Robert (Bob) Phillip Coveney of White Plains, N.Y., died Wednesday, Dec. 24, at White Plains Hospital. He was 76.

Bob was born March 5, 1938, in the Bronx, and was a longtime resident of White Plains and Oak Bluffs. He 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 St. 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. 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 Delores, 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 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple avenue, White Plains, N.Y. 10601. There will be a memorial on the Vineyard this summer on Saturday, August 8, 2015. In Bob Coveney style, it will be a white party with more details to come. Efforts are underway to purchase a bench in memory of Bob that will be placed near the Ink Well Beach, and a tree of remembrance will be planted in the yard at the family home. Those wishing to sign Bob’s guest book may do so at ballarddurand.com.