Robert Anzelmo

The Anzelmo family was greatly saddened by Robert’s unexpected but peaceful passing early on August 17 at Collington life care community in Mitchellville. 

A native Washingtonian, Robert was born on Oct. 5, 1932, to Louis Joseph and Margaret Helena (Dorr) Anzelmo.  He attended parochial schools, worked in the D.C. Public Library system as a teenager, graduated from St. Anthony High School in Brookland, and earned Journalism degrees from Catholic (B.A.) and American (M.A.) universities.  Robert devoted most of his professional career to Federal service, first with the U.S. Signal Corps Savings Bonds Division, then as a public affairs specialist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and finally as Assistant Chief of Publications for USDA’s Office of Communications. 

After retiring from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert became a book selection specialist for the Prince George’s Public Library system and volunteered in Catholic University’s Rare Books Library.  Devoted to his kids and grandkids, he was always an avid reader who followed current events, enjoyed serious literature and traveling, and appreciated many types of music – especially choral and symphonic, Broadway musicals, and old-timey tunes sung with friends in the Ivy Room.

Robert leaves behind his daughters Christina (Derek Parks) of University Park, MD, Julie (Ken Coleman) of Salt Lake City, UT, and Sara (John Scally) of Pasadena, MD; sons Joe (Carrie Morgan) of St. Augustine, FL, and Tim (Stephannie Hannan) of Ft. Washington, PA; his sister Patricia Kainu and brother Michael, of Silver Spring; and six grandchildren, five nieces and nephews, and many friends, including his former wife, Linda Tokarz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 29, at St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church, 135 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20770, preceded by a brief visitation with family at 10:30 a.m.  Following the service, friends are cordially invited to join Robert’s family, former colleagues, and other guests at a reception to celebrate his life, at nearby Westchester Towers, 6100 Westchester Park Dr., College Park, MD 20740.

Interment will be at a later date in old St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Washington, D.C.  Per Robert’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory would be welcomed at So Others Might Eat, 60 “O” St., NW, Washington, DC 20001; or online at https://some.org/give/ways-to-give