Obituary of Robert A. Corotto

Robert Anthony Corotto who died peacefully on July 9, 2016 was the eldest son of Antone (Tony) B. Corotto and Anna Angoustures Corotto Robert is survived by his brothers Loren Vincent. (Barbara) Corotto, Donald Hilary (Nenette) Corotto and Allen Francis Corotto. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Anna Jean (Brent) Bird, Loren Vincent Corotto, Jr., Ellen Kathleen (Steve) Seiler, Hilary Rose (Richard) Glass, Claire Marie (Jeff) Mallett, Nancy Ann Corotto Wilcox and Christopher Donald Corotto, Great nieces and nephews are Rachel Glass, Amelia Glass, Robert Glass, Isaiah Bird, Ashton Wilcox, Anthony Seiler, Natalie Seiler, Daniel Seiler, Victoria Mallett and Amber Mallett. The whole family was very close and met often during the year. Those were happy times filled with laughter and love. Robert was born in Hollister, CA on December 26, 1925. He was 90 years old and had been in excellent health until the last few months. He lived most his life in the family home. Robert graduated from Southside Elementary School in 1939 and the San Benito County High School in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army on November 14, 1944. After completion of basic training at Camp Roberts, he boarded a troopship for the Pacific War Zone during WWII. Robert’s military group was the126th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division known as The Red Arrow which was the first U.S. Division to embark for overseas service after the Pearl Harbor attack. The 32nd had suffered 6,500 causalities and been in combat for over 600 days when Robert joined them. The 32nd Division was added to the U.S.6th Army in General Macarthur’s planning for the invasion of the main Philippine Island of Luzon held by the Japanese Army. The Red Arrow’s Mission was to “Take the Villa Verde Trail“which was a mountain passage northeast of Manila and vital to retaking Luzon and Baguio from the Japanese Army. Robert lived in foxholes with coffee and C rations and enemy bullets popping from machine guns all over the area... Later Robert was reassigned to create a rehabilitation and recreation center for combat troops coming off the Villa Verde Trail. At the end of the War Robert’s 32nd Division was part of the occupational forces in Kokura, Japan. Upon discharge from the service, Robert attended and graduated from San Benito County Junior College with an AA degree and then went on to San Jose State College and graduated in 1950 with a BA in Economics. Robert worked for the Fairview Packing Company, in the company office managing inventories and assisting the owner and President, Joseph J Annotti with special assignments. He remained at the company and its successor, Tri Valley Growers, Inc, until he retired in 1986. Robert also owned an apricot orchard with his cousin Eugene Corotto during those years. Robert Corotto spent the last month of his life visiting with family and close friends at his home on Blossom Lane. The day of his death he had lunch with two of his brothers in the garden with a warm balmy wind blowing peacefully through the yard. He simply went into his home, sat in a chair and faded away peacefully. The family suggests that donations in memory of Robert be given to your favorite charity. Visitation will be on Monday, July 18, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm with the recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 pm at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home. A Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at 10:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church in Tres Pinos. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. A reception will be held at Tres Pinos Parish Hall after the burial.