Obituary of Robert "Bob" Stapleton

Bob died on June 3, 2014, after a long illness. During his illness, Bob was supported and sustained by his faith and the love of his family and friends. Although Bob's time with us was all too short, he drew the long straw in terms of quality. He was rich with kindness and forgiveness. He deeply loved and appreciated his family and friends, and was very proud of his two children, Sean and Kyle. He was, in the footsteps of his father, an animated story teller. During trips to the Adirondacks, Bob was always the first one into the cold lake for a swim. He loved to be busy and involved in his home life and his sons' school activities. He was an avid SU football fan and lover of all things Irish. He was known for his loud and energetic enthusiasm at sports events, and he could repair anything that needed fixing. Bob was born October 10, 1948, in Auburn, NY, to Bernice Ruane Stapleton and Thomas L. Stapleton. He graduated from St. Anthony of Padua High School. He was a graduate of SUNY Oswego and graduated with an MBA from Chapman College. Bob was a 37 year employee with NYS Office of Mental Health and retired as Deputy Director for Administration at Hutchings Psychiatric Center in 2011. Part of his early OMH years were spent with TLS in Syracuse. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Kathleen Stapleton, and his brother-in-law, Terry Nicholson. He is survived by his wife, Beth Wallbridge and their two sons, Sean W. Stapleton and Kyle W. Stapleton; three sisters, Rosemary Stapleton (Andrew Cole), Joanne Nicholson, and Susan Drapela (Larry); sister-in-law, Robin Wallbridge (Gregg McClaran); brother-in-law, Timothy D. Wallbridge (Rosemarie Belforti); and nieces and nephews, Lydia and Huck McClaran, Laura Carney (Bill) and their son, Lucas, and Daniel Cole (Therese). Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 6th at Edward J. Ryan and Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Avenue., Syracuse. Services will be Saturday, June 7th at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, Route 80, Otisco, NY. Burial will follow at White Chapel Memory Gardens, Kinne Rd. DeWitt, NY. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to either the David Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research C/O Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Box 20, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 or St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1515 Midland Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13205.