It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Robert Walsh, who died peacefully on Monday, May 25, 2026. At the same time, we are, and always will be, profoundly grateful to the palliative care doctors and nurses at Thompson Hospital and to Susie Underhill, Mary Brady, and all the incredibly loving and caring volunteers at Light Hill comfort care home, where Bob was fortunate enough to spend the final two weeks of his life.

Bob was a wonderful husband, father to his and Nancy's children, Amy and Brian, father-in-law to Josie, and "Pops" to his three grandchildren, Olivia, Noah, and Paul. He was devoted to his loving wife, Nancy, his partner of over 57 years. They would've celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in August. He was a good man who loved life and was always quick to laugh. He was always ready with a good story or joke of his own, or happy to hear one from someone else. He also always joked that he could play any instrument, as long as it wasn't actually there. He played a mean air guitar and entertained himself and everyone around when he did this!

He and Nancy were so fortunate to truly love each other's families, as well as each other. Her siblings became his, and his became hers, and that has continued to this day. Recently, Bob, Nancy, all four of Bob's siblings and spouses spent a magical, wonderful long weekend in one enormous, beautiful unit at Hollywood Hills outside of Old Forge. It is one of those times that will be remembered by all of them forever – truly special!

He was a huge music fan, loving music of all kinds. His and Nancy's first date was to go see Bat McGrath and Don Potter play at Hylie Morris Alley, the club they owned at the time. Over the years, he and Nancy, along with her brother Tom and/or sisters Carol and Barbara and their husbands, Bart and Tom, were fortunate enough to attend many, many wonderful music concerts: all of the Lilith Fair concerts held at "the shell" in Canandaigua, going to see and hear dear friend Maria Gillard play in several venues, enjoy an early date seeing James Brown (one of Bob's all-time favorites!) play in Rochester, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, I'm With Her, Jackson Browne, … The list goes on and on. The final, absolutely wonderful concerts he and Nancy were privileged to attend and thoroughly enjoy were 3 Eagles shows at Sphere in Las Vegas. The final show they saw was at the end of March, just before Bob became sick and had to be hospitalized 3 times from March 31st – May 11th, when he was fortunate enough to be transferred to Light Hill. He and Nancy felt so lucky for all the fabulous concerts they have been able to attend over all their years together, and especially that final Eagles concert, because Bob thoroughly enjoyed every minute of that show and weekend!

He was also dedicated to his career in special education, beginning with supervising student teachers throughout the Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES area through SUNY Geneseo. He went on to become the principal of center-based special education programs at BOCES, then served in several key roles at the ARC of Monroe and finally became the president of CP Rochester from 1993 – 2007. In 2009, he was honored by being inducted to the CP Rochester Wall of Honor. He also served on the NY State CP Board and was extremely proud of the role he played in working to establish some of the first residential homes for special needs individuals.

Having been born in Syracuse, Bob was naturally a huge fan of the SU basketball team, but also the Yankees, as well as a long-suffering but devoted fan of the Cleveland Browns, through all their ups and downs, from the time they drafted Jim Brown from SU in the late-1960's.

He loved going to the Adirondacks with his family many summers as a boy, and he and Nancy spent their honeymoon at the Albedor near Old Forge, and over many subsequent years, they, their children, Bob's parents, siblings, spouses, and children enjoyed many summer vacations in and around Eagle Bay. On those trips, Bob, his brother Dave, and their dad would always play a round of golf at Thendara, and forever after, they told hysterical stories of their many "memorable experiences"!

Bob was a person who made close, dear friends, and they became friends for life. To this day, some of his closest and dearest friends are some from his childhood, college years and his many years working in special education. Many of those same people came to visit him and to share stories and great belly laughs during the last few weeks of his life.

The weekend before Bob died, his entire family came to all be together, not having any idea his end of life was so close at hand. During that weekend, he was able to come home for one entire afternoon and evening, enjoying just being together with family. The next day at Light Hill, he made special time to have one-on-one time with each of them, and all three grandchildren were able to hug him, tell him they loved him, and what they loved about him. We didn't realize it at the time, but all of this turned out to be a wonderful, final gift to all the family.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, his children, Amy of Winter Park, FL, Brian (Josie) of Windham, NH, his grandchildren, Olivia, Noah, and Paul, his siblings Diane Parzych, David (Nornie), Sandra (William Walker), Peggy (Tom Ruane), Nancy's siblings, Stuart (Jean), Tom, Carol (Bart), and Barbara (Tom), and many extended family members and dear friends.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 8, from 1 PM to 4 PM at Fuller Funeral Home, 190 Buffalo Street, Canandaigua. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future time, yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Light Hill, 5160 Parrish Street Extension, Canandaigua, NY 14424.

Bob will always be remembered for his love, his laughter, his dedication to his family and to his profession and the countless lives he touched through that profession.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com.