Obituary for Robert J. "Bob" Greifenstein Jr.
Robert J. “Bob” Greifenstein, Jr. 70, formerly of Norfolk, VA - now living in Toms River passed into eternal life with family at his side Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Bob lived in Staten Island for many years where he graduated from Monsignor Farrell HS (‘68) and attended Staten Island Community College.
He and his wife Eileen raised their family of four children in Spring Lake Hts/Wall, NJ before moving to Newnan, Ga and then to the Hampton Roads area of VA in 2007. During his professional years, Bob helped construct Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island and worked as a Facility Maintenance Manager for many of the tenants who later occupied the premises - American Export, Transocean Gateway, United States Lines among them. His last employer was Clayton Limousine in Spring Lake in the early 2000's where he was known as "Limo Bob".
Bob was musically inclined, loved to play the bass guitar, and was a member of several rock groups in the 1960's, and 70’s, including the Orange Moose Machine, a band that played many a high school dance at the time. Later, while the children were growing, he and Eileen DJ’d many parties and weddings as Jazzman Light & Sound Co., hauling tons of equipment and record albums which would be so unnecessary today! He had many quips which his family referred to as “Bobisms.” Forever the entertainer, he was outgoing and enjoyed wearing his cowboy hat with many nostalgic buttons to the car shows, doing “magic” for the grandchildren, sharing his bass guitar collection and going to the beach, both in Spring Lake and Virginia Beach, where he spoke of swimming with dolphins. Before last August, when his earthly body began betraying him, he found a way to make one last visit to the beach and rode a horse! He also had an artistic talent which he used to "weather and distress" model HO gauge trains to look amazingly realistic; naming the endeavor "Railistic Trains" and was active in sharing his work with other model railroaders, including his son, Michael, who worked on N gauge versions. He was an enthusiastic muscle car lover, owning and partially building a 1965 Buick Skylark that he treasured in his youth and lately was an active member in the Pontiac Club of Coastal Virginia, displaying and winning awards for his prized TransAms "Bluebird" and “Pearl". He will be remembered fondly as "NYC BOB.” During his time in Virginia Beach, he became a congregant of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, and was baptized. Bob loved his dog “Lucky” and felt “Lucky” truly was the one to rescue him.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert J., Sr. and Gloria Greifenstein. Surviving are his wife of 47 years Eileen (Crisham) Greifenstein, son Michael R. Greifenstein (US Army active duty) and his wife Stacy of West Point, NY, 3 daughters, Jennie M. Trady and her husband Khalid (both US Navy active duty) of Atsugi, Japan, Karen E. Greifenstein of Norfolk, VA, and Bobbi Jeanne Greifenstein & Brian Duncan of Brick, NJ. He is also survived by his sister Barbara “Cookie” Eysel and her husband Michael of Staten Island, NY, his brother Thomas J. of Norfolk, VA, 7 grandchildren, I. Tyler Lott, Michael C. Greifenstein, Molly E. Greifenstein, Chouaib Trady, Ameera R.Trady, Zakaria R. Trady and Naseem “Nemo” R. Trady & several nephews and 2 great-nieces.
"And in the end the love you take is equal to love you make". Abbey Road, The Beatles
Visitation and Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall. Committal will be private. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com. Due to covid19 restrictions, please be reminded that all gatherings have limitations, masks must be worn.
In lieu of flowers, the family specifically requests donations be made to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, ( *Gold Star Family Home Program) 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306. Donation forms will be provided at the funeral home on Saturday or donations may be made directly through their website. tunnel2towers.org
He and his wife Eileen raised their family of four children in Spring Lake Hts/Wall, NJ before moving to Newnan, Ga and then to the Hampton Roads area of VA in 2007. During his professional years, Bob helped construct Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island and worked as a Facility Maintenance Manager for many of the tenants who later occupied the premises - American Export, Transocean Gateway, United States Lines among them. His last employer was Clayton Limousine in Spring Lake in the early 2000's where he was known as "Limo Bob".
Bob was musically inclined, loved to play the bass guitar, and was a member of several rock groups in the 1960's, and 70’s, including the Orange Moose Machine, a band that played many a high school dance at the time. Later, while the children were growing, he and Eileen DJ’d many parties and weddings as Jazzman Light & Sound Co., hauling tons of equipment and record albums which would be so unnecessary today! He had many quips which his family referred to as “Bobisms.” Forever the entertainer, he was outgoing and enjoyed wearing his cowboy hat with many nostalgic buttons to the car shows, doing “magic” for the grandchildren, sharing his bass guitar collection and going to the beach, both in Spring Lake and Virginia Beach, where he spoke of swimming with dolphins. Before last August, when his earthly body began betraying him, he found a way to make one last visit to the beach and rode a horse! He also had an artistic talent which he used to "weather and distress" model HO gauge trains to look amazingly realistic; naming the endeavor "Railistic Trains" and was active in sharing his work with other model railroaders, including his son, Michael, who worked on N gauge versions. He was an enthusiastic muscle car lover, owning and partially building a 1965 Buick Skylark that he treasured in his youth and lately was an active member in the Pontiac Club of Coastal Virginia, displaying and winning awards for his prized TransAms "Bluebird" and “Pearl". He will be remembered fondly as "NYC BOB.” During his time in Virginia Beach, he became a congregant of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, and was baptized. Bob loved his dog “Lucky” and felt “Lucky” truly was the one to rescue him.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert J., Sr. and Gloria Greifenstein. Surviving are his wife of 47 years Eileen (Crisham) Greifenstein, son Michael R. Greifenstein (US Army active duty) and his wife Stacy of West Point, NY, 3 daughters, Jennie M. Trady and her husband Khalid (both US Navy active duty) of Atsugi, Japan, Karen E. Greifenstein of Norfolk, VA, and Bobbi Jeanne Greifenstein & Brian Duncan of Brick, NJ. He is also survived by his sister Barbara “Cookie” Eysel and her husband Michael of Staten Island, NY, his brother Thomas J. of Norfolk, VA, 7 grandchildren, I. Tyler Lott, Michael C. Greifenstein, Molly E. Greifenstein, Chouaib Trady, Ameera R.Trady, Zakaria R. Trady and Naseem “Nemo” R. Trady & several nephews and 2 great-nieces.
"And in the end the love you take is equal to love you make". Abbey Road, The Beatles
Visitation and Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall. Committal will be private. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com. Due to covid19 restrictions, please be reminded that all gatherings have limitations, masks must be worn.
In lieu of flowers, the family specifically requests donations be made to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, ( *Gold Star Family Home Program) 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306. Donation forms will be provided at the funeral home on Saturday or donations may be made directly through their website. tunnel2towers.org