Robert B. Underhill

GLENVILLE - Robert B. Underhill, 91, of Glenville, passed away Wednesday, January 28, at Albany Medical Center following a fall at his residence.

Born in 1934 at Ellis Hospital to Benjamin and Ada (Collins) Underhill, Robert was a lifelong area resident and a 1953 graduate of the former Mont Pleasant High School.

Bob began working at a young age, delivering newspapers for the Union Star throughout the Hamilton Hill neighborhood at age 11, serving that route for four years. In 1950, he worked at Family Gardens selling fruits and vegetables and later at the newsstands at Gates 41, 69, and 81 at General Electric. He often worked after school to help support his household after the loss of his father when Bob was just three years old.

In 1953, he began a 13-year career at the Mont Pleasant Bakery, working full time and later part time when he started his 35-year career with The Daily Gazette. Bob began with the Gazette in 1962 and retired in 1997. Bob took great pride in being a printer and was honored to serve as a member, and later as president of the International Typographical Union.

Bob joined the US Army Reserves while working at the bakery and committed to six years of service. In 1961, he was activated by President John F. Kennedy during the building of the Berlin Wall. Also in 1961, he met the love of his life, Emily Ruscitto, and they were married on May 25, 1963. They shared 53 devoted years of marriage until Emily’s passing in 2016.

Bob and Emily raised their family in West Glenville, where he lived for 38 years. It had been a childhood dream of his to live there, as he spent time in the area growing up at his aunt’s home. West Glenville became not just his address, but the place where his family’s memories were made.

A man of deep faith, Bob was a devoted Catholic. One of the highlights of his life was traveling to Italy, where he was especially moved by visiting the Sistine Chapel and seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He also cherished traveling to England, the place of his heritage. A patriotic American, Bob never missed voting on Election Day and took great pride in fulfilling that civic duty.

Bob was known for being loyal and dependable and for fiercely loving his children. His family was the center of his life, and nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with them, especially his grandchildren, whom he adored.

In addition to his wife Emily, Bob was predeceased by his brothers William Underhill and Earl Underhill and by his sister-in-law Irene Underhill. He was also predeceased by his nephew, John William Underhill.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Noreen Noonan Underhill; his children, Julie (Dr. Michael) Prezioso of Burnt Hills, John (Deborah Gordon) Underhill of Williston, Vermont, and Mary Underhill of Guilderland; his eight grandchildren, Matthew (Kylie), Elizabeth (Joseph), James (Hannah), Jack, Ryan, Ellen, Mia, and Jacob; and his five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Arlene, William (Nadine), Deborah, Benjamin, and Robert; several great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins, including Jack (Martha) Underhill.

Bob will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a man whose life was defined by hard work, loyalty, faith, and deep love for his family.

Services will be held at 9 am on Wednesday at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union Street, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Anthony’s Church, Seward Place. Interment will follow beside his beloved wife Emily in St. Anthony’s Cemetery.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to the America Red Cross at www.redcross.org.