Robert Martucci

Robert J. Martucci

October 30th, 1946 - February 19th, 2025

Robert J. Martucci, of Cranston, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 19th, 2025.

Born in Providence, RI, to Mary (Mortoro) and Vincenzo James Martucci, Robert - affectionately known as "Bobby," "Uncle Bob," "UNK," or to some, "Bobby Toooch," - grew up in North Providence alongside his beloved older siblings, Vincent Martucci & Angela Ronci, both predeceased.

Bobby is survived by, and was always the favorite and closest uncle to, his many nephews and nieces. He is also survived by his many great nieces and nephews, and even 3 great-great nieces, too!

Bobby attended Mt. Pleasant High School, and was drafted into military service for the US Army just 2 weeks after graduating, in 1966. He trained, served and fought for his country for 2 years during what many consider the most trying and difficult period of the Vietnam conflict.

Coming home to Rhode Island at the end of 1968, as E5 Sgt. Robert J. Martucci after serving overseas in the Vietnam War, he was awarded: the Bronze Star medal, Commendation medal, National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal. Bobby continued in the Army Reserves until being honorably discharged in July 1972.

He became a truck driver for Delfarno Construction and Capuano Bros. Sanitation Department of Cranston, RI for over 20 years, working to help support his family, until physical and mental decline and disabilities forced him into retirement from his Waste Management position, in 1997.

Bobby had a giving nature, often showing his love through his generosity and gifts. Throughout his time as a City of Cranston sanitation worker, he was always searching for goodies to bring back to his family, bringing weekly finds to his sister's house, always with a dozen Dunkin Donuts in hand. He would come bearing bags of toys, baseball cards, jewelry, and other such "treasures" that he came across in his week when sifting through the trash of the world. He truly loved to give gifts to everyone he met - friend, family or acquaintance.

Bobby made his home in parts of Cranston, RI for over 50 years, preferring to live a quiet, private, single life, but always with a companion dog by his side - each one was his whole world. The dogs he held dearest throughout the years were his 2 Lhasa Apso's -Benji and Tippy, and in the last part of his life, his "little girl," Princess, a Bichon Frisé who was always by his side until the very end.

Besides showering love on his beloved dogs, he was always quick to show his care and consideration to any animals that crossed his path. He shared stories of feeding abandoned kittens at his job sites, and over the years, he enjoyed interactions with the neighborhood birds and squirrels, (one he affectionately named "Louie"), always making sure his caregivers left special treats for them on his porch after he could no longer do it himself. Unk's love and compassion for animals has helped inspire his nieces and nephews to love, cherish and protect all the little furry creatures of the world.

In his earlier years, Bobby enjoyed growing and tending to a large vegetable garden, and when he was no longer able to garden himself, he was adamant about having his nephew keep tomatoes or herbs growing in large pots on his porch. He was also a passionate and avid collector of coins, stamps and vinyl records, and when he still had use of his hands, he enjoyed other hobbies like putting together large, colorful puzzles.

If you knew "Unk," you also knew how passionate he was about 50's and 60's rock n roll music - or as he called it, "oldie but goodies." From the The Beatles to The Beach Boys, he loved it all and could name you any artist or song of the times. His favorite by far, however, was Elvis Presley, and his home was always covered in Elvis memorabilia.

Unk also loved the Peanuts comics and collecting everything Snoopy- and Peanuts-related, and if you got a card from him for any occasion or holiday, it usually had Snoopy or Charlie Brown on it.

From a small boy, until the very last week of his life, one of Bobby's favorite pass-times was watching Western movies and TV shows - or "Cowboy Pictures," as he called them - as well as military, war and history movies.

He was also a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and was chosen to be honored by the New York Yankees as their "Veteran of the Game" on June 23rd 2023 -an honor taking place live at the game that night at Yankee stadium and televised nationally on the MLB Network. He watched with family from home as the team and crowd took to their feet, with hands over their hearts, cheering when his name was announced as Veteran of the Game and his military portrait flashed on the big screens, then cut to the clip of him waving from his wheelchair, dressed in his Yankee fan gear with Princess by his side.

Video shown here -

https://youtu.be/yJo91_fd_N0?si=EW3U9dniE56J2_0g

Bobby was also a lifelong fan of the Providence College Friars Men's basketball team, never missing a season on TV or radio.

He was honored to be a decorated Army Veteran, an Italian American, and he loved his family more than anything. His favorite foods were all things chicken or turkey, lasagna, chocolate, and of course his favorite - New York style cheesecake. (Although as he proclaimed about everything - nothing was like what his mother once made!)

Despite spending most of the final 2 decades of his life being very disabled and unable to do just about anything considered easy and "normal," Unk was an endless fighter, and was determined to make his every day needs at home somehow possible while he could. He learned to use gadgets and utensils in very unorthodox ways, and found means to do the things that needed to be done until he truly couldn't do them anymore when his hands and feet failed him. He lost his eyesight and became legally blind in 2023, but found a new, very unlikely, but helpful friend in his Amazon Alexa - enabling him to put on the TV, listen to his Elvis & oldies music, check the time (every 2 minutes!), keep up with the game scores, and make phone calls. Being able in this way to stay on top of the goings-on of the world, despite his disabilities, Unk would often greet visitors with breaking news of the day before they had even heard about it!

Even through the mental and physical disabilities that he endured, Bobby persevered the best he could, finding happiness in life with help from his family, caregivers, neighbors and friends whom he loved and treasured very much. He truly was all that is the meaning of a "great man." His kind, loving, giving, and honorable nature will be his legacy.

A Christian burial with military honors will take place at -

St. Ann Cemetery Chapel, in Cranston, RI, on March 19th, 2025, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers - Donations in his name can be made to Ten Lives Cat Rescue - https://tenlivescatrescue.org/donate/