Robert Rydzewski

Robert S. "Bob" Rydzewski, 94, a resident of Wyoming, passed peacefully into eternal life surrounded by his loving family and clergy on Friday evening, Sept. 19, 2025, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

His beloved wife of 33 years was the late Joanne Nowak Rydzewski, who passed away on July 15, 1992.

Born on March 17, 1931, in Swoyerville — currently known as Swoyersville (with the middle 's'), Bob was the son of the late Stanley Rydzewski and Mary V. Butkiewicz Stukoski Rydzewski.

Raised in Swoyerville, Bob was a graduate of the former Swoyerville High School, Class of 1949. During the summers of his high school years, he worked on the tobacco farms near Babb's Beach in Suffield, Conn.

Following high school, Bob enlisted with the United States Navy, honorably serving his country as a Radarman during the Korean War. During his time of service, he proudly sailed aboard the USS Askari (ARL-30), the USS LSM-462, and the USS Summit County (LST-1146), which took him on a mission above the Arctic Circle to Point Barrow, Alaska.

After his faithful Naval service, Bob enrolled at Wilkes College, now Wilkes University, studying Electrical Engineering and completed his studies at the Pennsylvania State University, acquiring his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.

Becoming a licensed professional electrical engineer in 1971, Bob was employed for several years by Smith, Miller and Associates Inc., Kingston, retiring as a senior vice president. His electrical design projects included the Wesley Village, Pittston; Wyoming Valley West Vocational-Technical School, Pringle; Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas; the Luzerne County Housing Authority's Bennett Street Apartments, Luzerne, and 6th Street Apartments, Wyoming. Of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of his "Town of Gold" project, where he designed the golden-yellow street lighting for the Borough of Kingston. In his earlier years, he was employed by the American Store Bakery, Philadelphia; General Motors Company, New Jersey; and as an electrical engineer at Daystrom, Archbald; and Tung-Sol, Weatherly.

Having a strong, unwavering Roman Catholic faith his entire life, Bob was a faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston, and, prior to its closing, St. John the Baptist Slovak Church, Pittston. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Assumpta Council 3987, Kingston, having the distinction of being a long-serving member of the council, and was also a Fourth Degree Knight of Our Lady of Czestochowa Assembly 1928, Kingston.

A gentle, quiet man, Bob enjoyed dining out, Disney and Cruise vacations with his family, and spending time with his brothers and sisters at the "Swoyerville homestead." He was also an avid bowler and an ardent fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and his alma mater, the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Family was the focal point of Bob's daily life, and his enduring legacy will be that of a loyal husband to his wife, Joanne, the absolute love of his life. He was also a loving and caring father to his only child, his daughter, Judy, and a proud grandpa to his only grandson, Erik. After losing his wife at such a young age, the birth of his grandson brought him tremendous joy, and he proudly participated in all aspects of Erik's life.

In addition to his parents, Stanley and Mary Rydzewski, Bob was preceded in death by his brothers, Vincent Stukoski, Bernard Rydzewski and Theodore Rydzewski; his sisters, Mary "Monch" Stukoski and Celia Rydzewski; and his nephew, Daniel Rydzewski.

Left to cherish Bob's memory are his daughter, Judy Rydzewski Cudo and her husband, Joseph, Wyoming; his grandson, Erik J. Cudo, Bryn Mawr; as well as generations of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, from Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, followed by a concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Parish, 35 William St., Pittston. The Rev. Father Joseph P. Elston, pastor, will be the celebrant, and the concelebrants will be the Rev. Father Jackson Pinhero O.S.J. and the Rev. Father Michael Boris.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Township, where military honors will be accorded by the United States Navy.

Family and friends are invited to Bob's viewing which will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at the funeral home.

To send Bob's family a message of condolence, you may visit www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com or the funeral home's Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bob's memory to his parish, St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 William St., Pittston, PA 18640; Native American Veterans Assistance (NAVA), PO Box 5053, Pine Ridge, SD 57770; or The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, 475 East Chelten Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144.