Robert James Cerullo

Robert J. Cerullo (age 74), of Washington, DC, and Bethany Beach, DE, passed away at his Capitol Hill home in Washington on December 7, 2017, following a long illness. Bob was born in Masontown, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Lucy Cerullo. He was devoted to his family, and is survived by his beloved sisters, Dolores Cerullo Santella (husband William deceased) and Carol Cerullo Del Grosso (husband John), his aunt Violet Schnatterly, and seven nieces and nephews, their spouses, children and grandchildren. Bob’s brother, Richard Cerullo, predeceased him. Bob graduated from the University of West Virginia, served in the Air Force National Guard, and received a law degree from American University. He practiced real estate law with Houlon Berman for many years and, in retirement, enjoyed renovating and reselling houses throughout DC. Bob reveled in watching his favorite sports teams, the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, and was a dedicated foodie who prided himself on being the first of his friends to try every new restaurant. He also loved to travel, and was famous for always running into someone he knew, no matter what continent he was on. However, Bob’s favorite pastime was simply connecting with people, and he was extraordinarily good at it. He was known for his kindness, warmth, hilarious (and often self-deprecating) wit, generosity and amazing talent for making lifelong friends. He was generous in every sense of the word – with money, time and friendship. His friends often joked about how many weddings, bar mitzvahs and other celebratory events he went to – but Bob always showed up for his friends, and he always had fun. All who knew Bob considered him to be their best friend. He treasured his countless best friends, and they all adored him. Bob made life better for all who knew him, and he will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be planned for some time after the end of the year. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or a charity of your choice.