Robert William Mantei

Robert William Mantei (Bob) was born in Huntington Long Island to Fredric G. Mantei and Ruth (Riede) Mantei on August 31st, 1944. He grew up in Glendale, Queens, attending St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn with his parents and sisters Judi and Patti. Bob formed lasting friendships with three boys in his Youth Group, John, Rolf and Ken. The additional members of St. Mark’s Youth Group were dear to Bob as well and provided a firm foundation for his lifelong faith in God. Bob graduated from Newtown High School. He attended Concordia Junior College in Bronxville New York, where he met his future wife Martha on her first day of classes in her Freshman Year. Bob attended Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne Indiana, graduating in 1967. After considering entering the Ministry in the Lutheran Church, Bob joined the Navy, entering Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola Florida and earning his Commission as an Ensign. On April 16, 1968 he received his Naval Flight Officer Wings in Corpus Christi, Texas. On October 26, 1968 Bob married Martha Hardy of New Milford, New Jersey.

Bob served 23 Years as a Naval Officer, retiring as Commander in 1991. The many duties Bob enjoyed included 3 years as a Tactical Coordinator on P3 aircraft in Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5) in Jacksonville, Florida; 28 months as Admiral’s Aide to Deputy Commander-in-Chief Naval Forces Europe in London; 27 months as ASW watch officer and bridge watch stander aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV67) out of Norfolk, Virginia, where he qualified for Officer of the Deck Underway OOD(U); 2 years as Air Crew Training Officer and Safety/Standardization Officer at VP 31, NAS Moffett Field, California; 2 years with VP 9, Moffett Field as Air Crew Training and Safety/Standardization Officer. VP 9 deployed throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Back to the ship, Bob reported aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) to serve as Training Officer, where he again qualified for OOD(U), deploying to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. After departing Vinson, Bob served as Officer in Charge of Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment, Moffett Field, providing training for enlisted personnel who maintain the P 3 aircraft. Bob then returned to the USS Carl Vinson as Navigator. In 14 months, the Vinson steamed a total 85,000 miles across the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Bob and Martha enjoyed living 44 years in Pleasanton California with wonderful neighbors and friends. Our court was a lively place with many children. Bob maintained many bicycles for the kids, removed one boy from a tree and many other adventures too many to name. Bob and Martha moved to Mahwah New Jersey in June of 2023 to be near family as Bob’s health declined. Bob spent the last 3 weeks of his life in Villa Marie Claire Hospice in Saddle River, where he and Martha received excellent care, truly Heaven’s Waiting Room. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Martha. He is also survived by his sister, Judi Mantei Braddick of Dallas, Texas; his brother-in-law, Bruce Hardy and wife Carol and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at Advent Lutheran Church, 777 Wyckoff Ave, Wyckoff, NJ on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob’s memory to www.peacejourney.org or www.adventlutheranwyckoff.org