Page created by: The Cvitkovich Family

Robert Thomas Cvitkovich, 78, died December 13, 2020 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Born July 3, 1942 to Mark Anthony and Mary Rose (nee Bacich) Cvitkovich, he grew up in a Croatian-American family of six in a neat, two-bedroom brick house in Gary, Indiana during the heart of the post-war boom.

The ethos of his family was hard work and education. Bob’s father would send him slipping down HVAC vents to make repairs beyond his father’s reach, and would have Bob by his side as he tinkered in a basement packed with HVAC equipment such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and repair tools. Bob fruitfully incorporated his roots solving mechanical and electrical problems into a rewarding career as an electrical engineer, where he transitioned from solving technical problems on the ground to collaborating and leading teams at a more macro level. His career evolved, with many reinventions, all while having a multi-phased family life spanning the east and west coasts and bringing dry wit, curiosity, and a positive disposition to his relationships.

His career started with just an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Valparaiso Technical Institute and a lot of gumption! At twenty-one-years-old he boldly drove from Indiana to apply to General Radio in Massachusetts. With a job in hand, he drove back to propose marriage to his high school sweetheart, Ruth Kaspar, and they moved to Massachusetts together. In a twelve-year marriage to Ruth he raised a family of four children, David, Katie, Donna (Cvitkovich-Milet) and John. Meanwhile he finished his bachelor’s degree at Northeastern University, took a chance at a start-up with colleagues (a bold move pre dot-com era), and then returned to General Radio, where he continued to distinguish himself, advancing to director level positions.

He then met Linda Falk, and they had a son, Jason. They moved to California, his next home for forty-three years. His relationship with Linda ended, and he then focused on raising Jason, while supporting his college-aged daughter, Katie, and staying closely connected to his youngest brother Mark, both of whom lived in California. During these years Bob held senior roles for various companies such as Leibert/Emerson and Hydra Components, which had him traveling all over the world. He also tried his hand at building houses in Lake County, California— another example of his inventiveness.

After twenty years of being single, and a stint at another start-up in Texas, Bob met Emily Burke in 1997/98, a schoolteacher, and they settled in Southern California together for a twenty-two-year-long loving marriage. The Parkinson’s diagnosis came in their first year together. A steadfast commitment to each other, no matter how bad the disease got, and Bob’s determination to fully embrace life, propelled Bob forward. Bob and Emily had a daughter, Margaret. Bob continued to work, reinventing himself – again— as a components salesman, to keep the family afloat while Emily went to graduate school to restart a career in Speech Pathology. As work slowed, Bob continued tinkering in his garage, seeing friends and for many years served on the board of directors for The Orange County Conservation Corps, an organization that serves young, at-risk adults through involvement in service-based environmental conservation projects. Bob loved California, but decided along with Emily to settle on the East Coast, bringing Emily closer to her roots. They moved to the East Coast in North Carolina, living there two years before his death.

Bob brought his strengths of intelligence, curiosity, humor, and a wish to make others happy to his work and personal life, from his early childhood tinkering in his basement and multiple stints as an engineering leader, to inquiring about the latest accomplishments and challenges of his family and friends.

Despite progressive physical challenges with Parkinson’s disease starting in his early fifties, Bob carried on with strengths of optimism, courage, stubborn pride, a will to live, and hope for a happy future for his children, his family and friends.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Emily Burke, and daughter, Margaret Cvitkovich of Garner, NC; and children of his previous relationships, David Cvitkovich and his wife, Karen and their two children of Southborough, MA; Katie Cvitkovich of Garner, NC; Donna Cvitkovich-Milet and her husband, Gonzalo Milet and their two children of Newton, MA; John Cvitkovich and his wife, Pamela and their two children of Lunenburg, MA; Jason Cvitkovich and his wife, Wendy of Mountain View, CA; Joan Cvitkovich (wife of Bob’s brother Joseph who preceded him in death) and their three children; his brother, Mark Cvitkovich and his two children of San Jose, California; his sister, Joan Clavin and her seven children and fifteen grandchildren. He also leaves behind many friends who have known and loved him for many years.