Robert William Dapolito

Robert “Bobby” Dapolito, 77, passed away December 1, 2025, following sudden complications associated with an aggressive form of cancer.

Robert “Bobby” was born September 16, 1948, to Louise and Salvatore “Sal” Dapolito in Brooklyn, NY. Just before Bobby started school the family moved from Brooklyn to Staten Island where he grew up and started his love of all sports, especially baseball, football and later golf. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother and father pursuing a career in education. After achieving his master’s degree in special education, Bobby hit the ground running with a passion for empowering his new pupils with the life skills required to lead more independent lives as adults. Unfortunately, his ideas regarding special education (along with women’s rights as evidenced by his green 59 cent pin) were ahead of their time and not appreciated during the mid-1970s.

So, Bobby went back to school in an effort to find a career where he could find fulfillment truly helping others. He found his niche with nursing and was able to care for those who served their country like so many of his friends and family. Bobby was a nurse with the VA for 33 years. He started out working at the Bay Pine VAMC while he lived in St. Petersburg. He enjoyed his work so much that while living in North Carolina he would drive over an hour each way for his shifts at the Salisbury VAMC. Finally, Bobby and his family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where he worked for 24 years caring for the veterans of Western Colorado and finding lifelong friends. Grand Junction was where Bobby was able to flourish. His outgoing, happy-go-lucky yet quirky personality was embraced, and he was able to enjoy walking the green while he quietly hit a few balls on the back nine. Even after his daughter moved away and his wife, Marie, passed he chose to stay in Grand Junction where he felt at home. He never stopped moving forward. He kept up with all thing college football, especially Alabama-Crimson Tide, and built a golfing net in the back yard after visiting and reconnecting with his family on the east coast.

Bobby was a devoted husband and father. He supported and championed his wife completely and did everything possible so that she could achieve her dreams. He was a constant source of stability and unwavering love for his daughter Deanna. Even though he is with his parents Sal and Louise and his wife Marie watching over his friends and family, he will be deeply missed by Deanna and his other daughter Lindsay, his brother Donald (Leith), and his niece and nephews Robert, Jeannine and Donald Jr. Those that called Bobby family, friend, colleague, or practitioner were truly enriched by his presence.

Memorial services will be held on January 10, 2026, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at 904 N 7th St, Grand Junction, 81501. Interment services at Crown Point Cemetery (945 23 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81505) will be held directly after the Memorial service.

For those who plan to attend the Memorial service please consider bringing a dish to share for the casual potluck celebration of life in lieu of flowers or a charitable donation.