Robert Hugh McLaughlin

Robert “Bob” Hugh McLaughlin, born June 9, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family, on December 25, 2025, in Longmont, Colorado. He was the son of Adelaide Virginia Hyndman and Robert Arnold McLaughlin, both of Pittsburgh.

Bob’s life was marked by courage, curiosity, and devotion. After graduating from North Hills High School, he attended Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) before answering the call to serve his country in 1965 enlisting in the U.S. Army. In 1966 he attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduating second in the Artillery OCS Class. In 1967 he was transferred to Vietnam. From 1967-1968 he served honorably in an Artillery unit of the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lt., Artillery Forward Observer/Fire Direction Officer. His bravery earned him a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a National Defense Service Medal, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, a Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Stars, and two Purple Hearts, one with a 1st Oak Leaf Cluster. He was relieved from active duty and registered at the University of Colorado in 1970 to pursue his passion for learning, studying electrical engineering.

Bob met his wife, Linda, at the National Bureau of Standards, (currently the National Institute of Standards Technology in Boulder, Colorado.) She was taken by his immediate charm, kindness, good looks and intelligence. He was smitten with her independence, joy of life, love of the outdoors, many friendships, and work ethic. They were married August 28, 1977. Over the next 48 years they traveled to all 50 states in our country and many countries in the world including visits to France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Professionally, Bob worked in sales and engineering, after NIST, for various technology companies. His favorite position was as a Technical Sales Support Representative at Picosecond Pulse Labs, in Boulder, CO. He was invaluable with his engineering background and knowledge of their products. One of his colleagues added that “he was also the team mascot, class clown, father figure and best friend all at the same time.” Another colleague added: “Bob went above and beyond for customers of Picosecond. He wanted to make sure that customers knew that he was listening to them and that if he could help, he would. Bob had the biggest and most full-hearted laugh of anyone. While out to lunch with the office, in telling a story and ordering the darkest, most vile beer available, he would throw his arms around in some wildly sporadic expression while being oblivious to a passing waitress and her tray full of glasses. Hands down, Bob was the best Highlander of them all.”

Bob gave freely of his time and talents to the Longmont community including service on the Planning and Zoning Board. His greatest contribution was as a founding member of the Historic Eastside Neighborhood Association (HENA). For over 40 years, his advocacy and dedication to sound zoning helped protect Longmont’s oldest neighborhood, creating a lasting legacy of preservation. In addition, he took great joy in past winters snow blowing the whole block he lived on. He was always available to help or make woodworking projects with his neighbors and friends and loan out tools and his utility trailer known as “Nate”.

Bob’s interests were as wide-ranging as his travels. He was an active member of the Rocky Mountain Canoe Club for many years. He and Linda canoed many rivers in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. He loved bicycling and often bicycled back and forth to work with a colleague and twenty or more miles on the weekend well into his late 60’s. He was a skilled woodworker and excelled at making his sketches into finished projects both large and small with perfection.

He loved capturing his numerous trips through photography and printing the pictures and framing them when he returned home. He delighted in podcasts, NPR, and music—especially jazz, blues, the Beatles, the Eagles, Carlos Santana- and entertained his family with his rendition of Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” He found joy in camping in the mountains, road biking, and exploring both the world abroad and hidden gems across the United States.

He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, his insatiable curiosity, and his infectious sense of humor. Bob had a signature way of celebrating good work with an enthusiastic proclamation of “OUTSTANDING!” for all of us in his life. Cherished memories by his children include family trips to Disneyland, cheering at his kids’ sporting events, camping adventures to Mt. Rushmore, and the unforgettable time his Jeep nearly sank into quicksand at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. There were evenings camping filled with music as Bob strummed his guitar while the family sang “Erie Canal”. He took great pride in perfecting his kids' science fair projects, otherwise, how would Lara possibly come up with, let alone demonstrate her project “How Covalent Bonds Work” in the 6th grade? He also loved helping with their math challenges. Even his grandchildren benefitted from this.

Bob adored his younger sister, Alison McLaughlin. She owned and operated a talent agency in Atlanta, Georgia. Bob and Linda took great joy watching her perform her many outrageous characters including Mademoiselle Madeleine the Gypsy Palm Reader; Doris Bellami, the tacky truck stop waitress; Lucky DuJour, a Tinseltown has-been. She had a long list of wacky performances she did that were never hurtful, but just intended to bring joy and fun and a different look at life.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife/best friend, Linda McLaughlin; his children Eric McLaughlin (Dawn Williams), Keith McLaughlin (Carrie McLaughlin), Lara Van Cise (fiancé Cory Barker), and Todd McLaughlin (Gabriela Romero); and his grandchildren Jacob McLaughlin, Trey McLaughlin, Dawson Van Cise, Josue Torres (Gabo), Kaitlyn Van Cise, and Taylor McLaughlin (fiancé Peter Marzullo) and many long time friends as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, loved ones, and his much loved goldendoodle, Cooper. Bob was predeceased by his mother, father, and sister, Alison.

His family wants to thank their amazing and close supportive neighbors, family and friends throughout the country, his PCP Dr. Connor Graham, the staff at Longs Peak Hospital, particularly, the Emergency Room staff, the second floor nurses and doctors, the support staff and, his surgeon, Dr. Derek Leopold; the Frontier Therapy Center at Peaks Care Center, Amerita, Bayada and Aveanna healthcare providers of nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and (especially his nurse, Nikki).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Longmont Humane Society: https://www.longmonthumane.org

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Izaak Walton Clubhouse, 18 Sunset St, Longmont, CO 80501 on January 25, 2026, 2:00-4:00pm. Casual dress.