Vancko, Robert M.

Robert Michael Vancko, Ph.D., beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle died suddenly at age 70 after a brief illness on April 17, 2013 in Albany, New York.

Bob was born in Johnson City, New York on September 15, 1942, the son of Michael and Mary (Delovich) Vancko. Bob grew up in Lopez and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, enjoying music and playing baseball. He developed a lifelong love of sports and was a passionate Pittsburgh Steelers and, of course, Penn State fan. Bob was the first in his family to have the opportunity to attend college. He earned a Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. in mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He met the love of his life, Candace, in a music class at Penn State. They were married in the campus chapel and soon after started a family, all while Bob was completing his doctorate.

Bob dedicated thirty years as a math professor at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio where he taught undergraduate and graduate algebra courses and served as Graduate Chair. It was in Athens where he raised his family and developed his love of hiking, music, horticulture, running and all things outdoors. Even with all of his interests, the true light in his life was his family. He was a dedicated husband to Candace and father to their three children Kathy, Rob and Melissa.

In 1999, when Candace was named President of SUNY Delhi, he retired and devoted his time to supporting her career. He was also dedicated to taking retirement seriously, travelling around the world, honing his horticultural and gourmet cooking skills and becoming an avid golfer. In the last years of his life he received great joy from his eight grandchildren and had a special relationship with each of them. His life and dedication to his family are reflected in the faces of his grandchildren. Bob’s dedication to learning is his legacy to future generations.

Robert Vancko, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife Candace (Shedd) Vancko, two daughters and their spouses, Kathryn & Brian Coffee and Melissa and Eric Schenk and a son, Robert Vancko, Jr. and his wife, Tika (Svanidze). In addition to his grandchildren, Madison and William Coffee, Giorgi, Levani and Temuri Vancko and Lauren, Benjamin and Daniel Schenk, he is also survived by sisters Joyce Zimmerman and The Reverend Pamela Sten and brothers, Gerald Vancko and James Vancko.

Bob will be remembered in a private family gathering later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the The College Foundation for the Candace & Robert Vancko Scholarship, SUNY Delhi, 143 Bush Hall, 454 Delhi Drive, Delhi, NY 13753-4454 or to The SUNY Cobleskill Foundation, 211 Knapp Hall, Cobleskill, NY 12043.