Raus Sr., Robert W.

Robert William Raus, Sr.

Fairport: 1938-2024 – Robert (Bob) William Raus, Sr. 86, of Fairport, NY, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on June 11, 2024. Bob was born on June 1, 1938 in Syracuse, NY where he married the love of his life Joan Frances Serino on November 22, 1958 and had four children.

Kindness, trustworthiness, humor and generosity are but a few of the words that describe Bob. With humility and quiet determination, he worked every day to follow the ways of Jesus Christ and this infused every part of his life.

Bob’s successful career originated in the engineering apprentice program at General Electric in Syracuse, NY. During this period Bob also served in the National Guard for ten years as a sergeant first class. Recognized for his inventive problem-solving and leadership skills, Bob was hired by General Dynamics in Rochester, NY. He later joined the Xerox Corporation as a Senior Designer and Engineer. Over the course of 34 years Bob received numerous awards for engineering excellence and was granted four United States Patents.

An artist from birth, a lover of architecture and a carpenter, Bob drew house plans and designed furniture. You could find Bob at his workbench with his saws, vices, awls and fasteners for every purpose. Tooling around the hardware store and lumber yard, Bob instilled in his children an appreciation for quality craftsmanship and a love for the scent of freshly cut lumber. Each spring, Bob started seedlings which he and Joan planted, nurtured and later harvested in their extensive vegetable garden. Always playful, Bob enjoyed Euchre and Bridge, doing crossword puzzles and never failed to read the funny pages. For the past five years, Bob took up boxing and joined Rock Steady Boxing – Flower City where he and the many friends he made there worked to fight off the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Bob easily made connections and new friends wherever he went. He was gentle and kind to anyone who had the great fortune to meet him: from bank tellers to co-workers, to neighbors and his boxing buddies he was thoughtful, generous, unrushed and sincere. He was fun to be around: corny and clever, his unique sense of humor, comedic timing, and persistence infused every experience with laughter, including years of epic rainy family camping trips, finding the perfect Christmas tree and countless happy occasions with his extended family. A wonderful, loving, encouraging and engaged father and grandfather, Bob always made time, even after a long day at work to help with homework, attend a game and build the winning car for the pinewood derby. Despite being a man of few words, what he said carried precious weight and will be carried in our hearts always.

A man of deep and unwavering faith, Bob was a communicant of St. John of Rochester Church since 1967. A member of the Men’s Club, he attended at least 30 annual men’s retreats at the Notre Dame Retreat House. He was involved in the parish council, the home and school association and played a pivotal role in the design, fundraising and building of the church, its gymnasium and gathering space.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Theodore George Raus and Ella Pauline (Rasmussen) Raus. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan, his four children Joan Marie Loveless (Don) of Palmyra, Susan Francesconi (Guy) of St Petersburg FL, Robert Raus, Jr, (Holly) of Alpharetta, GA, Andrew Raus (Carolyn) Raus of Fairport, granddaughters, Sandi Loveless, Ella Raffensperger (Dave), Sara Francesconi (Jeremy Ruzich), Emme Raus, and Aubrey Raus, grandsons Matthew Loveless (Candice), Parker Raus, and Greyson Raus, great-granddaughter Cassidy Loveless, great-grandsons Hudson Loveless and Owen Raffensperger, brothers Theodore and Michael (Rita), sisters Kathleen Paquette (Ed), and Debbie Redmond (Pete), numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday June 18, 2024 from 3-6 PM at the Richard H Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Fairport NY. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, June 19 at 11 AM at St John of Rochester Church, 8 Wickford Way, Fairport NY. it will also be livestreamed at https://stjohnfairport.org/streaming.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following wonderful organizations:

The Robert W Raus memorial fund for scholarships and equipment upgrades at Rock Steady Boxing Flower City, a boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease through which Bob developed friendships and managed his symptoms for five years. Please visit https://www.fivestepfitness.com/bob-raus-memorial for Bob’s memorial page and donor link. Checks can also be sent directly to RSB Flower City, 6720 Pittsford Palmyra Rd, Fairport, NY 14450.

Rochester Regional Health Hospice Care RRH Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center Fund at  http://www.rrhgive.org/giving  or by check sent to: Rochester Regional Health Foundations, 330 Monroe Avenue, Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14607.