Robert Thomas Emde

With the heaviest of hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Son, Brother, and Uncle, Robert (Bobby) Thomas Emde. Son to Gerard and Eileen Emde, Brother to Krista Ross (David) and Gerard Emde Jr. (Jennifer), and Uncle to Courtney, Christopher, and Matthew. 

Growing up in Nesconset and Farmingville, Bobby was a diehard Yankees and Rangers fan, and enjoyed playing street hockey and basically any sport he and the neighborhood kids could come up with, especially if it irritated the wonderful neighbor across the street, Dominick. Playing wiffle ball in the backyard with his younger brother Gerard was another outdoor activity he enjoyed to play. This was to the absolute delight of their Sister Krista watching from her upstairs bedroom for the "ending to the game." Those of you who know the Emde's, they must win at all costs so the end of the game did not necessarily mean there was a final score, it just ended. Mom and Dad were not the biggest fans of backyard wiffle ball between the brothers. 

Throughout his life, Bobby was great with his hands; he could fix anything. He started when he was young; you'd need to watch and make sure though he wasn't trying to saw off a branch with a utility knife trying to build something. He was just fearless. If a game or a toy broke, he'd make sure to rig it and make it work better, faster than before (like his remote-control car). If anyone needed help, he was the first to volunteer. He was an excellent painter, just like his Dad who taught him. At his Dad's shop in Brentwood, more odd games were started with his cousin Thomas Emde and younger brother. Hard to describe but there would be painters tape rolled into a ball with a painting pole, sort of like indoor stickball. Having three Emde's go up against one another.....not good, but he loved reminiscing about it.

 Bobby's infectious laugh, kindness, toughness, and impersonations of movie lines will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. "Arthur", "Money Pit", will be tough ones to watch, among many others. Mom will struggle to watch "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve but will persevere with help from her loving family.

 Bobby is gone way too soon. With that, there will be crying. There will be heartache. It'll feel like forever before happiness returns.

 But it will return because Emde's don't lose. Bobby didn't lose, he's just playing for a more powerful team.

Rest easy.