Joseph "Bob" Robert Neri's Obituary
Joseph Robert “Bob” Neri passed away peacefully on January 6, 2024 at home surrounded by family. He was 84 years old.
Bob was born on June 3, 1939 in Washington, DC. He was the son of the late John and Catherine Neri. He lived in NW DC. for eleven years, and then moved to NE DC until he married. Those were his Turkey Thicket days of playing baseball and hanging out all day at the field.
Bob graduated from John Carroll High School in 1957. He immediately went to American University for a brief time, but ultimately graduated from Southeastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. He also served in the D.C. Air National Guard where he served for 6 years.
Bob worked for the Federal Government starting at the Department of Defense from 1959 to 1974. He then became an investigator for the U.S. Civil Service Commission, and then for General Services Administration (GSA) as a security and resolution specialist.
Bob retired from his federal service in 1989, but he could not relax for long. He worked as a contractor for the Federal Government with both OPM and USIA as a background investigator. He had also started selling real estate part-time in 1973 and worked in real estate for 45 years until he had his accident in 2018. His best real estate years were with Trademark Realty, where his fellow colleagues became family.
Bob first met his future bride Shirley (Sleeman) Neri in elementary school. Coincidentally their parents knew each other as well. They began dating in their teenage years and were married August 25, 1963. They enjoyed traveling across the world, spending time with friends and family, and occasional gambling at casinos.
Bob enjoyed going to church and singing in the choir, delivering Meals on Wheels, going to the gym, playing golf and poker and watching his beloved Washington Nationals baseball team.
Bob is survived by his wife Shirley of 60 years, daughters Renee Neri (James Byrum) and Pamela Melvin (Mark Melvin). He is also survived by his four grandchildren Jacqueline De Puy (Joshua), Michael Melvin (Erika), Stephen Melvin and Hannah Belcourt, and three great-grandsons, Zachary, Cameron and Hayden, who will make his appearance this month. He leaves behind his younger brother John Neri, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 10620 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 on Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 11am-12pm. The service will start at 12pm, with a eulogy to follow. Following the service, all are welcome to join the family for a meal in the church hall. The burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, 8000 Woodyard Rd., Clinton MD 20735 on Monday, January 22nd at 12pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either of
two organizations close to Bob’s heart, which are Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Research Hospital.
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