Obituary for Robert C Chido
On Friday, May 20, 2022, Robert C. Chido set sail on his final voyage. He will forever have his roots in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he was born on October 21, 1942, although he did not acquire the Brooklyn accent. This is attributed to his mother, Mary. Education was important to her and being well spoken equally important. At the age of 16, Rob graduated from high school and moved to Philly to attend Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (again, no accent acquired). After college, he enrolled in the Air Force, where he became Captain Robert Chido. While stationed in Texas (still no accent acquired), he met the love of his life, Jean. This was a time in his life when he owned a convertible mustang with a keg in the back seat. The story goes that they went out on a blind date and Jean was not interested in him. Then sometime later, at the wedding rehearsal of their best friends, Rob walked into the church in his dress blues. Jean leaned over to her friend and said, “I am going to marry him.” Married in 1969, Brooklyn called him back to run a textile business with his dad, Otto. Rob always wanted five kids and to live in the country. His sister Margaret wanted two kids and to live near NYC. New Jersey called to Rob and Jean. They settled in Cranbury, NJ and had two daughters (Jennifer and Melissa). Margaret and her husband Joe had the five kids (Bobby, Danny, Deidre, Marielle and Laura) and they live in the country far away from NYC.
No matter what you called Rob, be it Rob, Bob, Poppop, Dad, Uncle Bob, father-in-law, brother-in-law, friend, boss, or Captain, you could always call on him. He wore many hats in his life: owner of Dato Company with his dad; owner of Sir Speedy Printing with Jean and her dad; Board of Education member, softball coach, golfer, Republican, Democrat, Independent, oenophile, sailor, car enthusiast, foodie, pipe smoker, fisherman and talker. Whatever hat he had on, he wore that hat with honor and respect for himself and others. More recently, the hat he strove to wear was being a good human above anything else. He felt the world needed more honesty, empathy and integrity.
“If you are going to tell them everything, don’t leave out the good parts…tell them I am a good kisser.” Rob's favorite line from his favorite song, from his favorite band, Lake Street Dive.
Life for Rob was always about learning, and then learning more. As the French say, he was an ink drinker. He read all the classics, books about everything and anything. Did you ever hear him talk about the Irish detective novels he read? Later in life, he discovered his passion for music. He saw his favorite band in concert multiple times and even got to meet them in a private shopping session at a record store. He was a groupie. But really anytime Rob was passionate about someone, he became your “groupie”. It was the way he showed you he loved you. He would learn more about something you loved so he could talk to you about it.
We, Jean Chido (lovingly referred to by Rob as Hon); Jen (daughter), Jim, Kira, and Jimmy Mullins; and Melissa (daughter), Patrick and Katie Callen, will celebrate his life and continue to carry him in our hearts through momentous occasions and adventures, and as we captain our own ships.
We invite you to celebrate with us. Please join us on June 8, 2022 for Mass Service at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (251 Franklin Street, Hightstown, New Jersey) with a luncheon following at Forsgate County Club. Rob always wanted his funeral services to include a party with good friends, food and drink. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rob loved flowers. In striving to be a good human, he always requested donations to others in need rather than presents for himself. To honor Rob, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rise at www.njrise.org. Their motto is when our community is challenged we rise.
No matter what you called Rob, be it Rob, Bob, Poppop, Dad, Uncle Bob, father-in-law, brother-in-law, friend, boss, or Captain, you could always call on him. He wore many hats in his life: owner of Dato Company with his dad; owner of Sir Speedy Printing with Jean and her dad; Board of Education member, softball coach, golfer, Republican, Democrat, Independent, oenophile, sailor, car enthusiast, foodie, pipe smoker, fisherman and talker. Whatever hat he had on, he wore that hat with honor and respect for himself and others. More recently, the hat he strove to wear was being a good human above anything else. He felt the world needed more honesty, empathy and integrity.
“If you are going to tell them everything, don’t leave out the good parts…tell them I am a good kisser.” Rob's favorite line from his favorite song, from his favorite band, Lake Street Dive.
Life for Rob was always about learning, and then learning more. As the French say, he was an ink drinker. He read all the classics, books about everything and anything. Did you ever hear him talk about the Irish detective novels he read? Later in life, he discovered his passion for music. He saw his favorite band in concert multiple times and even got to meet them in a private shopping session at a record store. He was a groupie. But really anytime Rob was passionate about someone, he became your “groupie”. It was the way he showed you he loved you. He would learn more about something you loved so he could talk to you about it.
We, Jean Chido (lovingly referred to by Rob as Hon); Jen (daughter), Jim, Kira, and Jimmy Mullins; and Melissa (daughter), Patrick and Katie Callen, will celebrate his life and continue to carry him in our hearts through momentous occasions and adventures, and as we captain our own ships.
We invite you to celebrate with us. Please join us on June 8, 2022 for Mass Service at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (251 Franklin Street, Hightstown, New Jersey) with a luncheon following at Forsgate County Club. Rob always wanted his funeral services to include a party with good friends, food and drink. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rob loved flowers. In striving to be a good human, he always requested donations to others in need rather than presents for himself. To honor Rob, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rise at www.njrise.org. Their motto is when our community is challenged we rise.