Worcester_ On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, Robert N. Aiello, 79, surrounded by his family, left this world to join his parents in heaven. He had won a courageous battle with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2016 but recently discovered he was in the end stage of ALS.
Robert was born in Nashville, Tennessee on March 31, 1944, son of the late Nicholas. Aiello and Irene Stella (Ouellette) Aiello. Robert graduated from Commerce High School, Worcester in 1963 and from the School of Practical Art, Boston in 1966.
Robert was employed as a commercial artist for Ad Service, a Worcester advertising agency and later did freelance work at home. At one agency he met Art Director Alex Gazonas, who invited him to paint outdoors. It was the beginning of Robert’s enthusiasm and love of “Plein-air” painting.
Robert’s memberships included: New England Watercolor Society, Rockport Art Association North Shore Arts Association, Academic Artist Association, Massasoit Art Guild and Northborough Art Guild. He received numerous awards and honorable mentions for his work and was once featured in American Artist magazine. He gave art demos, taught watercolor painting for Worcester’s Night Life, and exhibited his works in area galleries. He participated yearly in Worcester’s “StArt on the Street” selling landscape paintings and prints of Worcester.
He leaves behind three siblings: Dianne I. Muzzy (Stephen E.), Susan P. Pelletier, and Dennis J. Aiello (Virginia “Ginnie” (McCormick) Aiello. He leaves a niece Stephanie (Muzzy) Fontaine (Rene G.) and two nephews, Josh, and Jon Pelletier. He was predeceased by two nephews, Joseph, and Daniel Aiello. He leaves a grandniece, Josée Fontaine, and grandnephew Matt Fontaine. Robert also leaves his good friend Linda Sinacola.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish in St. Joseph Church, 35 Hamilton St., Worcester at 11:00 AM on September 22, 2023. Family will receive guests from 10 AM to 11 AM in St. Joseph Church. Entombment in Notre Dame Mausoleum at a later date. DIRSA-MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton St., Worcester, is assisting the family. Memorial Contributions may be made to the ALS Foundation at 2 Westborough Business Park, 200 Friberg Pkwy #1000, Westborough, MA 01581 or the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.www.worcesterfuneral.com