Robert Distante

Robert Thomas Distante, 59, passed away on January 8, 2025 in Eastvale, CA. Rob was born Feb. 27, 1965 in NY, NY to Robert James and Elizabeth Anne (Hellmold) Distante. His family moved to West Orange, NJ in 1975 when Rob was 10. He then moved to Southern California in 1982 and has lived there since. He met his future wife, Debbie Jean Palmer, through their shared love of Highlander: The Series. Deb soon moved from Iowa to California and they were married on October 24, 1998 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Following marriage, they settled in Ontario, California. Their son, Matthew Robert, was born July 24, 1999. In 2009, the family moved to Eastvale, CA and has lived there since. 

First and foremost, Rob was a husband and father. His family was the most important thing in his life. He spent many years as a stay-at-home parent and frequently volunteered at school events to support his son. When his son, Matthew, began spending his summers with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Rob devoted weeks on end volunteering with them. He was even awarded the “Most Patient Volunteer” plaque from them during the summer of 2017.

Rob began running after the death of his father in 2006. He began training with a local running group and ran his first half marathon at Surf City at the beginning of 2007. Since then, he has run either the half or full marathon at Surf City every year and was looking forward to the upcoming one in 2025. If you knew Rob, it won’t come as a surprise that after running and completing several marathons, he started looking for new ways to challenge himself. His love of ultramarathons was cinched with his first 50 mile race. He went on to run several endurance races, ranging anywhere from 50 kilometers all the way up to 100 miles. He was extremely proud of the plethora of race medals and 100 mile belt buckles that he earned. Rob was a beloved member of the ultra running community and will forever be remembered as someone who supported and inspired those around him. 

Rob also had a passion for gardening and was involved in several local gardening and plant/seed exchange groups. He transformed the front yard of his home into a thriving garden and would spend hours working on it throughout the year. Rob’s gentleness and kindness was apparent in his passion for attracting and nurturing monarch butterflies by growing milkweed. He would frequently scour the plants in his garden in the summer, looking for tiny caterpillars to protect from predators until they could fly free as butterflies.

Rob was well known as the king of bad dad jokes and puns. Nothing made him happier than coming up with a clever pun or sharing a silly joke with his son. As his sister recently commented, no one had to ask Rob twice to dress up like a pirate. He carefully crafted his pirate costume, adding to it over the years, and ran a number of races dressed as one. He also always celebrated “Talk Like a Pirate Day” each September. If given the opportunity to don a costume for any reason, Rob would embrace it wholeheartedly. He avidly watched TV shows on hunting for Bigfoot and aliens/UFOs, something that his family would often joke about with him. 

Rob leaves behind his mother, Elizabeth, wife Debbie, son Matthew, sister Diane, niece Heather, and the family’s two beloved shih tzus, Faith and Ollie. He was predeceased by his father, Robert, and all four grandparents. Rob will be greatly missed and remembered fondly by all who knew him and on whose life he had an impact.

Services for Rob will be held at Forest Lawn Covina Hills, Memory Chapel, 21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina California 91724 on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 5:00-9:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be conducted from 6:00-7:00 pm that evening. A livestream will be available from 5:30-7:30 pm and may be accessed at https://forestlawn.livecontrol.tv/b505e3ff. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rob’s memory to the 100 Mile Club or the Pacific Crest Trail Association.