Robert T. Cancalosi

Surrounded by his loving family, Robert T. Cancalosi passed peacefully from this life on June 20, 2025. Bob never gave up throughout his cancer journey and lived a life of gratitude. His celebration for life, to love and acknowledge the small joys every day with his family and friends, from journaling and traveling, planting wildflowers to drinking good wine to stoking roaring fires, is what will always be remembered about Bob.

Born in Hackensack, NJ, Bob grew up in Ramsey before attending St. Bonaventure University where he studied management science and captained the soccer team. Following graduation, he served as coach of the soccer team as he earned an MBA. Bob was recruited by General Electric and spent 31 years with the company, eventually earning an instructor’s position at the prestigious GE University in Crotonville, New York, where he thrived. Working with the students and highly qualified instructors at GE University, inspired Bob to formalize his journaling practices into “Four Loop Learning”, a hands-on, how-to program for individuals looking to improve their managing skills. The program’s success led to speaking engagements and adjunct faculty teaching opportunities at some of America’s finest business schools, including the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School. Along the way, Bob found time to deliver a Ted Talk on re-imagining entrepreneurial risk and write a few books on his Four Loop Learning method based on his reflections across 105 journals.

To seek more expert care for his cancer, the Cancalosis relocated to Massachusetts in 2020. Characteristic of who he was, within a few weeks Bob was facilitating organizational development workshops for the surgical groups at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, where he became a favorite patient among the staff.

Though his career was extraordinary, it was Bob’s genuine kindness and overflowing fountain of creativity that inspired the people around him. Bob collected a large network of mentees from London to Los Angeles and from Boston to Bangalore. He was the epitome of organizational wisdom: “When you reach the top of the mountain, turn around and help the next one in line.” He was never too busy to help a friend and he defined that word generously.

Bob Cancalosi leaves behind his loving wife of nearly forty years, Barbara, daughter Julianne and her spouse Beryl Johnsen-Seeberger, son Jack, and daughter Alessandra. Bob also leaves behind his Mother, Barbara, brother Thomas and his wife Wendi, sister Patricia, and sister Joanne Giamo and her husband Glenn Giamo. Bob Cancalosi’s father, Charles and twin brother also Charles predeceased him.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bob’s life by gathering for a visitation in St. Cecilia Church, 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, on Friday morning, June 27, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. Followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M.

As a Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador, Bob found purpose in mentoring fellow patients and caregivers, touching lives with his resilience and compassion. Bob’s spirit is the epitome of showing that cancer lost the battle. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance to continue the work Bob cared so deeply about.

https://headandneckcanceralliance.salsalabs.org/cancalosi/index.html

Bob also had a life long commitment to Mt Irenaeus. Rooted in the Franciscan tradition, the Mount Irenaeus community is committed to simple, joyful, healing communion with God and all creation through contemplation and the communal experience of God’s justice, love and peace in contemporary everyday life.

https://mountainonline.org/give-receive/donate-to-the-mountain/