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BORN

1965

DIED

2018

Robert Raffone Obituary

Robert (Bob) Raffone

Chandler - Robert (Bob) Raffone, of Chandler, Arizona, born on July 12, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Theresa Raffone and the late Joseph Raffone, passed away at age 52 on May 6, 2018 in Chandler, Arizona after a two month battle with cancer.

He grew up on Long island and moved to Arizona his sophmore year graduating from McClintock high school in 1983. Robert served in the Army from 1983 to 1987 and worked in the Finance industry as an IT Technical Specialist at Charles Schwab. Robert was married 25 years to his soulmate Dawn Raffone. He is survived by his sons, Danny Combs and Joey Raffone; daughter, Ashley Raffone; brother, James Raffone; and grandchild, Camilla Combs. Robert loved sports, especially the Arizona Coyotes, home improvement and exploring the neighborhood with his beloved dogs, Rocco and Cupcake. He was a great storyteller and his quick wit, sense of humor and love of politics will be greatly missed. Our hearts are broken.

Services will be Private.

Published by The Arizona Republic on May 17, 2018.
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Memories and Condolences
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I am Kevin McOsker or as Bob called me "Dawg". We were friends & roommates in the Army - Germany. Bobby and I were together a lot and did many things. I´ve thought of him often- we emailed sporadically in the years afterwards and but the time in Germany with him was some of the best. I have a lot of photos and more memories. I miss you Bob and I am better for knowing you. If anyone in Bob´s family would like to talk or would like some of the photos please email me @ [email protected]

Kevin F McOsker

Friend

November 25, 2023

Can´t believe it´s been 5 years today since you passed Dad. I love you so much and miss you immensely.

Ashley Raffone

May 6, 2023

Wishing you were here to celebrate for your birthday today. The world is so dark without you in it. I miss you every single day so much. I would give anything to see you again. Love you Dad

Ashley Raffone

Family

July 12, 2022

Having a margarita for you Dad! Today would have been your 56th birthday. I love you and miss you so much!!!

Ashley Raffone

Family

July 12, 2021

Thinking of you this Father’s Day Dad. I love you and miss you every single day ♥♥♥

Ashley Raffone

Daughter

June 20, 2021

I can't believe today marks three years since you passed. It finally took all this time for me to realize that I wasn't having a bad dream hoping to wake up from. The reality was you're really gone and never coming back. Every time I would try to come to this page, I couldn't bring myself to stay because I just ended up breaking down. There isn't a day that passes by that you don't enter my thoughts. Missing you is a hurt in my heart that won't ever disappear. You left us too early. Your life was taken excessively fast and surprisingly. So I'm left with this agony with nothing else to do except to let you realize that now that you're in paradise and no longer in pain. I miss your emanating grin and giggle. Your wisdom. Your corny dad jokes that I absolutely loved. You could light up a room without any problem. I would do anything for one more moment of your embrace. I replay each memory I can recollect to me. It makes me miss you like hell yet it likewise causes me to feel closer to you. I am so thankful you came in my life and ours. The best dad in the world that no matter how busy you were you always made time for us. The love that you and mom shared showed that love is real and you being a big pile of mush were also the most loving person I've ever known. You had the most veritable and caring heart and is transmitted in each circumstance you were placed into. I won't ever comprehend God's rationale for taking you from us so early. So until that day comes that I am ready to see you once more, I will keep on carrying on with my life in your honor. You will everlastingly have a spot in my heart. I love you Dad. Forever and ever. ♥

Ashley Raffone

Daughter

May 7, 2021

Dawn

Spouse

May 6, 2020

August 23, 2019

July 12, 2019

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."

Happy Heaven Day, Baby!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Dawn Raffone

May 6, 2019

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Dawn Raffone

February 14, 2019

Dad, it hasn't even been a year yet and I miss you so much. I miss the wisdom your shared and the memories you gave me.

Danny Combs

January 10, 2019

Dawn Raffone

December 25, 2018

Dawn Raffone

November 22, 2018

Dawn Raffone

August 23, 2018

Dawn Raffone

August 23, 2018

Dawn Raffone

August 6, 2018

Dawn Raffone

August 6, 2018

Dawn Raffone

August 6, 2018

Regina Diggs

July 12, 2018

July 12, 2018

Dawn Raffone

June 6, 2018

My deepest condolences to all the Raffone family and friends which I know he had lots of. Rest in peace Bless you all

May 21, 2018

Mike Anderson

May 20, 2018

Bob was hands down the most spectacular human being I ever had the pleasure of knowing. His love of his family and his career were so inspiring to me and many others. I worked with Bob for 20+ years and his contributions to the company's growth and the team's growth were amazing. I cherish the fact I had one last call with Bob before he transitioned. Not a day has gone by since that day that Bob and his family have not been in my thoughts. To Dawn and the family cherish all the great memories with the spectacular Bob. Rest in Peace my special friend.

Bill Larlee

Coworker

May 19, 2018

When Bob was working he led a very hectic public life so any time off he had he wanted to spend with his family. There were no dinner parties or any of the socializing other people do.
We would attend coyotes games and broadway shows laughing and holding hands everywhere we walked. Even in the short times we were apart we would exchange funny text messages and phone calls. We truly were best friends and wanted to spend every second of everyday together.
We bought a new house and I told him how I wanted every room to look which was nothing like they did at the time. He never built a anything before so he started watching videos and practicing miter cuts and learned to lay brick to build the same room I described when we moved in. He wanted me to have everything my heart desired. He lived my dreams as if they were his own.
Six days before he passed away I woke up and saw right away his kidneys were failing. I told him we needed to get to the hospital and asked him why he didn't wake me, he said he wanted me to get some sleep. He was dying and he was concerned about my lack of sleep!
May 6th marked the the end of a passionate, maddening, fulfilling, obsessive relationship that had spanned 28 years. The contemplation of how to live after the death of someone so impossibly tied to the landscape of my life that it might require a rearrangement of my own identity terrified me. I wanted to fall asleep and never wake up. Then I saw our kids and our beautiful granddaughter and realized though much is taken, much abides. I will never stop missing him but life and love in all its dimensions, spiritual and everyday, does go on. As do our memories.

Thank you all so much for the cards, flowers, and messages. Bob loved his job and the people he worked with. The support from friends and coworkers have meant a lot to us.

Dawn Raffone

May 18, 2018

I miss you so much baby!

Dawn Raffone

May 18, 2018

I never got to meet you but I was told lots of loveing things about you from my husband your brother jim. My sincere condolences on the loss of your husband and soulmate I can't imagine the pain you all are feeling.

Melisa Raffone

May 18, 2018

Ashley Plattner

May 18, 2018

Bob, I wish I had been able spend more time with you. But the time I got to spend with you I'll always cherish. I'll always remember spending thanksgiving with you Dawn, Joey, Ashley and the pups and playing all those fun games. You truly were an amazing man. Such a loving husband and father. I enjoyed the conversations Joey, you and I would have on the phone even if I only listened most of the time. I wish I would have talked to you more and gotten to learn more about you. Forever am I grateful for the love you showed me and for accepting me into your home and treating me as family. I love you Bob thank you for all the beautiful memories.

Ashley Plattner

May 18, 2018

Bob, It was a pleasure to watch you demonstrate your technical expertise in the IBM Storage arena. Your commitment and attention to detail was unmatched. You set the bar high and we always tried to keep up. You made us all better.

May you rest now.

The IBM Team

May 18, 2018

Rest in peace Bob, and my condolences to your family. I only knew you as business customer. From my eyes; your intelligence, energy, and commitment to ensuring the Schwab backup and recovery systems were optimal was inspirational. Work isn't everything, but you did it with extreme vigor and always seeking better. I know you as a true and dedicated IT professional. I am sure that same vigor and commitment was shared with your family and loved ones. Rest in peace Bob, you exemplified an energy for all of us to aspire to in our lives. All that knew you are touched.

Randy Martineau

May 17, 2018

It's hard to put words to this. Bob was hands down my best friend at work (Charles Schwab). We worked closely for the last 10 years, at one point, he was even my manager. We were so much alike in the way we thought about things that sometimes he'd say I was a sister from another mother. We talked about sports (hockey, baseball, football), dogs, family, friends, travel, politics, religion, anything and everything, vented when we needed to. I loved hearing about how devoted Rocco was to him. Sometimes I felt like I know you all, his family. I was so relieved when he took his sabbatical time a few years ago to move, instead of wasting it. I actually think he lost at least one sabbatical. It was hard to get Bob to stop working. He was always here for me when I needed something; at the drop of a hat, he'd login and help, and I hope in some small way, I repaid the favor of the time and talents that he shared so willingly. Don't even really know where to go from here, so much I wish I could say directly to him. He loved his family so much. I worry about all of you going forward, even Rocco, because he took care of so much. We are feeling the same at work, at lot of gaps here now for stuff that he just handled and we didn't really know it. If there is anything I can do at all for you, please don't hesitate to ask. It was more than a honor to be his friend and coworker. There is a giant gaping hole in my heart, and you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Journey Safely, Bob.

Mary Kay Mills

Coworker

May 17, 2018

Bob was my very best friend in high school. We literally spent every day together for years. We worked horrible jobs together, played sports constantly, partied in the desert and had a lot of fun! He went into the Army about the same time I entered the Navy. We reconnected a few times throughout the years but I lived on the East Coast so we did not see each other much. Bob was as tough as nails and everyone knew better than to mess with him. I was lucky he was my best friend. I always felt safe - sort of - because we were both a little nuts! 52 is way to young to die! I am heartbroken to hear of this news and I hope the best for his wife and kids. He was and still is one of the best people I have ever known.

David Shannon

May 17, 2018

I started my career at Schwab in 1998 working hand and hand with Bob on various projects and eventually our teams joined. Bob and I often talked about politics, sports, politics, work, politics, family and then sometimes politics :). Bob is a rare breed! My admiration for his work ethic and leadership drive ran deep and could see the same in peers around me and management. Bobs motto truly was, team first- If there was a problem to be solved, he dug in until the root cause was found and documentation completed.

Heavy hearted as one of the true greats has left the building, will miss you my friend-

Andrew Haws

Coworker

May 16, 2018

Bob it was a pleasure working with you, rest in peace my friend!

Ricardo Ribeiro

Coworker

May 16, 2018

Bob from the Charles Schwab group you will be missed, Peace you and your family.....

John Roesler

Coworker

May 16, 2018

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