Yesterday was my ski patrol refresher.  Additionally, it is my 25th year of patrolling, and I am retiring from it. 

All of that reminded me they it was Bob and his patrolling/skiing family that inspired me to patrol so many years ago.  It also made me realize that without him I may have never started patrolling at all, and those very rich 25 years may not have ever happened.

Thanks, Pizza Man!

  When my son married Monica Fiorenza, I became a member of the family. No family could have been more welcoming. A tight knit family everyone joined together for birthdays, Christenings, Christmas and Easter. I became another cherished member of the family.
    Bob and Ann were there at every gathering. Bob would take pictures and pummel my son with questions. He was always curious. It was fascinating to hear that Ann had taken up becoming a pilot when she and Bob married, and they had flown many places together on their honeymoon.
    Parkinsons never controlled Bob. He lived as independently as he could with determination and no complaining. The accolade Paul gave to him at his eulogy expressed how all the family felt. He was a remarkable person and will be missed by many.

As a kid, i grew up on South Cove rode, where Bob and Ann were like additional parents to me. Only in the last year have i realized how valuable this was in my entire life. Bob’s never ending curiosity and drive, and amazing projects inspired us. I also had the pleasure to work at IBM and i learned to value and treasure Wild Ducks. i treasured Bob. I hope he is in a better place now and no longer suffering.. and hopefully planning a heavenly ski day with Rudy..
My condolences to Ann and the children. All the best.

  Sincerely.   - Stephen Strebel

I met Bob as I did aircraft maintenance and inspections spare time for over 40 years. I also worked and retired from IBM and we had many great conversations. He was articulate and professional. He asked me to oversee the maintenance on the plane he was in partnership with several other IBMers. It was a fun and easy task as Bob always was on top of any issues and proactive in the maintenance regimen. I was saddened to see of his passing. My sincere condolences to the family.

Although I have not been active with the MRG ski patrol for about the last 10 years I still keep in touch with many active patrollers. Like all of you I remember Bob and all the things he did for the patrol. When I think back on our years skiing together, I realize how good they were and I have many fond memories. Ann, I can still see Bob on the hill, I know you must too.
My wife, Irene, and I send our condolences to you, Paul & John. Bob will be remembered as a dedicated patroller, skier and friend he was. You are in our thoughts; safe passage. Carl 

I am so sorry to hear that Bob has passed. I first met Bob while working with Jim Schumachder and Bob in East Fishkill back in the early 1970's.  Jim and I had missed out flight back to Burlington and Bob offered to fly us up.  So we all piled into his Airplane and Bob called for clearance before checking out the plane.  The engine was all raved up and Bob checked out the Mags. Ops, one meg was dead and the control tower called out "are you guys going or not".  Needless to say Jim and I drove to Burlington.



Bob later moved to Burlington but our jobs took us in different directions. Last time I saw Bob was about 10 years ago at the Burlington Airport while I was waiting for our daughter flying in from Colorado.



Not long ago I said to Jim we should look Bob up for a reunion about our good times in the 70's. Lesson here is don't put off seeing old friends, next news from them might be in the obituary. So sorry to hear of Bob's passing.

We are so sorry to learn of Bob's passing, and appreciate so much John's call. Dick and I both have many wonderful memories of our flying days and times spent with Ann and Bob and the family.

Bob taught taught me to fly in 1973 at Dutchess Country Airport when he, Dick and Bill Druschel were partners in Piper Comanche N8190Pop.
Happy times they were! Bob was a good friend as well as instructor. His encouragement, skill and enthusiasm enabled many to "get their wings", free of charge, and I will always be grateful for having been one of them! He was a good guy who has left a wonderful legacy, and he will always be remembered! 

It was the beginning of August in 1967 that Bob got his instructor rating and took me on as his first student. Clearly he was as dedicated in teaching as I was in learning. My logbook shows between 1.5 and 2.7 hours of flying each night and in two weeks time I was signed off for solo cross country flight. What a teacher. Four Months later I was fully licensed as a Private Pilot.

Only a year after that he had me as a partner in his Comanche N8190P. Since we were flying so much, it became obvious that as two single guys it would be more efficient if we found an apartment closer to the airport and big enough that we would not get in each others way. And so we did. Less than 1/2 mile from the end of Runway 24.

Bob not only pushed me for more ratings (Instruments, Commercial) but he went on to collect just about every possible license endorsement that would fit on the license. (By now he had a bevy of students at all levels and was teaching almost every night...except for the times we had to do some sort of maintenance under Bill Druschel's watchful eye as the A&P licensed mechanic)

Best story of all: Bob was an Usher when Melissa and I got married that 2nd of April 1971. the wedding was not until the afternoon so that morning he and I did a bunch of practice instrument approaches at Binghamton Airport including missed approaches and holding patterns. Back at work folks said 'On your wedding day?' Yep. What else were you going to do on a beautiful clear day.

Bob tried many times to get me interested in skiing but that bug never bit me, He was every bit as involved, enthused and dedicated to skiing as he was to flying.  Mad River Glen? and on the ski patrol? This is not for everyone, but he always had the passion to be the best he could be at everything he tried.

Bob moved out when he and Ann got married and, I still being single, was a guest for dinner many times. Perhaps an unwelcome guest the one time we used Ann's oven to bake some aircraft cylinders that had been just repainted. Not sure I was ever forgiven for being a part of that.

And now I mention his greatest passion and that was the love and pride he had with his family. Each time we talked a major part of the conversation was about Paul, Jim, Monica and John. What they were doing and what they accomplished. And accomplished you are! Obviously inheriting the spirit and enthusiasm their Father had and clearly a passion for their respective careers. 

I was saddened when learning his flying and skiing came to an end. In the past few years we lost touch as too frequently happens as age creeps up on us. Why? Was Burlington so far away that I could not get there? Did I forget how to use the telephone? Now the stark reality is that it is too late.

Ann, my thoughts and wishes are with you; you and Bob were a big part of those early years of my life and I treasure all of those memories. Happy for a life well lived, happy for how you both influenced my life and saddened by the loss of a very close friend.

Paul, Jim, Monica and John; you can know that your father had touched so many people positively and his spirit helped them have fuller lives. I know how you are experiencing the loss, but trust that memories of your father will be with you all of your lives and always a guiding influence.

In all sincerity and sadness that I could not be with you this morning.

Dick Kraycir

Bob and I met in the late 60s-Early 70s as IBM managers during the days of the Automated Air Track semiconductor Alpha Line design and install. His intelligence and willingness to cooperate/modify the strategy for equipment/airtrack installation made for a good working relationship. he shifted willingly from the use of hard wired control logic and data collection to software and computers using Burlington software courtesy of George Leonovich and Morris Grove. A true professional and a true gentleman who is truly missed. Jim Schumacher

My deepest condolences to Ann and family.
Bob was passionate about MIT and brought many of students to IBM as part of the coop program. Not only did he ensure we had great opportunities to learn engineering, he also shared your his family as part of dinner at your house. He also introduced most of us to water skiing.
He will be missed by all those he touched.

I was one of the many that Bob taught to fly. I was but 16, a CAP cadet, and he would meet me at 6am most mornings to fly N5121F, the CAP aircraft in Burlington.  

I fondly remember during final approach hearing “geeeze! …watch your airspeed” many times. 

He was a true aviator and his willingness to teach anyone — for no charge — is a testament to his commitment to aviation and to those, like me, whom he taught.

My relationship with Bob continued beyond that as I was often tapped as unskilled labor to help perform maintenance and inspections of CAP aircraft.  I remember being taught by Bob how to grease wheel bearings — in cold hangars with Bob and Jeff Gear, the latter complaining bitterly about the cold. I learned a great deal including about how cold a concrete floor can be in the dead of winter. Again, endless dedication exhibited by Bob.

I did get to know Bob’s family, especially during my college years. I am not sure if he knew it but decades later after I had kids that he and his skiing family were my inspiration to become a ski patroller — first at Labrador Mountain and then, for 23 years to date, at Smugglers Notch.

What he taught me most was humanity and dedication, and I will be forever in his debt. 

I am so fortunate to have had him in my life.

Jeff Spencer

I remember working with Bob at IBM, such a nice man. So sorry for your loss.

Mary Ellen

My condolences to the family.

At the first meeting I attended in Civil Air Patrol, I was fascinated with the indepth report the Colonel gave. In the meetings that followed he explained things so well, had great patience when members had questions, delivered and received constructive criticism in a way that I'd never seen. He made sure he understood others and that they understood him. It was an art. I soon realized it was not just CAP training but a reall love for what he did. I will miss him.

I met Col. Fiorenza / Bob through the Civil Air Patrol. I truly enjoyed his mentorship and guidance in all things CAP and aviation. I also enjoyed his stories of past missions, Oshkosh, and his time flying to Gander, Newfoundland (CYQX) where I grew up. Bob was a gentle and detailed gentleman who kept us safe and professional aviators. I will miss seeing him at CAP, and extend my condolences to your family. Sincerely, Capt. Bryan Holland, Vermont Wing - CAP.

Bob was larger than life. He was an amazing mentor who found a balance between work and fun. We worked together fixing airplanes, balanced with time flying and water skiing. I learned a lot from him. My deepest condolences to his family.

I have such wonderful memories of skiing at Mad River with Bob through my medical years and beyond as well as time being on the boat and learning to get up on a single water ski while listening to John Denver. He was so happy to share his knowledge of his hobbies and skills and to learn from those around him. He cared so much for his wonderful family and everyone around them. I feel so fortunate to have gotten to know him over the years. I hope to be able to attend the services this weekend, but am supposed to be on call and in the office in NH. Know that my prayers are with you all if I can't be there in person.

Dear Ann,
Peter and I were so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. What a beautiful life you shared. We regret that we are not in Burlington to attend his funeral mass, but our prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Peace and blessings,
Linda