Robert Alfred Giombetti, 75, a lifelong resident of Ashland, passed away unexpectedly due to complications from recent heart surgery. Bob was the loving husband of Anne (Biuso) Giombetti and son of the late Amiedio and Rita (Chicoine) Giombetti.

A graduate of Ashland High Class of 1960, Bob served his country honorably and proudly with the Navy from 1960-1963 in the South Pacific. While aboard the U.S.S. Carpenter, Bob became good friends with a fellow shipmate who became family when Bob's middle daughter married his shipmate's oldest son. Bob loved being out on the ocean and traveling, and he continued to do both his entire life. He, his brothers, and their cousins were well known at Chase's Ocean Grove in Dennisport, MA.

He was the "B" in B&E Painting, which he co-founded with his brother Ed. For more than 40 years they painted and wallpapered their way all over the MetroWest area, employing many friends and family members (including his three daughters) in the process. He always believed that if you loved what you did, you would never work a day in your life. He also worked as a licensed realtor for more than 30 years. Bob later became part of another business, Giombetti Clue Properties, working again with his brother Ed and his son-in-law Kevin Clue. They purchased, restored, and rented out properties in several towns, including two in Ashland. It will come as no surprise to anyone who knew him that as he was being readied for his heart surgery, Bob was on his cell phone finalizing the sale of a house for his late neighbor's family.

Bob loved to travel. Although Italy was his favorite place of all to visit, he could be found any place where there was beautiful scenery, delicious food, and good wine. He was almost always accompanied on these trips by Anne, but he was frequently joined by other family members and friends. Travel with Bob was always an adventure, even if that adventure occasionally involved missing the final night train back to a remote Italian village (where his hotel room was waiting) or leading an entire convoy of family members in their rental cars down the wrong road and getting his own vehicle wedged in a tiny narrow lane. Always proud of his Italian heritage, Bob looked up his relatives in Italy and began corresponding with them and then visiting them. He even taught himself Italian so that he could navigate his way around.

At home, Bob knew that Anne was the real artist in the kitchen, but he did have a couple masterpieces of his own. His home fries were legendary, and we all wish we had convinced him to write down the recipe before he left us. He made epic salads and taught his daughters that sometimes it's best not to point out the difference between radicchio and red cabbage.

Bob loved a great deal and was never without a coupon or a rebate form – and he had plenty of them to share with his family and friends. Many of us benefited from his keen ability to spot a bargain, whether that came in the form of a discounted or free kitchen gadget or a good bottle of wine.

In addition to being crazy about family, friends, and travel, Bob was a sports fanatic. When his girls joined the high school track team he took up running, which led to the completion of more races than any of us can count and a collection of t-shirts that he continued to wear until the end. He was a lifelong Bruins fan and played hockey himself as a defenseman. Right up until the week before his heart surgery, he was skating three times a week with his team. When he turned 60, he decided that hockey wasn't enough, so he took up snowboarding. He joined friends and family on many snowboarding trips. He was a fierce bocce player and member of the Columbus Club bocce league in Framingham. He also loved his workouts on the dance floor, with Anne in his arms. Together, they made ballroom dancing look easy.

Early on, as a young newlywed, Bob must have somehow known that he'd eventually have a house full of women. We think that's why he became a scoutmaster to the St. Cecilia's Boy Scouts before he ever became a dad to us. He loved that part of his life and was especially proud that some of his "boys" went on to become Eagle Scouts. Bob also gave back to Ashland by serving on the Board of Health and the Industrial Zoning Board. He believed in giving back and giving gifts – even if those gifts were wrapped in wallpaper and weighed down with hockey pucks so you wouldn't guess what was inside. His final gift was the gift of organ donation. He donated his corneas so that someone else would be able to see.

Bob was a loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He cherished his family above everything else and attended every activity and sporting event that he could for all three of his daughters and then later on for his grandchildren. He was known to pop up anywhere, wearing his signature painting clothes and a big smile. In addition to his wife Anne, the love of his life, Bob is survived by three daughters; Diane Giombetti Clue and her husband Kevin; Christine Shepherd and her husband David, and MaryEllen Giombetti and her husband Dan Glickman; three grandchildren, Domenic Clue, and Vanessa and Allison Shepherd, four brothers, Rick Giombetti and his wife Andrea, Edward Giombetti and his wife Karen, David Giombetti and his late wife Susan, and Fred Giombetti and his late wife Carol, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his four grand-dogs Sadie, Shiloh, Belle, and Graham. He was a caring, kind, funny man who would give anyone the paint-splattered shirt off his back.

We weren't ready to say goodbye to Bob so soon, and Bob wasn't ready to leave – just two weeks after his heart surgery, he was asking his medical team if he'd be able to get back on his snowboard in time for his annual February trip out west.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, October 30th at 9:00am in St. Cecilia's Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland, MA with burial to follow in Edgell Grove Cemetery in Framingham. Calling hours will be held Monday, October 29th from 2:00-7:00 PM in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's name may be made to the Ashland Emergency Fund, PO Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721.