DeLisa, Robert J.
Robert John DeLisa, 82, of Old Saybrook, CT, died Sunday, August 15, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Wendy Islieb DeLisa. Bob was born June 24, 1939 in Hartford, CT to Michael R. DeLisa and Rose E. (Grossi) DeLisa, raised in Hartford's South End, and was a 35-year
resident of Old Saybrook. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1957 and was a proud graduate of Villanova University where he served as class president. He received his M.S. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Hartford, where he later served as an adjunct faculty member of the school's Barney School of Business. Bob was an officer in the Connecticut Army National Guard 1961-64.
Bob was President and Founder of DeLisaGroup, LLC, a team of organizational development experts offering consult to businesses looking to improve their workplace culture and productivity. Along with Kelly McDaniel, M.B.A., he was the author of The Unforgettable Boss: The Seven Fundamentals of Managing and Motivating. Prior to forming DeLisaGroup in 1977, Bob spent his early work career managing several successful ventures in retail, sales and advertising businesses including serving as Vice President of Human Resources for Motts ShopRite and ShopRite Supermarkets.
Bob and Wendy were married August 23, 2003 at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, and together they happily resided in Old Saybrook for 18 years. In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his three loving children: Robert M. DeLisa and his wife Lisa of Stonington, Janine DeLisa Chapdelaine and her husband Jim of West
Hartford, and Lauren DeLisa Siegel and her husband Dr. Jonathan Siegel of Cromwell; six grandchildren who
knew him as Pop Pop: Michelle DeLisa Calderone and her husband Roy, Katie DeLisa and partner Richard Wood, Kevin Peter DeLisa, Annie Rose Chapdelaine, and Joseph and Tobias Siegel; and his darling great granddaughter Sadie Leyna Calderone, eight months old. He is also survived by his two brothers and sisters-in-law Thomas F. and Mary Anne DeLisa and Michael A. and Abigail DeLisa all of Old Saybrook; two nieces and a nephew: Patti-Ann Brouillette, Cynthia DeLisa, and Andrew DeLisa; his sister-in-law Claudia Islieb Thesing; his former wife Betty Ann Rudolph; and a myriad of friends and colleagues whom he cherished. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Peter M. DeLisa, his in-laws Marjorie and Rexford Islieb, and his brother-in-law Robert H. Thesing.
His interests and involvements were vast and varied including serving as emcee of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Pageant, and as a teacher at Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington. In the early 60s, with his brothers, he opened DeLisa's Restaurant in Hartford which is remembered as the premier entertainment nightclub of its day. He was the owner of multiple restaurants and clubs including The Knickerbocker Pub, Fast Eddies, DeLisa's After Dark, and Higganum Music Hall.
Over his lifetime Bob enjoyed tennis, bridge, pool, and a good game of golf which he approached with
joy, a competitive spirit, and a little trash talk. He was an avid Red Sox fan and cheered UConn's men's and women's basketball teams when they weren't playing the Villanova Wildcats. Go Nova!
Bob's true talent was to read his audience, wherever and whenever that was, lighting up a living room or stage, and making everyone feel comfortable with a compliment, joke or song. He was a natural and gifted
performer. And when people wanted to solve a problem, they would go to Bob. Whether it was a neighbor, client, colleague or someone he met through his travels, he made friends all over the world and, to a person, everyone who met Bob remembers him as truly unforgettable.
Due to Covid restrictions, and according to his wishes, a celebration of Bob's life is planned for June 2022 where HIS PLAN includes much music, fun remembrances, telling of jokes and gimlets. To honor Bob's memory, donations to The Lustgarten Foundation: Pancreatic Cancer Research would be welcomed and appreciated. Go to this link: https://lustgarten.org/donate/ and reference Bob DeLisa.
Parting thoughts per Robert J. DeLisa, from the poem What Will Matter by Michael Josephson (c) 2003: “Choose to live a life that matters. Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.”