Robert Cipoletti

Robert D. (Bob) Cipoletti, age 74, died November 17, 2025 due to a cardiac event while doing what he loved - riding a steady cadence under a golden canopy of leaves on a blue-sky New Mexico day.

Born in Wellsburg, WV to James F. and Estella Ashley Cipoletti, deceased, Bob grew up and attended schools in Washington, PA. After 2 years at Penn State, he moved to Albuquerque, and earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science at the University of New Mexico.

Bob was Senior Research Technologist for the Orthopedics Department/Life Sciences of the University of New Mexico. He did research and provided training in microsurgical techniques for surgical hand fellows and residents, and was responsible for the administrative support and management of the Microsurgery Teaching and Research Laboratory.

Bob was a lifelong competitive athlete. He thrived on improving on his best skills in running, kayaking, snowboarding over the years, but ultimately settled on various types of cycling: mountain biking, road and gravel racing, and all types of endurance cycling sports. He worked tirelessly to achieve his best performance, including diet and intense strength training, along with relentless practice on the trails. But he also enjoyed encouraging, teaching, and sharing the love of the sport with other bikers, experienced or novice. He traveled all over the country to compete, and in 2019 did his first bike tour in France and Italy, which ignited a new passion in mastering the French language. He loved traveling to hike and bike in beautiful places and photographing the majesty of his surroundings.

Bob was a beloved brother to Patricia May, Dr. James F Cipoletti, Jr, deceased, and wife Jean, John Cipoletti, deceased, and Cathy Parrish and husband Don. He was The Awesome Uncle Bob to Pete, Pamela, deceased, and Parker and Jeanne May, Chris and Tiffany, Mike and Brenna, and David and Alison Cipoletti, Lauren and Shane Semple, Trista and Rod Pior, Nicole and Tommy Isola, Jessica and Zac Hughey, Kelly and Carter Haan, and many great nieces and nephews. As Uncle, he was legendary for his teasing sense of humor, his text messages sure to bring a laugh, his many adventures and his refusal to be ordinary. As one niece put it, "He always chose his words very intentionally to say something wise or insightful, or to make us laugh. I loved how he was always himself and didn't change for anyone, but he always showed up for us." He spent many holidays with family in Pennsylvania and Colorado and shared his fabulous cooking (yet another passion) with all of us.

Bob also had others in his life that meant so much to him. The biking community near and far who connected with him through his love for the sport held many good friends he stayed in touch with regularly. And finally, his neighborhood, which was like his local family, with whom he spent many special times. The wall that separated his next-door neighbor's backyard from his was a favorite meet up spot for many conversations, shared stories and exchanging of delicious food. When Bob was recovering from an injury, so many neighbors showed up with meals and leftovers from their Thanksgiving feasts that he ended up freezing what he couldn't eat after a few days!

We will all miss his unique personality, his nonchalant façade that masked how much he cared for you if you didn't know better, his generosity and willingness to share his knowledge and experience, and his unmatched work ethic that showed up in everything he did. If anyone wants to do something in his memory, drive carefully watching for bikes, treat everyone with dignity, feed someone who's hungry, help out at an animal shelter, or make someone laugh. We would also love to see your photos and memories in the online guestbook to help us celebrate Bob's life.