Sterling, CT – Robert E. Wall, 75, passed away peacefully at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, after a brief illness, with his wife, children and other family members by his side.
Bob lived most of his life on Fishers Island and always said that he had salt water flowing through his veins. Bob was born at the Fort H.G. Wright Army Hospital on Fishers Island, on Feb. 9, 1942, and was raised on the island by his parents, Ernest and Anne (Arasamowicz) Wall along with his five surviving siblings, James Wall, Judith (Wall) Imbriglio, Patricia (Wall) Faulkner, Peter Wall and William Wall.
Bob is survived by his wife of 12 years, Brigitte Revel-Wall. He was predeceased by his first wife, Eileen (Grebe) Wall, in 1998. He is also survived by his daughter, Meri Lee (Wall) Tyler and her husband, Brooke, and their two children, Ben and Charlotte; his son, Mike Wall and his partner, Rachael Sorrano; his two stepsons and their spouses, Gabriel and Amanda Uribe and Manuel and Keagen Uribe; and four stepgrandchildren, Gage and Morgan Uribe and Sierra and David Uribe; and 11 nieces and nephews.
He owned and operated Robert E. Wall Plumbing & Heating Contracting Company on the island beginning in 1967 and later expanded into electrical and general contracting services. After deciding to close his business in the 1990s, he became the general manager of Fishers Island Water Works. Before retiring in 2012, Bob was president of the Fishers Island Utility Company. He was a long-standing member and chief of the Fishers Island Fire Department with nearly 50 years of service, as well as a captain for the Sea Stretcher, the island ambulance boat. He held a U.S. Coast Guard issued Master 100 Ton License for operation of marine vessels. Bob was formerly a member of the island ambulance squad and was certified as an Advanced-EMT. Bob was an active and long-standing member of the Walsh Park Benevolent Association board. It was very important to him to try and keep year-round population flourishing on the island and this was one of the many ways he contributed. He proudly served three years in the U.S. Army and was on active duty in South Korea during the Vietnam era.
Bob’s hobbies included saltwater fishing either from the shore or his boat, bird hunting, sharing his island knowledge, raising family pets that included many dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a goat that was given to his young children for Christmas, as well as cooking and grilling for friends and family. Bob loved a good game of cribbage or poker and also enjoyed going on cruises and traveling to new places. Once Bob moved off of Fishers, he enjoyed the new found freedom of being able to go every morning to the local farm stand just down the road to get fresh eggs for breakfast and on weekends going to local yard sales in search of treasures. Bob will always be remembered for his love of his family and friends and his unending kindness and generosity.
A private memorial service will be held at a later time at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Fishers Island Fire Department, P.O. Box 123, Fishers Island, NY 06390.
Published in The Day on Nov. 12, 2017
