Robert Jerome Sievers, the son of George Harold and Anunciata “Nancy” Marinaccio Sievers, was born 88 years ago in Brooklyn, New York. Bob (as he was known to his friends and family) passed away peacefully, with his wife Benita and son Mark by his side, on March 18, 2022 in Wilmington, Delaware.
Bob graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and then the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, now known as the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. At “Brooklyn Poly,” Bob was a member of both the varsity wrestling team and the track team. Bob proudly served in the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) while in school and later in the US Army and Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant.
Bob and Benita grew up in Brooklyn, New York where they met and later married in Bay Ridge’s Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church. After marriage, Bob and Benita moved to Wilmington, Delaware to begin their 63 years of married life and start a family.
Professionally, Bob went to work for DuPont after graduation, starting his career in the Elastomers Business as an engineer at its Chestnut Run Research Laboratory in Wilmington, Delaware. Bob had a long and distinguished career with DuPont with a particular highlight being his years in Japan as the President of DuPont Far East as it was then known. Bob left DuPont in the mid 1980’s and joined Prodesco, a specialty textile company, as part owner, President and CEO. He remained as President and CEO of Prodesco and a later spin off, Secant Medical, until his retirement in the early 2000s.
Bob was a voracious reader. He loved to constantly expand his mind and he particularly enjoyed travel and reading about history. He was an enthusiastic tennis player and golfer known for his big left-handed swing in both sports. He was always one to join in fun with his children and grandchildren, and he often enjoyed golfing with his grandsons. He was a highly skilled woodworker and excelled at home improvement projects. His family often referred to him affectionately as “Bob the Builder” and each child and grandchild has at least one of his beautiful, handcrafted furniture pieces. Bob was particularly proud of the lovely dollhouses he built for Benita and his granddaughters. In addition, Bob loved to spend time relaxing at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Never one to sit still even while vacationing, Bob enjoyed cycling at the beach on long coastal rides and particularly enjoyed those rides with his grandchildren.
Bob had many successful accomplishments in his professional and personal life. However, he was most proud of his family, which is his most enduring legacy. He is survived by his loving family: his wife and partner in all things of 63 years Benita, his children Mark (Susan) Sievers of Norfolk, MA, Lisa (Jeff) Sommer of West Chester, PA, Jeanne (Dave) Gazzillo of Wilmington DE, Michael Sievers of Houston, TX, and David (Clare) Sievers of New York, NY, his 12 grandchildren, Matthew, Kathryn, Alex, Drew, Meagan, Jonathan, Nathan, Jason, Evan, Tim, Benjamin and Amanda, and his older brother George Sievers of Long Island, NY. Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Sievers. Bob will be greatly missed by his family and all those who had the pleasure to know him, but his work ethic, wit, wisdom and good nature will live through them forever.
The family will have a private service at St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Bob can be made to the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware at dsadelaware.org or DSA of Delaware, PO Box 747 Middletown, DE 19709
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