Robert Francis Dowd

Long time Iselin resident Robert Dowd passed away quietly on August 22, 2021.  Bob was living at the Chelsea assisted living facility in Warren for the last three years.  Bob was married to Rosemary Dowd who predeceased him in 1982.

Bob was born May 17, 1931 in Jersey City, N J.  Son of Martin and Marie Dowd and predeceased by his brothers Martin and James Dowd.   

Bob attended Dickenson High school in Jersey City where he was a standout shortstop on the baseball team.  Bob was known for his mastery on the base paths and even made the front page of the sports section in the Jersey Journal with a picture of him stealing home during his senior year.   After high school Bob was offered a contract by the minor league team of the NY Giants but instead joined the United States Navy to serve his country during the Korean War.

Bob learned his lifetime trade as an electrician while in the Navy and after the Navy went to work for PSE&G.   He worked on the underground electrical systems primarily in Hudson County until he retired in 1993.

While his ship, the USS Cascade, was docked in Newport Rhode Island in 1952, Bob took a short leave to marry Rosemary Dixon his high school sweetheart from Jersey City.  In 1958 they gave birth to their daughter Mary Jane and in 1965 moved from Jersey City to Iselin NJ.  

Bob made some lifelong friends in the Navy and attended many reunions with his shipmates from the USS Cascade.

Bob was an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Iselin and loved coaching youth baseball.  He was an avid Met Fan and was famous for needling Yankee fans many Friday nights at the Knights of Columbus.

Bob loved his family, his one daughter Mary Jane D’Arcangelo and son in law Dave D’Arcangelo.  He has three grandchildren Lauren Delzotti and her husband Chris, Meghan McDonough and her husband Ray and Michael D’Arcangelo and his fiancée Brianna Donnelly and two great grandchildren Matthew and Ryan Delzotti.  Bob enjoyed spending time with his family especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family request making a donation in Bob’s name to the American Heart Association

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