Robert Grudzina, 81, a resident of South Yarmouth, MA since 1992 and formerly of East Fishkill, NY, died on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at his home.

Born in Beacon on April 20, 1933, he was the son of John and Catherine Solarczyk Grudzina. Bob played with the Beacon Bears, proudly served our country in the US Navy during the Korean War, and was a graduate of Dutchess Community College. He was employed as a Senior Associate Engineer, Implementation and Resource Planner for IBM in Poughkeepsie and East Fishkill. Following his retirement, he worked at Marist College and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Bob served as a Town Councilman for the Town of East Fishkill for five consecutive terms. He was a member of the Mid County Improvement Association, Lomala Civic Association, President’s Panel of the East Fishkill Soccer Club, the East Fishkill Republican Club where he also was the newsletter editor, and the East Fishkill Republican Committee where he served as chairman of 5 years. He had served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Fishkill and East Fishkill Landfill, and was a past member of the county staff for the Dutchess County Disaster Preparedness and Civil Defense. On Cape Cod, he was a member of the South Yarmouth Tennis Club and the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth.

On May 25, 1958 in Cold Spring, Bob married Arlene Spinapolice who survives at home. He is also survived by his daughter, Perci Grudzina Conkling and her husband Christopher of Peekskill, NY; his grandchildren, Michael and Michelle; and his great-grandson, Liam. He was predeceased by his siblings, Stanley, John and Edward Grudzina, Lottie Pasco, Pauline Thompson, Louise Sandford and Jennie Hornick.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 10 from 4-7pm at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 11 at 10am at the funeral home. Private interment will be in the family plot in Fishkill Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 290 Summer Street, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675 or the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601. For driving directions, online condolences and memorial donations, please visit Bob’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.