Robert W. Sperry

Robert William Sperry, 70, of Ridgefield, died peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2026, surrounded by his family after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer. He was the loving husband of Mary Lou (Forcella) Sperry.

Bob was born on May 2, 1955 in Westfield, MA; he was adopted by his loving parents, the late Edwin and Janice (Cowles) Sperry and resided in East Hampton, CT, with his siblings. Growing up, Bob's rambunctious character kept his parents and teachers on their toes, and his friends always entertained. His proudest childhood achievement was forming his 65+ year friendship with his kindergarten pals.

From his early days delivering the newspaper, Bob was always driven to find success. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 1977 and began his professional career at Grey Advertising in NYC. By 1979, he began working at Nestle, where he worked for almost two decades on growing iconic brands like Nesquik, Buncha Crunch, SweetTarts, and more, while moving the family from coast to coast, with stops in Stamford, CT, Nashua, NH, Ridgefield, CT, West Lake Village, CA, Town and Country, MO, and, finally, back to Ridgefield. In 1997, he kicked off his illustrious career in private equity-at the time of his retirement in 2025, he was a managing partner at Kainos Capital in Dallas, TX, a work family he was tremendously proud to be a part of.

For the past two decades, Bob's entrepreneurial spirit burned bright. As co-owner of Ridgefield Prime, Prime Burger, and Fletch's Bagels, and an early investor in HooDoo Brown BBQ, he loved being a part of this community and getting to meet more and more fellow residents.

Bob is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Lou, as well as their children: Kara Matz and her husband, David; Cody Sperry and his wife, Erika; Palmer Sperry, and Taylor Sperry. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Lucy, Parker, and Millie Matz; his siblings, Edwin and Lynne Sperry, as well as several nieces and nephews, each of which he has a special relationship with.

While his family is devastated by this massive loss, they are forever grateful for how hard he fought over the past two and a half years. His battle mirrored how he lived his life: full of analyses to find success, steadfast determination to see it through, and an incredibly positive attitude. They will forever miss him at UConn basketball games, summers on Nantucket, and surprise dinners with the grandkids, but they will celebrate and honor his legacy every day.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home - 25 Catoonah Street; Ridgefield, CT. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Saint Joseph Church - 95 Plum Brook Road; Somers, NY. Interment will take place privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bob and Mary Lou Sperry Head & Neck Cancer Research Foundation at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - PO Box 849168; Boston, MA 02284, or online at http://www.dana-Farber.org/gift