. He painted bases on the cul-de-sac for the kickball games. He put in a pool. He let you camp in his backyard and tear up his lawn playing Wiffle Ball. He was a kind man, a loving husband and a gentle father. He was a thinking man. A problem solver. A planner. A provider. He was a loyal and generous person and he loved his family. None greater than his 2 granddaughters who gave him more joy these last 21 years than they will ever know. He was a humble man, achieving more than he ever came close to letting on. He wasn’t a lender. He was a giver. He wasn’t one for speeches. Rather, he taught with deeds. You learned by watching his example. He didn’t count favors. He showed that true caring occurs when you don’t have a stake in the outcome. He just did whatever was right. It’s been said that you must choose between being something to everyone or being everything to someone. Somehow, he managed to be both. Nobody will ever know how many people he helped because he never told. It was nobody’s business but his and whoever he was helping. He didn’t do it for show. He never required credit. He was the tree from the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. He loved unconditionally and he simply gave everything he had to those he loved until he had nothing left to give. We’re just now beginning to understand the reach of his influence and the depth to which he touched so many lives. To say he will be missed is the grandest understatement. May we all be so fortunate to join up with him again when it is our time.
Bob was born in New York City, as a teenager he moved to Parlin and has resided in South Amboy for the past 60 years. He graduated from St. Mary High School, South Amboy and attended Monmouth University.
Bob loved gardening, sailing, suduko, gadgets and endless types of tools. Most of all, Bob loved family, laughter and sharing his quick Irish wit. He was a proud member of the ILA for over 50 years.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife, Marylou (Swiderski); his devoted children, Kelly and Sean and his wife, Stephanie and his cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth and Victoria; sister Katherine; brother, Kevin and his wife, Nancy and sister, Kimberly and her husband, Chris and many wonderful friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Alice (O’Keefe), his brothers, John ("Jackie"), William and Keith.
Friends are invited to pay their respects to the family on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 4pm to 8pm at the Kurzawa Funeral Home, 338 Main Street, South Amboy, NJ 08879. A 10am funeral mass will be offered on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy, NJ, burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in the Parlin section of Sayreville, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now
He went by Bob, Bobby, Dad, Pop, Uncle Bob, Robert, Mr. C and Mr. Curtis. He was the guy who helped you build the treehouse and the go-kart. He painted bases on the cul-de-sac for the kickball games. He put in a pool. He let you camp in his backyard and tear up his lawn playing Wiffle Ball. He was a kind man, a loving husband and a gentle father. He was a thinking man. A problem solver. A planner. A provider. He was a loyal and generous person and he loved his family. None greater than his 2 granddaughters who gave him more joy these last 21 years than they will ever know. He was a humble man, achieving more than he ever came close to letting on. He wasn’t a lender. He was a giver. He wasn’t one for speeches. Rather, he taught with deeds. You learned by watching his example. He didn’t count favors. He showed that true caring occurs when you don’t have a stake in the outcome. He just did whatever was right. It’s been said that you must choose between being something to everyone or being everything to someone. Somehow, he managed to be both. Nobody will ever know how many people he helped because he never told. It was nobody’s business but his and whoever he was helping. He didn’t do it for show. He never required credit. He was the tree from the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. He loved unconditionally and he simply gave everything he had to those he loved until he had nothing left to give. We’re just now beginning to understand the reach of his influence and the depth to which he touched so many lives. To say he will be missed is the grandest understatement. May we all be so fortunate to join up with him again when it is our time.
Bob was born in New York City, as a teenager he moved to Parlin and has resided in South Amboy for the past 60 years. He graduated from St. Mary High School, South Amboy and attended Monmouth University.
Bob loved gardening, sailing, suduko, gadgets and endless types of tools. Most of all, Bob loved family, laughter and sharing his quick Irish wit. He was a proud member of the ILA for over 50 years.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife, Marylou (Swiderski); his devoted children, Kelly and Sean and his wife, Stephanie and his cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth and Victoria; sister Katherine; brother, Kevin and his wife, Nancy and sister, Kimberly and her husband, Chris and many wonderful friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Alice (O’Keefe), his brothers, John ("Jackie"), William and Keith.
Friends are invited to pay their respects to the family on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 4pm to 8pm at the Kurzawa Funeral Home, 338 Main Street, South Amboy, NJ 08879. A 10am funeral mass will be offered on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy, NJ, burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in the Parlin section of Sayreville, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now
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