Robert (Bob) Aufderhar of Fair Haven died suddenly May 19, 2025, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank after a short illness.
Bob was born Easter Sunday, 1931, in Orange. He grew up in South Orange and Maplewood, attending local schools and graduating from Columbia High School before joining the United States Air Force.
He served for four years, mostly in California and Cape Canaveral, Florida, working in technology and guided missile systems, helping Werner Von Braun perfect missile defense for the United States.
He received an honorable discharge and then attended Syracuse University, where he met his wife-to-be Joan and received a degree in business administration.
His first job was at Prudential where he was hired to work as a programmer in the nascent computer industry, today known as Information Technology (IT). He spent the rest of his career helping major corporations worldwide establish their computer systems.
Bob married his college sweetheart and they were blessed with two daughters; Lee was born in Orange and Mary was born in Toronto, Canada, where Bob worked for 18 months. The family lived in Millburn for many years, where their daughters were raised.
Bob loved sports, both watching and playing. He loved the New York Giants baseball team and followed them even after they moved to California. He enjoyed tennis, skiing, swimming and sailing, especially on Long Beach Island.
During his career and after retirement, he and Joan loved to travel, visiting many countries, including Australia, which was their favorite, as well as the Galapagos and numerous islands in the sun.
Bob loved to laugh. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was often the life of the party. He enjoyed being silly with his grandchildren, who loved being teased by him and hearing his stories.
Bob is survived by his wife Joan; daughters Lee (Kraig) and Mimi; grandchildren Lisle, Dylan (Celeste) and Charles; sister Sue; and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families. He will be very much missed by all.
Visitation was held May 24 with a service at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank.
The article originally appeared in the May 29 – June 4, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
