Bob Haduch, a do-it-all engineer and safety manager at WVIA in Pittston, Pa., died suddenly Nov. 11. He was 54.
When he started with WVIA in 1987 at the age of 18, Haduch quickly became known as the man who could solve any technical problem.
“He was like a brother to me,” says Joe Glynn, WVIA’s CTO, who supervised Haduch during his 35-year career with WVIA. “Even though he was on the engineering team all of those years, he was really all about team WVIA. His dedication to the station is unrivaled and his friendship to everyone will be so difficult to replace. We are going to miss him.”
“Bob’s positive attitude and ability to diagnose problems made him stand out as a key member of the organization,” Glynn says. “No matter the size of the job — from changing office light bulbs and patching the pavement in the parking lot to fixing complicated broadcast electrical equipment and systems — Bob was determined to get the job done with the highest quality.”
Haduch had such a remarkable ability to get the absolute most out of every piece of equipment that his colleagues referred to him as “Bob the Re-Builder.” Always budget-conscious, Haduch routinely attempted to repair rather than replace equipment. He loved going to flea markets to buy tools and electronic parts for his home workshop. It was not uncommon for him to use an equipment part from his stock to make a repair.
Recently, WVIA’s 13-year–old FM transmitter failed, and the manufacturer said it could be too difficult to repair in the field. Haduch attempted to do the job and succeeded in repairing all 16 power amplifier modules.
Haduch also helped colleagues at WVIA when they had problems with their cars or home appliances. In most cases, Haduch would drop by and make the repairs himself.
“Bob was without question an indispensable asset to WVIA,” says Chief Engineer Mark Ruddy. “He went above and beyond what a typical broadcast engineer is expected to do. Everyone at the station will always remember him for not just for his dedication, but also for being there for anyone, whether professional or personal. He just loved to help, and all he ever wanted in return was a ‘thank you.’”
Soon after the news of his passing, WVIA-FM hosts and producers Lisa Mazzarella and Erika Funke memorialized Haduch’s life on-air, sharing their personal stories and paying tribute to his many contributions to the station over the years. An excerpt of the broadcast was posted on Facebook.
Bob was one of the best people I’ve ever known, my best friend, and my work husband and he will be greatly missed.
Beautiful piece Jim- you got Bob down to a T and he would be all bashful but love it!
Bob was one-of-a-kind special and I’m glad we made him feel appreciated while he was here.