Obituary of Robert Potenza

Robert W Potenza, longtime Poughkeepsie resident and former President of Bob Drug Co, died peacefully on July 7, 2011 He was 92. Bob was born on March 18, 1919 in Schenectady, NY, son of Santucio and Assunta (Galli)Potenza. He attended Schenectady schools and graduated from Union University College of Pharmacy in Albany, NY in 1942. During WWII, he served his country in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacist aboard the USS Atala-APO-130. He was awarded four ribbons and three stars for service in Iwo Jima, Luzon and Okinawa. After his discharge, Bob began his pharmacy career at Mack Drug Co which brought him to Poughkeepsie where he met his wife, Mary Viti. On Sept 14, 1947 in Mount Carmel Church they were married. Together in 1959 they opened Bob Drug Co where Bob worked until it closed in 1996 and he retired. He was a member of the Italian Center, Dutchess Golf and Country Club, and the American Legion. He served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the DC and NYS Pharmacy Societies, the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Assn. Bob was a devoted family man. He is survived by two daughters, Roberta Brady and her husband William, and Rochelle Perry and her partner, Stephen Guernsey. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Jenna Connors and her husband Tom, and Michael Brady and his wife Kelly: three great grandchildren, Molly and Brendan Connors, and Mary Brady; two step grandsons, Steve and Ellis Guernsey, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, his son-in-law, Joe Perry, two brothers, Joe and Will, and three sisters, Nettie, Yolondo, ond Jeanne, all of whom remained close in his heart. Family and friends will gather at the Timothy P. Doyle 371 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie New York on Saturday July 9, 2011 from 8:30am to 10:00am.... followed by a funeral mass at Holy Trinity Church at 10:30am. Burial will be at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Those who wish to honor Bob's memory may contribute to Hospice, 374 Violet Ave, Poughkeepsie, 12601 or to the Veterans' Administration at VAHVHCS- Castle Point Campus, GPF 1536, Castle Point NY 12511 To Hospice and Palliative Care Teams at Vassar Brothers Hospital and Castle Point, the family extends its most sincere gratitude.