Robert J. Duch, 93, of Rutland, VT, died May 11, 2018, at Rutland Regional Medical Center. He was born March 17, 1925, in Newark, NJ, the son of Frank and Anastasia Duch.
Bob graduated from Danbury (CT) High School in 1942 and joined the war effort in 1943. As a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he determined the plane's position through visual reference to the ground, radio, dead reckoning and celestial navigation. He guided the pilot to targets with precise computations – no computers – for 13 missions.
On Nov. 3, 1945, he married his high-school sweetheart Ruth Weber and earned a BS and MA from UCONN and a Master's in Economics from Yale in 1951. He worked as an administrator in the insurance field, retiring from Mutual Benefit Life in New Jersey in 1985 and moved to Vermont in 2005.
Known for his love of family, jazz, cats, travel and storytelling, Bob was an avid skier, tennis player, reader and learner.
As a 91-year old "non-traditional student" at Castleton University, he brought experiences and anecdotes to classes that both students and teachers appreciated. "He was able to stimulate historical empathy" and "provided little insights about different time periods that we don't think about because he was there," noted Professor Carrie Waara in a Castleton Spartan feature story by Jadie Dow.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; children Karen Lorentz (John), Anita Duch, Roberta Ballou (Don), Carolyn Duch (fiancé Gary) and Robert J. Duch Jr.; four grandsons Jason (Dayna), Jonathan (Carmen) and James (Erin) Lorentz, and Geoffrey Ballou; and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three sisters and daughter-in-law Mona.
A family celebration of his amazing life was held in a beautiful outdoor setting on warm, sunshiny May 13. Hugs, love, laughter and "fantastic" memories were shared amidst the sounds of Molly's woofs and children playing.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St., Rutland, VT 05701; or to the Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT 05763.
Arrangements are with Tossing Funeral Home.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.
Barbara Foley
May 14, 2018
Keeping you close in spirit at this sad time.
Jan Tofferi
May 12, 2018
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Duch family and friends at this difficult time. No doubt he was a source of strength to the family and his friends.
So please find strength, peace and comfort knowing that God understands your grief and that he cares very much for each of you. 1 Peter 5:6 & 7
Taw Willis
May 12, 2018
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