Obituary of Robert Kalinowski

Robert "Linky" Kalinowski, 61, of Lawrenceville, NJ, passed away peacefully on June 13th in his home, after waging a fierce and courageous battle against cancer, with his cherished canine companion Buffy devotedly by his side. 

Born in Trenton, he graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1975. Bobby was a man of many talents and trades.  He spent his early years working in his family's well-known Polish grocery store, "Kalina Kielbasa", where he acquired the nickname “Linky" after a hot dog version of the Kalina Kielbasa. Later he became employed by the Mercer County Highway Department where he worked for 25 years and retired in 2012.  Becoming an accomplished drummer at an early age, and in spite of his full-time job, he pursued his passion for photography and rock n' roll and was hired by Leber-Krebs Music Management of New York City where he worked as a freelance photographer, capturing images of musicians and artists, including the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Frampton, Rod Stewart and Patti Smith, to name a few. There wasn't a concert or venue that was out of his reach. It is Bobby who many of his dear friends and family members credit for the wonderful "raw music experience" he led us through over the decades.  He also captained his own boat and loved spending time at the shore and on the high seas fishing.  Stories abound of tales and antics on his fishing trips with a cast of characters. Being an avid sports fan, he took great pride in attending and cheering on his favorite teams, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Yankees.  Placing bets at the horse track was also a favorite past time. Bobby was gifted with the ability to live life to the fullest and his endless energy was contagious to anyone lucky enough to be a part of his adventures and shenanigans. He was a 3rd generation member of the Trenton Polish American Democratic Club where he actively organized and participated in bus trips, billiards and bowling competitions.  He was also a member of the Lacey Township Elks Yacht Club.

He is predeceased by his father, Eugene Kalinowski, and mother, Dorothy Skwara Kalinowski, and a brother, William "Billy" Kalinowski.  He is survived and will be sorely missed by his Uncle Edmund "Mundy" Skwara, Aunt Carol Nalbone Skwara, Uncle Robert and Aunt Janet Skwara, a niece and nephew, Kristin and Ryan Kalinowski, and many adoring cousins and friends nationwide.

The funeral will begin at 9AM on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Home, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.  A Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00AM at St. Hedwig Church, 872 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638.

Interment will follow at St. Hedwig's Cemetery in Ewing Twp. 

Relatives and friends can call on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 5-8PM at the funeral home.

At Bobby's request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Easel Animal Rescue League of Mercer County, 4 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.