Calling it “a love letter to our father,” Bobby Montesano delivered a touching eulogy at the funeral Mass for Vincent John Montesano held March 15 at Our Lady of Grace Church.
Speaking on behalf of his older brothers, Charles Montesano and Vincent Montesano (who like Bobby are outstanding athletes and gentlemen), and the seven Montesano grandchildren, Bobby began by expressing his gratitude to all the people who attended the memorial observances for Mr. Montesano, who passed away on March 6, 2026, at the age of 90.
Bobby spoke of his grandparents, Charles R. Montesano and Frances (Randazzo) Montesano who carried with courage their dreams across the ocean from Mistretta in Sicily, Italy, to the United States. Mrs. Montesano would become a popular and beloved foreign language teacher at Chelsea High School who later served on the Chelsea School Committee.
Bobby expressed his admiration for his father and how at the age of 18, he lost his father, yet carried on so well the family legacy and the family grew stronger.
“At age 23, you married the love of your life, my mother, Jean (Mitchell) Montesano, and together you built something stronger than any hardship – a home filled with love, loyalty, and laughter,” Bobby told the gathering.
Bobby said he and his brothers, Charlie and Vinny, “were raised with something priceless: love for one another, we were a reflection of yours and mom’s character and work ethic and respect for family traditions.”
Bobby noted how each of the grandchildren carry “pieces of you with them.”
He remembered the heartbreak that his father felt when he lost his loving companion and wife, Jean, to cancer in 2009.
At that point, feeling the weight of an intensely emotional speech, Bobby turned the podium over to his son, Robert Montesano Jr., who to his forever lasting credit, took the beautiful words of tribute eloquently to their conclusion.
“It was too early and we weren’t ready to say goodbye,” continued Robert about Mrs. Jean Montesano’s passing. “She was the greatest mother a son could ever had. Not a day passes that she isn’t in my thoughts and prayers. Dad, I was so proud of how you prepared yourself for that loss, and how you held the family together and continued to do the best you could.
“You showed us what resilience and perseverance looked like.”
Concluding the letter to Mr. Montesano and lauding the values (love, perseverance, family, and faith) he passed on to the next generation, Robert Jr. said on behalf of the family, “You just didn’t give us a family, you gave us a legacy, and that legacy will live on forever. We love you, Dad, we always will, and we will carry you with us today, tomorrow, and for all the generations still to come.”
Bobby Montesano’s words about his father were appreciated greatly by all in attendance, notably, Scott Leonard, Bobby’s friend since the age of four in a strong, lifelong bond that continued through Camp Menorah, youth sports, and Chelsea High School football.
“We grew up together on Burma Road and our mothers were great friends,” said Scott. “The Montesanos are just a tremendous Chelsea family, and I feel blessed to have been part of their lives and to be here for Bobby and his brothers, and the amazing tribute for their father that we all heard today in this church.”