Robert Paul Palese died on Thursday, March 28, 2013  surrounded by family and friends at the Delaware Hospice in Milford after a two-year battle with melanoma.

He was born on November 23, 1929 in Wilmington, Delaware to James and Agnes Palese and attended Christ our King school and graduated from P.S. DuPont High School in 1947, where he was in the school’s band as a drummer.

Robert was in the U.S. Army’s 47th Division at Camp Rucker from 1951 to 1953 in the Army’s marching band.

While stationed in Birmingham, Alabama, he met Aline Tarwater and they married on February 14, 1953; they were married for 60 years and had three children, Robert David (Bobby), Cheryl Ann (Sherry) and Catherine (Blair).

Robert worked as a salesman for Advance Paper and Chemical and for Galer and Hults for almost 40 years.

“DrummerMan” Bob’s real love was music and he played in a number of bands including with legendary trumpeter Clifford Brown, the Mary Johnson Quintet and the Manny Klein and Ralph Marterie bands as well as the Wilmington Symphony. He was with the Rhythm Doctors band in Wilmington for more than 25 years and had his own band, the Bob Parker Orchestra, for more than a decade. In his later years, he played in a local Rehoboth band, Three Hits and a Miss, for five years. Bob was playing until four months before his death and will be remembered by many as a great drummer and musician.

He was actively involved as an usher at his church, St Edmond, and was previously the Vice President of UNICO, the Italian American Service Club.

Bob was devoted to his family and known for his kindness, generosity and positive outlook on life. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was always the life of the party.

Robert is survived by his beloved wife Aline, daughter Cheryl Ann (Sherry) of Elkton, MD, her partner James Groome, his daughter Catherine (Blair), her husband Enrico Coiera, their son Lucca of Sydney, Australia, his sister Darcy and her husband Robert of Lancaster, PA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and Sherry’s four foster children.

Robert is preceded in death by his son Robert David, mother Agnes, father James and sister Jeanne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Delaware Hospice (http://www.delawarehospice.org). Robert’s family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at the Delaware Hospice at Milford, and his care teams at the Delaware Veteran’s Administration and Tunnel Cancer Center.