Obituary of Robert Joseph Terry

Robert (Bob) Joseph Terry, 92, of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, formerly of Upper Saddle River, died Sunday, December 18, 2022. 

Born in Glen Ridge, Bob was the son of Joseph Edward and Frances Eleanor Terry. Raised in Bloomfield, he graduated as Valedictorian from Bloomfield High School. He studied accounting at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, where he was a member of Theta Xi and Phi Beta Kappa.

Following graduation from college, Bob served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. 

After Bob married Adeline Mae (Lyn) Snyder in 1952, the couple first lived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, while Bob worked for Price Waterhouse. In 1965, they moved to Upper Saddle River, where they would live for 43 years and would raise their three children, Dawn, David, and Lisa.

Bob worked for many years as the Vice President of Planning and Analysis for Ciba-Geigy in Ardsley, New York (now Novartis). He was thankful to be able to retire in 1985 to spend more time doing the things he loved most.

While living in Upper Saddle River, Bob and Lyn were active members of the Saddle River Reformed Church, where Bob also served as Treasurer—a role he served in nearly every church he attended since he was a teenager. Bob was also active in the Upper Saddle River Historical Society. Throughout their marriage, Bob and Lyn had a lot of fun together. They loved to go square dancing, and together explored the world, visiting 33 countries and touching down on all seven continents. 

In 2008, Lyn convinced Bob to sell their beloved home in Upper Saddle River to move to the Cedar Crest Community in Pompton Plains. Bob really enjoyed his time at Cedar Crest, and developed many meaningful friendships there.

Bob was the wisest yet quietest person in most rooms. His family will remember fondly his dry wit, endless patience, deep well of talents, rock-solid reliability, and loving care of all of us.

Bob is lovingly survived by his children, Dawn Will and her husband Greg, David Terry and his wife Mary, and Lisa Terry and her husband Larry Ganem; his grandchildren, Melissa Banta and her husband Robert, Ryan Will and his wife Julie, Graham Terry and his wife Jennifer Pham, Austin Will and his fiancé Kendall Kirchner-Macri, Jackson Ganem, Ian Terry, and Kalie Ganem; as well as his great-grandchildren, Adeline, Holland, Will, Claire, Aubree, and Jane.

He was predeceased by his wife, Adeline (Lyn), and his sister, Eleanor Cousins.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Cedar Crest Village Chapel in Pompton Plains.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's memory to the Upper Saddle River Historical Society would be greatly appreciated by his family.