WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Robert Joseph Diodati Sr. passed away at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at the Sweet Brook Nursing Home, where he resided since February of 2009. He was 94 years old - two and a half months shy of his 95th birthday.         

He was born in North Adams on June 16, 1923, of Italian immigrant parents - Edward Diodati and Cecilia Caporale Diodati. His mother too passed away at Sweet Brook in August of 1998 at the fine age of 104. He was also predeceased by a daughter, Marianne, who only survived a day; two brothers, Donald and Edward; and his loving wife Florence Ruth Hannaleck, who passed away on February 4, 2009.

He grew up in Williamstown through the depression and into the early war years residing on Linden Street in a duplex his family shared with his aunt, her husband and two boys. The fivee boys were very close growing up and like brothers. 

Bob graduated from the former Williamstown High School in June of 1942. A well-above-average three-sport athlete in high school, he played second base on the baseball team, forward on the basketball team, and end both ways on the football team. Coach Ted Sylvester was one of his favorite people in life. 

Bob enlisted in the United States Army in December of 1942, beginning his service in very early 1943. Initially in the Infantry, he took a transfer to the Army Air Corp, where he served as a radio gunner as part of the 10-man crew on the B-17 Flying Fortress. When the war in Europe ended, he transitioned to B-29 bomber training for the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged in February of 1946, six months after the War in the Pacific ended.

After his service he had the opportunity with Ted Sylvester's help to attend Springfield College but declined. He entered the workforce at the former Gevaert Film Company on Cole Avenue in Williamstown and in the early 1950s took a job at Sprague Electric Company in North Adams, where he met his future wife Florence Hannaleck. They were married on June 13, 1953, in St. Francis Church in North Adams.

At Sprague he initially was a Spec. Writer before he ran and was elected President of the Technical, Semi-Technical, and Office Workers Union. Through many bargaining sessions the company soon offered him a management job as Assistant IR Manager for the Beaver and Union Street plants. Eventually he became the IR Manager for all of North Adams. He retired in 1985 after 32 years of service.

Bob was very involved in town politics, serving many years on the Williamstown Finance Committee. During his adult life he remained active in sports, including bowling, golf, tennis, and his favorite - platform tennis. He donated much of his time coaching – Williamstown Little League, Williamstown Boys Club Basketball and American Legion Baseball. 

He became a grandfather for the first time in 1989 and eventually enjoyed all of his eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. He remained active until a 2006 stroke but recovered nicely. He entered Sweet Brook Nursing home in February of 2009 where he remained until his death.

He is survived by his three sons, Michael of Jamison, Penn., and his wife Kathleen and their children Michael Jr. (wife Allison) and Heather, his son Robert Jr. of Seabrook, N.H. and his sons Nick and Willie and his great-grandson Derrick, and his son Andrew of Tucson, Ariz., and his children Andrew Moses, Mirriam, Melanie and Mercie. He is also survived by three nieces, Shirley Warn and her husband John, Donna Mozdzierz and her husband Walt, and Marijane Diodati. 

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Robert Diodati will be celebrated Friday, April 6, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Sts. Patrick and Raphael Church. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery.  

Calling hours at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, Mass., are Thursday, April 5, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Richard Reuther Post 152 American Legion in Williamstown, where he was a member, in care of the funeral home.