In Memory Of

As published in Dayton Daily News on May 22, 2018:

Robert Louis Ponziani, age 62, of West Chester, Ohio passed away peacefully on May 17, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Kathleen. He is survived by his sister Carol DeGrazier (Ponziani) and brother-in-law Tony, his brother Rick and sister-in-law Jeanne Ponziani (Putnam) and his brother Larry. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Kevin Ponziani and his wife Brittany, Mark Ponziani and his wife Staci, Maria Blazejewski (Ponziani) and her husband Jonathan, Dominic DeGrazier as well as great nieces and nephews Jacob, Andrew, Aubrey, Maddie and Ellie.

Robert was born in Detroit and grew up in Kettering Ohio, graduating from Fairmont West High School in 1974. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Cincinnati. He was a jet propulsion Engineer for 31 years at General Electric in Cincinnati and was the inventor of record on 14 patents for jet engines.

Robert was a man with many interests outside of his profession: He was a sailor, having served on crew for the Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race. He had a lifelong love and deep knowledge of animals of all kinds and was a longtime volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo. He also served as a volunteer at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati and served as an elementary school substitute teacher for science classes.

He had a lifelong interest and knowledge in all things technical and creative: space exploration, aviation, astronomy, bicycles, woodworking, and photography, just to name a few.

He loved his family and friends and all who knew Robert will miss his kindness, his fun-loving spirit, his warmth, his charm and his endless humor.