ROBERT “ROB” RAE
Robert “Rob” Rae, 57, passed away early in the morning on March 16, 2024 after a quiet and courageous two year battle with cancer. Those two years were filled with positivity and hope, without a complaint in sight.
Rob was the beloved son of the late Robert D. And Barbara Ann (Friel) Rae. He was the best friend and loving husband of Rosemary (Hayes) Rae; proud and devoted father of Bobbie, Aidan and Catherine; loving brother to Steve (Lisa) Rae and Tricia (Paul) Dietzen and brother in law to Kathy (Jack) Strauss, Maureen (the late John) Kropp and Kevin (Marybeth) Hayes. Rob will be so sorely missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Rob’s life was about making connections. Born and raised in Drexel Hill, Robbie was a proud St. Dot’s and Cardinal O’Hara alumni. It was at St. Dot’s that he started building the friendships that sustained him his entire lifetime. The St. Dot’s boys are the most loyal, kind and fierce friends and Rob cherished them dearly.
After O’Hara, Rob attended Johns Hopkins University, where he expanded his vast circle of friends. Although separated by distance as the years passed, his love for the Hopkins crew never dimmed and he always looked forward the weekends we could all get together.
Rob met his wife of 31 years at a New Year’s Eve party with mutual friends to welcome in the 1990s. The beginning of the decade brought on a lifetime of love, memories, and laughter between Rob and Roe, who became proud parents of 3 children and formed a familial bond with their mutual friends who brought them together.
Rob started his career in sales at Koebert Associates. He earned his executive Masters Degree at the University of Pennsylvania while working at Connor Winfield, a job which gave him the opportunity of lifetime, to start a facility in Ireland. Rob always had an entrepreneurial spirit which eventually led him to fulfilling his dream of creating Columbus Business Partners and later Littus, Inc.
Our years in Ireland were few, but they were outsized in terms of memories made and times cherished. Rob loved the challenge of setting up the operation, but it was the friendships that he cultivated that impacted him the most. Rob embraced every opportunity to deepen his connection to our adopted home and
became a proud Munster Rugby and Clare GAA supporter. Some of his happiest moments were enjoying a pint and soaking in the craic at one of our local pubs.
After leaving Ireland and settling in West Chester, Rob was member of the Saints Simon and Jude parish community. When a volunteer was needed, Rob’s name was often called. He was a dedicated football and basketball coach, continuing to help out with the football program even after his own kids graduated. His warmth, leadership, and dedication to hard work left an indelible mark on the coaches he worked with and young men he uplifted.
Beyond Saints Simon and Jude, Rob enjoyed being part of the West Chester community. He made sure to try all the local watering holes, restaurants, walking trails and local businesses, in particular his decade long devotion to Gage Strength Training. He loved the vibrant town that we chose to call home.
Through his work, Rob kept himself entrenched in the Irish community. He worked with Irish companies and traveled back and forth to Ireland as often as he could. He almost always managed to spend a few days in our village, Quin, catching up with friends and staying in the rooms above the Abbey Tavern. One of Rob’s great joys was creating itineraries for friends who would reach out to him about visiting Ireland. He absolutely loved to share his experiences and his love of Ireland.
Rob’s greatest love and purpose on this earth was being the best husband and father to his family. He showered us with so much love, wisdom, kindness and fun. We were blessed beyond measure to have his positivity and optimism shine on us every day. He endured absolutely brutal chemo treatments but you would never have known it. He knew his cancer journey was part of his purpose on this earth and he fulfilled that purpose by showing us how to live with grace and dignity. He accepted his diagnosis and treatment and his manta was “Let’s Go”. He never, ever gave up hope, nor would he let us lose hope. Rob was immensely grateful to his care team at the Abramson Center in West Chester and all who cared from him while he was in Chester County Hospital.
We will spend the rest of our lives honoring Rob’s memory by trying to emulate some of his finest qualities – making connections, being present with every person you meet, and making everyone feel welcome. He taught us that life is fleeting – send the text, make the phone call, take the trip and always tell your people how much you love them.
All are welcome to his Visitation from 6:00-9:00 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024 and Friday morning, March 22, 2024 Visitation 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM followed by his Funeral Mass 11:00 AM ALL IN CHURCH at SS Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 8 Cavanaugh Ct, West Chester PA. Inurnment Private.
Over the years, we had the opportunity to volunteer at the West Chester Food Cupboard. This was dear to Rob’s heart as he truly wanted to lift up our community. If you are so inclined, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the West Chester Food Cupboard, 431 S. Bolmar St., West Chester, PA 19382.