Funeral Arrangements Set For Man Killed By PSE&G Truck

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Funeral arrangements for a Bergenfield man killed in a tragic accident have been announced.

A wake for Robert Armbruster, 76, of Bergenfield, will be at Riewerts Memorial Home, 187 South Washington Ave., in Bergenfield, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Bill Armbruster's brother, Bill announced.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John's Church, 29 North Washington Ave. in Bergenfield at 11 a.m. Friday.

Armbruster, who ran a meal service for the homeless out of his Bergenfield church for 25 years, died Sunday after he was struck by a PSE&G truck while crossing a Bergenfield street Friday, police said. (See related: Man Who Ran Meal Service For Homeless Killed By PSE&G Truck)

He was a devoted and active member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield. He dedicated his adult life to service to the community of Bergenfield, both at church and beyond.

He was a Eucharistic Minister, a lector, catechist, and a Cornerstone member at St. John’s. He prepared parish histories for various anniversary journals for St. John’s, his family said.

He was also involved in offering workshops and seminars on various aspects of the Catholic faith. He was a scholar with a special emphasis on the Church’s Second Vatican Council. He was also quite active in the Social Concerns Ministry at St. John’s and especially serving as a parish coordinator for the meal program for the homeless in Hackensack.

He was also heavily involved with St. John’s outreach to the day laborers in Bergenfield. Bob was very generous in providing support, both financial and otherwise, to those in need. He was also a member of the Servants of the Lord Prayer Group. He was very active with Family Promise of Bergen County and received its Golden Ladle Award for his work at the walk-in dinner program. Bob was also a member of the St. John’s Council of the Knights of Columbus.

He was a graduate of Fordham Prep and St. Peter’s University. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Seton Hall University.

Prior to his retirement, he was employed for many years as a copy editor for The Star-Ledger in Newark. He previously worked as a reporter for The Record of Hackensack and The Advocate, the weekly newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Newark, among other publications. As a freelancer, he contributed several articles to the Twin-Boro News.

He had a great love for the Philippines and the church in the Philippines. He was active in collecting books to be shipped to the Philippines for church institutions there to help them recover from storm damage. Since 2011, he made annual visits to the Philippines to visit friends and seminaries. At the time of his passing, he was looking forward to his next trip in 2019.

Besides all of his work for the church, he was a big supporter of everything Bergenfield. He loved going to Matthews’ Diner, Tommy Fox’s, West Main Luncheonette, and Dunkin’ Donuts to eat and chat with patrons and staff members, his family said.

The family is grateful to the clergy and parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Church and other church groups and all who comforted and supported the family during the difficult time of Bob’s hospitalization following the accident.

Armbruster is survived by his four brothers: George (and companion, Shirley Raffaele) of Englewood Cliffs, Joseph (and wife Phyllis) of New Milford, William of Jersey City, and James (and wife Robin Jacobson) of Bethesda, Maryland; 13 nieces and nephews: Carol Shenk, Diane Armbruster, Jean Myers, Susan Stucke, Joseph Armbruster, Michelle Giordano, Marianne Petronella, Matthew Armbruster and Carolyn Kerr, Theresa Policastri, Christopher Armbruster, Minna Jacobson, and Sylvia Jacobson of Philadelphia; several grandnieces and grandnephews, and several other relatives, along with an almost infinite number of friends both in this area and the Philippines.

In his memory, charitable donations may be made to St. John’s Church in Bergenfield; Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, New York; St. Peter’s University in Jersey City; Family Promise of Bergen County; or the charity of your choice.

Email: [email protected]

Photo: Robert Armbruster, second from left, and his five brothers, from left: George, Joe, Bill and Jim. (Courtesy of Bill Armbruster)