Robert J. Lapato

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM

Robert 'Bob' John Lapato was born on May 30, 1947, the first child of John and Florence (nee Marciniak) Lapato of Greenpoint, Brooklyn in New York.  After completing parochial school, he graduated from Regis High School in 1964 and then began studies to enter the Catholic Ministry for the Diocese of Brooklyn.  He received his Bachelor's  and Master's degrees in Philosophy from the Catholic University in Washington, DC.  He left the seminary in 1971 and began working as a nursing assistant at Georgetown Hospital where he met Patricia O’Meara, RN who was working in Medical ICU.

Bob and Pat were married in 1974.  Bob began working at the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, MD in 1973.  Over their forty years of married life, they resided in Columbia and Mt. Airy, MD.  They were blessed with good health, good luck and good friends. They had two sons both of whom grew up, married and had families of their own.  When Bob and Pat retired in 2004 they moved to Bluffton, SC to enjoy the beach and await the arrival of grandchildren.  When the first, Catherine, appeared in 2010 they moved to Providence Forge, VA to be closer to the fun.  They welcomed four grandchildren in all before Pat was diagnosed with cancer and died in late 2014.

Bob moved to Woodstock, MD to be near to his children and his dearest friends.  He rediscovered Diane Bufter, a retired former SSA co-worker and they were married in October 2018.  They promised to share their remaining life journey, their families and their doctors.  Covid-19 was not included, but appeared in spite.  Their love and respect endures.

In a nod to his Jesuit training, Bob’s favorite Latin quote was from Virgil’s Aeneid:  

"Forsan et hacc olim meminisse juvabit" (Translation: "Perhaps someday we will enjoy remembering even these moments.")

Bob died on February 2, 2025.  He is survived by his wife, Diane Bufter; his son Thomas Lapato, daughter-in-law, Krista and their children Catherine and Alex of Naples, FL; his son Brian and and daughter-in-law Elaine and their children Bradley and Wesley of Mt. Airy MD; his sister Joan O’Neil of Windsor, CT. He was predeceased by his first wife Patricia O'Meara, who passed away in 2014, and his brother John Lapato, who passed away in 2023. 

Bob’s words to his children and grandchildren was:  “Do Good Today and Do Better Tomorrow."

LAUS DEO SEMPER

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