Arthur L. Roberts

Arthur L. Roberts, beloved husband to the late Joyce Roberts, passed away on Thursday April 6th, 2017 at age 86. From dining on barbeque bats with a South Pacific native chieftain, to lovingly tending his many gardens over the years, you might say he’s done it all. Born in Liverpool, England, July 10, 1930, Arthur witnessed first-hand the bombing of Liverpool during the Blitz in WWII. He joined the Royal Air Force as a young man where he traveled to Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Cyprus, was married to his beloved at the age of 21, and in his professional career traveled extensively around the world. The humble couple moved to Cambridge, England after their marriage. Arthur attended night school and correspondence courses while he held two jobs. They rented flats, a caravan, built a new home, and in 1958, Arthur joined Polak & Schwarz (later IFF), in Haverhill, England as a cost accountant. In 1965, Arthur accepted a promotion and relocated to the USA, settling in New Jersey. Arthur’s career with IFF led him to become a major buyer of essential oils where he logged more than 2.5 million miles traveling to 88 countries on six continents. He slept in hotels with comfortable beds, as well as hammocks and cots, and in mud huts and under canvas. He witnessed the poverty in Calcutta, the splendor of gardens in Holland, as well as the palaces of Morocco’s King Hassan II. Despite contracting a debilitating illness in 1977, from which he’d recover, Arthur would again resume international travel, but this time with his life companion-Joyce. He’d retire from IFF after 32 years. In retirement, Arthur and Joyce spent 11 years in Venice, Florida, where they enjoyed the company of friends as they traveled around the world. Later in 2004, they returned to NJ. Above all, Arthur was a family man. While he primarily enjoyed the quiet company of his family, he shared a passion with Joyce for entertaining, dancing, gardening and antiquing. Arthur was especially heartbroken at the loss of his beloved Joyce in December 2015. Arthur was predeceased by Joyce, his wife of 64 years, his parents Lillian and Wallace Roberts, and sisters Beryl and Muriel. Arthur is survived by his children Sandra & husband Martin Stern, Wendy Rodriguez, Stephen & wife Kathy, Geoffrey & wife Jennifer; and grandchildren Scott & wife Nancy Margolin, Stacie & husband Jimmy Pecci, Peter Stern, AJ, Kevin, and Kristina Rodriguez, Brianna and Shane Roberts, Cassandra, John and Travis Roberts; and great-grandchildren Helena Pecci, Olivia and Julia Margolin, Jadiel and Adrian Correa, and Maya Rodriguez. Visitations will be from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Monday April 10th, 2017 at Bongarzone Funeral Home, 2400 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls. Cremation and burial of cremated remains will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: The National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016 or to The Salvation Army, National Headquarters, PO Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22314. For online condolences, please visit his memorial website at www.bongarzonefuneralhome.com

Arthur L. Roberts

July 10, 1930 - April 6, 2017