Edward B. Robotti

On September 28, 1921 Ed was born at home on Vernon Boulevard in Ravenswood Queens to Aurora Robotti, wife of Baptist Robotti, both immigrants from Fubine, Italy. The family moved when Ed was two one block where the family lived above “Robotti’s Department Store”. He would live there for most of the rest of his life.

Ed attended PS 83 and then graduated Newtown High in 1939. As a youth/teen Ed loved basketball, he couldn’t get enough – frequently playing 5 games back-to-back-to-back etc. you get the idea. He was a member of the Ravenswood Cobras. Ed started St. John’s University and played basketball on the team, but then in 1940 contracted an infectious disease that debilitated Ed through a loss of his sight. Doctors did not know what to do and eventually as a treatment infected Ed intentionally with malaria. The apparent success of this treatment allowed Ed to regain some of his sight but from then on his vision was substantially impaired. Ed attended classes at NYU as well as St. John’s.

During the war, Ed impaired vision prevented him from active military service. Instead Ed was a warrant officer in the army initially stationed in Goldsboro, North Carolina. As part of his responsibilities he inspected various factories in the Northeast that made parts for US Army aircraft. When he inspected one such manufacturing facility in Upstate NY he meet a spunky “Rosie the riveter” Mary (Meek – talk about a misnomers) Ammann. Self-introduced via a snowball in the back of his head, Ed & Meek fell madly in love. On June 9, 1945 they were married at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Cazenovia, New York.

Ed and Mary gave birth to Barbara in 1946, Jacqueline in 1951, Robert in 1953 and Lawrence in 1958. The children in turn gave birth to 7 grandchildren; Pam Bilfield, Stephanie Tefel, Jocelyn Romeo, Jessica Romeo, Danielle Robotti, Amanda Robotti and Brittany Robotti. To date, Ed’s granddaughters have given birth to 4 great grandchildren.

In 1954 Ed started Edward B. Robotti Insurance, a property/casualty insurance brokerage firm today run by his son Lawrence. Ed and Mary were active in the business well into their 80’s. Ed was always active and involved in the insurance brokerage industry including the IIAA/Queens County Brokerage Association, PIA, and CIB.

Ed was also active in community groups. Most important to Ed was the Ravenswood Lions Club. Ed was a founding and life-long member of the Ravenswood Lions Club. Ed stayed close with many of his childhood friends over the decades through his involvement with the Lions Club. Ed and Mary and their friends actively traveled the world, initially spanning the globe to attend Lions International meetings.

World travel became one of Ed’s favorite passions. It was consistent with his wide range of interest in people. Ed was always interested in world history/geography as a clue to understanding current events. He was interested in different cultures and different religions. Ed also had a strong streak of independent thought. Even though an active Roman Catholic he attended a lecture by Billy Graham officially banded by the Church, curious and unafraid to hear a different a view from a thoughtful, intelligent person.

As part of his world travels with Mary they rode elephants in Chang Mai, Thailand and camels off the coast of Africa, they traveled through jungles in Costa Rica and went parasailing in Acapulco – all of after he had turned 70!

After 85 years in Ravenswood, Ed retired south (one and one-half miles south) to doorman luxury with a view of midtown Manhattan unparalleled anywhere. Ed loved his new home and his bird’s eye view of the river and the Empire State Building – which his Father had helped to build.

No story of Ed’s live would be complete without returning to his family. His love of family has always been clear and demonstrative. One manifestation of this has been the Robotti family’s Thanksgiving Weekends. For decade upon decade this is one time of the year that Ed would always look forward to – a time when his family surrounded themselves in themselves!

In his later years Ed fought the effects of pulmonary hypertension. As part of that fight he was required to have oxygen 24/7. Although it slowed him down he did not stop. In attending a support group for those with pulmonary hypertension Ed and Mary listened to information and ideas on how to deal with adversity. Mary tells us that it was a swell event and a great luncheon with shrimp, salmon and chocolate pudding. (We have not disclosed Ed weakness – chocolate desserts were a consistent and persistent weakness of Ed’s). In walking to the car Ed lost consciousness – as Mary describes it, he slumped gently to the ground. Mary, as she had done in previous successful interventions jumped to action. She was almost instantly helped by many others. EMS was there almost immediately. Mary expressed her appreciate to all. They did all that was humanly possible.

Ed story is truly one of great love, great joys, great accomplishments – it is a celebration of human life. All of us who have had the pleasure of his friendship and love are the better for it. We who know him best know that our lives are blessed and we take up his mantle to continue to pass on our help and love to those in our lives as Ed did for us.