Robert “Bob” J. Buzzard

Robert 'Bob' J. Buzzard, age 90, of Raritan Twp., NJ, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington, NJ.

Bob was born on April 20, 1935, in Palmerton, PA, to the late Chester and Hazel (Grove) Buzzard. As the son of a Methodist minister, he grew up in Pennsylvania and lived in various cities throughout his life, including Mauch Chunk, Media, Philadelphia, Easton, and Lancaster, PA. He was a long-time resident of both Palo Alto and Carmel, CA, before moving to Bucks County, PA and then to Hunterdon County, NJ, where he has resided since.

His beloved wife, Virginia Clarentine Smith Buzzard, passed away in 2020. Married in 1956, they celebrated 64 years of marriage.

At age 17, Bob enlisted in the Navy and was stationed on the salvage vessel U.S.S. Windless during the Korean War. He went on to earn his Bachelor's in Physics at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Early in his career, he worked for RCA in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Bob headed up an engineering team that took the initial laboratory devices from RCA Labs, and designed the into commercially viable and manufacturable laser products. In 1969, he moved to California and worked for Coherent, Inc. as a Manager of Ion Laser Product Development. This is where he developed the first commercial line of Beryllium Oxide ceramic and metal, ion laser plasma tubes.

Bob was a past member of Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel, CA, and Wesley United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, CA. He was a long-time member of Rolling Hills United Methodist Church in Pipersville, PA. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), as well as founder of the New Hope Railroad Restoration, in 1990. His group helped rebuild railroads and steam engines, having restored a 1925 steam locomotive.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his children: Thomas J. Buzzard and his wife, Ruth, of Santa Clara, CA; Lynn Mears and her husband, Eric, of Stockton, NJ; and Sharon Harrison of Doylestown, PA. Son-in-law; Dennis Curtis of Hope Mills, NC. His grandchildren: Eric Buzzard and his wife, Elizabeth; Carolyn Mears; Tyler Curtis; Ian Harrison; and Devin Harrison and great grandson Theo Wessinger Buzzard. His sister, Martha Wald, and her husband, Gayle, of Texas.

Bob was predeceased by his daughter; Beth Curtis and his grandson, Phillip Mears. Two siblings, Don W. Buzzard and Ruth Carol Metz.

A graveside service will take place in the fall at Fairview Cemetery in Pen Argyl, PA.