Robert R. Zeida

Robert R. "Bob" Zeida, 91, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, passed away at home on August 12, 2023, after a brief period of hospice care. He was the son of the late August and Bessie (Malach) Zeida of Bethesda, Maryland. He is survived by his daughters Lori M. Queto of Dartmouth and Dolly E. Shepardson of Fairhaven and by his son Kerry G. Zeida of Dartmouth. His first-born son Robert W. died in 2012. He was married for 68 years to Carole L. (Winchenbach) Zeida, who passed away in 2021. With a degree in radio and television broadcasting from American University in Washington, D.C., Bob imagined a career as an on-air meteorologist but, after serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, he eventually found his niche as a sales and purchasing professional in the wine and spirits industry. Bob later became "N1BLF," a licensed amateur radio operator, and built a ham radio station and recording studio in his home. Upon retirement, Bob volunteered his time and talents to broadcast for the Talking Information Center, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that provides the reading of print information to visually impaired individuals. Bob would eventually make hundreds of voice recordings for the visually impaired and learning-disabled, with more than 600 books, articles, magazines, and manuals available for people to listen to at no cost. Bob's desire to help others was always inextricably linked to his Catholic faith. He was a daily parishioner and lector at St. Julie Billiart in Dartmouth for more than 50 years and served through the church as a Eucharistic and pastoral minister at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford for more than 23 years. For his contributions to the South Coast Catholic community, Bob received the distinguished Marian Medal from the Fall River Diocese in 2014, among many other accolades. It gives his family great comfort to know he is in Heaven, surrounded by the people he cared about and who cared about him. We are grateful for the love he gave us and forever proud of the legacy he left behind.

Bob Zeida’s Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth, followed by burial in St. John’s Cemetery. Visiting hours are Sunday, August 27, 2023, from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth. For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com.