West Springfield, MA - Robert Bevilacqua died on August 1, 2021 after a long illness. Bob was
born on May 11, 1947 in the North End of Boston to Philip Bevilacqua and Grietje (Klaver)
Bevilacqua. He spent his early years in the North End and fondly remembered pitching pennies
at the foot of the statue of Paul Revere outside the Old North Church. He told of the ice man
who lugged enormous blocks of ice up several flights of stairs to the icebox in his Nonni's
kitchen. Sunday dinners with aunts, uncles, and cousins took place in shifts around the table
here. Bob also spent extended periods with his mother and her family in The Netherlands and
maintained his fluency in Dutch and his deep affection for the Low Countries throughout his life,
returning to Holland as often as he was able. He often quipped that he was always more
comfortable below sea level.  Bob moved to Revere with his parents where he attended school
and graduated from Revere High School in 1964. He would say (tongue-in-cheek) that his proudest
accomplishment was being named Poet Laureate of his graduating class. He moved to Amherst to
attend UMass after high school and made his home in Western Massachusetts for the rest of his life.
Bob, Bobby, Bevi, will be remembered by those who knew him as a spiritual seeker, a kind and gentle
soul, and a true wit. He lived lightly on the earth and has passed on to the next great adventure.
Memorial gifts may be made to Riverside Industries, 1 Cottage Street, Easthampton, MA 01073.
www.rsi.org