Corraro, Robert G.

Robert G. Corraro, 77, of Canton, formerly of West Roxbury, passed away on May 19, 2012, following a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Bob outlived his expected prognosis by two years due to his sheer determination to live.

Bob was the dear and devoted husband of 53 years of Eleanor (Ayoub). Loving father of Anne Marie Corraro and her partner, Susan Chace, of Hyde Park, Patricia Corraro of Canton, Susan LaRosa and her husband, Scott, of West Bridgewater, and the late Edward Corraro. Cherished grandfather of Emily and Joseph LaRosa. Dear brother of John Giaquinto and his wife, Jesse, of Roslindale, and the late Michael and Lillian Corraro. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Bob was born in Schenectady, NY, and was raised by his single mother, Lillian Giaquinto, in Boston’s South End. He grew up poor and worked from a very young age to help his mother support the family. As a young man, Bob was a pin setter at a bowling alley and also delivered coal and ice to homes for heating and iceboxes. He was a hard worker and this occupation earned him the nickname that his longtime friends continued to call him during his entire life: Ice Man.

Growing up, Bob was very involved with the Syrian Lebanese neighborhood, and he formed friendships that would last a lifetime. In 1956, the former Marine met Eleanor Ayoub and thought “his ship had come in” because she lived in the “suburb” of West Roxbury in a house that her mother owned. Bob and Ellie married in 1959 and settled in West Roxbury with Bob’s beloved mother-in-law, Kareemie Ayoub, with whom they lived until 1976 before relocating to Canton.

With four young children, Bob worked three jobs to support his family. He was an electronic technician, a television repairman, and part-time taxi driver. He imparted the gift of a strong work ethic on his children. In 1998, after not riding a bicycle for 40 years, the 60 year old decided to participate in the Aids Action Committee Boston to New York bike ride fundraiser in memory of his son, Eddie. Bob bought a bike and trained constantly and raised close to $53,000 for AIDS research. The next goal Bob set for himself was to participate in the San Francisco to Los

Angeles AIDS ride, and not surprisingly, he finished the 560-mile endeavor with the same determination he would later use to combat his illness.

For years after completing these rides, Bob could frequently be seen riding his bike to and from work and around Canton. Bob continued to work until the age of 75, when the severity of his illness forced him to retire.

Robert’s funeral service will be held Thursday, May 24, at 10 a.m. in St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 55 Emmonsdale Road, West Roxbury. Interment will conclude services at Canton Corner Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Robert’s memory to the church or to the Boston Living Center, 29 Stanhope St., Boston, MA 02116. Bob was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Arrangements by the Kfoury Keefe Funeral Home in West Roxbury.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on May 23 2012. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.