Robert R. Belz
Peacefully and surrounded by family, Robert “Bob” R. Belz passed away on April 11, 2022, at 83 years of age. A 56-year resident of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Bob spent the last two years of his life at Morningside at Menger Springs in Boerne, Texas.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Jeanette Riggio Belz; children Debbie Drueke and Ret. Col. David (Jen) Belz; and grandchildren Leslie Drueke, Ellin “Maddie” (Austin) Wilt, Jack Drueke, Julia Belz and Kate Drueke. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Belz and Cyrilla Stockman Belz, and brothers Harold and Elmer “Al” Belz.
Bob was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where he graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1956. In his youth, he enjoyed playing hockey, basketball, soccer and football. In 1960, Bob moved to Glen Rock, New Jersey, where he met Jeanette Marie Riggio at St. Catharine’s Catholic Church Young Adult Club before joining the U.S. Army Reserves at Fort Dix. Bob and Jeanette married on July 4, 1964, and settled in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
While raising his family, Bob attended night school for many years and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Delaware Valley University in 1976. He spent the majority of his career in IT, starting as a programmer and eventually managing the IT department at Pennwalt Corporation in Philadelphia. Over the course of his career, he also worked at U.S. Rubber Company (NYC), Wycombe Hosiery Mills, Bucks Country Courthouse and the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.
Bob was always devoted to helping the less fortunate and spent his life serving his community in his own quiet, humble way. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Doylestown for 56 years where he served as a eucharistic minister. He was also active in the St. Joseph Society and Respect Life Movement.
In 1968, Bob and Jeanette founded the CYO at Mt. Carmel, where Bob was the adult adviser for over nine years and served at the parish, regional and diocesan levels. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognized Bob’s 25 years serving Catholic youth with the Father Daly Memorial Award.
Bob was very passionate about his involvement with the Knights of Columbus, where he was a fourth degree knight and served as grand knight for three terms. Bob was honored as the Knights of Columbus Man of the Year in 1998 and 2007 and Knight of the Year in 2016. As part of the Knights of Columbus, Bob took great pride in planning and cooking for numerous communion breakfasts, dinner dances and spaghetti dinners.
Bob’s life revolved around God, family and golf, in that order. He was very proud of his hole-in-one at the Bucks County Country Club and his league tournament victories at 80 years old. He earned the title of “Pop-Pop, the golf god” by his grandchildren. He loved hunting and fishing (even though he never shot a deer), and he could fix or build anything without looking at instructions.
Bob never turned down cookies or chocolate cake, and his entire family affectionately called him “The Cookie Monster.”
Most importantly, Bob was a very devoted, loving husband who always took good care of his wife, Jeanette, with whom he traveled the world. He will be remembered as a caring, supportive and beloved father who treasured time spent with his children and grandchildren of whom he was most proud.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at a later date in Boerne, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s honor to the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Council, No. 4160, to be used for charitable works within OLMC parish and the Doylestown community. Donations may be sent to Knights of Columbus Council No. 4160, in care of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 235 East State St, Doylestown PA, 18901.
To leave condolences for the family and to view a video of Bob’s life, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com. Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.
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