Cocorikis, Robert October 13, 1940 - March 20, 2019

Robert “Bob” was born to Anthony and Evelyn [Wood] Cocorikis in Harlem in 1940 on East 111^th Street where he joined brothers Anthony James (Jimmy) and William (Bill) and only sister Helen, who now reflects that Bob was her “first baby.” Later came little brothers Mario and Richie Mandalone.

Bob, the only red head in the family, became “Red” to family and friends at an early age.  He started at the local public school but was transferred with his best friend Raymond Merlotto to an accelerated school since they were so smart. He and the rest of his siblings started working very young at whatever jobs they could find to help support the family.  Robert went so far as quitting high school prior to graduation so that he could be of greater financial help to the family.  His list of jobs as a kid included everything from doing deliveries for Colletti Brothers Beer Distributors and Gristedes Super Market, to being a numbers runner for neighborhood bookies.  Later, Bob worked for Fashion Lamps, adding the wiring on Tiffany style lamps under the tutelage of a German craftsman, where bothers Mario and Richie also worked for a time. 

Bob worked for Reliable Sprinkler in Mount Vernon and then for the New York Housing Authority.  He started at NYHA as a maintenance man and was eventually promoted to District Superintendent, working mostly in Manhattan where he would give the okay on major projects and contracts. After Mario left the Air Force, Bob helped him secure what became a 30-year employment at the authority as well.  After Bob retired from the city he started Robert Cocorikis Plumbing and Heating, partnering for a time with friend Hector Boscarino.

Bob may not have had any children, but family was extremely important to him.  He treated Helen’s kids, Sal and Eve-Lynn, as his own, spending as many weekends with them as he could, teaching them to drive, fish and hunt.  Bob was always eager to help out family in any way he could, joining Richie and Mario to help Helen and Sal Sr. to build their house. When Bob and Maria met in 1982, Bob embraced her family as well; Maria’s sons Eric and Rudy were his sons, then later their wives, MJ and Ann Marie, were his daughters-in-law, and Rudy and Ann’s children, Rudy, Maggie and Emerson, were his grandchildren.  In fact, all of the children and their children in both families were always a bright part of Robert’s life.

For years Bob started his day drinking coffee and sharing jokes with his friends at Consolidated Plumbing in Mt. Vernon.  Bob loved hunting with his beloved dog Dudley, nephew Sal, brother Mario and friend Raymond at “Johnny’s Farm” in upstate New York.  He was a wonderful cook, renowned “couch Jeopardy Champion” and joke teller.  He and Maria enjoyed spending their summers in Long Island with family, especially when the kids came out.  They also enjoyed traveling together, seeing the Grand Canyon, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Russia, Turkey, China, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Oregon.

It is no exaggeration that he made friends everywhere he went and will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Robert (aka Bob, aka Red) is survived by…Life partner Maria Bulis and her sons Eric (MJ) and Rudy (Ann Marie) Bulis and grandchildren Rudy, Maggie and Emerson Bulis, Sister Helen Gisonni, Brother Mario (Ann) Mandalone, Niece and nephews Sal (Delores) Gisonni, Eve-Lynn  Gisonni, Doug Mandalone and Paul Mandalone, Grandnieces and grandnephews Amanda, Samantha, Daniel and Gabe Gisonni. Pre-deceased by…Brothers Anthony James Cocorikis, William Cocorikis and Richard Mandalone