Obituary: Robert J. Hanley
October 1, 1946 – February 16, 2025
February 26, 2025
Robert J. Hanley, 1946 - 2025
Robert J. Hanley, 78, of St. Cloud, Florida, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025, at the Tampa VA Hospital after an extended illness, with his family at his bedside. Robert was born in Burlington, Vermont, to Harold and Hazel (Smith) Hanley. He grew up and spent most of his life in Waterbury, Vermont, before becoming a snowbird and moving to St. Cloud in 2005. Robert will be remembered as being a gentle and kind man, liked by all who knew him.
Robert, who graduated from Waterbury High School in 1964, was initially in the U.S. Navy Reserves in Burlington, then went on active duty aboard the USS Runner, among the last of the diesel submarines. Robert very much enjoyed his duty aboard the Runner, especially the time spent in the Mediterranean. He had great stories of his time there.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Robert became a member of the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS). MARS is a Department of Defense program that uses amateur radio operators to support the military. In his early years with MARS, Robert felt privileged to send messages between service members and their families. In later years, he became more involved with disaster preparedness. His current leader said of Robert that, “his calm ‘can do’ attitude was a hallmark of his personality and made him a valuable member.”
Robert graduated from Champlain College, Vermont Technical College, and St. Michael’s College. He was employed for several years by Digital Equipment Corporation as a computer engineer, work that he very much enjoyed. He was very disappointed when Digital closed its Vermont operations and eventually sold out to Compaq. Robert then worked helping Zachary’s Pizza develop and maintain their computer system. He finally worked for Innosoft of Essex Junction, a software company formed by friends from Digital.
For several years, Robert volunteered as an auditor for the Waterbury High School Alumni Association and the Dac Rowe Scholarship Fund.
On June 8, 2002, Robert married Sharon (Brown) Romeo. They enjoyed many adventures, including raising service dogs for Canine Companions and Pawsitive Action. They also trained Robert’s own dog to be a service dog, as Robert was a paraplegic since his automobile accident in 1975.
Robert and Sharon have enjoyed traveling, especially several vacations to Prince Edward Island. However, Robert’s favorite vacation was a 30-day road trip from their home in Vermont, across U.S. 2 west to Montana, then south to Arizona on U.S. 89, then east to their home in Florida.
Robert loved playing card games, especially cribbage, which his mother had taught him, and Yahtzee with his mother and his daughter, and a variety of other games including his favorite, Hand & Foot. Robert was a die-hard Red Sox and Boston Celtics fan. When he moved to Florida he became a New England Patriots fan, to the ire of his Indiana friends. Robert also loved to read and watch old movies – he had about 100 movies on his top-10 list.
Robert also loved owning and working on cars, from the 1946 Mercury convertible to the Corvairs, Corvettes, Subarus, and Chrysler Sebring convertibles and especially the 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible that he owned since 1978.
Robert leaves his wife and constant companion Sharon, his daughter Rhonda Hanley in Burlington, Vermont, his brother Jim Hanley in Ocala, Florida, his sister Nancy Mackey (husband George) of Elmore, Vermont and Zephyrhills, Florida, step-daughter Susan Vanderhoof of Essex Jct, sisters-in-law Chila Russell in Waterbury and Deb Brown of Zephyrhills, grandchildren Chris, Cassie, Cayleigh and Maddy Vanderhoof as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister-in-law Shannon Hanley, and brothers-in-law Edward Brown and William Russell.
There will be a graveside service in the spring in Waterbury, Vermont. If anyone would like to make a donation in memory of Robert, please consider Wesley United Methodist Church, 56 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676, or Canine Companions, 8150 Clarcona Ocoee Road, Orlando, FL 32818.