Robert William Rabbitt

We mourn the loss of Robert William Rabbitt, 77, of Middle Island. Known to all as Bob, he was born to Catherine and Robert Rabbitt on the last day of 1946. When he was 10 years old, he and his younger siblings Jack, Sue, and Kathleen suffered the sudden, tragic loss of their mother. His father would remarry Irene Buetow and welcome four more children to the Rabbitt family- Paul, Anne, Claire, and Irene. His father and stepmother instilled a strong work ethic in Bob as a child. He worked as a paperboy, and at their local golf course with his brother Jack, which is where he would be introduced to what would become a lifelong passion: golf. Bob was athletic, charismatic, smart, quick, and always upbeat. Most of all, he had confidence to spare. He was interested in the performing arts, history, he was social and was always ready with a joke or a story. During the Vietnam War he enlisted in the Army and served his country stateside, becoming an undercover Military Police Officer in a drug enforcement unit at Fort Hood, Texas.

After his discharge, he returned home to Long Island, and finished his degree in history at St John's University in New York City while working in store security at Gertz. It was there he met his future wife, Diane Izzo. The two fell in love, and married in May of 1975. Bob and Diane would go on to become fixtures at their church, founding the Theatre Group at Our Lady of Grace in West Babylon. Bob shared his love of the Mets with Diane with great difficulty; her family were Yankees fans, however they compromised on the New York Giants. The church and theater would become defining elements in the life of the couple as they welcomed children Gregory, named for Bob's birth mother's family, born in 1979, Robert in 1980, and Aimee in 1984.

Bob became a true New Yorker in the 80s when he began commuting to Manhattan for a position in corporate facilities management in Manhattan. His work brought him closer to Broadway, where he shared his passion for musical theater with his children, taking them to shows as often as possible. He played golf whenever he could, began lectoring at St Patrick's Cathedral in the mornings, and attended Mets games often; bringing Greg and Bobby when they were children. In 1996 he achieved a lifelong dream of playing Daddy Warbucks in a stage production of Annie opposite his daughter, Aimee.

Bob was proud of his children, and grandchildren. He was thrilled to found theater groups across Long Island, including at Saint Francis Cabrini, and share his love of musical theater with countless friends, family, and the community over 50 years. He never lost faith in the Mets, and he and Diane enjoyed time in their beloved New York City. Never one to sit still, he worked into his 70s- and his last job was at a golf course, just like his first one.

Bob is survived by wife of 49 years, Diane, children Greg (Seena), Robert (Lori), and Aimee (Justin), and grandchildren Robert Blaise, Makenna, Sierra, Charlotte, Luca, Elena, Zoe, and Reya.