August 26, 1937 – Oct 26, 2019
Robert “Bob” G. Terry
, 82 of Sun Lakes, Arizona, formally of Ramsey, New Jersey from 1964-2017 passed away on October 26, 2019 from a brief battle with brain cancer.
Bob is survived by his wife, Gladys E. (Heinemann) Terry; of which they had 58 wonderful years of love, adventure and partnership together. Bob is also survived by his three children: Cynthia “Sindi” L. (Terry) Price and her husband Jim Price, Robert L. Terry and Sheryl A. (Terry) Nolan and her fiancé Jim Coffelt, and four granddaughters: Veronica L. Price, Patricia S. Price, Adelle G. Nolan and Mariel H. Nolan.
Bob is predeceased by his parents, Robert “George” G. E. Terry and Dorothy B. (Hettenbach) Terry of Lyndhurst, New Jersey and his sister, Dorothy B. (Terry) Zelenka of Morehead City, South Carolina.
In 1912, Bob’s grandfather immigrated to the United States from Plymouth, England to establish a residence and secure a job. He then purchased tickets for Bob’s grandmother, father, and four aunts to also immigrate to the United States by sailing on the Titanic. Shortly before the sailing, Bob’s grandfather lost his job forcing the family to sell their tickets. Undeterred, a new job was secured and the family sailed in 1913 on the St. Louis and settled in Irvington, NJ.
At age 11, Bob began playing a Soprano French Bugle and began creating some of his most cherished memories by playing/marching in Drum and Bugle Corps. First on the Barringer-Walker Cadets from 1948-1955, then on the Patterson Cadets from 1955-1958, and finally -in what became to be known as the hay-day of drum and bugle corps- was a very proud member of the New York Skyliners from 1958-1964. Listening to recorded performances from 1958-1964 of the NY Skyliners, which included a performance at Carnegie Hall, brought him great joy while he fought his illness.
Bob served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1955-1959 and was honorably discharged due to his need for visual correction.
Bob’s work career started at the age of 16, as a 3
rd
generation plumber. In 1959 he joined Plumber’s Local Union #326 as an apprentice, advanced to journeyman and proudly served in elected office positions for 28 years, starting as an E-Board member, then Vice President and onto President spanning 1972-2000. During that time Bob advocated for and was instrumental in establishing the union’s medical program and pension fund. Bob also served as a Business Agent from 1999-2000 with Plumber’s Local #14 after Local #326 was incorporated into Local #14. He proudly celebrated 60-yrs of unionship in 2019 as a lifetime member, out of Plumber’s Local Union #24.
When his children were young, Bob enjoyed being a leader and mentor in youth organizations: Cubs Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorer Scouts. He also had a lot of fun coaching youth football and baseball.
Serving his community for 10 years, Bob trained and rode as an EMT with the Ramsey Volunteer Ambulance Corps and was an active committee member of the New Jersey State First Aid Council (NJFAC). He also volunteered his expertise by helping to design the plumbing for an expansion of the Ramsey Ambulance Corps building.
When Bob retired in 2000, he and his wife began their dream adventures by traveling for 15 years around the United States in their RV with the intent on finding their ideal retirement community. Bob always enjoyed meeting new people and playing cards and domino games.
In 2018, after living in their Ramsey, NJ home for 53 years, they moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona where they enjoyed settling into the Sun Lakes community and getting to know everyone.
In lieu of memorial gifts, donations may be made to St. Jude Hospice of the Valley or to any cause of choice.