Family man, design consultant, motorcycle enthusiast
Rob Carrona. (Courtesy photo)
Robert Charles Carrona, loving father, husband, and a friend to so many, died after a two-month battle with pancreatic cancer on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at the age of 54.
Rob was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, to John Joseph and Barbara (Garwacke) Carrona, who both predeceased him. The family moved to Annursnac Hill in Concord, where Rob grew up and then graduated from Concord-Carlisle Regional High School. He met Sally (Kennedy), his wife, while working at the Concord Country Club in the summer of 1983. They have been together ever since.
Rob studied creative arts and architecture, graduating from Massachusetts College of Art with a BFA in industrial design. As a young man, Rob spent time in Harvard Square, Boston, and London, England, studying and working in architecture and industrial design before settling down and starting a family in Harvard. He built a successful consulting career over 25 years working as a designer in the exhibit, trade show, and architectural fields.
Rob loved his family, a wide circle of friends, and outdoor adventures of all kinds. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a unique ability to meet new people and establish friendships everywhere he went. Rob was an avid motorcyclist and would choose to drive a Ducati to work any day over car or train. He relished the opportunity to ride his Italian motorcycles at the track with friends or along the winding country roads of New England. Many a weekend was spent dirt-bike riding off-road in Vermont with his son, Matt, finding and exploring new routes to various eateries and spectacular vistas on his KTM 250.
Rob’s enthusiasm for life, adventure, love of learning, and his ability to share his creativity, kindness, and wit will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Rob is survived by his loving wife, with whom he spent 32 Valentine’s days, Sally Kennedy Carrona; their beautiful children that he was so very proud of, Matthew (15) and Phoebe (13); a brother, John D. Carrona, and his wife, Cynthia, of Uncasville, Connecticut; a sister, Susan Grace, and her husband, Michael, of Peachtree City, Georgia; many nieces and nephews; and countless truly wonderful friends.
A memorial service will be held March 4 at 11 a.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center (pathology.jhu.edu/pc/support.php) in memory of Robert Carrona or gofundme.com/sjjj8v5n.
To view the full obituary, visit badgerfuneral.com.
