At a crowded family dinner many years ago, his smallest child looked across the table and said, without hesitation, “Bob, pass the cheese.” When the room fell silent and someone asked why she had called her father by his first name, she shrugged and replied, “We call him Bob, because he’s our friend.”

That was Bob Santo.

Robert “Bob” Santo, a resident of Montgomery, New York, passed away peacefully at his home of 49 years, surrounded by the life and community he helped build. He was 84 years old.

Born on October 18, 1941, at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, Bob was raised in Washington Heights, New York, and later moved to New Jersey for high school, where his sharp sense of humor earned him the title of “Wittiest” in his class - a distinction he lived up to for the rest of his life. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Bob lived a life defined by service, leadership, humor, and an unwavering commitment to the people around him. He served his country with pride in the United States Army Counterintelligence Division and was stationed in Germany, where he became fluent in German - an accomplishment that reflected both his discipline and curiosity, and one that sparked a lasting love of languages he passed down to his children and grandchildren.

Upon honorable discharge from the Army, Bob built a distinguished professional career in the sciences, working with organizations including Environmental Science Associates and Johnson & Johnson. He was respected not only for his expertise, but for his integrity and steady leadership.

But it was in Montgomery, and especially in the Valley Central School District, that Bob left an indelible mark. He served on the Valley Central Board of Education for fifteen years, twelve of those as President, guiding the district through years of growth and change with a steady hand and a deep belief in the importance of education. His leadership helped shape opportunities for generations of students and families; one of his proudest initiatives was the establishment of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) at Valley Central High School.

Bob’s commitment to service extended far beyond the school board. He was an active and devoted member of the Montgomery community for decades - serving on the Town Ethics Board, volunteering with the Montgomery Little League, supporting local Boy Scouts, and serving on St. Mary’s Church Council. As a proud Rotarian, Bob extended his service globally, traveling to the Philippines with Rotoplast to help provide life-changing care for children in need.

Bob was also a proud member of the American Legion; one of the traditions he cherished most was rising before dawn each Memorial Day to prepare and serve breakfast to fellow veterans, and leading ceremonies and 21-gun salutes.

Together with his close friend Walter Lindner, Bob helped start a small Oktoberfest tradition that, over time, grew into what is now known as Montgomery Day - a lasting celebration of the community he loved so deeply. He also served on the Town of Montgomery Industrial Development Agency, where his insight and thoughtful leadership contributed to responsible economic growth and community development.

For all of his accomplishments, Bob was never defined by titles. He was, at heart, a storyteller - one who could hold a room with a well-timed pause, a mischievous grin, and a punchline you never quite saw coming. His humor was sharp, memorable, and thoughtful, and his stories have become part of the fabric of his family.

He was a man who loved the outdoors - the quiet patience of fishing, the crackle of a campfire, the sounds and signs of the flora and fauna. He was a loyal Yankee fan, an undefeated player of Trivial Pursuit, and a nightly watcher of Jeopardy!, always ready with an answer (and often a commentary). He was known for cooking elaborate meals that sometimes took all day, always stopping along the way to teach his children how it was done.

He leaves his beloved wife, Rita, and their children: Philip Santo (Laura) and their son William; Giannina Santo Cappello (Mike) and their children Liliana, Philip, and Rosa Cappello; Michael Santo (Sarah) and their children Olivia, Peyton, and Caroline Santo; and Eleanor Johnson (Ted) and their children Nicodemous and Henrick Johnson.

He also leaves his sister, Kay Bambach (Tom), and their children Greg and Ellen; and a brother, Stephen Santo; and many loving brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Philip and Eleanor Santo.

His legacy lives on not only in the institutions and traditions he helped shape, but in the stories that will continue to be told - around dinner tables, by campfires, and in the laughter of the people who knew and loved him.

And to those who knew him best, he will always be remembered simply as Bob—because he wasn’t just a father, a leader, or a neighbor.

He was their friend.

Visitation will be held at Overhiser Funeral Home, 78 Union St, Montgomery NY 12549, on Friday, May 15 from 4-7 p.m.  A funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 16 at 12pm at Holy Name of Mary - Assumption Catholic Church at 89 Union St, Montgomery, NY 12549.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Bob Santo JROTC Scholarship Fund at Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert W "Bob" Santo, please visit our floral store.