John "Bob" Robert Trischitta

A resident of Siesta Key, Fla., he was 89.

“I’ve lost my best friend,” said Roseanne Trischitta, his teenage sweetheart and wife of 68 years.

The couple – parents of three, grandparents of three more – enjoyed their life together on the Jersey Shore and in southwest Florida. During their retirement they traveled in the United States and to Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.

Born in Suffern, N.Y., Bob attended public schools in Mahwah, N.J. and graduated from Ramsey High School in 1954.

Two years later, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army. The military taught him to operate heavy equipment at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before posting him to Pirmasens in what was then West Germany, where he served in the 79th Engineer Battalion.

His bride joined him in Europe. While abroad, he participated with the American Land Forces – Middle East, in what became known as the Lebanon Crisis of 1958.

He was honorably discharged as a Specialist E-5. The Army awarded him a Good Conduct medal and an Expert (Rifle) badge. A Blazing Sun Award was in recognition of his work on an airfield project in Mannheim, West Germany, at a general depot in Nancy, France and as a member of the forces in Lebanon.

After returning home in 1959, he worked in construction and volunteered with the Mahwah Fire Department and Ambulance Corps.

Bob became a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 in Newark, N.J. in 1971 and operated cranes and all other forms of heavy equipment on major transportation and highway projects. He was also active with the union in its support of candidates for public office.

An outdoorsman from childhood, Bob was a hunter and a lifelong fisherman and belonged to the Manasquan Fishing Club. The day after a Nor’easter hit the Jersey Shore in 1982, he caught a 55-inch, 46-pound striped bass in rough ocean surf at Spring Lake.

After retiring to Sarasota in 2000, Bob would steer his boat – the Jersey Girl, named for two of his loves, his wife and home state – alongside dolphin in the Intracoastal Waterway on Florida’s west coast.

Bob volunteered as treasurer of the White Sands Village homeowner’s association on Siesta Key and helped manage many beautification and renovation projects for the community.

As he and his wife were among the few year-round residents of White Sands, Bob was a go-to person there for solving crises that arose. Holiday dinners were often delayed by his penchant for helping others.

Neighbors who lived elsewhere for much of the year knew that they could call Bob for help and that if he was involved, matters would be handled the right way.

A child of divorce, Bob wanted nothing more than to have a family and he was, without question, the patriarch for his children, their children and those who had the good fortune to marry into the family.

They include Linda Trischitta (Timothy Reynolds) of Miami Lakes, Fla.; Susan Trischitta of Point Pleasant, N.J. and James Trischitta (Andrea) of Manasquan, N.J. Grandsons Andrew Trischitta (Monica Mamudo); Jason Trischitta, (who followed his grandfather’s path and is a captain with the U.S. Air Force) and Stephen Trischitta all loved their “Pop.”

A sister, Sandra Robertson (John) also survives him.

Bob was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church on Siesta Key. A Memorial Mass will be held on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. at 5394 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, Fla. 34242. The service will be shown on the church website at StMichaelsSiesta.com/Livestream or on YouTube.com.

Bob will be buried on Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. in the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Fla. 34241.

In lieu of flowers friends are asked to consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.