Robert F. Feehery

Robert Francis Feehery, 78, of West Chester, PA, passed away November 23, 2024. 

Bob was born on December 2, 1945, in Darby, PA, the youngest son of the late William and Gertrude (Donohue) Feehery. Bob enjoyed reminiscing on time spent with his father and brother, Bill, building a boat, “The three Bs”, in the basement of their Collingdale home that would later see many fishing trips. 

Bob’s greatest adventure started when he climbed a tree outside of St. Louis school and made faces through the school window at Terry, a girl whom he had met when they were young children at Yeadon Swim Club. They had their first date at a Bonner basketball game. Married in 1968, Bob and Terry were married for 56 years. 

While attending Monsignor Bonner High School Bob was a member of multiple championship swim teams and competed in the Delco Swimming Leage for Yeadon Swim Club. Bob graduated from Bonner in 1963 and was inducted into the Bonner Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Shortly after graduation Bob enlisted in the Army National Guard of Delaware. He often shared stories of his experiences serving and protecting the community during civil unrest in the late 60’s. Bob received an honorable discharge in 1971. 

Bob was just a little boy when he started doing odd jobs at Feehery Machine & Grinding, a machine shop founded by his grandfather in Philadelphia. He began working full time at the shop after high school, while also attending Spring Garden Institute from 1963 to 1966, graduating with a degree in Machine Shop Practice. This education, combined with learning the trade and business from his father and uncles, led to Bob eventually taking charge and running the business until his well-earned retirement in 2016. Bob loved giving tours of the shop to his grandkids, explaining how the machines worked and what they could do.

Bob’s love of swimming continued as all of his children became involved with the sport, and Bob became a swim official who officiated hundreds of swim meets. Bob served as the long time President of the Delco Swimming League, with a reputation as a tough but fair official, as evidenced by his willingness to disqualify his own kids. Bob cherished the lifelong friends he made as a member of the Springfield Swim Club. Bob was the biggest cheerleader of all his children and grandchildren who swam, regardless of the level, from beginner all the way to Olympic Trials. 

Nothing was more important to Bob than the time he cherished with friends and family, particularly the summers and weekends in Ocean City, NJ. He had very strong opinions on where the best pizza, breakfast, and hoagies could be found, and made sure you knew if you picked the wrong place. One of his greatest joys was when the entire extended family would get together at the shore and on the boardwalk. 

Stories are still told about the Notre Dame football getaways and trips to the Poconos. Bob and Terry enjoyed many cruises with their friends and exciting trips all around the country and the world. One of the most meaningful trips that Bob ever took was to the beaches of Normandy, fulfilling a lifelong dream of touching the sand where so many honorable heroes stood. 

Bob was the beloved husband of Terry (nee Daly) Feehery; loving father of Bob Feehery (Brooke), Terry Feehery (Christy), Alicia Feehery Wolf (Scott), Missy Hanway (Ed), and Matt Feehery (Laura); adoring grandfather of Tyler, Emma, Madison, Carson, Brendan, Colin, Eryn, Bobby, Meg, Brian, Jon, Tim, Cassie, Ryan, and Allison; and dear brother of William Feehery (Mary Anne). 

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewings 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday November 29, 2024, at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382 and 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM, Saturday, November 30, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 136 Saxer Ave, Springfield, PA 19064, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment is at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s name to the Drexel Neuman Academy, 1901 Potter Street, Chester PA 19013.