Obituary of Robert A. DeRose

DeRose, Robert Anthony Born Robert Anthony DeRose (Bob) on October 3, 1924 on the south side of Chicago, IL. His father Anthony M. DeRose (Tone) was of Italian heritage, while his mother Dorothy Woods was of English heritage. Bob had one sister, Gloria, now deceased. He wrestled in High School and entered Hillsdale College in 1943. There, he joined the Hillsdale college football team. Bob enlisted in the United States Navy March 5, 1943, graduated as an Ensign Naval Aviator A1(L) in Pensacola, Florida on January 20th 1945, and went on to fly the TBF Avenger torpedo bomber from aircraft carriers. He served as a naval aviator in the Philippines Pacific Theater. He received orders to be part of the invasion of Japan, where he was to fly an observer up and down the coastline until it ran out of fuel, then "land" his aircraft on the beach. Japan then surrendered, eliminating the need for the ordered invasion. He received honorable discharge in December of 1945. Following his discharge, he completed college at the University of Michigan in 1948 with a B.S. degree in Engineering. He joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at the University. It was at the University of Michigan where he met his future wife Elizabeth Mary Louise Adams (Libbie), who was also attending the University and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. He married Libbie Adams of Jackson Michigan on August 23, 1949, and honeymooned in Santa Barbara California at the Miramar Hotel. Bob completed his Professional Engineering license in 1950. He joined Paddock Pool Equipment Company in Los Angeles, California in 1950. Paddock designed and manufactured commercial pool equipment. At different times during his tenure at Paddock, they designed and installed Olympic length pools which were the fastest in the world, including the University of Michigan. Swimmers consistently set records in these pools. He worked at Paddock Pools in various locations, including Los Angeles, CA; Birmingham, AL; Syracuse, NY; and Albany, NY. In Albany, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales. He moved the manufacturing plant from Albany, NY to Rock Hill, SC in 1977. While in South Carolina, he was promoted to President of Paddock Pools in 1989, where he worked until his retirement. While at Paddock, he was responsible for the development and release of several new technologies in the pool industry, including some of the first wave pools, gutterless recirculation systems, and innovative systems to monitor chemicals to ensure safe, disinfected pool water. Following his retirement, he continued consulting and training sales personnel at Paddock. For the last year, he lived at the Highlands in Pittsford. He spent the year getting close to his great grandchildren. He remained married to Libbie for almost 60 years, until she passed away on Palm Sunday in March 2008. He was her loving, primary caregiver during the last several years of her life. All throughout his life, Bob was a gifted story teller to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Favorite hobbies: Golf Gourmet Club Reading Crossword Puzzles Gingerbread House Decoration Family Vacations Children: Margaret Braga, Husband Paulo, Standish, Maine; Robert DeRose, Wife Gayle, Victor, NY; Richard DeRose, Wife Lanette, Raleigh, NC. Grandchildren: Christopher DeRose, Wife Angela, Albuquerque, NM; Robert DeRose II, Wife Carmella, Webster NY; Elizabeth DiMarco, Husband Trevor, Andover, MA; Mary Elizabeth DeRose Theiling, Bluffton, SC; Kyle Braga, Portland, ME; Adam DeRose, Raleigh, NC; Benjamin DeRose, Raleigh, NC. Great Grandchildren: Jacob DeRose, Webster, NY; Benjamin DeRose, Webster, NY; Grady Theiling, Bluffton, SC.