Obituary for Robert Peter Bozzone at Rusiewicz Funeral Homes Inc. - Lower Burrell (2024)

Robert Peter Bozzone 90, of Lower Burrell, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 7, a few months before his 91st birthday. He was a successful businessman, engaged philanthropist, and, above all else, a very humble, gentle man deeply dedicated to his wife Irene and his family, faith, and community.

Bob was the devoted and loving husband of Irene Bozzone for the past 65 years, loving father of daughter Mary Jo Dunlap (Terry) of Fox Chapel, and Grandfather to her children Matt (Maddy), Josh, and Samantha; son Michael Bozzone (Natalie) of Indiana Township and his children Lyndsay, Julia (Chad), Katie, and John Michael; and son Mark Bozzone (Amy) of Indiana Township and his children Danielle, Jared, and Adam.

Bob was born in 1933 and raised in Glens Falls, NY, as the first child of Peter and Catherine Bozzone. He and his younger brother Bill grew up in humble surroundings in a second-floor apartment with his parents. Following high school, Bob attended the highly regarded engineering program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY, graduating with a Metallurgical Engineering degree. To pay for school, he developed a tremendous work ethic that served him well for years. He worked many part-time jobs, including the kitchen manager at the RPI fraternity house, landscaping, and even caddying for officers at a military base outside New York City alongside Italian prisoners of war.

Following college in 1955, Bob accepted a job with Allegheny Ludlum Steel (now ATI) in Pittsburgh as a junior metallurgist at the Leechburg Plant. There, he courted his future wife, best friend, and constant companion, Irene Guarnero, who worked as a secretary at the same company. Irene and Bob married a few years later, beginning their six-decade journey together, spending their entire lives cherishing each other's company, raising their three children, and working to impact Allegheny Township and the Lower Burrell communities positively.

Professionally, Bob's career with ATI would span a remarkable 54 years, virtually unheard of in today's corporate world, rising from metallurgist to CEO and Chairman of the Board. Following his retirement in 2001, he remained Chairman of the Board until 2004 and a board member until 2008. During his career with Allegheny Ludlum, the Pittsburgh-based company grew from a small specialty steel producer to a global leader in specialty materials for various critical applications, including aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and transportation. Bob was the President & COO when the company went public in 1987 and later helped engineer a transformative merger with Teledyne Corporation in 1996, creating Allegheny Teledyne (NYSE: ATI), a global materials and defense company. One of Bob's greatest assets was his ability to connect personally with employees, customers, shareholders, and community leaders. He treated everyone in the organization, regardless of position, respectfully, often walking the factory floor to meet employees, asking about their families, discussing process improvements, how to better serve customers, or simply saying hello and thank them for their hard work and dedication. In addition to his remarkable career at ATI, he also served many companies and organizations as a board member, including Duquesne Light (Chairman), Teledyne Technologies, Water Pik Technologies, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and RPI's Board of Trustees.

Community service and philanthropy were among Bob's greatest passions. He was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge, supporting numerous important causes and institutions, particularly in Pittsburgh and the AK Valley. He served on the boards and special committees of the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, United Way, Pittsburgh Foundation, Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center, and Heinz History Center, among others. He was a long-time advocate and generous supporter of these organizations and many more, including the St Margaret Mary Church, The Pittsburgh Zoo, Phipps Conservatory, RPI, the Community Library of Allegheny Valley, St Joseph High School, and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.

Personally, Bob, along with the love of his life and constant companion Irene, lived an incredibly spirited life complete with travels around the globe, golf, Scrabble duels, weekends with the family at the Hidden Valley Mountain House, visiting their children and grandchildren, and, of course, the daily walk around the neighborhood. He was a voracious reader who pursued a deep knowledge of varying subjects. He was always interested in gaining new perspectives on complex topics and remained intellectually curious until his final days. Bob and Irene were also a constant fixture in their grandchildren's lives, attending birthdays, Prom pictures, school plays, hundreds of athletic events, no matter the drive or weather conditions, graduation ceremonies, and many other family events big and small. Many associated with Pappy and Grr, as they are affectionately known, were welcomed into their family with open arms, and they viewed this loving couple as a catalyst for their personal growth and development. Grr and Pappy provided a calming presence at every event, sharing a great story, providing career or school advice, or simply sharing a laugh and a hug.

Ultimately, our lasting memories of this wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, and true gentleman are his kindness, compassion, generosity, and enthusiasm for life. He was an extraordinary man who made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many. May we all find peace and comfort knowing God has received this finest earthly gift.

The visitation to honor Robert Bozzone's life will be held on Friday, June 14 at RUSIEWICZ OF LOWER BURRELL FUNERAL HOME, 3124 Leechburg Rd, 15068, from 2 PM to 4 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM where Prayers of Transfer will be said Saturday June 15 at 9:30 AM followed by Christian Funeral Mass at 10 AM in St Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to St Margaret Mary Church, 3055 Leechburg Rd., Lower Burrell, PA 15068, The Carnegie Science Center, One Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212, or The Senator John Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/give/make-a-donation www.RusiewiczFH.com

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