Born Salvatore Ruberto Jr. on May 18, 1932, son of first generation Italian-Americans, Salvatore & Florence Ruberto, he chose the first name Robert at his confirmation. Robert died on November 26, 2016 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Bob grew up in West St. Paul, MN with a passion for baseball and grand opera. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1950 in St. Paul, and graduated from the University of Minnesota and MacPhail College of Music, and received Masters Degrees in Music and English from Winona State. Bob served in the Air Force Military Police Squadron. He and his five brothers served a combined thirty-four years of military service during WWII and the Korean conflict.

Bob worked for 3M and U.S. Postal Service until his first teaching job in Gettysburg, South Dakota. He then spent three years in Mabel, MN, and Wabasha, MN, teaching high school choral music and senior English composition and literature. In the fall of 1966, Bob became the choral music instructor at Lincoln High School in Lake City, MN where he spent twenty-five of the happiest years of his life.

Bob married Barbara Armstrong May 9, 1959. They had three sons, Damon, Mario, and Gino, and two daughters, Jennifer and Nicole. Bob loved animals, so dogs Pepper, Shannon, Duker, Sugar, and cats Missy, Puffer, and Sinbad I, II, & III all found loving homes with Bob and his family.

In the late 1980's Bob founded the adult choir "The Joy Singers" and after leaving the school system gave private voice lessons, which resulted in forming his professional singing group, "Quintessence".

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Carmine, Louis, Tony, Dan, and his first sister Stella, who died at age 3. He is survived by his wife Barbara, sons Damon, Mario (Brenda), and Gino, daughters Jennifer and Nicole, sister Stella Sauro (Bill), brother Richard, grandchildren Nicholas (Tina), Tony, Britta, Dane, and Seth, one great grandson, Vincent Salvatore, and his beloved cat Missy.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City with Father Joseph Pete officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel in Lake City and one hour prior to the service at the Church on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor should be made to the Lake City Ballroom, or to the Donor's Choice.