Robert Louis Santilli, age 78, was born in Waterbury on January 22, 1948, and died at home in Sandy Hook on July 25, 2026, after a long illness.

Bob’s father told him that, above all, he should make an impression. Mission accomplished. Bob was a teller of truths of the unvarnished kind to both those who wanted to hear them and those who probably didn’t. He was an intuitive and gifted psychotherapist, practicing in Stamford for over 40 years, who cared deeply about his clients.

He also cared deeply about cars and karate. Cars were his lifelong passion. Bob built beautiful, wickedly fast vintage race cars and show cars. His 8-car garage was a gathering place for many car-loving friends and remained mostly a mystery to his wife.

Bob was also dedicated to the martial arts, earning his blackbelt in Yoshukai Karate during his college years and a black belt in Judo in his later years. Bob maintained his lightning-fast back kick and his passion for karate throughout his life as a 5th degree blackbelt and dedicated Sensei, teaching karate for over 50 years. He leaves behind a small and highly skilled group of blackbelts who were his friends and who are not to be messed with.

Bob loved his family dearly and is survived by his wife, Toni Earnshaw of Sandy Hook; his son, Alex Santilli of Philadelphia, Penn.; and his sister, Joanne Kaklamanos, and her children Andrew and Avery. Bob will long be remembered by friends, family, clients and by almost everyone who ever met him.

A private gathering in Bob’s memory will be planned for early fall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you not give to the National Hot Rod Association but rather to a beloved charity of your own choosing.