Robert H. VandeStadt

Obituary for Robert Henry VandeStadt Written with love by his granddaughter, Nicole Lauer Robert “Bob” Henry VandeStadt of Rocky Hill passed away at the age of 89 on May 14, 2024. He was born to Henry and Elsie VandeStadt in Schenectady, NY on April 3, 1935. Bob leaves behind his loving wife, Ingrid VandeStadt, and a daughter Carrie VandeStadt and her husband Grant Lauer. He also leaves behind his pride and joy, granddaughters Nicole and Erica Lauer, along with his favorite nieces Linda Davis and Dianne Foletto. Bob was predeceased by his two sisters, Eva Mason and Marion Brown. Bob attended the Kingswood School and graduated in 1952. He went on to study Engineering at Trinity College in Hartford, but before he had the opportunity to graduate from Trinity, he enlisted in the United States Army. Bob travelled to Germany and worked as a cartographer in the army for two years. While in Heidelberg, Germany, a group of Bob’s army buddies set him up on a blind date, which led him to meet his beautiful wife of 65 years, Ingrid. Bob and Ingrid clicked instantly, but fate did not truly bring them together until Ingrid moved to Washington D.C. and Bob was discharged from the army. Ingrid said that she knew Bob was the man for her when his first stop back on American soil was to visit her in D.C. (before he even went home to see his mother!). Bob and Ingrid were married in 1959 and lived in their first apartment together in Hartford, before buying a small house in Rockville. They eventually settled in Tolland, Connecticut where they raised their family. Despite dreams of working as a tree surgeon, Bob continued his work as a cartographer and engineer, dedicating his career to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for 33 years. There are legends of an elusive “Van” Pond scattered upon the occasional map of Connecticut. When Bob retired from the CT DOT, he finally embraced his passion for working outdoors. Bob worked as a landscaper at the Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford for several years and took great pride and joy in maintaining an immaculate lawn. While he never let his granddaughters ride his prized lawnmower, his golden retrievers, Riley and Clancy, were known to take it for the occasional spin. In 1985, Bob and Ingrid moved to Rocky Hill, CT to enjoy their retirement years. They spent many of those years fulfilling their love of travel aboard cruise ships. Together, Bob and Ingrid travelled to six continents – they never dared to visit the cold of Antarctica. Throughout his retirement, Bob also remained close with his buddies from the DOT and they religiously maintained a Friday breakfast date at Bob’s Coffee Shop in Rocky Hill. Bob will be remembered by his family and friends as a devoted Dutchman full of integrity and kindness. Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family.