Robert V. Pezdek

Robert Victor Pezdek of Trumansburg, NY passed away at home on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the age of 80.

Bob was born in Norman, Oklahoma on June 2, 1938, a son of the late Victor and Helen (Grendzinski) Pezdek. He graduated from Oakmont High School in 1956. He received his bachelors degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960 and obtained his Masters of Library Science from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1962. Bob worked his way through college as a parking lot attendant. Bob worked as a librarian for the Industrial Labor Relations Library of Cornell University, and for the City of Ithaca, and then for the Robert Packer Hospital.

Bob was, at one time, the owner of an Asian food and home goods store and, later, a tavern in downtown Ithaca. Bob also restored furniture, his former home in Ithaca, and the farmhouse where he lived.

He loved tending to his garden and caring for all his flowers and plants. In 2017 he obtained his nurseryman's license from the state of New York and began a nursery devoted to decorative grasses.

Bob is survived by his partner, Gary Smith; and siblings, Patricia Fraser, Donna (Ran) Abed, and John (Karen) Pezdek.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at St. James Catholic Church, 17 Whig Street, Trumansburg. Prayers of Committal will immediately follow at St. James Cemetery.

The family asks those that would like to make a contribution in Bob’s memory to kindly consider Carefirst Hospice, 3805 Meads Creek Road, Painted Post, NY 14870.