CHICOPEE ~ Robert Edward “Bob” Santoni, 71, of the Chicopee Falls section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, August 26, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. Bob was born in Northampton on December 25, 1946, a beloved son of the late Chester J. and Rose M. (Penkowski) Santoni. He was raised in Hatfield, graduated from Smith Academy in Hatfield and furthered his education at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield where he received an Associate’s Degree of Arts. Bob served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and attained the rank of Airman Basic. Following his marriage to his beloved wife, Linda, Bob moved to Northampton in 1969. He later lived in Florence before moving to Chicopee in 2001 where he lived the remainder of his life. Bob’s work career began as a Bonus Clerk and Estimator at the Packaging Corporation of America in Northampton. He later worked as a Machinist at the Florence Casket Company in Florence and worked briefly at Amherst College in Amherst as a Dining Hall Assistant. He went on to work as a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant at the former Northampton Veterans Administration Hospital, now the Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Leeds and retired in 1998. Following his retirement, he was employed as a courtesy shuttle driver for Northampton Honda, which later became Lia Honda, in Northampton and later worked at Hulmes Transportation in Belchertown. Bob was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple things in life. He could often be found scratching a lottery scratch ticket or visiting the former Hinsdale Greyhound Track or Seabrook Greyhound Track. He also enjoyed vacationing to Hampton Beach for over 48 years. He had a passion for Ford Thunderbirds and was proud to have owned five Thunderbirds in his lifetime. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Linda M. (Omasta) Santoni; his son and daughter-in-law, Matthew R. Santoni and his wife, Jennifer, of Westfield; his three granddaughters, Olivia, Liliana and Ava Santoni; his brother, Richard Santoni and his wife, Suzanne, of West Springfield; his brother-in-law, Roy Omasta and his wife, Michelle, of Hatfield; his two sisters-in-law, Pamela Miller and her husband, Ray, of South Deerfield and Karen Fitzgerald and her husband, Steven, of Albany, OR; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Santoni and Omasta families. His family will host a Celebration of Life Service for Bob on Saturday, September 29, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the American Legion Post 344, 1 Prospect Street, Hatfield, MA 01038. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will take place privately at the convenience of his family at Calvary Cemetery in Hatfield. There are no visiting hours. His Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in Bob’s memory to the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield, MA 01085 or a charity of the donor’s choice. For more details, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com
