Dr. Robert R. Tomes

Dr. Robert R. Tomes, 68 Loving family man; historian and scholar; lover of music and culture

Robert Raymond Tomes, 68, a lifetime Staten Island resident, passed away at home on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Throughout his life, he was a genuinely good and happy person, who was widely known for his iconic smile, larger than life laughter, and his amazingly upbeat and positive attitude. Robert was born in Stapleton on September 13, 1955. He was a loyal alumnus of Monsignor Farrell High School (1973); New York University (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1977, Masters Degree and Ph.D. in History in 1987); and New York’s City College, where he received his license in Administration and Supervision (also in 1987). He worked full-time throughout his rigorous graduate studies program, and people often marveled at how much he got done in a day.

After working in Community Relations at the New York Public Library for several years, and later at the New York City Department of Education’s Court Street headquarters as a director of after-school programs and teacher recruitment officer, Robert had a long and rewarding 35-year career at St. John’s University. He spent his first ten years as Associate Dean on the Staten Island campus, teaching a wide variety of history courses as well as tending to his full-time administrative duties. In 1998, he published Apocalypse Then: American Intellectuals and the Vietnam War on NYU Press, and made the switch to a faculty line teaching History, with a specialty in 20th century American history. Over these years, he also published several editions of his very successful “American Issues: A Primary Source Reader” which is often used in high school and college classrooms around the country. Dr. Tomes created new and very popular courses on World War II and the Vietnam War, as well as teaching “U.S. since 1945” and a number of core required history courses. He loved getting to know and support literally thousands of students in his role as full professor, and was a dynamic and well-known presence on campus - a well-respected and much-loved part of the University community.

He married the love of his life, the former Mary Quinlivan, whom he met at the NYU Catholic Center while both were in graduate school, at St. Mark's Church in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, on July 5, 1986. They moved to Tottenville in mid-1989 and had four beautiful daughters.

Robert was a phenomenal self-taught guitarist. Growing up, he got so much joy out of jamming with his bands and performing stand-up folk song favorites, and continued playing for his family later in life - especially his daughters, nephews, and cousins. He knew Irish music, rock songs, social justice songs, and many children’s songs on both the guitar and piano. Bob would hold nightly concerts for his daughters Christine and Julie. He also shared his musical talents with the larger community, serving as a church musician for many years at St. Patrick’s in Richmondtown, St. John the Baptist de la Salle in Stapleton, and Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville. He also loved performing for St. John’s University’s Social Justice, Autism, and Student Veterans fundraisers, and Irish Society events, as well as leading many enthusiastic and fun musical assemblies for Christine and Julie’s classmates at the Richard H. Hungerford School.

Robert loved to experience the arts and culture. For many years, he had season tickets to the NY Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, and Carnegie Hall, as well as many museum memberships, and he loved sharing those experiences with his family and friends. He had a rich knowledge of New York City History, (another publication of his was New York City: A Brief History, 2009) and would point out the stories behind different buildings and neighborhoods when he would host his well-known walking tours for his students and family. He also loved to travel, and enjoyed many wonderful trips with his family and his wife to places like Maine, Europe, and Disney.

Robert was a voracious reader and a gourmet cook. His countless interests included collecting classic books for his spectacular library, listening to music, looking up at the stars and pointing out constellations, traveling, and collecting guitars. Robert was a terrific conversationalist who loved people, he was “a font of knowledge,” and he had great stories - as one colleague commented, “Every day was better with a Bob Tomes story in it.” He was a very loving person who always listened with a calming ear, gave great advice, diffused conflicts on many levels in many settings, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Mary; his beloved daughters, Claire (Keith) O’Hare, Kathleen (John) Ciavattoni, Christine and Julie Tomes; his granddaughter Julia Linda Ciavattoni; his sister Frances (Thomas) Wraback; his nephews Thomas and Christopher Wraback; his uncle Paul (Athalie) Tomes; his aunt Margaret (David) Ploch; his brothers-in-law Joseph (Won) Quinlivan and James Quinlivan; his sisters-in-law Margaret and Ann Quinlivan; many loving cousins; and many dear friends who were like family to him. He was predeceased by his brother, Vincent Tomes Jr., and his parents Vincent G. and Julia Tomes.

Viewing will be held at the Bedell Pizzo Funeral Home on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 (2 to 4 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m. on both days), with a Mass of the Resurrection at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, 5411 Amboy Rd, at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 30. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.