Robert Douglas Dillner Sr.

Robert Dillner Sr. January 3, 1944 - May 9, 2013 NASCAR winner Ken Schrader once claimed that there is a difference between a racecar driver and a racer. He said anyone could be a driver, but only those special few who "get it", are racers. Robert Dillner Sr. agreed with that. In that same vain, there's a difference between a Husband and a lifelong best friend, a Father or a Dad and a Grandfather or a "Goofy Grandpa." Robert Dillner Sr. was always the latter of each of those statements and anyone who knew him would agree with that. "Babe" as Donna Dillner called him for 46 years was a devoted husband. He and Donna were partners for life and rarely spent time apart from each other. Serving family was the mission of their marriage, but once the children grew up and moved out, their lives were filled with walks on Fire Island, trips to the casino and numerous fun times with the grandchildren. From the moment Donna and Bob were married in 1967 they were united as one and that never waivered through their years together. In fact, you could never mention one without the other. Dad would do anything to help his two sons, Robert Jr. and Matthew. He taught his sons that hard work and determination paid off, and what the value of the dollar means. Both Bobby and Matthew worked side-by-side with their father, doing work on roofs, cutting lawns and installing fences on Long Island. But more importantly, Dad supported his sons in everything they did; whether it was running up and down soccer or baseball fields to cheer them on, hauling equipment or crewmembers to and from racetracks or helping build and create something around their homes, Dad did it because he wanted to and did it with a smile. Being a Grandpa was the most cherished part of his life. His grandchildren, Meghan, Kaitlyn, Blaise and Lucas could put a smile on his face a mile wide. Planting a garden with Meghan, teaching Katie how to ride a bike, playing ball with Blaise and getting Lucas to ride a tractor are just examples of the endless things Grandpa loved to do with his grandkids. All you need to do is look into his home, with the numerous pictures of "the kids" as he called him, to know the love that he had for all of them. Meghan is now in college, Katie in high school, Blaise about to go to middle school and Lucas pre-school, but all will carry the love that Grandpa showed them. Robert Dillner Sr. was a son of the late Hugo and Helene Dillner, who passed just seven years ago within days of each other. His Mom and Dad were the inspiration for his life and shared many of the same values that he passed on to his family. He was also the brother to John, Uncle Bob to several and had so many other people he called family instead of just friends. Robert Dillner Sr. valued the time he spent in the US Navy, the time on the farm with his grandfather and uncles and as a racer with his brother John and brother-in-law Bobby. Like his mother, he also passed on his love for gardening to the rest of his family. "Babe," Dad and Grandpa will be missed by all on earth, but the kingdom of heaven just gained another angel.