Robert A. Giallombardo

ROBERT A. GIALLOMBARDO age 59, beloved husband for 35 years of Cindy (nee Iorillo); cherished son of Angelo (Yvonne) & the late Mary (nee Toth); loving brother of Gary (Renee), James (Marilyn) and Margaret Valletta (Nicola); son in law of Fiore and Linda Iorillo; brother in law to Diana (Jay) & Gina (Shaun) Corrales; cherished uncle of Angelo, Gary Jr. (Kim), Stephanie Bakula (John), James Jr., Michael (Jacqui), Vittorio, Roberto, Mario & Adriana Valletta, Dakota, Brooke & MacKenzie Corrales and great-uncle of 7. Dear nephew, cousin and friend of many.

Robert was born on August 12, 1958 in Cleveland and passed away February 4, 2018.  He was a resident of Mayfield Heights for 35 years, formerly of Highland Heights.  Robert attended Warrensville High School and then graduated from Chanel High School in 1976.   Bob attended Julie Billiart School where his parents became highly involved in Bob’s success as well as the success of other teens.  Bob made lifelong friends from his days at Julie Billiart.

Bob was a hard worker.  He was an integral part of the Maintenance Team at Northfield Park where he was a friend to all.   He previously worked at the Randall Park Mall for 18 years and 10 years at the Akron Agora.   Bob enjoyed going to car shows at Annabelle’s and Solon Cruise Night.  He proudly brought his family’s 1966 Cadillac Convertible to those shows where he made many friends.  Bob was gifted.  He was one of the brightest men and his knowledge of cars and music was amazing!  Bob’s incredible gift of music inspired many and his love for the Beatles and the Beach Boys was unrivaled.   Bob enjoyed concerts and went to see the Beach Boys 26 times!  He only listened to his music on vinyl records and refused to do CDs as he insisted vinyl was the best sound ever.  Bob loved Cleveland sports, especially the Indians!

To know Bob was to love him.  He was everyone’s friend.   And to be his friend, you were the lucky one.  Bob was quiet about helping others, but he did it often and expected nothing in return.  He had a heart of gold.  And even when he had little, he gave all.    Bob will be remembered most as a quiet, loyal, and easy-going man with a good and quirky sense of humor.  He saw things differently than most of us which was always entertaining and sure to bring a smile to your face.

Bob loved his family above all, especially his wife Cindy.  Their love for one another was extra special.  They were happily married 34.5 years and completed each other lives.  Bob would do anything for her and they were happiest when surrounded by family and friends.   Family was the most important thing in Bob’s life, along with God and his “cat babies”.    Bob is survived by his loving father Angelo, who he loved and cherished and was forever grateful for all that he did for him.  He also loved & looked up to his stepmom Yvonne (aka his personal nurse/doctor) and was so thankful for her help and for always taking care of his precious cat Benny .  Bob thought the world of his big brother Gary and looked up to him with such pride and joy.   He was always so thankful for the extra attention he gave to him, his guidance throughout life and the special bond they had since childhood.  He also loved Renee very much, loved their teasing fun and her thoughtfulness.  He adored his little brother Jim and was always fascinated with his mechanical abilities, his quiet demeanor and his never ending selfless offers of help.  And lastly, Bob adored his little sister Margaret for her love and devotion to the family.  He loved her dearly and was thankful to her for always being there for him, he knew is wasn’t possible without Nick and he appreciated every minute Nick gave her to be with him.   He loved his sister in laws and brother in laws in California and was always ‘California Dreamin’ about visiting them again.  Bob also loved his step family unselfishly.  He missed out on their family wedding as he was in the hospital and postponed his surgery so that it would not affect their wedding day.  He leaves behind his loving step brothers and sister: Jeff (Kat), Michele, Michael (Susan) and Christopher (Leslie) Anderson and their beautiful children. Bob especially truly adored all of his nephews and nieces.  They were always his highlight at family gatherings and he was the proudest uncle.  He loved them as if they were his ‘kids’.

Bob came from a small Hungarian family and a large Italian Family.   He is survived by his loving Aunts and uncles: Betty Klinc, Theresa Giallombardo, Benjamin and Lucille Toth, Gary LoConti and Dennis N. and Deborah LoConti.    He was welcomed to heaven by his aunts and uncles:  Joseph & Josephine, Anthony, Rose, and Sam & Mamie Giallombardo, Raymond Klinc, Joseph & Josephine Marucci, and Anthony & Carol Adornetto.  Bob has a large extended family of cousins who were essentially like brothers and sisters to him.  Some were known to be a little  ‘Kooky’.   He is preceded in death by his mother Mary, whom he had missed so very deeply these past 17 years.  Their reunion brings us comfort knowing that they are together again.   Bob will be dearly missed by so many.   May he rest in peace and may our tears be dried as we reminisce of the laughter we shared together and the love we had for one another.  He may be gone from the earth as we know it but he will never be forgotten and will always be held closely in our hearts.   Keep sending us ‘Good Vibrations’ Bob and ‘Let it Be’

Mass of Christian Burial, Thursday, February 8, 2018 at St. Paschal Baylon Church at 10 AM. Burial following at Knollwood Cemetery. Family will pay tribute to Bob at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) WEDNESDAY 2-4 & 5-8 PM.