Robert Lewis, known as “Bob” or “Lou” to many friends and “Opa” to his beloved grandchildren, passed away on August 8, 2022 at Hackensack Meridian Health Hospice in Neptune City, NJ while surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. 

It is not an exaggeration to state that the world has lost a great man.  He was the most patient and nurturing father; he perfectly modeled how to be a man, a father, a husband, and how to treat people. 

He was highly skilled, yet always learning and seeking to improve.  He could tackle almost anything mechanical.  Even challenges that were new to him were approached with no fear.  He was patient and thoughtful and rarely failed to achieve an objective.  Robert had a can-do attitude, was adept at handling setbacks and making adjustments, and was incredibly persistent.

Robert was born to the late John and Ann (Nee) Lewis in Brooklyn, NY where he grew up as the third oldest of seven children.  While it wasn’t an easy childhood, Robert had many fond recollections of childhood adventures with his brothers and sisters and his neighborhood friends. He was a great storyteller, and these tales never got old.

Robert joined the US Army at age 17, ultimately being deployed to Germany where he was a tank mechanic in the 531st Ordinance Company.  It was while serving in Germany that he met the love of his life, Gisela, whose family owned a restaurant near the base.   Robert and Gisela celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past April.

Robert and Gisela returned to the US and settled in Manasquan, NJ, where they welcomed their first child, Robert, and a few years later their second child, Monica.  With a growing family, they designed and built a new home in Brielle, NJ and, shortly after moving, welcomed their third child, Erika.

It was in Manasquan where Robert and a brother started the first of many successful business ventures.  Ultimately, four of the five Lewis brothers were working together to build Aggressive Heating & Cooling into a household name in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Other business ventures included a dry cleaner/laundromat in Pt. Pleasant and commercial property development, most notably Old Mill Plaza in Wall, NJ.

After the sale of the businesses, Robert applied his vast skills and experience, first, as Operations Manager at Laser Diode, Inc. in Edison, NJ before settling into a role that brought him much joy and satisfaction as Senior Project Manager at The Allied Group in Neptune, NJ. In this capacity, he was valued as much for his people skills as he was for his project management and problem-solving skills.  If you ask his former colleagues, however, they will tell you he is most remembered for his cheerful disposition and tendency to sing and whistle his favorite tunes as he walked the office halls.  His Allied colleagues became a second family to Robert, and he cherished his time there.

Robert was loved and admired by all who came to know him, whether personally or professionally.  He had an amazing ability to brighten a room, lift spirits, and help others gain perspective in difficult times.  These skills were as important to his role as husband and father as they were to his business dealings.

Despite his business success, nothing was more important to Robert than his family.  He was a devoted husband and father, and rarely missed dinner at home with the family.  Some evenings after dinner he went back to the laundromat to repair machines; often working very late into the night to get the job done.  He may have at times been low on sleep, but he still maintained a near perfect attendance record at his children’s athletic events and made it a point to enjoy many vacations with his family.

Robert was predeceased by his mother, Ann Lewis, his father, John Lewis, his sister Kay Cirrinone, brothers Jack Lewis and Bill Lewis, and his daughter-in-law Michele Lewis. Surviving are his wife Gisela Lewis of Wall Township, NJ, children Robert Lewis of Rumson, NJ, Monica Smith and husband Rich of Mendham, NJ, Erika Egan and husband Bill of Haddonfield, NJ, his grandchildren Autumn, Liam, Amelia, Cole, and Grant, brothers Thomas Lewis and George Lewis, and sister Ann Marie Feitt.

A visitation will be held at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall, NJ on Thursday, August 25, 2022, from 4-7 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 26, 2022, 10 am at St. Denis Church, 90 Union Ave., Manasquan, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Robert’s memory to Monmouth County SPCA 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724 or online by CLICKING HERE.  Please visit Robert’s memorial page at www.obrienfuneralhome.com