Robert Anthony “Bob” Trodella  Jr. was born July 23, 1935 at home in a tenement apartment on Prince Street in Boston’s North End to Gaspare and Fiorenza Trodella, who, together with Bob’s siblings, Vito, Clara and Nina, had immigrated through Ellis Island several years earlier. The North End was and remains the “Little Italy” of Boston, and Bob did not speak English until first grade at age 6.

As a janitor at the still-standing Schrafft’s candy factory, Gaspare managed to save enough money to book passage from southern Italy for Fiorenza and Bob’s siblings and, much later, to buy a two-family home in Medford, a Boston suburb where Bob spent his teen years. Bob was profoundly influenced by his father’s work ethic and the sacrifices he made for his family, and also those his much older brother and sisters made for Bob. Knowing he had opportunities his family did not, Bob worked hard not to disappoint them. He played piano and high school football. He worked after school at his uncle’s Italian food store. And he studied.

After graduating from Medford High School, he applied and was accepted to West Point, graduating in 1960. A child of immigrants was on his way.

West Point was the crucible that shaped Bob’s life forever after. Discipline and grit were the code, and Bob had them in spades. Not dissuaded by his failure to make West Point’s Football Team, Bob joined the cheerleading squad at the then all-male Academy, a decision not shared with his father until Gaspare attended a football game and mistakenly cheered on the running back he thought was his son, yelling “That’s my boy!” in broken English, only to be told by Vito, who pointed to the sideline cheer squad and said, “No Pa, that’s your boy.”

After graduating from West Point in 1960, Bob’s first tour of duty was Vicenza, Italy. There he met Jan, whose father was stationed at the base, and who at 18 had just commenced music studies at the University of Perugia.

They married in Vicenza in September 1962, and a year later Jan gave birth to daughter Sharon. Their son Rob was born in Texas in 1966 while Bob was stationed in South Korea. Over their 56 years of their marriage, Bob and Jan lived at Fort Bragg, NC; at Fort Sill, OK; in Neu Ulm and Frankfurt, Germany; and in El Paso, TX. Upon assignment at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Bob and Jan purchased their first home after having lived in government housing their entire married life. This was where they expected to spend their retirement years, but one last assignment was necessary before Bob could consider retirement. Orders came in 1982 sending Bob to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA. The family quickly came to appreciate the California lifestyle and eventually settled in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. Bob loved the proximity of their home in San Juan Capistrano and later their beach getaway in Oceanside to Camp Pendleton.  Spending time on a military base made him feel at home after his retirement.

Ever trying to better himself, Bob graduated from the Army’s Ranger and Airborne schools and Command and General Staff College. His military career included tours with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, South Korea at the DMZ (where he obtained a black belt in Tae Kwon Do), and the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.

Although his division had not then been called to Vietnam, Bob volunteered for combat assignment there, where he served as base commander for a field artillery unit.

While in the Army and as time allowed, Bob enrolled in graduate school with a tenacity that took him to three different universities across his military stations. He obtained an MBA and then an M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology.

Bob retired from the Army in 1983 as a lieutenant colonel. He went to work the next day for Northrop Grumman in Training and Development, where he was affectionately known as “Dr. Bob.” During this time he moonlighted as an adjunct professor at several universities, teaching graduate business management courses. Some of his most treasured career honors were the reviews he received from his students.

As determined and focused as Bob was, he always possessed an off-beat sense of humor. He was a light-footed dancer with a keen interest in others and had a dry wit that endeared him to many and helped soften the edge of his failing health in his waning years. He was a lifelong gym rat and loved everything about the gym (including the smell). Throughout his seventies he was still going to the gym almost daily and enjoyed working out with the young Marines. During the last two years of his life his caregiver was a 29-year-old ex-Marine, and it was a match made in Heaven.

Bob’s survivors include his wife, Janis, daughter Sharon Hoffman (Kurt), son Rob (Christine), granddaughter Lauren Padilla (Nathan), granddaughter Mia Trodella, and great-granddaughter Olivia Padilla.

A celebration of Bob’s life was held on April 20, 2019 at Palisades United Methodist Church. Following the service, a lunch in his honor was held at a local Italian restaurant where the vino flowed and memories were shared.  

“And when our work is done, 
Our course on earth is run,
May it be said, Well Done! 
Be Thou at Peace.”