It is with great sorrow and sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Paul Butchko. He was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many people. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Anna (Havrilka) Butchko; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and William DeTemple, and a brother George who passed away before Bob was born; his father and mother-in-law, Fred and Ann (Buran) Zappia; his brother-in-law, Stephen Zappia and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Bob was a 1960 graduate of St. Lawrence University where he played basketball and baseball all four years of college. After graduating from St. Lawrence he attended the University of Maryland working on his masters degree.
Bob retired from IBM Corp. after 36 years of service, retiring as a Senior Advisory Human Resources Business Partner. During his career with IBM, he was awarded the IBM Presidents Award. You may remember seeing Bob at Zappia’s Sporting Goods store, where he worked part time for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patty (Zappia); his son, Michael (Agatha); his daughter, Christine who was a tremendous help to him during his illness; his daughter, Tracie (Michael) DiMarco who was Bob’s go to nurse for all medical questions and help; his grandchildren, Bobby and Daniel Butchko, Gianna and Mikey DiMarco. Bob had cousins and good friends, Peter Sylvester, Ed Golebiewski and Fred Zappia to name a few. Fred Zappia wrote the following tribute to Bob, and it totally sums his 83 years of life. “He was a man of virtue and principle, honest, genuine and sincere. Well informed, not lacking in humor, wise in his counsel, mentally and physically tough, frustratingly stubborn, loved his family and friends with unwavering loyalty. He takes with him a part of my heart and my soul. His absence from my life will be felt every day until like him, I lay my head down to rest.”
Bob is also survived by his brother-in-law, Fred Zappia (Susan) and their children, Marcus Zappia and Julie McLean; sister-in-law, Annamary Zappia and brother-in-law, Gary Allen and their children, Breann Parseghian (David) and family, Meghan Fabrizi (Mike) and family and Jennifer Allen, and his aunt, Mary Lou Zappia. Bob was 83 years young. He loved his family, golf, vacations and life. It would be appreciated, in lieu of flowers to please send a donation in his memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.
Funeral services will be held Monday October 25th at the Leon Pucedo Funeral Home, Inc. 1905 Watson Blvd. Endicott at 11:30 AM with the Rev. Fr. Charles Opondo-Owora, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the Pucedo Funeral Home on Monday from 10 AM until time of service at 11:30 AM.
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