ROBERT ALLAN WEINGARTEN Our loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, coach and friend, Robert Allan Weingarten, 74, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 in Provo, UT following a dignified and courageous fight against Stage 4 Glioblastoma brain cancer. Robert was born on May 16th, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest son of Amy Marjorie and Harold Weingarten. Growing up, Robert was raised in Carle Place, New York where his life of adventure and excitement began. From the day Robert was born, he was curious about everything and wanted to learn, no matter the subject. He was an avid reader and a diligent student. After watching a show about the South Pacific, Robert proudly walked into the kitchen to inform his parents that he was going to be a Marine Biologist and marry a Polynesian. A promise that he would later keep. Robert's father commonly labeled him as his "Professional Student", a title Robert accepted with great pride. He graduated from Carle Place High School with high honors and an impressive 100% attendance record. His other achievements in high school included founding the fraternity Omega Sigma Pi, which continued in operation for another 30 years, and excelling and lettering in multiple sports including basketball and tennis. Following his senior year, Robert was inducted into the Carle Place High School Hall of Fame for his exceptional athletic abilities as a tennis player, and some of his records still stand today. Robert continued his studies to become a Marine Biologist at Nassau Community and then C.W. Post, where he received his Bachelors in Marine Sciences and then his Masters in Marine Biology. He then joined the Peace Corp and was sent to the Fiji Islands where he worked for the University of the South Pacific as a researcher in the Natural Resources Department and taught science to the students at Cathedral Catholic High School. He treasured the islands of Fiji and held a deeply abiding love for the Fijian people and their culture. While playing a game for the Peace Corp's basketball team, a beautiful Fijian woman in the stands caught Robert's attention. He quickly started courting Maraia, the love of his life. She shared with him the importance of her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he started investigating the Church. After much study and prayer, he came to know the truth of the Gospel. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 16, 1976, in Laucala Bay, Fiji, and ordained an Elder in November 20, 1977. Following his baptism, Robert was asked to coach the LDS Men's and LDS Women's basketball teams in Fiji. He remained a faithful member of the Church his whole life, was ordained a High Priest in March 28, 2004 and blessed the lives of many while teaching and serving in High Priest Group Leaderships, Elder's Quorum and Sunday School presidencies. In 1978, upon hearing of his father's declining health, Robert flew home to New York. It was there he married his beautiful bride, Maraia Sokia on February 18, 1978. They also had and started raising their first two children, Michael and Talei. In 1984, Robert moved his young family to Salt Lake City, UT, so Robert could start work on his PhD in Marine Biology. It was also in Salt Lake City, where Robert and Maraia had their youngest child, Aiona. Later that year, Robert and Maraia found their forever home in Orem, UT and when Robert transferred to Brigham Young University, where he graduated with his PhD in Organizational Behavior. On October 1, 1991, Robert was sealed to Maraia and his children in the Salt Lake Temple. Robert was a successful entrepreneur, with his business endeavors including the building and selling of fish aquariums and seafood refrigeration cases (Stark), building and selling lobster tanks (Rocky Mountain Sea Life), creating and selling recipe software (ACR International), developing and selling fish food (HBH Enterprises), and selling grass-fed, grass-finished beef (Jones Creek Beef). Robert also loved working in his yard and had the gift of a green thumb. He was nominated and selected to receive the Orem Beautification Award 7 times for his picturesque landscaping. Robert's lawn was always the talk of the town; always green and beautifully groomed. Just to challenge himself, he would plant tropical flowers and plants in his gardens that would not only live, but thrive. Even in the desert state of Utah. While running various business ventures, tending to his picturesque lawn and caring for his family, Robert dedicated his whole life to coaching his children and their friends in sports and in life. He spent countless hours running practices, traveling to tournaments, coaching games for baseball, basketball and football. When he wasn't coaching, he was attending his children's violin or dance recitals. Even later in life, when it was time to relax, to be grandpa and watch from the sidelines, he chose to coach and step on to the baseball field to teach, inspire, motivate and love his grandsons and his Island Warriors baseball teams. The boys called him Kamu, which means grandpa in Fijian. They loved him with all of their hearts…and he loved them too. In every way, Robert personified the spirit of the islands. He loved people and always made time for them. He served others without thought of anything in return. No matter where a person was in their life, he saw the best in them. He saw that goodness and did all he could to help them see it too. He impacted and blessed so many during his amazing life. However, his greatest work and love was his family. There is a huge hole in our hearts and in our home without him, but we know we will see him again. We love you Dad! Robert is survived by his wife, Maraia Sokia, his three (3) children, Michael, Talei (LeGran) and Aiona (Spencer), his two (2) grandchildren, Simon and Piers, and his younger brother William Joseph Weingarten and so many others who he considers his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joseph William Weingarten, his in-laws Peni and Kinisimere Sokia, and many other family and friends who are embracing and celebrating with him today. The Weingarten Family has created a Facebook Group titled "In Loving Memory of Robert A. Weingarten" to help gather treasured memories of their father. Please share your experiences of Robert with his family by writing memories, posting photos or videos of him. We would like to recognize and thank the Utah Cancer Specialists, Radiation Oncology Specialists, Hospice and Pallative Medicine, Utah Valley Hospital Rehab and Huntsman Cancer Institute teams for their loving care and encouragement that they provided Dad and our family during his treatments. We would also like to express our deepest love and appreciation to the CNA's, Med Tech's and administrative staff at Legacy Village of Provo for their love, friendship and tender care of Mom and Dad during their time there. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 7, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., and will include a public viewing from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Orem Canyon View Stake Center (575 East 800 North, Orem UT 84097). The Funeral Service will be Saturday, January 8, 2022, from Noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Orem Canyon View Stake Center (575 East 800 North, Orem UT 84097). Interment/Graveside will be at the Orem City Cemetery following the funeral service. In consideration for the safety and respect of all who wish to attend these events, the family requests that COVID guidelines are observed including the use of facial masks and hand sanitizer. A live broadcast of the services may be viewed at 12:00 p.m. at www.walkersanderson.com. Please join us.