Robert Dennis "Bob" Dudas

Robert Dennis Dudas, or as most knew him, Bob-a man whose legacy is defined by his sharp wit, love for family, and the knack for fixing about anything under the sun-passed away on October 2, 2024. Born on April 14, 1938, in Elizabeth, NJ, Bob's journey through life was marked with laughter, loyalty, and the occasional unsolicited advice, famously prefaced with, "We're only talkin' here."
A graduate of Thomas Edison High School in Elizabeth, NJ, and U.S. Marine for two honorable years, Bob built a life cherished by family and zip tied with love. He was the proud owner of Oaktree Carwash in Edison, NJ, a venture he ambitiously undertook until his retirement in 1999. His entrepreneurial spirit was matched only by his sharp quips, such as "Better to make a fast nickel than a slow dime," a wisdom shared over countless Sunday dinners.
Not just a businessman, Bob loved the water. As an avid fisherman and boater, he found joy in dropping a fishing line along the Jersey Shore, a Marlboro Red burning, and the smell of diesel in the wake. His kind and loyal nature made him the go-to fixer, not just of household gadgets but often of life's more abstract problems, always armed with a screwdriver in one hand and trademark "Dad-isms" in the other.
He leaves behind a family who adored him: his sons Robert M. (Kimberly) Dudas and Richard Dudas, his daughter Suzanne (David); grandchildren, Amanda, Robert M. Jr, Elizabeth, Christine, Melissa; and great-grandchildren, Bryce and Isla. He is also survived by his siblings, Michael Dudas and Janice Danish, and is predeceased by his beloved wife, Marie, whose fond memories continue to light their family's path.
In keeping with Bob's giving spirit, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Save Barnegat Bay or the University of South Carolina Beaufort's Student Emergency Fund.
Save Barnegat Bay117 Haines RoadToms River, NJ 08753
https://savebarnegatbay.org
University of South Carolina Beaufort 1 University Blvd Bluffton, SC 29909
https://www.uscb.edu/giving/emergency-fund/index.html
Details of a memorial service are forthcoming. For now, take a moment to remember Bob in your own way: perhaps by the water's edge with a rod in hand or sharing a bit of quirky advice, after all, "It's better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake."
Bob will be remembered as the best dad, grandpa, brother, and friend a person could ever ask for, his humor, and warm-hearted nature lives on in the stories he left behind and the smiles he inspired.