Robert E. Morgan
July 7, 1943 – February 25, 2025

Mt. Arlington, NJ – Mr. Robert E. Morgan, 81, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025, at Morristown Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on July 7, 1943, at Dover General Hospital, Bob was the beloved son of Ervin and Julia Morgan. His father’s passing when he was just six years old shaped his early years, but he was guided by a remarkable group of men —coaches, teachers, and friends— who instilled in him the values of hard work, perseverance and integrity. These qualities became the foundation of a life defined by leadership, loyalty and an unwavering dedication to others.

Raised in Kenvil, Bob was a standout athlete at Roxbury High School, excelling in football, basketball and baseball, earning 12 varsity letters in four years. His talent and tenacity earned him an athletic scholarship to Syracuse University, where he played linebacker under legendary coach Ben Schwartzwalder. As a teammate of Ernie Davis, Bob was part of a team immortalized in The Express, and he considered playing in the 1964 Sugar Bowl one of the great highlights of his life. He graduated from Syracuse in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree, carrying with him a lifelong love for the game and the camaraderie of sports.

After college, Bob answered the call to serve, joining the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1972. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed in Korea, where he continued to demonstrate the discipline, resilience and leadership that would define him throughout his life.

Returning home, Bob found his true calling as a physical education and health teacher at Roxbury High School, where he spent nearly 30 years shaping young minds and futures. He was not just a teacher — he was a mentor, a motivator and a relentless believer in his students’ potential. As an assistant football coach, he pushed his players to dig deeper, work harder and rise to challenges, leading multiple teams to state championships. He had an uncanny ability to remember every player’s name, their greatest plays — both on the field and in life — and the small moments that defined their character. His impact was honored when he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Roxbury Athletic Hall of Fame.

In retirement, Bob embraced life with the same passion and energy that had always defined him. Splitting his time between the lake in Mt. Arlington and the golf courses of Jupiter, Florida, he found joy in simple pleasures –boating, working out at the gym four times a week, playing cards (especially trying to outwit Bonnie) and striking up conversations with strangers who quickly became friends. He never lost his love for football, always supporting Gaels athletics, and he remained a fixture in the Roxbury community, where his presence was felt long after he left the classroom.

Bob was, above all else, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. His lifelong partnership with Bonnie was built on love, laughter and an unshakable bond. Together, they created a home filled with warmth and unwavering support. He took immense pride in the lives and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, always their biggest fan, their toughest coach and their greatest champion.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie (Crawford) Morgan; his children, Cindy Morgan of Philadelphia and Michael Morgan and his wife Joanna of Mansfield; his cherished grandchildren, Michael and Madelyn Morgan; and his loyal miniature poodle, Mason. He also leaves behind his sisters, Joan (Morgan) Ellington and Judy (Morgan) Casey, and his nieces and nephews, Lisa, Dawn (Joe), Edward (Victoria) and Jacque.

Please join us in celebrating Bob’s life on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 9:00–10:30 a.m. at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ. A funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m., with interment at Succasunna Presbyterian Cemetery, where he will receive Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bob Morgan Impact Fund at Roxbury High School (1 Bryant Drive, Succasunna, NJ 07876, ATTN: Bob Morgan). No place meant more to Bob than Roxbury High School — where he thrived as an athlete, student, teacher, coach, mentor and fan. These donations will honor his lasting legacy and his profound impact on generations of students.

To know Bob Morgan was to know a force of nature — a man of integrity, wit and deep kindness. He had an effortless way of making people laugh, putting them at ease and seeing them for who they truly were. He was larger than life, yet always made room for others. His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the lessons he taught, the love he shared and the countless lives he touched.

Rest easy, Coach. Your legacy endures.