Robert A. DeSimone, 76, Longtime Newton Resident, Advocate, Singer

Robert A. DeSimone of Newton passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on May 28, 2013. He leaves behind his beloved wife Janet, his daughter Sara DeSimone Scott and husband Gary Scott of Newton, and daughter Maria Carlson and husband Wayne Carlson of Stoughton, and his four grandchildren, Nicholas and Adrian Scott and Andy and Breena Carlson.

He was a devoted brother to his four sisters and their husbands: Frances and late Eugene Facenda of Lexington, Rose Mary DeSimone of Brookline, Alice and Homer Stringos of Lexington, and Patricia and Armand Thiboutot of Boston, and to his departed brothers Frank, John, Salvatore and Louis.

He was a loving “Uncle Bob” to many nieces and nephews.

Bob was born on January 5, 1937 to Fortunatina (Catanzano) and Pasquale DeSimone, who emigrated to Somerville, Massachusetts from Gaeta, Italy.  The family later moved to Lexington where Bob graduated from Lexington High School in 1954.  After serving in the Army, Bob attended Boston University and then the Harvard University Graduate School of Design where he earned the degree of Master in City Planning. 

In his decades of work as a city planner and as a consultant, Bob’s commitment to people and communities was always evident. He served as Assistant Planning Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) where he started and managed its Neighborhood Planning Program, one of the first in the country.  Under Bob’s guidance, district planners focused on the needs and issues of Boston’s many communities, working directly with the neighborhoods to determine their planning and development needs.  He oversaw numerous projects and zoning changes and trained, largely by example, a whole generation of planners who continue to work in and around Boston today.

He then moved on to the non-profit sector as advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and those are who are homeless. At the time the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed, Bob helped to establish The ACCESS Group to undertake the technical work required by the ADA. Bob’s ability to understand the needs and concerns of all participants helped him propose win-win solutions that provided the best outcome for building owners and all users. 

Later, Bob formed Robert A. DeSimone and Associates (RADSA) to focus on the physical development needs of non-profit organizations.  Bob’s tireless energy allowed RADSA, although a small firm, to provide a full range of services to help clients meet their needs for special housing and other physical facilities.  RADSA assisted non-profits to understand their residents’ needs and how to best use their resources, find, apply and fight for funding, hire and work with architects, engineers and contractors, and even fundraising and publicity campaigns.  Bob never failed to put his clients and their populations first, working long hours to reach agreements, prepare documents and figure out how they could best succeed. Without the efforts Bob put forth on behalf of his non-profit clients, the Commonwealth would have less housing for people with brain injuries and for young people aging out of autism programs.

Bob carried over this same level of dedication and compassion into his personal life. Relationships were of utmost importance to Bob and he treated everyone he met as if they were family. He gave compliments freely and never missed an opportunity to demonstrate to those he loved how much he genuinely cared.   Bob was proud of his Italian heritage and he travelled many times to Italy to build and sustain the very close relationships he shared with his many cousins there.  He embraced his role as Papa and took tremendous joy in his four grandchildren, and was an enthusiastic babysitter, chauffeur, sideline soccer fan, and school project helper. He played an integral role in guiding them all toward becoming individuals of integrity and character.

As an active parishioner of Sacred Heart in Newton, he was a founding member of its Social Justice Committee and hosted many discussions on various issues, ranging from “Sudan: Sustainable Peace” to “Mental Illness – Myths and Facts." He was also a longtime member of the choir. 

He loved to sing and was a charter board member and former president of the Boston Minstrel Company. In recent years he started taking voice lessons to further develop his natural singing talent. Recognizing the healing and uniting power of music and singing, Bob recently launched “Greatest Generation Music”, to facilitate karaoke-style singing events at senior centers and assisted living facilities. 

Mother Theresa advised to "Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier." Bob truly lived this every day. Those who knew him are certainly better and happier for having had him in their lives. Bob will be dearly missed.

A funeral mass was celebrated on June 3 at Sacred Heart Church followed by interment in Newton Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to The Boston Minstrel Company, 102 Litchfield St., Brighton, MA 02135 (bostonminstrel.org) or the Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut Street Newtonville, MA 02460

This obituary was provided by his daughter, Sara DeSimone Scott, and written by several members of his family.