Robert C. “Bob” Witkowski, 57, of Ashley, PA, (formally of Wilkes-Barre) passed away on March 20, 2010, unexpectedly at his home.
Bob was born in Jersey City, NJ. He was the son of Charles and the late Florence H. Witkowski of Wood-Ridge, NJ. Bob was employed at the Salvation Army in Hanover Township, PA, and was the former owner of Gratefully Yours on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. He was a 1974 graduate of Kings College.
Bob was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church of Wyoming Valley in the Back Mountain area. He was actively involved in his community, and worked passionately over the last four decades for peace and justice issues. He was a long-time member and Steering Club member of the Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice of Wilkes-Barre, PA. He also supported the Chickory House, a nonprofit folk music organization also in Wilkes-Barre, PA; Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty; Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern; Northeast Pennsylvania Folklore Society; and The War Resister’s League.
Bob was the father of two children, the late Kevin M. Witkowski of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Elizabeth-Ann “Beth-Ann” Witkowski, of Boston, MA. He also leaves Beth-Ann's husband, Jason Dorfman, of Boston, MA. Bob was the eldest of five siblings. Along with his father and daughter, he leaves his brother, Kenneth of Stockholm, NJ; sister Elaine Rutigliano, her husband Joseph, and their children, Joseph Jr., Melissa, Lisa, and Nicholas of Wood Ridge, NJ; brother Thomas and his partner Mark Davila of Arlington, MA; and brother James, his wife Susan, and their children Aminta and Shelby of Wood Ridge, NJ. He also has cousins in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice, 63 North Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702-1317.
