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Celebrating the life of
Bob Harcharik
April 21, 1940 - August 25, 2023
Bob Harcharik passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 in Savannah, GA. He died of a severe infection that spread rapidly. His loving wife, Angela, was at his bedside.
Bob was the only child of Joseph and Ruth Harcharik, born April 21, 1940, and grew up in Hunlock Creek in the heart of coal country in Pennsylvania. He was a 1960 graduate of Penn State’s Engineering Technology program. He was awarded the Alumni Fellow Award in 1984, the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association for leadership in their professional fields. Bob also attended the Executive Leadership MBA program at Stanford University.
Bob began his career at IBM right out of college as a Computer Programmer and worked on cutting edge projects like time-sharing and communications operating systems. He worked for IBM in several locations and eventually started his own time-sharing company, Comnet, in Washington, D.C. that eventually went public in 1967, a remarkable achievement at the tender age of 27. Bob went on to become the President of Tymnet and subsequently became a senior executive at MCI. He is famous for facilitating the development of a cutting-edge option in data communications which resulted in the launch of MCI Mail in 1984. It was in this role when he hired Vint Cerf, known in some circles as the “the father of the internet” to help develop a “digital post office” or what was to become one of the first commercially available email systems called MCI Mail. He dedicated himself to his work, always striving for excellence and making significant contributions to the industry.
Bob was an avid golfer and was passionate about the game. He belonged to numerous golf clubs over the years. He served as President of Secession Golf Club, Beaufort, South Carolina. He was an enthusiastic and long time member of Eagles Mere Country Club in Eagles Mere, PA where he spent many summers. Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland was another favorite golf course where he left his mark. He organized a yearly golf tournament over several decades where over 70 players from all over the country came to play. These people kept in touch with him over the years and counted him as a dear friend.
A larger-than-life kind of man, known for his humble nature and his one-of-a-kind personality, Bob loved sports, especially his Atlanta Braves and his Washington Redskins, Commanders, as they are now known. He was an experienced boat captain and a man who loved martinis and cigars. Anyone who knew Bob was struck by his intellectual curiosity, his famous sense of humor and his delight in solving problems. He always said, “See a problem, Solve a problem!”
He was a loving father to his two daughters and very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bob's passing leaves behind a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew him. In honoring Bob's life, let us remember him as a man of integrity and dedication. May his legacy inspire us to cherish our loved ones and live each day to the fullest.
He is survived by his loving wife, Angela Smith, Marilyn Harcharik, former wife and Patricia Evans, mother of his children, Shelly Bobruska, (Nick) Gaithersburg, MD, and Lorri Ackerman of Washington Crossing, PA. He was grandfather to Stephanie Biglow, Allison LoCascio, Brooke Ackerman, Paige Ackerman and great grandfather to Brooks Biglow and Collins LoCascio.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah where he was a member or a charity of your choice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. A reception in Regina Coeli Hall will immediately follow the Mass.
Bob hired me twice: first to design/engineer MCI Mail and second to put MCI into the Internet business. His obituary accurately protrays a larger-than-life personality who infused his colleagues with an unmatchable zeal and energy. My favorite expression of his: "To do the impossible, first you have to believe it isn't!" He found unique ways of motivating his reports. He would lock the door of staff meetings a couple of minutes before the start. You had to knock on the door. He might not let you in but, if he did, you had to wear a dunce cap for the meeting as punishment for being late. Although I am not a golfer, some of my close friends are just as passionate as Bob was and enjoyed participating in the tournaments that he organized. When I think about Bob, I remember a man who really seemed to enjoy life and its challenges and took his friends and family along for the ride. I will miss him but will be forever grateful that our paths crossed for 40 years.
- Vint Cerf, McLean, VA
Whereas Bob's golfing prowess was way beyond our ability to keep up, my happiness with them was sitting all together over a drink, just relaxing. My heart aches for Angela but the solace for Rich and I is knowing, first hand, how much Angela knew she was loved. Bob would always mention that this had been the happiest time in his life. How blessed they both were to share a decade together, feeling this way about each other. Those memories will help Angela through this horrible time.
- Susan Marr, Savannah, GA
Bob, Vint, and a group of us worked on a special data project in the early '90s and I was fortunate enough to see both the serious business/technical side of Bob, coupled with the witty, fun nature . I still consider him as one of my technical management mentors.
- George Sutton, Seffner , FL
Lorri, my thoughts are with you. I’m So sorry for the loss of your father
- Jeane DeVries, Evergreen, CO
Bob was such a handsome and adorable man…a fellow Penn Stater too which always helps …and such a loving husband to Angela. He hosted a big birthday party for her which was fun and where he made a sweet speech about how he found Angela and how being with her was the happiest he had ever been. They were a great couple and we always felt the warmth of their relationship. We will miss his good cheer and happy smile but will have Angela to cheer us up for a long time to come.
- Deb Ingram, Savannah, GA
Bob will be sorely missed. On our most recent trip to Pine Valley a year ago, Bob said to us that this would be his last trip to PVGC. Sadly, his prophecy was born out.
- Beverly & C. Keith Hartley, Hobe Sound, FL
I was very sorry to hear this. I will always remember Bob as a friend! He was always kind and willing to help. I will remember our times we played golf at Secession and enjoyed a cigar and cocktail on the porch. May you and your family find peace at this sad time. May God rest his soul.
- Frank Schetroma , Hilton Head / Eaglesmere , SC/PA
I have fond memories of Bob, his smile, his love of golf and life and his willingness to lend a helping hand.
- Jane A Preston, Fernandina Beach, FL
Bob was a very intelligent, interesting and giving man. When he threw a large birthday party for Angela, I told him how thoughtful he was. He replied he wanted to show his love and appreciation for her bringing so much joy into his life. Leo and I will miss sharing cocktails, talking golf and sitting outside enjoying each other and the view. I pray that your memories with Bob, friends and family will bring you comfort.
- Kathleen Esposito, Savannah, Georgia
I came to know Bob through his wife and my good friend, Angela. I will remember spending evenings with them having been invited for apps and dinner that went long into the night. I marveled at their interplay of interdependence and independence supported by great humor, communication and affectionate attention to each other - a really remarkable and wonderful partnership. Bob contributed so much to our get togethers as I imagine he did in all situations in which he found himself. One evening after he had returned from a long day and round of golf in Beaufort, I enjoyed his freshly prepared shrimp cocktail, his homemade sourdough bread, a primer on Alexis de Tocqueville relative to today’s political environment, a couple of stock suggestions, and then he wanted to know what I knew about block chain and crypto currency as he had just begun reading a book on the subject. Wow! I will miss him very much. My condolences to his family.
- Susan Mills, Savannah, GA
We, Jim Boyle & myself, first met Bob in 1960 when he & Jim started to work for IBM in Endicott, N.Y. We have so many wonderful memories of those years with Bob & Patsy. Jim was Bob's God father when he came into the Catholic Church. We were God parents for their first child, Shelly. They were God parents for our first child, Jamie. We played in each others Member Member golf tournaments for many years. We lost some contact with Bob when he moved to California. Touch base here & there through the years. Got to see more of him when he came to Duke for his heart check-ups. We have always loved Bob & his family. I pray for him & send my deepest sympathy to Shelly & Lorrie. I know they will miss their Dad very, very much. I also send my prayers & sorrow to Angela, she took such good care of him. Love & prayers, Kathy Boyle
- Kathy Boyle, Cary, North Carolina
We, Jim Boyle & myself, first met Bob in 1960 when he & Jim started to work for IBM in Endicott, N.Y. We have so many wonderful memories of those years with Bob & Patsy. Jim was Bob's God father when he came into the Catholic Church. We were God parents for their first child, Shelly. They were God parents for our first child, Jamie. We played in each others Member Member golf tournaments for many years. We lost some contact with Bob when he moved to California. Touch base here & there through the years. Got to see more of him when he came to Duke for his heart check-ups. We have always loved Bob & his family. I pray for him & send my deepest sympathy to Shelly & Lorrie. I know they will miss their Dad very, very much. I also send my prayers & sorrow to Angela, she took such good care of him. Love & prayers, Kathy Boyle
- Kathy Boyle, Cary, North Carolina
I met Bob in 1982 when he arrived at MCI. He interviewed me to be his secretary and we hit it off immediately. He was a fantastic boss and saw things in me that I didn’t. I am so sad to hear this news. I had two dreams about Bob this past week which made me look him up online. My condolences to his two beautiful daughters.
- Dodi Kline, New Bern, NC
Along with our family's condolences, I would like to share some thoughts about Bob's earlier life and education. Growing up in a rural community meant attending a small school system. Bob was in the second graduation class of a jointure know as Northwest Area High School. It combined the two communities of Shickshinny and Huntington Mills. I was part of that class and Bob never forgot his beginnings. We occasionally chatted on the internet and for the last several summers got to spend some time together with another class member and neighbor of Bob's, Eugene Sorber. We would meet in the Northwest Area or drive to his beautiful Summer Home at Eagles Mere, Pa. His accomplishments should always be remembered by his School and that is why I think its important to mention the earlier part of his life. I feel proud to even be his friend.
- Peter J. Lanza, Sr., Shickshinny, PA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
- Mass of Christian Burial
- 10:00AM on Fri, September 08, 2023
- Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
-
222 East Harris Street (map)
SAVANNAH GA 31401 - 912-233-4709
- Reception
- 11:00AM on Fri, September 08, 2023
- Regina Coeli Hall
-
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (map)
SAVANNAH GA 31401
