Robert Philip Coveney

Robert Phillip “Bob” Coveney, 76, of White Plains, New York, passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at White Plains Hospital. Robert was born March 5, 1938, in the Bronx, New York, and was a longtime resident of White Plains, New York, and Oak Bluffs, MA. Bob was raised in the Bronx community with his sisters Ethel and Lorraine, brothers George and Milton, and adoptive sister Elizabeth Barker. The family were active members of Harlem’s Saint Phillip’s Episcopal Church, where Robert sang in the choir and participated in various youth activities. He graduated from Morris High School in 1956. Known for his outgoing personality, Bob established and maintained many lifelong friendships. On June 5, 1972, he married the late Yvonne Bland in White Plains, NY. Bob was a well-respected iron worker who served for many years with Iron Workers Local 40 in New York as a foreman and a steward. During this time Bob started the first black-owned Steel Company in New York, Bobco Steel. After his retirement in 1995, he continued to enjoy skydiving, white-water rafting, skiing, and traveling to various places. But those who knew Bob knew his true passion was fishing on his boat on Martha’s Vineyard and spending precious moments with his significant other, Delores Johnson. Robert is survived by his significant other Deloris, daughter Brooke, brother Milton, sister-in-law Mercedes, brother-in-law Harvey, nieces Carolyn, Cynthia, Pamela, Beverly, Janine, Juliet, Adrienne, and Allison, nephews William Jr. and Brian, and numerous other extended family members and friends. A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple Ave, White Plains, NY, 10601. A post-memorial toast to celebrate his life is also being planned.