Robert V Castronovo, 79

October 5, 1942 - January 9, 2022

Robert "Bob" Castronovo, devoted husband, father, and pop-pop, and died on January 9. He was 79.

Robert "Bob" Castronovo

Bob, who raised his family in Montgomery Township, was always energetic, happy, and passionate about everything he did.

He born on October 5, 1942 in Plainfield to the late Maria Angela “Aggie” Casale and Francis X. Castronovo. He grew up in Watchung with his brother Tom and graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School where he played baseball and football.

After years working in the landscape and janitorial maintenance fields, Bob set off on his own business venture and founded his incredibly successful consulting company, Custodial Consultants.

In 1986, he married Donna. Bob and Donna had many similar passions, such their enthusiasm for cars, seeking out the newest culinary hotspots, spending time down the shore, sailing together, and always making time for a date night.

Soon thereafter, they welcomed their children to the world, their son Brad in 1990, and daughter Dana in 1994. After living in Bridgewater, North Plainfield, and Bedminster, Bob and his family found their home in Montgomery Township.

As a resident of Montgomery, Bob made an impact on the lives of so many people. His legacy will forever be personified by the love he showed to not only his wife and children, but to the countless friends who passed through the Castronovo household over the years. Whether you knew him as Bobbo, Mr. C, Bob C, or Bonsai Bob, he treated you like family, and always made you feel at home.

Bob was enthusiastic about his hobbies. Whether it was cultivating Bonsai plants, photographing the local landscape, or finding the perfect clip on YouTube, Bob did things only one way — with his entire heart and soul. Bob was an avid collector of cameras, plants, watches, clocks, and lanterns. However, perhaps his most prized collectible was his 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420SEL, affectionately known as "LEGROOM," and purchased much to the surprise of his wife Donna.

Bob loved sports, and watched all of his teams with unmatched fervor and devotion. Whether it was his beloved New York Mets, Giants, or his childhood favorite, the Brooklyn Dodgers, Bob could talk for hours with even the foremost experts. Not to mention, he had a sports trivia memory bank unmatched by anyone. In his later years, Bob always loved to play golf, and hit his driver longer than anyone his age. He also loved to sail, and shared many special memories with his family on the Barnegat Bay.

Everyone who knew Bob knew that he lived his life to the tune of Frank Sinatra. Bob loved serenading friends and family to a multitude of Frank ballads and could be found dancing in the kitchen with his bride before dinner. He even gained a bit of fame on the Royal Caribbean Cruise circuit in the early 2000s with his famed stage name "Bob from New Jersey."

Bob is predeceased by his parents, brother Tom, and brother-in-law Tony. He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Donna (DeBellas) Castronovo of Montgomery Township; his son Brad (Ashley) and granddaughter Riley of Hillsborough; his loving daughter Dana (fiancé Jim) of Ewing Township; and many more relatives and friends.

Memorial donations can be made to RWJUH Somerset / Somerset Health Care Foundation.