Robert Allen Strochak, 87, passed away on September 28, 2018. He is survived by his children; Tami Capece, David Strochak and his wife ,Nelly, and Daniel Strochak and his wife, Elizabeth, his grandchildren; Andrew, Tianna and Sean Capece and Evan Strochak. Robert is predeceased by his wife of 32 years, Rita Strochak.
Robert was a lifelong New Jersey resident, born in Hoboken and grew up in North Bergen while also teaching Special Education at North Bergen High School for more than 30 years. Robert attended the University of Alabama for one year before returning home to obtain his college and masters degree in Education at St. Peter's University in Jersey City.
Robert spent 2 years in the US Army during the end of the Korean War (1954-1956) and was stationed in Germany where he served as a medic and would regale his children and grandchildren with stories about his days of service, catching "hops" on military planes, people he met and even getting thrown into the Rhine River by a beautiful German girlfriend at the time.
He met his wife, Rita, at Bradley Beach and was married in 1960, moving to Union, NJ to raise a family.
Robert took his teaching role very seriously and saw his students through school and into job placement in his community. He prided himself on teaching self-sufficiency, car repair and providing life experience to the children by taking them on field trips to small businesses and auto shops.
He spent a lot of time helping his community as a volunteer for the local Lions Club assisting blind residents with transportation and support.
Robert loved to travel to France in the 70's to visit his best friend "Frenchy" who lived in Southern France, in the small town of Gardanne where they enjoyed life to the fullest, eating, laughing and drinking wine. He would often say, "If you have one best friend in the world, a true best friend - than you've won."
Robert had a zest for life and an even bigger appetite. He loved the outdoors, especially NYC where he spent many a weekend exploring the Big Apple by foot, Kayaking on the Hudson, Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge and eating at his favorite Chinatown restaurant, Wo Hop. He loved even more the country and enjoyed summers at the bungalow with his family while canoeing on Lake Huntington with his son, sometimes even until midnight. He was a natural athlete with a love for tennis, basketball and football as a youth, body building after college and was even on the cover of a Joe Weider weightlifting magazine. Robert loved to swim laps at the local Y, priding himself on his 50 laps a day until he was in his late seventies.
He was an extremely knowledgeable person who studied health and nutrition information and car repairs where he was a self taught mechanic and loved working together with family-friend Jerry Palmarozzo on a variety of projects that he would fondly call "Jerry Jobs." Robert researched all kinds of health information and loved finding the "natural cure" for ailments. He was ahead of his time regarding harmful ingredients and unhealthy things and loved clean, fresh air, green tea, fish oil, garlic and his ability to whip up a great "sauce."
Robert loved and worried about his children and grandchildren and was especially close with his oldest grandson, Andrew, who he had a profound impact on. He was very proud of Andrew's mastery of the Chinese language and relocation there. His thoughts were often on his grand kids Tianna and Sean while he also had the pleasure to see his newest grandson Evan born and grown.
In the last few years he lived comfortably in Elizabeth with his newlywed son and daughter-in-law David and Nelly witnessing their lives, meeting new family members and even learning a few Spanish words or two.
Robert had a heart of gold and was genuinely interested in almost everyone he met, a real "people person" while often remembering details about the person long after. His smile, gift of gab and larger than life personality will most certainly be missed. The world truly lost a great soul - one of the all time best.
The family will hold a private memorial service to celebrate Robert’s life.
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