Bob Harcharik

Bob Harcharik passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 in Savannah, GA. He died of a severe infection that spread rapidly. His loving wife, Angela, was at his bedside.
Bob was the only child of Joseph and Ruth Harcharik, born April 21, 1940, and grew up in Hunlock Creek in the heart of coal country in Pennsylvania. He was a 1960 graduate of Penn State's Engineering Technology program. He was awarded the Alumni Fellow Award in 1984, the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association for leadership in their professional fields. Bob also attended the Executive Leadership MBA program at Stanford University.
Bob began his career at IBM right out of college as a Computer Programmer and worked on cutting edge projects like time-sharing and communications operating systems. He worked for IBM in several locations and eventually started his own time-sharing company, Comnet, in Washington, D.C. that eventually went public in 1967, a remarkable achievement at the tender age of 27. Bob went on to become the President of Tymnet and subsequently became a senior executive at MCI. He is famous for facilitating the development of a cutting-edge option in data communications which resulted in the launch of MCI Mail in 1984. It was in this role when he hired Vint Cerf, known in some circles as the "the father of the internet" to help develop a "digital post office" or what was to become one of the first commercially available email systems called MCI Mail. He dedicated himself to his work, always striving for excellence and making significant contributions to the industry.
Bob was an avid golfer and was passionate about the game. He belonged to numerous golf clubs over the years. He served as President of Secession Golf Club, Beaufort, South Carolina. He was an enthusiastic and long time member of Eagles Mere Country Club in Eagles Mere, PA where he spent many summers. Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland was another favorite golf course where he left his mark. He organized a yearly golf tournament over several decades where over 70 players from all over the country came to play. These people kept in touch with him over the years and counted him as a dear friend.
A larger-than-life kind of man, known for his humble nature and his one-of-a-kind personality, Bob loved sports, especially his Atlanta Braves and his Washington Redskins, Commanders, as they are now known. He was an experienced boat captain and a man who loved martinis and cigars. Anyone who knew Bob was struck by his intellectual curiosity, his famous sense of humor and his delight in solving problems. He always said, "See a problem, Solve a problem!"
He was a loving father to his two daughters and very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bob's passing leaves behind a void that will be deeply felt by all who knew him. In honoring Bob's life, let us remember him as a man of integrity and dedication. May his legacy inspire us to cherish our loved ones and live each day to the fullest.
He is survived by his loving wife, Angela Smith, Marilyn Harcharik, former wife and Patricia Evans, mother of his children, Shelly Bobruska, (Nick) Gaithersburg, MD, and Lorri Ackerman of Washington Crossing, PA. He was grandfather to Stephanie Biglow, Allison LoCascio, Brooke Ackerman, Paige Ackerman and great grandfather to Brooks Biglow and Collins LoCascio.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah where he was a member or a charity of your choice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. A reception in Regina Coeli Hall will immediately follow the Mass.