Robert B. Corrao

Robert B. Corrao, 56, passed away on March 6, 2026, in Corning, NY, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 27, 1969, in Suffern, NY, to Charles A. Corrao and the late Mary Lou (Mericle) Corrao.

Robert had the kind of presence that made people feel lighter the moment he walked into a room. He was incredibly charismatic–quick with a grin, quicker with a one-liner–and he had a way of making anyone feel instantly comfortable. His humor was effortless and constant. If it had been a while since he'd seen you, he'd sometimes look down and, completely straight-faced, say he'd been "stung by a bee." That was Robert: sharp, hilarious, and always ready to get a laugh out of anyone. If you were around him, you smiled. Most of the time, you were laughing.

He took genuine joy in making others laugh, and the warmth behind it was the center of who he was. He had an effortless way of staying in touch with friends near and far, and everyone who knew him was lucky to have him. He stayed especially close to his high school friends, creating relationships that lasted decades and never faded.

As funny as he was, Robert was also deeply sentimental. He kept everything–the little treasures from his kids as they grew up, mementos of his mother, and the small things that carried stories. He loved saving and refurbishing items other people might toss, convinced they deserved a second life–like Amy's Kick-and-Go scooter from second grade. He could often be found outside, tinkering with something around the house, working on the pool, or fixing what needed fixing, always finding ways to make life smoother for the people he loved.

Robert graduated from Corning East High School, Class of 1988, forever a Trojan. He attended Corning Community College for two years, where he was an All-American lacrosse player, and he was also a gifted athlete in football and basketball. After living in Virginia for several years, Robert returned to Corning and worked for Keuka Construction as a project manager.

On July 18, 2008, Robert married Amy Younker in Corning, NY. Their life together was filled with love, 80s music, and an endless supply of inside jokes. They even kept their Corning high school rivalry alive in the sweetest way: Robert–who always said he "bled maroon," stayed loyal to East High, while Amy proudly held onto her West High green. In the front of their house, right beside each other, sit two birdhouses–his maroon and hers green–side by side, like their relationship in miniature: playful and perfectly matched.

Robert was known by many nicknames, but "Falcon" was the one his close friends gave him and proudly carried. The name came during his time as an assistant high school lacrosse coach in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where the school's mascot was the Falcon. Given how many nicknames Robert already had, his friends jokingly added another to the list–and it stuck the same day. Before long, there were Falcon shirts, Falcon stories, and plenty of laughs to go with them.

As a father, Robert showed up–every time. He said yes to playing catch, yes to practice, yes to games, and yes to the playful back-and-forth that made his children feel so close to him. He was steady, present, and all in–equal parts fun and dependable. More than anything, he made his family feel loved.

Robert was predeceased by his mother Mary Lou (Mericle) Corrao and is survived by his loving wife, Amy Corrao of Painted Post, NY; his children, Carson Crane, Julia Corrao, Sophia Corrao, and Nicholas Corrao, all of Painted Post, NY; his father, Charles Corrao of Corning, NY; his sisters, Christine Button of Johnson City, NY, Jennifer Corrao, and Debra Augustine; his father- and mother-in-law, Ben and Connie Younker of Painted Post, NY; his sisters-in-law, Beth (Clete) Goetz and Heather (Ryan) Kresock; as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. He is also remembered with deep love by his many close friends, including Nick Darcangelo, Missie Celelli, and Jeff Cole, and many others too many to be named who remained by his side until the very end.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Carpenter's Funeral Home, 14 E. Pulteney St., Corning, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Robert Corrao Memorial Fund, established to support college expenses for his children: https://everloved.com/life-of/robert-bryan-corrao/.