Robert M. Shirvanian, 90, Monmouth Beach, passed away Sunday, November 19th at home.
Mr. Shirvanian was a graduate of Barringer High School, Newark, NJ, where he was the salutatorian. He graduated Seton Hall University with a BS in Human Resources and Psychology.
He joined the US Navy during WWII and was QM3/c on the USS Mindoro aircraft carrier. He was the National Sales Manager at Parmelee Industries where he managed the US and Canada area before moving to Monmouth Beach. Bob left his legacy in West Long Branch where he and his family lived for almost 40 years. During that time, he served on the Boro Council for 16 years and 7 years as president. He was responsible with Mayor Henry Shaheen for acquiring the majority of open space in the town.
He was founder and coach of the Pop Warner Football team, founder of the West Long Branch Sports Association, the 1st President of the West Long Branch Recreation Commission, President & Toastmaster for the Shore Regional Blue Devils Booster Association and Little League baseball coach.
During his time in WLB, he also coordinated the 1st Senior Citizen Bus Program from Peter Cooper Village, he was the Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee for the WLB Community Center, the chairman of the WLB 60th Anniversary celebration and the chairman with Jim Ronan of the 1st WLB 4th of July parade and fireworks celebration.
Because of his many accomplishments in WLB, Ronan/Shirvanian Park was dedicated in 2006. One of Bob’s greatest joys was being the player/manager of Ronan’s softball team which won 6 championships.
Early on in his life he founded the Jay Vets which was comprised of his brother Vahan and his best friends from Newark, NJ. He was founder/coach/player of the North Newark Bears Essex
County football league. He was the sports editor of the North Newark Sun newspaper. In his later years, he was president of the Glenwood Cemetery, WLB and President of the Board of Trustees of the Admiralty Condo Association.
Bob was predeceased by his mother and father, his beloved wife of 65 years, Mary Lou Rocco; his sister Virginia and brother Vahan.
Surviving are his children, Robert Jr., Richard and Barbara, Mary Lou’s brother Ralph Rocco and sister Agnes Gangemi and grandchildren Lauren, Paige, Alexandra, Erik, Michael and Danny.
Friends and family are invited for visitation Tuesday, November 21st from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch. A funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday, November 22nd at 12:30 pm at St. Michael’s RC Church, 800 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch. Donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Wounded Warrior Foundation, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or Monmouth Beach First Aid, PO Box 237, Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750. To share a favorite memory of Bob or leave a message of condolence, please visit Bob’s Page of Tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com.