Roberto Jose Francisco Restucha

Roberto was born in Gaiman, Argentina to Sisto Restucha and Josefina De Leo. He became a watchmaker’s apprentice at the age of eleven and moved to Buenos Aires at age 15 to live with his beloved aunts and uncles to further his trade.

In Buenos Aires, Roberto worked as a jeweler-watchmaker, owning his own business until he immigrated to Baltimore, MD in 1972, moving shortly thereafter to Newport News, Virginia. In these years he met and made many life-long friends.

Roberto moved to Raleigh in 1976 where he met his wife, Amalia De Angelis, at a Jaycee Park picnic held by one of the first Latin American associations in North Carolina. Together, Roberto and Amalia started to form a true family, used as an example by many of a family with much love, respect, and mutual admiration. Roberto and Amalia owned and operated a local jewelry store, Roberto Jewelers, for 28 years until their retirement in 2010. Over the years many of his customers became dear friends.

Roberto is preceded in death by his parents, Sisto and Josefina, his sister Nelida, his uncles Jose and Anibal De Leo, his aunts Filomena, Danta, Emilce, and Nina De Leo, his father-in-law Julio De Angelis, and his brother-in-law Guillermo De Angelis. Roberto is survived by his wife, Amalia, his children, Tito, Mercedes and Paul Klem, his aunts Florinda and Rosa De Leo, his mother-in-law Tita De Angelis, his sisters-in-law Silvia De Angelis and Graciela De Angelis Lavack, his nieces Anastazia De Angelis, and Juliana and Isabela Cortez, and countless friends throughout the world.

He emanated love for his family and life, taught us all what life can and could be, and will be felt forever in the lives of those he encountered.