Robert P. Dionne

1936 - 2024

Robert P. Dionne

CHEPACHET - November 12, 2024, Robert Bob P. Dionne passed away peacefully at home in Chepachet, RI with his wife Saranne Sally / Ski (Simcock) at his side. Bob was born on July 28,1936 to Elizabeth (Krawczyk) and Raymond Dionne and was a part of the Woonsocket community for his entire young and adult life. Bob was pre-deceased by his parents, sister Louise (LaBrie) Emery, and brother Raymond Sonny Dionne. Bob is survived by his wife Ski, and four children Robert P. Dionne, Jr., Beth Folcarelli, Michael Dionne (Caron Walker), and Allison D'Attelo. Bob is also survived by his younger brother, John R. Dionne and his wife Jeannine (Cote) Dionne; a bonus daughter, Carol (Gill) Dionne; six grandchildren, Brett Michael Dionne, Neil D'Attelo, Nicholas D'Attelo, Cristina D'Attelo, Steven Dionne, Jr., and Regina Dionne; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members who admired and loved him dearly.

Bob was a brilliant, yet humble entrepreneur. Always marching to the beat of his own drum, Bob had immense success in sales, broadcasting, and real estate. After graduating in 1953 from Woonsocket High School, Bob attended Emerson College, Boston, before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After military service in Germany and other locations, Bob attended Boston University until his affinity for broadcasting pulled him to media markets in Webster, Springfield, and Worcester Massachusetts; to RI-based WLKW; and finally, to WWON and WNRI in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where he concluded his broadcasting career.

With a penchant for unique radio formats, Bob immersed himself in sportscasting, Top 30, Midnight Radio, and political commentary. As talk radio gained traction in the 1990s, Bobs edgy, tongue-in-cheek, and creative talk show, Inside Out, which aired on WNRI, was among his crowning achievements in radio and loved by the city's residents.

Influenced by hardships experienced by his family and neighborhood during the Great Depression, Bob was drawn to business, financial freedom, and achievement generated by his own will, intellect, volition, and strategy. A self-made and shrewd business leader, Bob owned sales and real estate businesses. His baby furniture company - Futurama Products - was located on the ground level of the St. James Hotel. Futurama Products perished along with the St. James Hotel in a historic, sweeping fire on November 7, 1986. Bob also operated Saranne Realty with his wife and business partner, Ski. For more than 60 years they worked together to own and operate single and multi-family dwellings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to bring high quality housing to working people.

Bob was industrious, fun, and personable, with a larger than life presence. His zest for business blended perfectly with an unquenched curiosity about people and their stories. He regularly engaged with people to learn of their struggles and triumphs, and was particularly fascinated with people who navigated adversity to a position of strength. An experiential and real-world learner, influenced, too, by the written word, Bob had varied interests and was a voracious reader. He studied health, history, politics, economics, finance, and business. The family kitchen table served as his office and was routinely peppered with hand-written index cards related to things he found important to remember.

Despite his sizable achievements, it was the simple things in life that touched Bob most deeply. Among the gifts he cherished most were his wife, siblings, children, grandchildren, extended family, the New York Yankees, music, nature, and dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes. He loved the sanctuary of his home on Keech Pond, and could be observed each day walking around the lake delivering cookies to each dog he knew by name. Bob was incredibly proud of his wife and children and often selected quiet ways to communicate his insights, adoration, and admiration. Bob's sign off for his radio show, Inside Out perfectly reflects his thoughtful approach to life and words by which he lived: It is awful nice to be important; but, even more important to be nice.

Please join the family at The Tucker Quinn Funeral Chapel, 643 Putnam Avenue (RT 44), Greenville, RI 02828 on Saturday November 23, 2024. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life promptly at 10:30 AM. Burial will be private.