Kenneth David Roberts

Kenneth D. Roberts passed away peacefully at the Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick on Wednesday November 25, 2020 at the age of 83. He was predeceased by his son Michael and his parents, Frank and Louise Roberts. Ken leaves behind his beloved wife of almost 61 years, Francine (Cross) Roberts and his four children and their respective families: Michele Roberts and Keith Schneider, Paul and Michele Roberts, Eileen and Raymond Ellis, David and Margaret Roberts. He has seven beloved grandchildren: Krista Roberts, Sarah Ellis and husband Nick McKee, Lauren (Ellis) and husband Dominick Lorusso, Carly Roberts, Gillian Roberts, Faith Roberts, Colin Roberts and one great grandchild: Ryan Lorusso. He also leaves behind his beloved younger sister, Joan Holtz, of Patton, Pennsylvania. Ken was born on March 30, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. He was a proud Mohawk Indian whose family hailed from the Kahnawake Reservation outside Quebec, Canada. His love of his Native American ancestry was apparent in every aspect of his life. Ken attended and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, NY. He was enlisted in the United States Marine Corp from March 1954 though December 1957 as a Lance Corporal. Ken was a member of Ironworkers Local 361 in Brooklyn NY for a combined work/retired total of 62 years. He had a 41 year career in the NYC building trades, retiring on July 4, 1997. Most notably were the follow projects: the Verrazano Bridge, Battery Park City, the Roosevelt Mall and the New York Hospital extension over the FDR Drive. He was the General Superintendent for Canron Steel Erectors for 16 years, a position of authority, expertise and responsibility. He took great pride in teaching his 3 sons the trade and the skills required to be safe and successful in the industry. Ken married Francine on January 16, 1960 and consequently moved to Staten Island, NY where he raised his family. He relocated to Point Pleasant NJ in 2002 where he resided until his death. He was an active member of the St. Charles Catholic Church on Staten Island for over 40 years. Upon moving to NJ, he attended the St. Martha Roman Catholic Church in Point Pleasant where he and Fran could be found sitting in the pew that aligned with the stained glass artwork depicting Mohawk Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Ken was a hard working, deeply devoted, supportive, loving family man. He was so very proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved so many things.... to go to parties, hearing and telling a good story, the construction trades, the great outdoors, camping, planting his gardens, organizing and tinkering around his home and yard, home improvement projects, arts and crafts activities, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, boating, fishing, John Wayne cowboy movies, watching football and baseball (especially the NY teams), traveling throughout the US and parts of Europe, playing cards with his buddies, eating out, going to the movies and any and every form of dessert! His passing was made even more devastating as it was marked by Covid-19. He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday night and placed on hospice by Tuesday afternoon at which time his wife was able to visit with him in person while he was fully conscious. His family was provided with the gift of technology through a hospital iPad and the compassion of the nursing staff to visit with him throughout his hospitalization via FaceTime. He was never alone until his passing, which is probably as it was meant to be. Afterwards, his family FaceTimed their goodbyes, told stories, laughed and shared what he meant to each of them. It was a beautiful opportunity for his family to honor and give gratitude for him. Ken was cremated on Friday November 27, 2020. A Memorial, Military and Celebration of Life Service will be scheduled at a later date in the Spring. That information, when determined, will be posted on this website. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to support the purchase of iPads at Ocean Medical Center by visiting hackensackmeridianhealth.org/GiveNowMHF, selecting “Direct my gift to” and choosing “COVID 19 Emergency Relief Fund.” Gifts can also be made via phone at 732-751-5100 or mail by sending a check made payable to “Meridian Health Foundation” with “IMO Kenneth Roberts” in the memo line to Meridian Health Foundation, 1340 Campus Parkway, Suite C4, Neptune NJ 07753. ~OR~ Ken’s memory can be honored through donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at #718-987-1931 (please specify “IMO Kenneth Roberts) or, checks made payable to “Tunnel to Tower Memorial Donations” with “IMO Kenneth Roberts” in the memo line to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306.