Robert Peter Curran, Sr., known to friends as Bob, age 89, of West Windsor, NJ, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 16th, surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Bob was born on May 6, 1936, in the Bronx, New York, to Robert and Catherine Curran, who had previously immigrated to the United States from Ireland. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School, graduating in 1954, and went on to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Production Management from the City University of New York.
On April 19th, 1958, Bob married the love of his life, Maria Krsteva. He proposed on their second date-an offer Maria initially met with, “You’re crazy”-but a few dates later, she joyfully said yes. After their wedding, they lived with Maria’s parents, Lambo and Vesa, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where they welcomed their first two children, Robert (Bobby) Jr. and Michael. In 1964, the family moved to their dream home in East Brunswick, NJ, and in 1965 welcomed their daughter, Donna.
Also in 1965, Bob began his 30+ year career with the Ford Motor Company in Edison, NJ, where he joined as an Industrial Engineer. He rose through the ranks and ultimately retired in 1996 as the plant’s Chief Environmentalist.
In 2000, Bob and Maria moved to Village Grande, where Bob fully enjoyed community life-bocce, poker nights, bus trips, gardening, and reading. Together, Bob and Maria loved to travel throughout the United States and abroad, visiting Italy, France, Sweden, Denmark, and enjoying multiple island cruises.
Bob will be remembered for his deep love of family, his strong work ethic, and his lifelong devotion to the New York Yankees and New York Giants. As the first in his family to earn a college degree, he established a legacy of education, perseverance, and aspiration for future generations.
Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Maria; his children, Robert Curran Jr., Michael L. Curran and his wife, Julia, and Donna Ilg (Curran) and her husband, Steven. He was a proud grandfather to five grandchildren, Kelsey (Curran) DeLuca and her husband, Albert Mitch DeLuca, Daniel Ilg and his husband, Jared Oliveira, Colin Curran, Sean Ilg, and Brenna Ilg. He was also blessed with two great grandchildren, Hailey and AJ DeLuca.
Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Curran, and his daughter in law, Mary Ann Curran.