Fundraiser Launched For Family Of LI Man Killed In Hit-And-Run

MELVILLE, NY — A GoFundMe page was set up to support the family of Robert Twiford, a Melville man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash on the Long Island Expressway in Ronkonkoma on Monday night.

Twiford, lovingly known in the family as Bob or Bobby, leaves behind his wife Donna, daughters Cristina and Stephanie, son Bobby and granddaughter Arianna.

If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe, you may do so here.

Twiford, who was a Lindenhurst native and raised his family in West Babylon before moving to Melville, was a "caring, loving, compassionate and often goofy husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend," said his niece, Melissa McQuade, who organized the GoFundMe.

"There are countless things that I could say, but most of all he loved his family beyond belief and was SO goofy and silly," McQuade told Patch. "He never ceased to make us laugh. He worked so hard to support his family and literally never complained a day in his life."

Twiford was an avid bowler who earned the nickname "BT-Express" by achieving numerous 300 scores throughout his career. He was an expert on all things "Seinfeld," and he would quote the show throughout his everyday life.

Twiford also left behind his four-legged fur babies, who he adored and loved to sneak Burger King to, McQuade said.

"Bob was a die-hard Yankees, Giants and Rangers fan and never missed an opportunity to taunt all of the Mets, Jets and Islanders fans in the family," McQuade said. "His unexpected and shocking passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of all who knew him, especially his devastated wife, children and grandchild."

All donations will go directly to Donna and her children to cover the funeral costs and other expenses related to his sudden death, McQuade said.

More than $5,700 has been raised for the Twiford family as of Thursday afternoon.

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