Robert M. Cafarelli was born on July 5, 1923 to Nicholas and Sophia A. Cafarelli of North Bergen, N.J. He enrolled in Saint Peter’s College and attended for two years, from 1940-1941. On April 5, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and became a technician, fifth grade with the 4th Information and Historical Unit at the 9th Army Headquarters.

On January 10, 1945, Cafarelli was killed in the Battle of the Ardennes Forest, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German counter-offensive of World War II, which was repulsed in January 1945. Carafelli was 22 years old.

His body is interred at Saint Catherine’s Cemetery in Sea Girt, N.J. He was survived by his mother, Sophia.