Robert F. Fanelli

Robert F. Fanelli, 86 years old of Newtown Square, PA passed away Wednesday March 29, 2023, in Newtown Square, PA.

He was the husband of Alison L. (Bard) Fanelli.

Born November 1936, in Shenandoah, PA, he was the son of the late Edward Louis Fanelli and the late Helen R. (Dorning) Fanelli.

Bob, as most people referred to him, grew up in Shenandoah, PA. When he was 11 years old his father died, and this experience profoundly shaped Bob’s personality. Bob, his older brother Eddie, and younger sister Louise had to step up and help their mother, who began working full time as a nurse to support the family.

While in grade school Bob became enthusiastic about jazz music and began playing the saxophone. This became a lifelong pursuit of excellence, practicing every day up until the last few months of his life.

His natural talent and hard work paid off quickly and before graduating high school, he was traveling to New York City and auditioning for well-known artists. Bob passed an audition for Maynard Ferguson’s band as a high school senior, but his mother did not allow him to join as she felt he was too young and needed to finish high school first.

After attending the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, in Lancaster, PA, founded as a public institution for orphans of Pennsylvania who were willing to learn a trade, Bob toured full time with Gabe Garland’s big band, backing up singers such as Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Eddie Fisher, and Patti Page. Growing tired of being on the road, he left to study music at West Chester University (WCU) where he graduated with a B.S. in Music Education and a Master of Education degree. It is here that he met his wife and love of his life Alison (Bard) Fanelli.

After graduating from WCU, Bob worked as a music teacher for Rose Tree Elementary School in Media, PA and at Oxford Middle School in Oxford, PA. While he and a few of his college friends were teaching at area schools, they formed a band named “The Teachers.” After the band was signed to Cameo Parkway Records (which became Philadelphia International Records) in 1966, they gave up their teaching careers to pursue music full-time.

The band appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Phyllis Diller Show and The Mike Douglas Show. They shared dinners with Bob Hope, Ed Sullivan, and Johnnie Ray. As backup vocalists, they worked in the Philadelphia recording studios, including Sigma Sound, and appeared on records by Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and Al Martino.

After leaving the band, Bob joined Johnson & Johnson where he worked for 30 years in medical sales and as a Director for the Quality Improvement Process. After retiring from J&J, he continued his career success by owning and operating three franchise locations of Home Instead Senior Care. This entrepreneurial talent and drive is something he shared with and nurtured in his daughter Jennifer.

Bob was a founding member of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Chester, PA. In recent years Bob was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Media, PA. Bob was deeply involved with charitable organizations and spent years as a volunteer teaching music lessons to inmates at Graterford Prison and conducting their stage band. Throughout his life he was involved with West Chester University’s Criterions, the longest running university jazz band in the country. Bob generously supported the university, Chester County Hospital, Main Line Animal Rescue, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Bob never stopped playing music and he released several well-received jazz albums over the years that featured his melodic and inventive alto and tenor sax playing, as well as his pure and relaxed singing style. Bob was one of the one hundred or so musicians included in the “A Great Day in Philadelphia” photograph, taken in front of the John Coltrane House, meant to honor the most respected jazz musicians in the Philadelphia area. Bob’s son Robert has continued carrying on the family's musical legacy.

While his talents were impressive, what people remember most about Bob is his unforgettable smile, his zest for life, his sense of humor, his adventurous spirit, his boundless optimism, his love of people and animals, and his genuine warmth and generosity towards everyone he met. He was a devoted husband and father, a renaissance man who could do most everything well, and a loyal and treasured friend to so many who loved him.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Jennifer Fanelli, son Robert Fanelli (Karin Morris), sister Louise Milewski (Al), sister-in-law Dolores Fanelli, his beloved rescue dog Peanut, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass on Saturday June 10, 2023, 11:00 am at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Main Line Animal Rescue, 1149 Pike Springs Rd Chester Springs, PA 19425.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181www.DellaFH.com