Robert Harvey Blodinger Sr.

Robert “Bob” Harvey Blodinger (Sr), 93, a longtime Charlottesville, Virginia resident, passed away on Saturday morning, June 27, 2026, at the home of his daughter in Richmond, Virginia, surrounded by his family. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, on January 27, 1933. Robert was preceded in life by his father, Israel E. Blodinger MD, his mother, Diana Blodinger, his wife, Sharon Blodinger, and his brother, Paul Blodinger MD.

Bob was a graduate of Yale University, Class of 1954, and the University of Virginia (UVa) Law School, Class of 1958, and was admitted to the bar in VA and CT in 1958. It was during his time at UVA that he met and married his first love, June Brown, a young nursing student from southwest Virginia with an adventurous spirit to match his own (and an equal love of gardening). Bob and June settled in the Keswick area near Charlottesville where they went on to have 2 children, Nancy and Harvey. Bob established his general law practice around 1960 as well, purchasing an historic carriage house across from Court Square where, for decades, he served generations of clients with integrity and dedication. It was also around this time that he began to realize his lifelong love of flying, starting with many hours spent at the UVa airport in Milton where he first solo’d in 1959.

Bob had a curiosity and love of learning that knew few limits. He was an accomplished woodworker and machinist who delighted in creating with his hands. When he didn’t have the tools he needed to do the job, he often made the tools. He built model trains and intricate radio-controlled wooden airplanes. He also had a long time love of amateur radio (call sign W4NPX) and was a founding member of the Charlottesville Albemarle Radio Club. Many years before personal computers became commonplace, Bob was building his own systems and exploring emerging technology that evolved from packet radio. He had a lifelong love of boating and sailing and spent many years on the water from his parent’s beach house in Woodmont, CT to the boat he kept at the marina’s in Colonial Beach and Little Creek, Virginia.

In 1973, Bob married the second love of his life, Sharon Gaylin, and they moved with their blended family to a house near the airport where they raised Jack Russell terriers and Bob became a popular figure among the local kids who would bring their motorcycles by for him to repair. It was also around this time that Bob became rated for a twin engine plane and purchased his Piper Comanche (N8535Y). Sharon received her pilot’s license as well and together they began flying longer distances, most notably making annual trips in February to the Turks and Caicos Islands where they enjoyed scuba diving. Back at home, Bob and Sharon would bring the dogs to the office every day and could often be seen walking Hemingway and Hadley on the downtown mall at lunchtime.

In the later years of his life, Bob joked with those close to him that he was going to live forever. And there were times he almost made it believable. Having survived a cardiac arrest in 2017, while landing his airplane at the Shenandoah airport, and a 40-day subsequent hospitalization and heart attack at the age of 82, Bob returned to the life he loved with characteristic determination. He continued practicing law, working in his vegetable garden, spending time on his ham radio, building model trains, photographing his dogs, and working in his machine and woodworking shop until the very end.

As many who knew him would tell you, Bob could be loud, obnoxious, irascible, and argumentative, but he also had a big heart and would drop everything to help when it mattered the most. He was your best defender when you needed him and there was never anyone better to have on your side. He leaves behind a legacy of optimism, intellectual curiosity and an unwavering appreciation for life that inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him.

He will be missed greatly and leaves behind his daughter, Nancy Blodinger (John), his son, Harvey Blodinger, stepson, John Baxter (Robin), his granddaughter, Elena Haddix (Blaine), his great-grandchildren, Layla, Noah and Liora and his first wife, June Griffin, whom he had recently reconnected with.

The family will receive friends and share memories of Bob’s life on Friday, August 7, from 2-4 pm at Teague Funeral Home, 2260 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA. There will not be a formal funeral service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA.