Robert L. Bowolick

Robert Louis Bowolick, 85, of Southbury passed away Sunday November 24, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family.

A resident of Heritage Village in Southbury, CT, Robert was born September 2, 1934 in Ansonia.  He is pre-deceased by his parents Louis and Estelle Bowolick of Ansonia, CT and his wife of forty years, Janet A Buchheit.  Robert is survived by his wife Barbara Ekberg, sons Robert Jr of Pawtucket, RI, Michael of Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, Thomas of Cape Cod, Mass. and six grandchildren.

A veteran of the U. S. Air Force Robert served in West Germany during the Cold War from 1953 to 1957 achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant and earning the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Army Occupation Medal (Germany). 

After discharge from the Air Force Bob worked for Sikorsky Aircraft were he had a long and extremely successful career.  Achieving an electrical engineering degree at Bridgeport Engineering Institute he held many positions from electrical wiring installer through to Chief of Instrumentation and Avionics. 

Bob had significant input on aircraft concept, design, build and testing through his life. Starting with the world known S-64 Skycrane still flying today and then moving on to the more prominent S-67 Blackhawk in 1967 as an in instrumentation engineer, this paved the way for the Black Hawks flying today.

His successes grew working on the S-69, the S-72 Rotor System Research Aircraft (RSRA) program, the commercial S-76, then the Navy version of the Army Black Hawk, the Seahawk.  His top-secret clearance allowed him to work on these and additional special projects between Sikorsky, United Technologies and NASA research like the unique X-Wing concept using the RSRA platform. 

His thirty-five year finished in 1992 with the completion of the MH-60K, a derivative of the Army Black Hawk for the Army’s Special Forces the first aircraft to have GPS.

An avid sailor, Robert was a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for twenty years teaching boating safety and navigation to hundreds of new boaters. Served as Flotilla Commander of FL 24-12, District Publications Officer and was editor of the district newsletter “Over the Bow.”  Robert was qualified as Instructor, Vessel Examiner, Boat Crew and Coxswain.

Calling hours will be on Friday November 29 from 5pm to 7 pm at Munson- Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St. North, Southbury. A Mass will be on Saturday November 30 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Oxford.  Burial with Military Honors will be at the Southford Cemetery in Oxford.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, 34 Willow St. Waterbury, CT 06721

The family sincerely thanks the men and women at Hartford Health and Hospice for their dedication and support.

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