Robert A. Nardolillo, Jr.

of Caswell St., Narraganset, RI and North Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2021 at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA.  He was the beloved husband for 43 years of Kim A. “Poochie” (DeVincenzo) Nardolillo.  Born in Providence, the devoted son of Dorothy A. “Dottie” (Ferranti) Nardolillo of Cranston and the late Robert A. Nardolillo, Sr., he resided in Narragansett since 1988, previously residing in Cranston and had wintered in Boca Raton since 2002.
Mr. Nardolillo was President of Nardolillo Funeral Homes, Inc. of Cranston and Narragansett since 1980 and President of Park Avenue Investments, Inc. of Cranston.
Mr. Nardolillo, along with his brothers David and Angelo, were extremely proud of their five sons representing the fourth generation of funeral directors serving the community since 1906.  He distinguished himself early as a young funeral director as a problem solver, task master, and leader; all that would translate well into the private sector and that would earn him several high-level positions.  His magnanimous personality helped spark unbreakable friendships locally and around the U.S.  He distinguished himself as a mentor and friend, as well as a father figure to many under his command at the funeral home.
He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, Providence, attended Bryant College and was a graduate of New England Institute of Anatomy and Mortuary Sciences, Boston in 1976.  He was an Executive Board Member and past President of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association; a member of the National Funeral Directors Association serving on its Policy Board; past member of the Rhode Island Medical Examiners Commission: and was a Charter Member of the Ethics Association of America.  He completed a course in disaster training at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD sponsored by the Federal Emergency Training Center in conjunction with the National Funeral Directors Association earning certification as a Certified Disaster Coordinator for the State of Rhode Island in 1983.  Mr. Nardolillo completed a program at Eye & Ear Hospital in Boston and was certified in eye enucleation.
In 1986 he was appointed to serve on the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Embalming and Funeral Directing for six years and re-appointed to the same board in 2000 serving six additional years.  In 1999, Mr. Nardolillo was recognized by the RI State Medical Examiner’s Office for his volunteer services at the temporary morgue site at Quonset Point during the EgyptAir Flight #990 Disaster.
He served several years as co-chairman for the annual American Heart Association Ball in Newport, RI.
He was a member of the Narragansett Zoning Board of Review from 2002 to 2006; former member and President of the Italo-American Club, Providence; member of St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston; Santa Maria di Prata Society, Cranston; Knights of Columbus Scalabrini Council, Johnston; Narragansett Lions Club; Bonnet Shores Beach Club; Aurora Civic Association, Providence; Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Narragansett; San Bernardo Society; and former member of the Alpine Country Club, Cranston.
Besides his wife and mother, he was the devoted father of former RI State Representative Robert A. Nardolillo, III and his wife Jacqueline and Ryan J. Nardolillo, Vice President of St. Mary's Feast Society and his wife Julie, all of Coventry; loving and cherished grandfather of Rocco and Milania Nardolillo; and dear brother of Dr. Mari Nardolillo-Dias and her husband Raul and David M. Nardolillo, all of North Kingstown, and Angelo M. “Al” Nardolillo and his wife Donna of Cranston.
Loving son-in-law of Salvatore “Sammy” DeVincenzo and his late wife Jean; dear brother-in-law of Gina Giarrusso and her husband Angelo of Narragansett; proud uncle of Lindsay Dias, Dr. David M. Nardolillo, Jr. and his wife Katie and their daughter Everleigh, Angelo M. Nardolillo, Jr., Andrew M. Nardolillo and his wife Erin and their daughter Isabella, Anthony J. Nardolillo and his wife Lindsey and their sons Roman and Luca, Adam Dias and his fiancée Ema Waldschmidt, Giana Giarrusso, Angelo Giarrusso, Jr., Talia Giarrusso and her fiancé Dr. Alexander Sabitoni and Haley Nardolillo.
His Mass of Christian Burial, to which relatives and friends are invited, will be held on Saturday, July 31st at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 1525 Cranston St., Cranston. Burial will be private.  VISITING HOURS are Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Nardolillo Funeral Home & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude Memorial Fund, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.