Obituary of Robert Chieffo

Robert Anthony Chieffo, age 78, died peacefully at his home in Hyde Park on January 27, 2013. Bob was born in New Haven, CT, October 20, 1934, to the late Mary Carboni Chieffo and the late Toby Chieffo. He was the second of three sons, attended Welch Primary School in New Haven, CT and Notre Dame High School in West Haven. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1957 then was hired by IBM. Shortly after, he was drafted and served two years in the Army. After completing his service, Bob returned to IBM Kingston and later IBM Poughkeepsie, working as a Mechanical Engineer for 35 years. In 1960, he married Diane Pereira, daughter of Evelyn Rossomando Pereira and Jack Pereira, in Margaretville, NY. The couple lived in Woodstock, NY from 1960 to 1968 where they had two sons: Robert Paul, Hopewell Junction, NY and Thomas Anthony, Hyde Park, NY. In 1968, the family moved to Hyde Park, NY. After retirement, he was employed by Cambridge Computer Learning Center for several years. Bob was a member of the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club for 25 years, serving on the Entertainment and Regatta committees. He and his family loved sailing, spending many delightful hours sailing their boat, Sea Adeline, on the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. In addition, for decades, Bob was very active in Special Olympics often coaching swim practices and serving as Master of Ceremonies at swim meets. His family was honored for their involvement by being selected the1996 Dutchess County Special Olympics Family Of The Year. Bob's beloved avocation was singing and performing in choruses and quartets as a 51-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. For 50 of those years, he was an outstanding member of the local BHS Chapter, the Poughkeepsie Newyorkers. Administratively, Bob did it all. He wrote and directed outstanding Annual Shows, served in a variety of leadership positions, and encouraged membership retention and growth through his positive energy, enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. For his accomplishments, Bob was named Newyorker of the Year in 1975 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chapter in 2011. Beyond his administrative and organizational skills, Bob's real love was singing and performing, which he always did with style, flare and obvious joy. In addition to the chorus, he sang in several quartets in the early years. Then, in 1975, Bob founded the Footlighters Barbershop Quartet. He remained a part of that quartet for 35 years, singing both lead and baritone voice parts and freely sharing his unique and varied talents as a singer, creative idea man and performer extraordinaire. When Bob retired from the Footlighters in 2009, he continued to offer the quartet and the chorus his encouragement, support, coaching, and ideas for music and staging, always with a smile on his face and a song in his heart. In addition to his wife and sons, Bob is survived by his brother, Walter Chieffo, Venice, FL; brother and sister-in-law, Clifford & Patricia Chieffo, Arlington, VA; sister-in-law, Beverly Brann Chieffo, West Haven, CT; daughter-in-law Karen Chieffo and grandchildren Nicholas and Deanna Chieffo, Hopewell Junction, NY. Other survivors include his nephews Paul Chieffo, John Pereira, Jerome Pereira; nieces Jane Proffitt, Joanne Koering, Toby Reidway, Nina Peterson, and cousins Thomas and Madelyn Carboni. Calling hours will be held Tuesday February 5, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home 371 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York 12603. Funeral services will be held Wednesday February 6, 2013 11am at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery at the Community Mausoleum. Memorial donations may be made to the Poughkeepsie Chapter of Barbershop Harmony Society . If you would like to leave an online condolence or to light a memorial candle, please visit www.doylefuneralhome.com