Bob Laczko

Robert M. “Bob” Laczko, husband, father and grandfather left this earth peacefully to be with his Lord on March 26, 2019. He was born on October 13, 1931, in Fairport Harbor, Ohio to John W. and Julia M. Laczko. After graduation from Fairport Harding High School where he captained football and basketball teams and graduated second in his class, he accepted a scholarship to Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio. At Case (now Case Western Reserve University) where he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering, he was president of Blue Key, and was a member of Theta Tau, Phi Kappa Epsilon, “C” Club, Beta Theta Pi social fraternity, served on the Intra-Fraternity Council and lettered in varsity football, basketball and track.

After graduation from Case, he attended and graduated from the US Navy’s Officer Candidate School at Newport Rhode Island where he was a member of the school’s basketball team along with former Heisman trophy winner, Dick Kazmaier. He opted to become a naval aviator and after earning his wings he served with Navy squadron FAWTUPAC and later fighter squadron VFAW-3 as an Intercept Instructor and All-Weather Air Defense Interceptor pilot as part of the North American Air Defense Command at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, California. At that time, he flew the Navy’s Douglass F4D aircraft which held various world climb records and was the Navy’s first jet to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. It was in California that he met and later married Patrice E. Hollister, his beloved wife of 61 years,

After returning to civilian life, Bob began a 37-year career in the natural gas business with the East Ohio Gas Company in Cleveland, Ohio and after obtaining an MBA at Kent State University he joined Southern Union Gas Company in Albuquerque, NM. While in Albuquerque, he was a member of the Albuquerque Rotary Club, was a Board member of Junior Achievement and The American Cancer Society and served as a Campaign Division Chair for the United Way. Continuing his education, he attended graduate business school programs at both the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He was transferred by Southern Union to Austin, Texas in 1973 where he served as Central Texas Region Vice President and later Vice President - Public Relations until his retirement. In Austin, Bob was a member of the Austin Rotary Club, served as Board member, Treasurer and Campaign Chairman for the United Way, served as Vice Chairman of the Better Business Bureau, and as a Board member of Junior Achievement. He was also a member of the Courtyard Tennis Club, the Headliner’s Club and the Metropolitan Club. While living in Austin Bob served on the Board of Elders at Grace Covenant Church, was the church’s first Treasurer, and served as moderator of the Elder Board for four terms over the span of 20 years. He was also a discussion leader with Bible Study Fellowship in Austin for seven years. After retirement from Southern Union Gas Company, Bob served as President of the Texas Gas Association for seven years.

Bob and Pattie bought a home in Sun City, Georgetown and while living there spent summers in Ruidoso, NM, until they moved to Ruidoso on a full-time basis in 2002. In Ruidoso, Bob was a member of and served as Commander of American Legion Post 79. Bob and Pattie returned to Texas in 2011 with the purchase of their home in Round Rock.

An avid golfer, he was a former member of Four Hills CC and a member and President of the Bear Canyon Golf Association in Albuquerque, and in Austin a member of Austin Country Club. More recently he was a member of Alto Golf and Country Club in Ruidoso, NM where few years ago Bob shot his age or better 51 times in one year.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John E. Laczko of Fairport Harbor, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Patrice of Round Rock, son David W. Laczko of Austin, son Dennis J. Laczko and his wife Marci of Cedar Park and son Peter J. Laczko and wife Terri of Austin. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren: Tatum and Eli Laczko of Cedar Park, Cameron and Jac Laczko of Austin and Judson, Annie, and Tezzie Graham of Cedar Park.

On Friday, April 5, 2019, there will be a brief service to celebrate Bob’s life at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home located at 14501 North IH 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660 from 2 until 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Myelofibrosis research by visiting www.lls.org/myeloproliferative-neoplasms/myelofibrosis.