Robert Vedutis, 83, lived in his South Plainfield home for 58 years before he died Thursday night when the home went up in flames.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD -- Robert Frank Vedutis was remembered Friday morning as a man who loved his family and a "sweet guy."
"He lived for his family," said his daughter-in-law, Deborah Vedutis of the 83-year-old man who perished in a fire Thursday evening in a Cape Cod home on Florence Place, a house he called home since 1958. "He had five children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren."
Several of his sons and his daughter, Donna, who lived with Vedutis and had to be rescued by firefighters Thursday night, were also in front of the charred remains of the neatly kept home Friday morning, but they didn't want to talk.
Fire officials and investigators went through the home, finding what they could and bringing objects out to the family, as well as trying to determine what caused the blaze that consumed the home.
Jim and Kathy Nilla have lived next door to the Vedutis family for 30 years.
"Bob was the first neighbor to come and introduce himself to us when we moved here," Jim said.
Jim said he heard popping sounds "like firecrackers" Thursday night around 9:30 p.m. and looked out in his backyard.
"We were sitting in the living room," he said. "At first I ignored it, but then it happened again so I went to the backyard. The whole backyard was aglow. At first I thought it was our house, but then I realized it was Bob's. It started on the back porch."
He said he ran in and told his wife to call 911 and grabbed a shovel.
"I just kept yelling to Jim to get Bob out," Kathy said.
Jim Nilla said he tried, but all the doors were locked. He said he broke some windows, but couldn't get in and when police officers arrived within minutes, "they told me to get away."
Flames consumed a South Plainfield home Thursday night, killing its owner, 83-year-old Robert Frank. Jim Nilla said Vedutis's daughter, Donna was living in the basement and was banging on the window trying to get out.
"The firemen got her out and took her to Robert Wood Johnson (University Hospital in New Brunswick)," Nilla said, adding she told him "Bob was found in a hallway."
Nilla said investigators questioned him about the propane tank on Vedutis's deck that seemed to be leaking.
"I think that's where they are zeroing in," he said.
He said Vedutis walked slowly because he had a bad back.
"It was terrible," Kathy said, her eyes welling up. "You feel like there must have been more you could do, but I don't know what it is."
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.