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Robert Kovacs Obituary
Bob is survived by his wife, Kara, and their son, Eric. He is also survived by his parents, Barb and Carl Kovacs of Mount Pleasant, PA, his brother Gary and his wife Lori Kovacs, as well as multiple other family members.
Bob attended Rantoul High School before furthering his studies at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, Southern Illinois University, and North Central College in Naperville, Illinois graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Programming.
During his career, Bob dedicated many years to IBM in Austin, Texas, where he served as a Program Director in Client Success, IBM Support Services. His commitment and expertise made a lasting impact on the company and his colleagues.
Beyond his professional achievements, Bob had a passion for various hobbies. He held a private pilot license and enjoyed flying in years past. He was an active participant in the IBM golf league and also shared a love for football and participating in a fantasy football league with his friends. He also enjoyed early morning workouts running alongside his friends in past years participating in numerous marathons.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of Bob, contributions can be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at www.pcg.org, North Central College Alumni Association, Wounded Warriors at https://woundedwarriorsproject.org, Gary Sinese Foundation at www.garysinesefoundation.org, or to Hero Miles at amacfoundation.org/veterans.
Bob Kovacs will be remembered for his dedication, kindness, and zest for life. His presence touched the lives of many, and his memory will forever be cherished.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Barbara Kovacs
January 10, 2025
Bob a piece of my heart went with you. You were the best son parents could have. We are grateful for the short time you were here with us. Your generosity and kindness were unmatched.You are missed by all your family and friends. Keep watch over us son. We will always love you. Dad & Mom
Barbara kovacs
January 10, 2025
Bob, a piece of my heart went to heaven with you. I miss you every day.You were the best son parents could have. We are grateful for the short time you were here with us. Our world is not as colorful without you but we are grateful for the love we continue to feel for you. God bless you son.
Dad & Mom
Rick Mason
January 10, 2025
Hard to believe tomorrow will be one year since you left us my friend. We all miss you and I think of you often. Keep watch over us bud like you did while you were here.
Rick
Jim and Mary Alice Dubaniewicz
January 9, 2025
Bobby we miss you every minute of every day. Please remember you were our Champion you had love for all your family and friends. You indeed were a child of God. Please you Aunt Mary Alice & Uncle Jim
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Mark D Africa
February 14, 2024
Bob was a great guy, so easy to work with and good natured.
Very sorry to hear of his passing.
Shaen
January 29, 2024
Bob was such a great person to work with always approachable, engaging and genuine. He cared for clients and colleagues and you knew. My prayers to his family as they deal with this life changing sorrow. Knowing Bob, he is sending healing to all from above.
Marshelle Finks
January 26, 2024
From the moment I met Bob Kovacs, I knew he was special. I hired him into IBM, and soon found he was indispensable. Always the optimist, always scheming to solve a problem, he lit up a room. Often in the early evening, I would be home looking for bugs in my vegetable garden when he would call me to share every tidbit of what had gone on in our area throughout the day. He had endless energy, he lifted those around him up. He was always about the customer. I will miss that smiling face, the laughs...and just knowing he was somewhere in this world making others happy.
Ignacio Gende
January 25, 2024
I worked many years with Bob tackling all sorts of issues. I always remember him as very dedicated and passionate. When the smoke cleared he was always jovial, understanding, and appreciative. I´m very sorry for your families loss. He will always be remembered.
Kathy Releford
January 24, 2024
Bob was so thoughtful and kind. It was a privilege to have him as part of our family. He will be greatly missed.
Ben Pasmore
January 23, 2024
Bob would use a lot of exclaimation marks when he wrote. They were always punctuating a complement or words of encouragement. Similarly, he would always pop up from his chair to add advice or words of encouragement in the office. So, echoing his tone and spirit... Bob, we'll all miss you!!
Marco Noel
January 23, 2024
Bob was a great friend and a great advisor throughout my IBM career. I really loved the guy. I will miss him a lot. My deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to his family.
Donna Smith
January 22, 2024
Kara so sorry for your loss. I told Barb the other day I regret that we never did a family reunion. I loved working on our family tree with Bob. He was great with computers. Me not so much. He added your family tree. I have saved all of it. Bob will never be forgotten. He was very loved.
Mike Pursell
January 22, 2024
Bob was one of the first people I met when we moved with IBM from PA to IN. So many good memories...Bob was always willing to help and always willing to share a laugh. Our thoughts and prayers to the family.
Damian Boys
January 19, 2024
I worked with Bob, on and off, over most of my time at IBM (28 years and counting). I will always remember him very fondly. He bought knowledge, expertise and sound judgement - but always with great humour and energy. He was always positive, always looking for solutions - and he always loved to chat wheather about work or hobbies. I'll always remember his 'catchphrases', of which there were many - such as 'I've seen this movie before!'. I think I can safely say, he will be sorely missed by all who worked with him at IBM. RIP Bob. Very best regards, Damian Boys, UK.
David Barrera
January 19, 2024
I had the pleasure of working with Bob at IBM, where he was my manager. He was a great guy all around. I am saddened at his passing. My deepest condolences to the Kovacs family.
Mary Alice Dubaniewicz
January 18, 2024
Bob was our nephew and we have known him all his life. He was a one in a million nephew. No challenge was too great in doing our family tree. He accepted the challenge going back to the late 1800's. We were a large family of 11. His plan was to under take this huge challenge.Bob created for us a huge family tree and gorgeous album that we will pass on to the next generation of our family. Unconditional love was part of his being. No task was intimidating to him.. His sense of humor and making one feel at ease was unique.His intelligence was second to none and so inspiring. We loved him as our own son. Bob you have been genteel, so loving , We will miss you for ever, Go in peace
We hold you deeply in our hearts....gone but not forgotten. Uncle Jim & Aunt Mary Alice Dubaniewicz
Cristiane Hilkner
January 18, 2024
My condolences to Bob's family. I'll remember him as a very creative colleague, always providing new ideas about how to help IBM's clients and the IBM team. His enthusiasm was contagious. The team will cherish these memories.
Seema Menda
January 18, 2024
I am deeply saddened to hear about Bob - a profound loss for all of us who had the privilege of working with him and under his guidance.
One memory that holds a special place in my heart is when he welcomed me into his team. I vividly recall feeling nervous about taking on a brand new role, unsure of what to expect. However, he had an incredible way of making me feel like the most valued person in the room.
His encouragement and belief in my potential were like a warm embrace that eased my uncertainties, and for that, I will always be immensely grateful.
Beyond the professional realm, he taught me valuable life lessons. He showed me that there is more to life than just business, encouraging a healthy work-life balance and emphasizing the importance of personal well-being. His positive attitude was infectious, and he had a knack for turning even the most challenging situations into lighthearted moments, often with a joke or a witty remark.
His approach to life was a testament to resilience and optimism. Even when facing health challenges, he never let it dim his positive spirit. He approached every hurdle with humor.
His legacy will continue to live on in the positive impact he had on each of us and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege of working under his guidance.
Please accept my deepest condolences. May his soul rest in peace.
Seema Menda
January 18, 2024
I am deeply saddened to hear about Bob - a profound loss for all of us who had the privilege of working with him and under his guidance.
One memory that holds a special place in my heart is when he welcomed me into his team. I vividly recall feeling nervous about taking on a brand new role, unsure of what to expect. However, he had an incredible way of making me feel like the most valued person in the room.
His encouragement and belief in my potential were like a warm embrace that eased my uncertainties, and for that, I will always be immensely grateful.
Beyond the professional realm, he taught me valuable life lessons. He showed me that there is more to life than just business, encouraging a healthy work-life balance and emphasizing the importance of personal well-being. His positive attitude was infectious, and he had a knack for turning even the most challenging situations into lighthearted moments, often with a joke or a witty remark.
His approach to life was a testament to resilience and optimism. Even when facing health challenges, he never let it dim his positive spirit. He approached every hurdle with humor.
His legacy will continue to live on in the positive impact he had on each of us and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege of working under his guidance.
Please accept my deepest condolences. May his soul rest in peace.
Seema Menda
January 18, 2024
I am deeply saddened to hear about Bob - a profound loss for all of us who had the privilege of working with him and under his guidance.
One memory that holds a special place in my heart is when he welcomed me into his team. I vividly recall feeling nervous about taking on a brand new role, unsure of what to expect. However, he had an incredible way of making me feel like the most valued person in the room.
His encouragement and belief in my potential were like a warm embrace that eased my uncertainties, and for that, I will always be immensely grateful.
Beyond the professional realm, he taught me valuable life lessons. He showed me that there is more to life than just business, encouraging a healthy work-life balance and emphasizing the importance of personal well-being. His positive attitude was infectious, and he had a knack for turning even the most challenging situations into lighthearted moments, often with a joke or a witty remark.
His approach to life was a testament to resilience and optimism. Even when facing health challenges, he never let it dim his positive spirit. He approached every hurdle with humor.
His legacy will continue to live on in the positive impact he had on each of us and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege of working under his guidance.
Please accept my deepest condolences. May his soul rest in peace.
Diane Morneau
January 18, 2024
Bob was a manager that I really appreciated while I was at IBM. He was a good ear, a good advisor and a good friend. I am sad that he left so early. My deepest condolences to the family.
Janet Baum
January 17, 2024
Bob is a great person and a great friend and for that alone he will be very missed. Bob is also a great manager, I was lucky enough to work for him for many years. He was the best manager I ever had. I would´ve shined his shoes if that was an option that´s how much I loved working with Bob.
Bob was genuinely one of the nicest people I´ve ever met. He was a good friend. I think Bob was such a good friend because he was just such a naturally good person with a good heart. He made you feel comfortable. Not something everybody can do.
Bob was a great manager and a great friend and I think we all be grateful that we had a chance to know him. I consider myself very lucky to have the privilege to have met him. I will miss you very much Bob. Rest well, dear friend .
Sean Hotchkiss
January 17, 2024
While our relationship was mostly professional, there is no doubt that your words, your presents and your kindness touched my life personally over the many years I've known you. In at least a small way, you've made me a better person. I'm grateful for having known you.
Lisa Stampe
January 17, 2024
Bob was an amazing person! He had an ability to make you feel like you mattered and that you made a difference. He would say things like "I just want to see you succeed" and you could be sure he always had your back if you needed it "We are a team!". Mixed with this Bob had an ability to take the seriousness out of situations, he could always make you laugh - that made working with Bob a real pleasure! You will be missed dearly, Bob - but we will keep on in your spirit to the best of our abilities. Lisa
Helmut Speichermann
January 16, 2024
Bobs wonderful way of dealing and communicating with people, coupled with eloquence and broad knowledge, has always inspired me. His unfailing belief that anything is possible was indeed fantastic. We will miss him dearly.
Rick Mason Sr
January 16, 2024
I met Bob, Kara and Eric first in 1993 when I started at Professional Data Management in Indianapolis where Bob had started a couple of months before me. We hit it off right away and by coincidence we lived in the same neighborhood in Carmel. Bob was a great friend to me and many others. Our careers intertwined multiple times including several times at IBM. Bob and I were golfing buddies and running buddies as well. Bob was that kind of guy and friend that you hope you yourself will be. He was a special man.
Alex Lewis
January 16, 2024
Colleague and friend. Alex sell / Bob deliver. But what I'll miss are his 3-iron slice :-) and his second-hand affinity for poker and poker stories. I'll remember his one year experiment with that white Camaro. And his unfailing belief that anything was possible.
Holly DeLoach
January 16, 2024
Bob was amazing person with a great sense of humor and an ease of management that made work fun again. Bob helped me change my IBM career and set it in a fresh direction. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to work with and for him. I hope Bob knows that from the bottom of my heart, I thank him for giving me the opportunity to grow and feel confident in myself at IBM under his mentorship. He had a special light.
Tammy Rosbrook Longacre
January 16, 2024
Bob was my manager at IBM, mentor, and a good friend. I will miss him and his encouragement.
Brenda Alvarado
January 16, 2024
Bob was my manager twice during my IBM career. He was also a friend and will be missed.
Jamie M. Thomas
January 15, 2024
I would like to thank Bob for years of dedication to the IBM corporation, despite fighting this battle with cancer. Bob is recognized by the IBM team as someone who got the job done with a positive attitude at all times. The IBM team will miss him and treasure the many memories of his service to our clients. Jamie Thomas
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