On Thursday, December 4th, Bobby Caggiano died of a heart attack at home in Congers, NY. At age 62, he was looking toward retirement from the Clarkstown Highway Department, performing regularly with his oldies band “Special Blend,” DJ-ing parties, and spending time with his fiancee Robin, family and friends.
Bobby C.
Not a week before his death, in the height of busy “leaf season,” Bobby came bounding down the hall to KRB to say “hello,” bolster our spirits and pass on some pressing news about his litter prevention and beautification efforts. Bobby and I regularly coordinated our efforts in Clarkstown, whether it was tackling an illegal dumpsite at the end of Albacon Drive in Nanuet, supervising kids from Blue Rock School doing a cleanup in West Nyack, reporting “litterbug” license plates for KRB to send warning letters or helping us find, or helping to clean and deliver blank steel drums to artists participating in the trash can painting project. “Bobby C” was a tireless advocate for cleaning up and supporting volunteer efforts, a great friend of Keep Rockland Beautiful, and a personal friend to me who I miss very much.
L to R: Andy Stewart, Bobby C., ??, Wayne Ballard, ??
There are many who knew Bobby C . much better than I, folks like Clarkstown Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard and his assistant Nancy Willen, and many other longtime Clarkstown employees and residents. Two of Bobby’s admirers have made small contributions to KRB in Bobby’s memory, in recognition of his efforts on behalf of both the organization and, more importantly, the mission, and I feel we should create a fitting memorial of some sort, starting with this “blog” entry and any comments, pictures or other memories others would like to leave here.
Bobby C. sings in W. Nyack
Bobby believed everybody has a role to play in making Clarkstown a great place to live, work and play. Please register to receive updates from this blog and send in your memories as a way of honoring Bobby, and together we will preserve his important work.
Shortly, I will post a photo of Bobby singing with his band at an outdoor performance at West Nyack Hamlet Green, and it would be great if somebody could post, or bring to me, a sample of Bobby’s music, or a video clip of his band. In the meantime, I invite others with fond memories of Bobby C. to tell us about them here.
Thanks, Andy Stewart, Keep Rockland Beautiful
Tags: caggiano, keep rockland beautiful
December 31, 2008 at 3:12 am |
Homily for Bobby C by Deacon John Maloney at St. Paul’s Church in Congers, NY, at Bobby’s funeral.
December 9, 2008
“I am the resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me, shall never die.”
Unexpected death hits all of us with appalling suddenness. We still cannot grasp the reality of Bobby’s death, even as we carry out these funeral rites. Death seems to be both blind and deaf; blind in not looking to see if its victim is young or old, productive or not, talented or not, loved or not and deaf in that, it doesn’t hear our cries for just a little more time to live, to straighten out our affairs, to do all the tomorrow things our todays left undone.
We find it hard to believe that someone so active like Bobby C, so full of life, someone who touched our lives in so many ways is no longer with us. We gather here today to share the sorrow of the Caggiano family. He was a devoted father to his daughters Tracy and Dawn, a loving brother to John and his sister Elaine and a caring grandfather to Brandi and Robert Nash and someone special to his finance Robin.
For those who knew Bobby C, and his zest for life, this Mass in this Church has an air of unreality about it. It’s like a Salvador Dali painting, not making much sense.
There has been weeping these past few days. If we want to cry, let us cry. Remember, Christ wept at the tomb of his friend, Lazarus.
When Bobby passed away a few days ago, there were no headlines in the Journal News, or the Daily News or New York Times. There was no mention of his passing on Channel 7 Eyewitness news or on our local Channel 12.
To the world and to the media, Bobby C was no V.I.P. He was not a famous movie star, a TV personality, sports figure or Hip Hop artist. He didn’t rate a headline. He was no V.I.P.!
But, oh how wrong the media was. Bobby was a V.I.P. – a very important person to that one person who matters and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
While he was on this earth, Bobby tried, to the best of his ability, to do Christ’s work on the earth as father, grandfather, brother, friend, worker and entertainer.
As a faithful Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, Bobby accepted the good days with the bad and all the trials and tribulations of this life.
Bobby might be the first one to admit his faults and failings. But can’t we all say that about ourselves? Remember St. Augustine wasn’t always a saint and Peter denied that he even knew Christ three times!
For Bobby, Christianity wasn’t just going to church on Sunday. It was everything that took place during the week. Bobby had an impact on every group he was part of. He loved life, he loved his family, he loved his friends, his music, his band, he loved his job and in his own way he loved his God!
Bobby’s band was called Special Blend. But the truth is that Bobby C, himself was a Special Blend – a mixture of so many good things that had an impact on everyone he met. He was a Special Blend of everything that makes a person a true Christian and follower of Christ! Bobby wasn’t the kind of guy to wear his Christianity like a shield carried by the Crusader. But if to be a Christian is to love your family and friends and share in their joys and sorrows; if to be a Christian is to work with pride and dignity on your job for over 20 years; if to be a Christian is to use your God-given talents for music to make people feel good about themselves and to enjoy life; if to be a Christian is to share your joy and love with your fellow man, then Bobby C was a Christian in the true sense of the word and a loyal follower of Jesus Christ. No matter what he did, Bobby gave 100% – no halfway measures.
I was privileged to see what was to be his last performance at The View last Thursday. He was never better as he sang song after song, with some graceful soft shoe routines. He ended doffing a Santa Claus hat, singing a medley of Christmas songs and wishing the audience a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It was Bobby at this best!
Being resurrection people, we know that this is a day for joy and alleluia because Bobby has gone home! He is with Christ. He is more alive now than he ever was on earth. I am the Resurrection and the life, he who believes in me shall never die! Bobby C was a believer.
We all have memories of Bobby. Hold on to them; enjoy them as you reflect on the love you had for him and the love he had for you! Death may take Bobby from our sight but it can never take away our memories!
Whenever someone we love dies, we too die a little. We know that we can never be exactly the same again!
A part of our life – a familiar voice, a footstep, a laugh, a song, or shared memory has suddenly disappeared and cannot be recreated. Hold on to those memories!
Yes, we grieve today but St. Paul tells us that we should not grieve as others who have no hope. We feel that behind the sorrow and pain we experience lies the reality that Bobby C is in the hands of God who is infinite mercy and love.
Yes, Bobby is God’s V.I.P. because he carried out to the best of his abilities the various tasks that Christ asked of him when he put him on this earth. He used his talent for singing and entertaining to fill the lives of so many people with happiness and joy. “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do it for me,” said Christ.
The love that Bobby had for his family and friends still continues! Love doesn’t end with death! His love continues stronger than ever before. Bobby is truly happy in another existence which you and I can only imagine. “The sadness of death gives way to the bright promise of immortality!” For all Christians the central truth of our religion is that Christ rose from the dead; and in this dark hour of grief – it is our biggest consolation!
Let the movie star, and the T.V. personalities have their headlines. Let them get all the media coverage when they die.
Bobby C is now listed in God’s book of V.I.P.’s as a real hero. He is truly God’s V.I.P. because he did so well everything that God asked of him.
Bobby’s band was Special Blend. Christ has a band in heaven called not Special Blend but Special Friend and Bobby C became a member of that band when he passed from this earth. Part of Bobby’s routine was paying tribute to the great Louie “Satchmo” Armstrong. He would sing “What a Wonderful World” as a duet with Louie on the tape. Bobby is now singing with the real Louie Armstrong – not on tape. For Bobby, this was a “Wonderful World” and it became more “wonderful for all of us because of Bobby C and his music was part of it! Bobby we miss you – we love you – we’ll never forget you!
Deacon John Maloney
12/9/08
September 29, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
i cannot tell you how my family feels to see how my brother bobby is missed to this day. it makes me feel so good to know he was loved so much by others who were not his family but friends who knew him. we all miss him very much to this day! there is not a day that goes by that i do not think of him & his smileing face. bobby would be so happy to know how his work touched everyone. thank you again, bobby’s sisiter, elaine