Robert Glywa

Robert Louis Glywa, 75, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2022 surrounded by his loving family, after a valiant battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Robert was born in Dade County, Florida but grew up in Scotia, New York. Robert was predeceased by his parents, Michael Glywa and Sophie (Kosewich) Glywa.

Visitation at 10:00AM on Friday, September 9. Church Service will start at 10:30AM on Friday, September 9 with Burial Services to follow. All will be held at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 280 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ. The Cemetery is adjacent to the Church.

Robert, or as he liked to be called, Bob was born on October 23, 1946. He graduated from Scotia-Glenville High School in 1964. While there, his natural speed and agility helped him excel on the track team, which paved the way for him to be a successful member of the football team. During his youth in Scotia, he was always surrounded by his school friends, but when he and his parents would go up to their summer camp in Galway, New York, he would have his Aunts, Uncles and Cousins (Valerie, Jimmy, Lenny, Gregory, Mike, Johnny and Alice) that he spent all of his time with making cherished memories. Once he retired, he became involved with finding missing classmates to add to his High School’s Reunion list. He was very proud of his detective work in finding many, many classmates that moved away. He even found one classmate living in Australia and the foreign exchange student in Argentina.

Bob graduated from Rider College in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree and went on to Syracuse University to study for his Masters. There he was recruited to work for the New York Telephone company, which eventually became Verizon, and had a very successful career as an Executive in the Finance department. In 1967 while attending Rider College, he met his sweetheart, Vera (Bilous) Glywa in the Student Union. They were married in 1971 and have been married for 51 years. They have two children, Michael (Cori) and Christine (Troy-recently deceased). After Bob retired, he and Vera moved to Kansas to live near their children and enjoyed watching their grandchildren Brayden, Kinley, Carter and Grace grow up. Family was everything to Bob. Through his marriage to Vera, Bob acquired a large, loving family that include several members preceding him in death, mother-in-law Sonia and father-in-law Hnat, brothers-in-law Anton (Olga) and Mykola. Brother-in-law, Anthony (Nancy-now deceased), along with all the Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins will miss Bob’s humor and spirit.

Robert retired from Verizon in 1995 and pursued many hobbies. He loved photography and you would see him with his camera at every family gathering, wedding, community event or just walking around taking pictures of nature. Bob also was a lifetime member of SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society. He participated in many SASS competitive events at the national level. Bob had a wonderful sense of humor that showed up wherever he went.

Traveling was at the top of his agenda after retirement. He enjoyed many motorcycle trips in his lifetime. His best motorcycle trip was with his son, Michael, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Robert also took his daughter, Christine and grandchildren Carter and Grace on a memorable road trip to see the majestic National Parks and forests across Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. He enjoyed his RV and took several trips with his brother-in-law Anton and friends across the US, Canada and all the way up to the northern tip of Alaska where he got to dip his toe in the Arctic Ocean. Also at the top of his list were the many adventures Bob took with his beloved wife, Vera. They honeymooned in Spain and Portugal. Took a trip to Austria. Saw various destinations around the United States, then went to Banff National Park and Lake Louise in Canada and more recently took a month’s stay in Sedona, Arizona where they got to have a wonderful time with all of their kids and grandkids. Bob loved his family and was never happier than whenever family was around him.

A few years ago, Bob had the good fortune to make contact and meet members of his birth family. Bob and Vera took a trip to Washington state and met his sister Joan, Helen (now deceased) and brother Thomas (Linda). During this family reunion he was introduced to many Nephews, Nieces and Cousins. Since he never had a brother or sister in his adoptive family, Bob found joy in this extended family.

A celebration of his life will be held in Kansas City at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to KCHospice.org/tribute or to Pancan.org for pancreatic research.