Robert "Bob" R. O'Toole

Robert R. “Bob” O’Toole, Jr., 82, of Cheshire, beloved husband of Alberta “Bert” Hulteen, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 11, 2025 at Hartford Hospital. Bob was born on November 9, 1942, to the late Robert R. and Helen (O’Brien) O’Toole, Sr.

Bob grew up in Maywood, New Jersey. He worked on his aunt and uncle’s farm as a teenager and met his lifelong friend Richard “Dick” Murphy in High School. Bob attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration. He later studied sociology and earned a master’s in business at Fordham University. Early in his career, Bob worked at Uniroyal where he met his dear friend Bruce Bryan. Bob eventually started his own business where he worked as a Manufacturer’s Representative selling industrial hose and couplings. He was successful in this role earning recognition for a million dollars in sales in one year from one of the several companies he represented. As a natural salesman, he also drove a million miles and acquired almost as many colorful stories. Bob often regaled his daughters, family, friends, and new acquaintances with tales about everything from his days working on the farm to his latest story about being on the road.

Bob married his late wife Carol (Kapscady) O’Toole in 1968 and they had two children Sharon O’Toole of Providence, RI and Susan (O’Toole) Nettleton who predeceased him. Bob’s friends and family regarded him as a good man with a strong sense of right and wrong, providing for his family and caring for Carol through a long illness up until her death in 2004.

Bob counted himself as extremely fortunate to find great love and companionship once again with his second wife Bert Hulteen. They enjoyed many adventures together including trips in her convertible to the shore to eat seafood with friends and to the casinos to catch a show. They also loved to go on cruises together which allowed Bob to take a break from driving, and to relax, and share stories with people from all over. Bob and Bert were committed fans of Jeopardy and the UConn basketball teams. Bob was an avid reader on a range of subjects including everything from history to Popular Mechanics. Robert Sr. had served in the Navy during World War II and Bob shared his father’s interest in planes, trains, and ships. After his father’s death, Bob maintained a close relationship with his father’s sister, Aunt Eleanor.

Bob leaves behind Bert’s son, Chester “Chet” Gibson; her daughter, Lisa Ronalter; and, Lisa’s husband Greg Ronalter as well as their two children Easton and Brent Ronalter who affectionately called Bob “Uncle Bob” until his marriage to Bert in 2017 when he became “Grand Bob.” Bob leaves behind his grandson, Jeremy Nettleton, the only child of Susan, and his two great grandchildren Derek and Caden.

No services will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, please honor Bob in your own special way. Bob was a great storyteller who delighted in telling a good tale.