Robert Riebling

Mr. Riebling earned a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and an MBA Degree at the Anderson School of the University of California at Los Angeles. As a young man he flew single engine high-wing monoplanes. He served to the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where, among other things, he escorted President John F. Kennedy at the dedication of a dam in South Dakota. He later was a licensed Professional Engineer in three states.

Mr. Riebling spent most of his professional career in the field of rocket propulsion, working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology for many years, including assignments at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and on the staff of the United States Senate Armed Services Committee with Senator Strom Thurmond. He concluded his career as Director of Propulsion Engineering at the Bell Aerospace Co. in Niagara Falls, New York. He authored numerous technical publications and patents.

Mr. Riebling moved to Maui in 1999 and became active in community affairs. He was President of the Ma'alaea Community Association from 2003 to 2006, and served on and later chaired the Maui County Subdivision Engineering Standards Commission from 2004 to 2009.

He is survived by his beloved wife Shelley Riebling, son Mark (Robin) of New York City, son Peter (Robyn) of Vienna, Virginia, daughter Catherine Riebling (Aaron Allen) of Portland, Oregon and numerous grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held at Good Shepherd Church, Wailuku, Maui, Hawai‘i on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao at 1:00 p.m.

Norman’s Mortuary is assisting with the arrangements.