Robert Hofstadter

A graveside service for Robert Hofstadter, 83, of Winchester, Massachusetts, formerly of Currie, will be at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Willow Lake Lutheran Cemetery in Shetek Township, rural Currie. Click here to watch the recording of the service: https://youtu.be/Ygpti0Qi2QE

Robert Francis Hofstadter passed away the morning of September 2, 2024, in Winchester, Massachusetts, where he has resided for the past 47 years. Robert was the oldest of two children born to Frank J. and Rose M. (Olson) Hofstadter in Slayton, Minnesota, on December 4, 1940. He grew up in Currie, graduating from Immaculata High School in 1958. Afterwards he worked in the Currie and Rapid City, SD areas, often doing construction with Pat and Earl (Fritz) Gleason, until enrolling at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1962. He graduated from Mines in 1967 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. 

Robert was then employed by Bell Labs in New Jersey, but shortly began engineering graduate studies at Purdue University. He was awarded a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Purdue’s famous College of Engineering in 1974. At Purdue he also met his life partner, Dorothea M. Rehkop, who was also pursuing graduate studies there as well. Robert and Dorothea were married at Zephyr Cove, NV, near Lake Tahoe, on December 16, 1976.

After completing their graduate degrees, Robert and Dorthea moved to Southern California where he was employed by TRW, Inc. In 1977 they relocated to Winchester, MA, where Robert began his nearly 20-year career with The Analytical Sciences Corporation, today known as TASC, Inc. As an analytical and design engineer, he was involved with numerous national security and aerospace projects, most of which are classified for national security purposes. He retired from TASC in 1996.

In addition to his scientific interests, astronomy and quantum mechanics in particular, Robert was an avid reader, scouring local bookstores and garage sales for finds to add to his collection. He was also an avid fan of film noir, especially the classics. He took fastidious care of his home and landscape and developed close friendships in the Boston area. He was known for his great willingness to help everyone in the neighborhood however he could. In retirement he was constantly busy, with numerous projects of all kinds, usually underway simultaneously. Robert also remained very proud of his connection to South Dakota Mines and several of his close classmates from there.

Robert was preceded in death by his father Frank (1959), mother Rose (1989), and sister Elaine (1960). He is survived by Dorothea, his wife of 48 years.