Robert Ronald Vincent, of Garnet Valley, PA, passed away on September 17, 2020, at the age of 87. Born in Philadelphia in 1933 to the late Margaret Mary (Carroll) and John Bernard Vincent, he had three younger siblings, John Bernard, Jr. (deceased), Judith (deceased) and Peter. He is also survived by his wife Karen and three of his four children from his marriage to the late Marie McFarland, Maureen, Colin and Brendan; their son Robert Francis passed away in 2019. Additional surviving relatives are three grandchildren, Matthew, Rachel and Sara Morgan; his niece, Susan Grippen; and an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bob attended St. Martin of Tours Grammar School, St. Joseph's Preparatory School (100th Graduating Class of 1951), Fordham University (BA in Classics) and LaSalle University (MA in Pastoral Counseling, ABD in Counseling and Social Studies). An accomplished athlete in his youth, Bob was captain of the Prep football team, named to the All-Catholic Football Team and received the Notre Dame Club of Philadelphia MVP Award. He was also a member of the track team and a skilled swimmer who worked as a lifeguard in North Wildwood, NJ. He played football at Fordham but suffered a career-ending knee injury during his freshman year. A lifelong sports fan, he was an avid golfer throughout his life.
Following graduation from Fordham, Bob began his teaching and coaching careers at North Catholic High School (assistant coach, football), then at Camden Catholic High School (assistant coach, football and track) and LaSalle College High School (assistant coach, football; City Champions 1960). He returned to the Prep in 1961, where he taught Latin and Greek and served as head coach of the football team from 1961 to 1969. He went on to serve as head football coach at Father Judge High School for two more seasons. Later he became a special roving assistant coach for many years with a number of Philadelphia area high school and college football teams, including Widener University and St. Joe's Prep.
Bob left the teaching profession in the mid-1960s to join his father's business, Frankford Limousine Service, and took over the reins upon his father's retirement a few years later. After 25 years of running and expanding the business, he sold it in 1989 and began a new career in counseling, first in private practice and then for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He went on to work full-time for over 20 years in Social Services at St. Francis Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, an Archdiocesan nursing home in Darby, PA. After his retirement, he continued to work there part-time until 2015, when he retired completely at the age of 82.
Bob was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church who loved working with people, especially young people, as evidenced in his teaching, coaching and counseling careers. He had a strong work ethic that served him well in running a profitable small business. A proud Philadelphian, he also loved the South Jersey Shore and dogs.
No funeral will be held, due to the Covid19 pandemic. Memorial donations may be made in Bob's name to Philabundance, whose food bank provides over 24 million pounds of food annually to those in need: Philabundance, 3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148; 215-339-0900; www.philabundance.org; In memory of Robert Ronald Vincent.
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