Beloved father, loving husband, relisher of the world's delights, and lifelong pursuer of knowledge, Robert J. Scavuzzo, 83, died in the early hours of the morning on February 14, 2022. Born in North Plainfield, NJ, the second son of Antoinette Cherichetti Scavuzzo and Rudolph Scavuzzo, Robert showed an early aptitude for science, an interest that led to his B.S. at Lehigh University (where he was a member of Delta Chi) and spurred his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he met his wife of 57 years, Jennifer Herald. He spent most of his 35-year career in the Lehigh Valley, working for Bell Labs (later AT&T, Lucent, and then Agere), ever engrossed in technological innovations and excited by the satisfaction of a puzzle solved, a challenge satisfied. His keen intellect, lively sense of humor, and warm personality guided both his professional and private life.

In a highlight of his work, Robert managed the overall architecture, design and development of the Hobbit microprocessor and other components for the emerging Personal Communicator market, working on predecessors of the now-ubiquitous smartphones. This work led him to travel the globe, from Ireland to India, trips that he recalled fondly as opportunities to meet interesting people and encounter diverse cultures. One of the early members of the AT&T Bell Laboratories' CRISP research project, Robert led the product design and development effort that incorporated RISC-based architecture, which simplifies individual instructions given to computers in order to realize a task. Over his long career with AT&T Bell Labs, Robert contributed to and was responsible for managing a broad range of projects, including AT&T's Data Systems Group, CMOS VLSI design, bipolar ASIC design, ion implantation technology, and integrated circuit process technology—all a testament not only to his knowledge but also to his remarkable ability to manage and work well with complicated personalities. He authored numerous papers on bipolar transistor technology and digital logic design and holds a half-dozen patents.

No matter how seriously he took his work, Robert's life was centered and enriched by his dedication to his family. After the early death of his father when he was 12, Robert was raised by his mother Antoinette and aunt, Linda Cherichetti; at this early age, Robert took on an important role in the life of his then 2-year-old sister, Linda, with whom he remained close until her death in 1993. His older brother, Dr. Rudolph J. Scavuzzo, of Akron, OH, preceded him in death in 2016, as did his mother, aunt, and another sister, Caroline, who died in childhood. Robert leaves many heartbroken with his death. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, of Bethlehem, PA; his three children—Laura Scavuzzo Wheeler and her husband, Jeff Wheeler, of Long Beach, CA; Julia Scavuzzo Shea and her husband, Ed Shea, of Norfolk, VA; Robert Charles Scavuzzo and his wife, Katina Pruden Scavuzzo, of Newfield, NY; and four grandchildren, Chloe Elizabeth Wheeler, of Princeton, NJ, and M. Blake Wheeler, of Los Angeles, CA; and Luciano and Matteo Scavuzzo, of Newfield, NY; his cousin, Norma Cherichetti Monahan and family, of Stratham, NH; as well as numerous loving nephews, nieces, their children, and lifelong friends.

Most at peace in nature, sitting on his screened-in porch amid the glory of a thunderstorm or hiking through the vast redwoods of the Muir Woods, Robert held a deep affection for so many things: dogs, who always recognized a kind spirit in him; birds, in all their fascinating variety; opera, the symphony, chamber music; complex works of non-fiction. Whether it was devising a clever solution to a challenge—successfully dividing a pie into 13 equal pieces, thwarting the squirrels plaguing his birdfeeders, designing and overseeing the construction of his beloved house in Zionsville, PA—or finding a new interest to pursue—theories in quantum physics, Churchill's memoirs, the best ways to design a vegetable garden—Robert led a life abundantly full. We who remain find our lives to be less so without the joy of his curiosity, humor, and gentle grace.

A celebration of Robert's life will be held in April at a private residence. Please contact Schantz Funeral Home, Emmaus, PA, at (610) 965-2421, for details. In lieu of flowers, perhaps consider planting a tree to honor Robert's love for the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania.