Cmdr. Robert J. Zemaitis, USN Ret.

Commander Robert J. Zemaitis, USNR (RET), of Leicester, MA, passed away at 92 on February 9, 2023. May he forever have Fair Winds and Following Seas.

He was the son of Mary (Ginkus) Zemaitis and Joseph Zemaitis. He leaves Arlene (Dirsa) Zemaitis, his wife of 71 years and the love of his life; his daughter Lee Lianides and her husband Jordan of Annapolis, MD; his daughter Cathy Zemaitis of Westborough; his daughter Lynn Zemaitis and her husband Patrick Toombs of Carson, VA; his daughter Beth Johnson and her husband Stephen of Leicester; his brother Thomas Zemaitis and his wife Susan of Leicester; his sister Maryann Healy of Oxford; his grandchildren Johanna Manduley and husband Orelio, Josselyn Vinsh and husband Michael, Eva Rafferty and husband John, and Abigail Johnson; great-grandchildren Orelio, Charlotte and Reagan; his loving and beloved nieces and nephews & great nieces and nephews; and his newest recruit AB Anthony Direnzo, USAF.

With tailwinds and clear skies, he has taken his final flight to join his brother and fellow aviator, Second Lieutenant Joseph Zemaitis, USAF. We can picture them in the heavens, doing barrel rolls and grinning like crazy as Uncle Joe takes the wingman position to lead his brother home.

Bob lived life large - and what a life he had! He grew up in Worcester’s Lithuanian community centered around St. Casimir’s Parish on Providence Street in the 1930’s and 40’s. From the time he was a boy, he knew that all he wanted to do was fly. He spent his young years doing everything he could to realize that goal, and in 1952, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, married his life-long love Arlene, and joined the Navy - all in the same week.

Bob went on to become a U.S. Navy fighter pilot (call sign: Zeke). He was stationed at Pensacola, FL; Brunswick, ME; East Greenwich, RI; Norfolk VA; and served on the heavy cruiser USS Salem and the aircraft carrier USS Independence. He received his Masters from Villanova University. Commander Zemaitis was Top Gun of his squadron, and was on the USS Independence during the Cuban Missile Crisis where he was in position to be the first jet off the catapult. He was a proud member of VP-11 and VP-92, and was a Navy man to the core (Go Navy! Beat Army!). He never tired of traveling the world, learning everything he could about the places he visited, and becoming one of the best pilots the Navy has ever seen. He retired from the Navy in 1975, and continued volunteer service including being a Blue and Gold Admissions Information Officer for the Naval Academy, and serving on the Board of Governors of the Wardroom Club in Boston, and as President of the Wardroom Club from 2010-2012.

He was a Captain for American Airlines during the golden age of airline travel from 1965-1990. He and Arlene took amazing trips, raised a close and loving family, enjoyed epic tailgates at Holy Cross with Bob’s best friend Owen Coogan (HC ‘53), and spent their lifetimes spreading love, joy and fun.

Bob Zemaitis was the epitome of an officer and a patriot. The highest compliment you could get from him was “Bravo Zulu” - a Naval signal, conveyed by flags or voice radio, meaning “well done.” His actions set a high bar: work hard, make the impossible dream possible, be honorable and true, love with all your heart, stay curious, always keep learning, and at the end of the day…have a cigar and a Ketel One martini -- straight up with a twist.

Bravo Zulu, Zeke, and Anchors Aweigh: until we meet again, here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Calling hours will be on Friday, February 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Mercadante Funeral Home on Plantation Street in Worcester. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church on Temple Street in Worcester. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Maritime Museum, by visiting  https://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/donate/ .

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Cmdr. Robert J. Zemaitis, USN Ret., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.