Robert E. Oswandel, Army Veteran, West Point Graduate, Dies At 77

Courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home:

Robert E. Oswandel, 77, of Little Silver, passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 20, 2015, at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank.

He was born in Rahway on March 12, 1938. He played football at Rahway High School and was selected as an All-State football player in 1955. He was also inducted into the Rahway Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. He was a graduate of West Point, Class of 1960. He was a member of the Army Football Team and played Center for Army in 1957-1960. The 1958 Football Team, under Coach Earl Blaik, was ranked third in the nation and the last Undefeated Army Team.

After graduation, he spent 20 years in the military, stationed in Germany, Vietnam, Korea and throughout the United States. While in the Army, he received many commendations, including the Bronze Star and the Air Medal for service in Vietnam. He received a masters degree in engineering from Georgia Tech and was an Instructor at West Point from 1969 to 1972. He also was an assistant football coach for the second team during those years.

He retired from the Army in 1980 and shortly thereafter joined ITT Corporation in Clifton, N.J., as a program manager, where he spent twenty-five years. During that time, 1993-2006, he had the privilege to working on the Bowman Program, in Hampshire, England, winning a contract for the United States.

These were special years for Bob and his wife, Cathy. They had the opportunity to travel throughout Great Britain, Ireland and Europe. He retired from ITT in 2006 and started a new life of travel and golf. He was a member of the West Point Football Team Golf Club and enjoyed their yearly tournaments. He was a great fan of the New York Yankees, New York Giants, Golf, Theatre, NYC and long walks with his dog, Summer. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cathy Dunsmore Oswandel of Little Silver and his daughter, Donna Frances Oswandel of Fair Haven. Also, his sister-in-law, Joanne Oswandel; nephew, Edward Oswandel and his wife, Pamela; two nieces, Kelsey and Lauren of York, Pa. He was predeceased by his brother, Edward C. Oswandel and his nephew, Kenneth R. Oswandel.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 26 at the Thompson Memorial Home. Interment will follow at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice .