Robert Lauricella

Robert (Rob) Alan Lauricella
September 8th, 1953 - November 3rd, 2023


Passed away on November 3, 2023 at the age of 70.

Rob is predeceased by his parents, Vivian & Joseph Lauricella, and brother, Richard Lauricella, as well as several beloved brothers-in-law, in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathryn Lauricella; daughters, Melissa Lauricella Bergstrom and her dear partner Dave, Andrea & Amanda Lauricella; Grandson, Jaden; several in-laws, cousins, nieces & nephews, and dear friends.

A funeral mass will be held on December 29th at 11am at St. John The Evangelist Church, 55 Martha St. Spencerport, NY 14559.

As a young person, Rob loved playing soccer, eventually having the honor of making the team at St. John Fisher College as a freshman. Even as a teenager, he was a gentle, introverted soul who preferred deep conversation over the loud din of parties.

Early on, Rob discovered what would blossom into a lifelong love of music, purchasing his first guitar from a local shop in Rochester and forming a band with several of his friends. As a drummer and songwriter, he wrote dozens of songs reflecting on his life experiences. When he wasn't playing music, he enjoyed going to concerts: notably, Chicago, the Eagles, and the Beatles. He spoke with a sparkle in his eye every time he told his daughters about getting to see his favorite band, The Beatles, play on their last tour at the Maple Leaf Gardens on a family trip to Toronto in 1966 when he was thirteen years old. Years later, as a sixth grade teacher, having noticed a student of his who dreamed of playing the drums but didn't own a drum set, Rob gave the student his own drum set.

Rob met the love of his life, his wife Kathy, while working at Star Market as a teenager and enjoyed composing music for her while they dated and became engaged. While expecting their daughter Melissa, Rob and Kathy lived at the family farm on Vroom Road, and even recently, he reminisced about "what a joy" it was to be there; favorite memories included walking down the lane, riding bikes to the local store to get ice cream, and spending time outdoors on warm summer days. He treasured Sunday dinners (his mother's chicken soup and meatballs) at his parents' home, only a couple of miles from his own house.

Some of Rob's favorite places to travel were the brilliant blue waters of Hawaii, where he and Kathy spent their honeymoon, the West Coast beaches of Los Angeles, the unique beauty of the mountains in Denver, and the quiet power of the green Catskills in Bethel (where Woodstock was held in 1969). Closer to home, he loved going to Red Wings baseball games, the Spencerport Fireman's parade and carnival, Lugia's Ice Cream, Grandpa Sam's, and Agatina's. When he wasn't cracking jokes himself, he enjoyed laughing at comedy specials; George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, and Larry David were among his favorites.

Rob shared his love of music and movies with his three daughters, taking them to countless concerts (Hillary Duff, Alanis Morrisette, New Kids on the Block, to name a few) and the movie theatre (Harry Potter, the Babysitters Club, Titanic among many more), where he always bought them popcorn and soda. It was a common occurrence for him to come home from work and surprise one of his daughters with a CD or VHS that he knew they would love. The wonder and joy that a beautiful song or wonderfully made movie brought him was contagious, and is a gift that his daughters will have, always, because of him. Well loved board games were played on weekends, and many a summer evening was spent shooting basketballs in the driveway after dinner.

Rob spent 31 years working as a United States Postal Carrier, delivering mail day after day, in all kinds of weather. While the job could be demanding, he spoke with affection for his colleagues, with whom he shared many laughs and jokes in between sorting letters and parcels, and spoke up to management, advocating for fair treatment of his colleagues. He was so popular on his mail route that come Christmastime, residents would meet him at their mailboxes to offer him cards, cookies, and other small tokens of appreciation.

Later in life, Rob rekindled his love of soccer and coached his daughter Amanda and her team for many years, eventually leading them to become champions as they won a highly anticipated local soccer tournament. As a coach, he didn't yell, but encouraged the young players, telling them that the most important thing was doing your best and having fun. His ability to see past winning and losing and cultivate a deep appreciation of joy in the present moment was rare and remarkable. He also enjoyed a return to one of his first loves, teaching, after retirement, by serving as a substitute teacher in Spencerport Central Schools. He attended church each week and served as an usher for many years, where he found joy in connecting with faith and community.

The family is grateful for the compassion and care of the hospice staff who helped care for Rob at the end of his life, and his daughters are thankful for the devoted and unconditional care that Kathy gave him each day.

If you are so moved, please consider donating to Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, an organization that works tirelessly to keep music programs alive and accessible in schools across the country.