Robert David DiDiego

Robert David “Bob” DiDiego (July 22, 1927 - Dec 7, 2019) Bob passed away peacefully among his loving family on Dec. 7th at Brookdale Retirement Center in Maryville, TN. Bob grew up in Yonkers, NY, where he attended Fordham Preparatory School before attending United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, and finally Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ., where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Bob had a long and fascinating career, working for Foster Wheeler, and then for General Electric where he worked on the first rocket that went into space as well as rockets in the X-15 rocket plane. Later he worked for United Technologies Corporation on the first stage rocket of the cruise missile and was a test engineer for the cruise missile program. After retirement, he moved to Asheville, NC where he served as a water and sewer consultant to the town of Fletcher. He loved theater and acted in several Asheville Community Theater productions: “You Can’t Take It With You”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Guys and Dolls”, and others. In 2016, he moved to Maryville, TN, to be closer to family: John and Michele DiDiego, and their two boys Thomas and Mario. He was an avid supporter of the arts contributing to both Asheville Symphony and the Brevard Music Center. Bob played saxophone from the age of 12 until his mid-seventies, with a highlight when he marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was a Master Gardener, and enjoyed singing, building model boats, submarines, and planes. He was the family storyteller, and will always be remembered for colorful depictions of growing up with his brothers. In the last years of his life, he felt very well taken care of at Shannondale and Brookdale Retirement centers, and by Amedisys Hospice. He especially enjoyed the community of St Andrews Episcopal Church in Maryville, TN. He was predeceased by his parents Emily and Richard DiDiego Sr., his twin brother Teddy, his elder brother Richard, and his nephew Billy DiDiego. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Marianne Melton, Tim DiDiego, Laura Harrington, Caroline Elsken, John DiDiego, William DiDiego, and Peggy Walsh. The memorial service for Bob will be held at St Andrews in Maryville, 10 am, Friday, Dec. 27th. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert David DiDiego please visit our Sympathy Store.