ROBERT MARTIN SEARS

A funeral mass was offered Jan. 26 at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Jersey City, for Robert Martin (“Bobby”) Sears, 75. He was born in the Margaret Hague Hospital and was the oldest of 11 brothers and sisters and he loved each one dearly. He was very proud to have spent his entire life as a resident of Jersey City. Bobby always had a story about the milk route he worked on as a kid with his Uncle Frank. Never afraid of hard work or the hustle it required, the work ethic he learned on that milk route followed him throughout his life, and anyone who was lucky enough to know Bobby would tell you that. He met his high school sweetheart, Diane Mazzarese, while she was working at the dry-cleaning shop owned by her father, Pete, and they have been together ever since. Diane waited for Bobby when he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was sent to Vietnam to serve his country. Bobby was proud of his service and remained involved in various veterans’ rights causes throughout his life. It was during his service that he learned the trade he was known for, electrician extraordinaire. He was never short on knowledge or opinions (whether you wanted them or not) and could often be found wandering through the homes of friends and family looking for the fuse box. Upon his return from Vietnam, Bobby joined Local 164 of the IBEW and spent over 40 years as a union member, where he was loved and revered greatly. A humble and generous man, Bobby was always willing to help those who needed and served as a mentor to many. He spent almost four decades and countless hours volunteering in various capacities for St. Anthony High School in Jersey City often alongside his two best friends, John Cicchetti and the late Harry Trainor. He cherished the time he spent watching and guiding the basketball players of one of the finest basket programs in the country, coached by his dear friend Bob Hurley. He also took on various positions at the Moose Lodge of Jersey City. He and John Cicchetti also started and ran the OLM flag football league for years and Bobby was always willing to take time to help one of the many kids he met along the way. He shouldered the burden of how many people counted on him with ease and humility. Always on an adventure, Bobby and Diane shared a lot of love and had a lot of fun. They made time for their family and countless friends, but their greatest joy was when they were with their sons, Michael and Todd and the families they gave them. Bobby loved nothing more than hanging out with his first-born grandson, Mikey or spoiling his only granddaughter, Rebecca, or watching his hockey playing little guy, Giancarlo, or laughing about the playful antics of his youngest grandson Antonio. Being their “Grumpy Pa” was his greatest joy. Bobby was a history buff, always a sports fan, always rooted for the Yankees and even admitted to being a Jets fan. He could talk about any subject and always listened to the opinions of others, even those he disagreed with, with respect and interest, a trait we could all use more of in these times. No one will be missed more. Bobby is predeceased by his loving mother, Theresa Cavanagh (Davis), his dear father John Cavanagh, Sr., his cherished sister, Terri and his baby brother Tommy. We knew he is happy to be with them again and find comfort in knowing they welcomed him with open arms. He is survived by his adoring wife of 54 years, Diane, his sons Michael (Marcy) and Todd (Christina) and his four grandchildren, Michael, Rebecca, Giancarlo and Antonio. Also surviving are his siblings, Patricia (Bart), Judy, Cathie (Bob), John (Lori), Mark (Beverly), Jamie, Danny, Laurie (James), as well as his siblings through marriage, Theresa (Carl), Patricia (Rod), Christine (Al) and Barbara (Frank). He will be missed greatly by his many nieces and nephews and too many friends to count. Services arranged by the Greenville Memorial Home, Jersey City.