Robert Edmond Belte

Robert Edmund Belte passed away peacefully at his home in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Monday, September 16, 2024, from natural causes. He was 66 years old. Robert was born on November 4, 1958, in Queens Village, New York. He was the youngest child of Irma and Alexander Belte, Latvian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. in 1950 from displaced persons camps in southern Germany after World War II, seeking the American dream.

He attended Grace Lutheran School and Jamaica High School in New York. After briefly attending Queens College, Robert followed his passion for food and the restaurant industry. He enlisted in the United States Navy in November 1979. He married Deanna Gervais on August 31, 1980 and they soon departed for San Diego for his assignment as the Captain’s personal cook on the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in July 1984, and now with two young children, Katie and Carl, Robert and Deanna moved back to Queens Village to be closer to their extended families. Upon his return, Robert took a temporary job driving large delivery trucks before establishing his own

trucking company, Blue Star, which delivered fresh seafood from Kennedy Airport to the Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan. His love for king crab was legendary among those who knew him, often bringing home extra seafood that his clients generously offered him for family dinners.

A few years later, the family purchased a home in Port Jefferson, New York and welcomed their third child, Daniel. Later in life, as Robert neared retirement, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare blood cancer, in November 2022. The illness and its treatments were painful and took a significant toll on him. In 2023, Robert and Deanna made the difficult decision to divorce. Although they cared deeply for each other, they realized they could no longer live together. Robert then moved to Clarksville, Tennessee to be closer to his youngest son, Daniel, and Daniel's wife, Leanna, who both lovingly cared for him during his long battle with Multiple Myeloma, which lasted until his passing.

Robert was a kind and generous man, always willing to help those in need, especially when it came to caring for his mother in her later years. He will be remembered for his generosity, his love for his family, and his ability to find joy in life’s simplest pleasures. A lifelong avid New York Yankees fan, Robert was known for his enthusiasm for long road trips (14 hours? We can do that in a day!). If you ever needed an optimistic travel time estimate for getting around Long Island, Robert was the one to ask. His fun-loving nature and laughter made him a joy to be around, and his presence brought happiness to all who knew him. Robert leaves behind a legacy of memories that will forever remain in the hearts of his family and friends.

Robert is survived by his former wife of 42 years, Deanna Gervais, their three children: Katie (Michael) Picarella, Carl Belte, and Daniel (Leanna) Belte; and his grandchildren: Gianna, Luca, and Roman Picarella, Cailyn, Brice, Declan, and Everett Belte.

Please visit Robert's tribute wall at and share a memory with the family.