A celebration of life will be held Saturday, May 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Webster Hall for Robert J. Wojtko, who died May 2, seven years after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Bob was born in New York City in 1946 to Julius and Mary (Serine) Wojtko. He grew up in the city, graduating from Monsignor McClancy High School. He started college but then joined the Air Force during the Vietnam era, working in the field of avionics, the electronic systems used in aircraft. He was stationed at bases in Asia.
Upon his return to civilian life, Bob attended Pace University in New York, graduating with a degree in economics. He initially got a job with the Federal Reserve Bank, but eventually took a position with IBM as a systems programmer.
He married in 1973, and the couple had four children: Christopher, Michael, Karen and Lauren. They later divorced.
Bob’s job with IBM brought him to Longmont, Colorado, in 1987, which is where he found many of his passions. He joined the choir at St. John’s Church and became a cameraman for Longmont’s community access TV, then Channel 3, now Channel 8. The TV station covered area sports and many community activities. In addition, he started a videography business, filming weddings and other events.
It was in Longmont that he met Rita, the love of his life. Upon his departure from IBM in 2004, the couple cast about for a place to retire and landed in Gunnison, where Bob planned to take up fishing but never got around to it.
Instead, he sang at St. Peter’s Church and with the Gunnison Arts Center Community Singers; he joined the Knights of Columbus and helped with their fish fries; he served at the Gunnison Country Food Pantry as both a volunteer and board member; and he continued his association through the local chapters of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He and Rita continued the videography business, Third Eye Productions, and over the years he recorded a couple hundred weddings, live events and barbershop singing competitions. He also helped numerous people modernize their treasured memories that were stored in outdated formats such as 8 millimeter and VHS.
Mostly, though, one could find Bob on a dance floor. He and Rita took both tap and ballroom lessons, and when the ballroom teacher left town, they stepped up and became the instructors, teaching numerous locals the rudiments of social dance. They also hosted community dances for several years, sharing their love of the activity with others.
Cancer slowed Bob but it never stopped him – he was spotted dancing as recently as late fall. Through the kind attentiveness of the Veterans Administration’s Palliative Care program and especially Hospice & Palliative Care of the Gunnison Valley, Bob was able to remain at home, where he spent his last days looking out across the valley and enjoying the sun on his face while listening to his favorite music.
Survivors include his partner of 25 years, Rita Bohn; his sons Christopher Wojtko (Julie Harris) and Mike (Danni) Holliday; his daughters Karen Wojtko and Lauren (Kyle) Nesslein; eight grandchildren; Rita’s children Paula (Tim) Pelczar, Christopher (Caryl) Bohn, and Ginger (Doug) Randolph; Rita’s five grandchildren; his cat Princess and his bereft dog Ruby.
Memorial donations may be made to the Gunnison Country Food Pantry, Living Journeys, Hospice of the Gunnison Valley or the charity of your choice. His 5:30 service will be followed by dinner and, of course, dancing.
Saturday, May 11, 2024
5:30 - 7:00 pm (Mountain time)
Webster Hall
A celebration of life will be held at Webster Hall on Saturday May 11th at 5:30 pm. Join Bob's family and friends in sharing fond memories of him over the years and enjoy a meal catered by Marios Pizza.
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