Robert Cullen Goin

August 27, 1936 - October 20, 2026

Robert Cullen "Bob" Goin, 90, of Oakland, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home on October 20th, 2026.

Born on August 27, 1936, in Orange, New Jersey, Bob spent his early childhood in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended Public School No. 20 before moving to Fair Lawn during the sixth grade. His family settled on Morlot Avenue and he attended Warren Point School and later Fair Lawn High School. In his twenties, Bob moved to Oakland where he raised his family and lived for the next 63 years.

Bob's fascination with trains began at a young age and grew into the greatest passion of his life. As a young man, he was the first employee at Bob Dietch's Kiddie Zoo in Fair Lawn, a former truck farm that became home to a small railroad, amusement rides, and animals, including Elvis the Lion, who would later become the subject of many of his unforgettable stories. He worked at the zoo until it closed in 1968. In 1971, Bob started the Upper Saddle River Railroad Co., which he owned and operated until 1976. During those years, he also worked as a truck driver for New England Motor Freight, Lakeshore, and Herzog. He went on to drive for Arrow Carrier from 1976 to 1989. In 1990, Bob joined ABF Freight, where he spent the final decade of his career before retiring in June 2001.

As a lifelong railroad enthusiast and avid film photographer, Bob could often be found traveling near and far in pursuit of the perfect photograph of a passing train. His adventures took him to nearly all 50 States, but one of the places especially dear to his heart was Chama, New Mexico, where he spent summers restoring historic railroad equipment on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. For many years, he shared these trips with his beloved wife, Carol, and his dear friends Rich Wisneski and John Sprenger. Bob was also active in numerous railroad historical and preservation organizations throughout his life. One of his most beloved clubs was the Tri-State Railway Historical Society in Boonton, New Jersey, which he joined in 1978. In addition to contributing his photography and slide presentations, Bob embraced the task of filling the dessert table at the meetings; a responsibility that anyone familiar with his love of Dunkin' Donuts found especially fitting. Bob also had a lifelong love of driving. He never flew in an airplane, and instead preferred to get behind the wheel and see where the road would take him. He particularly loved driving a manual transmission and was known for shifting gears without even using the clutch.

Although his life was filled with many hobbies, his most cherished passion was always his friends and family. Bob shared 45 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Carol, before her passing in 2003. Together, they built a life filled with family, laughter, and an abundance of love. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren brought him immeasurable joy, and he took great pride in the family he and Carol built. Bob's large circle of friends were a testament to how deeply he cared about the people in his life. He also had a special love for animals, particularly dogs, and never failed to sneak them a treat under the table. As an active parishioner of St. Mary's Church, Bob was a devout Catholic and his faith, generosity, and kindness were ever-present pillars of his values.

Bob is survived by his loving children, Kathryn (Ric) Navy, Dolores Goldberg, Claudine (Jim) Felten, and John Goin; his grandchildren, Marc (Vivian) Navy, Daniel Navy, Travis Guertin, Nicki (Alex) Davis, Amanda (Ian) Willick, Lauren Felten, Belle and Beau Goin; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, George (Sharon) Goin; sister-in-law, Bella Goin; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Carol Goin; his brother, Hank Goin; his granddaughters, Samantha Goin and Alyssa Goldberg; and his parents, Kathryn and Jack Goin.

Those who knew Bob will remember him best for his unmistakable sense of humor and genuine love of life. He was funny, stubborn, generous, curious, talkative, and unbelievably kind. He had a joke for every occasion, a story for anyone willing to listen, and a remarkable ability to make the most of every moment. His cheerful spirit and quick wit remained with him until the very end. Bob left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him and he will be dearly missed by all.

Funeral Arrangements

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakland Memorial Home in Oakland, New Jersey.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in Bob's honor to one of three organizations that held a special place in his heart and with which he was personally involved: the Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, or St. Mary's Food Pantry.