Robert John Tarcza

February 17, 1933 – September 13, 2024
Robert John Tarcza, of Fairfax Station, Virginia, passed peacefully with his family by his side on Friday, September 13, 2024, at Fairfax Hospital. Bob leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Elsie; daughter Karen Laughman (Dale) of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, son Ken (Beth) of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren Jennifer, Anna, Daniel, Aaron and Andrew, one great-grandson Henry; a brother, Greg (Ruth) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, three nieces, two nephews, and a host of wonderful friends and neighbors. He was predeceased by his brother Donald (Marsha) of Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 2018.

Bob was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, son of the late John Tarcza and Anna (Firsing) Tarcza, and was the oldest of three boys. He was active in Boy Scouts, building and flying model airplanes, and was the New Jersey State Junior Archery Champion as a teenager. Bob graduated from Rutgers University in 1955 and moved to Arlington, Virginia, where he began his career at the Navy Department. He married the love of his life, the former Elsie Mihaly, on September 22, 1957. Bob and Elsie settled in Vienna, Virginia in 1962, and raised their children there. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1964 and a master's degree in engineering administration in 1982, both from George Washington University.

Bob was an active participant in the communities he lived in and the organizations his children participated in. He remained a kid at heart throughout his life and was the dad the neighborhood kids wanted to play with because he had the best toys and always made time for them. He also made time to be a PTA President, volunteer as a Committee Chairman with the local Boy Scout troop and was a military history buff. All this while completing a 65-year career with the Navy Department, Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense as an engineer, analyst, and subject matter expert. Yes, Bob worked until he was 88!

A dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, honest, kind man of integrity, Bob leaves behind a family who never doubted his sincere love for them or their importance to him. No services are planned.