Obituary of Robert Lee Thomas Jr.

On June 13, 2016, we lost our beloved son and brother Robert L. Thomas, Jr. He was 25 years of age. Robert, nicknamed Robbie by his family and, as he grew older, known as Rob to his close friends, was born in Yonkers, New York on December 18, 1990. He was the first and only son born to Robert and Selena Thomas. He was a graduate of St. Eugene’s Elementary School and Iona Prep and studied criminal justice at John Jay College. His current employment was at Armonk House restaurant where he experienced a welcoming environment. From an early age Robbie was boisterous and full of life. As a young boy he was always adventurous and joyful, running at full speed and jumping from high spaces, but never too far from his doting mother’s arms. He loved nature and the outdoors. He often greeted his family with a dangling worm or fluttering lightening bug, much to his wonder and amusement. He could be seen high-fiving various creatures before returning them safely to their homes. Robbie was extremely bright and would learn new things by observation and by immersing himself in the subject matter. He enjoyed sports activities from a young age and was a gifted athlete, especially in baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer and track. Favorite outdoor activities included fishing and boating with his family during summers in Wisconsin. As Robbie grew older his passion for fitness was ever present. He prided himself on his physique, strength, and the ability to bounce back into shape quickly after an off-season. He enjoyed bonding time with his father by challenging him to an arm wrestle, race, pull-ups, and other playful feats of strength. Robbie enjoyed cooking and was a budding chef. When you came to visit, he would always offer to make you one of his delicious fresh fruit smoothies. Robbie loved to eat well and his tastebuds were often moved by Italian, Asian, and Mexican cuisines. He also enjoyed watching movies and documentaries whether in the theater or the comfort of his own home. Many a time Robbie and his sister would decline other social outings to enjoy countless movie/dinner dates together. Robbie’s loved music, not a day would go by that he did not have a stereo thumping, reciting lyrics, and dancing. He loved to dance and his rhythm never skipped a beat often drawing others to join in playfully. He also loved fashion and expressed his style from his hairline to his sneakers. He was very handsome indeed, and the girls paid him many compliments. One abiding dream of Robbie’s was to one day settle down and become the best dad and husband humanly possible. Robbie defined what it means to be a good person. He had a genuine spirit, a kind soul, and an even bigger heart. Robbie befriended people from all walks of life and had an extremely large social network. When family wanted to reconnect with old friends or distant relatives, Robbie could be counted on to know exactly how to reach them because, unlike most of us well-intended people, he actually stayed in touch regularly with loved ones. Even as time passed and distance,. He always used his own lessons learned as teaching points and gave the greatest advice, even if he didn’t always follow his own. He was a selfless person and placed the needs of others before his own. If in need, he would not hesitate to offer you the shirt off his back or his very last dollar. This is why he was loved by so many and the favor was so easily reciprocated. He will live on in the hearts of everyone that knew him as his smile can be envisioned while shouting “what’s goodie?!” Robbie is survived by his father Robert, mother Selena, and sister Alexandria, as well as Grandmother Rebecca Bennett, Aunt Tonya, Aunt Alice, Aunt Denise, Uncle John, Uncle Antonio, Uncle Johnny Jr., and several close cousins and many special friends. The wake will be held at Sinatra Memorial Home, 601 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers , NY, on Friday, June 17th from 2:00-4:00 pm and 5:00-9:00 pm. The funeral service will take place at St. Eugene's Church, 31 Massitoa Road (corner of Tuckahoe Road and Central Park Avenue, and across from Roosevelt High School), Yonkers, NY, on Saturday, June 18that 9:45 am. Following the service, guests are invited to join the family for repast at their home, 73 Belknap Avenue, Yonkers, NY. Your expressions of love and support are appreciated in any form, including your presence, flowers, or a donation to an animal shelter in Robbie’s memory. For those who wish to send flowers, the family is using Hollywood Florist. Lovingly submitted by the family