SERVICE AWARD
Robert F. Sobczak, Eng '71, Grad '74
Mount Pleasant, Wis.
After a successful career in engineering and business management, Rob continues to Be The Difference in retirement 鈥� by carrying on a beautiful legacy.
Rob spent 14 years at GE Medical, now GE Healthcare, working on software and advanced technology product development. After leaving GE, he and his wife Nancy, Eng 鈥�70, Grad 鈥�72, 鈥�07, founded SLY Air Racing and competed in the National Championship Air Races.
Then, Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite chemotherapy and surgery, the disease spread to her brain and spine. She passed away in 2011, after 39 years of marriage.
Rob decided to channel his grief into something positive. He established a fund in Nancy鈥檚 name at Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin to support translational breast cancer research.
He also wanted to honor Nancy by giving back to the institution where they met. 鈥溝蛉湛悠礽s where students cross into adulthood,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey step through its many doors looking for their future, just like us.鈥� He created two endowed scholarships in their names: one for men鈥檚 basketball student-athletes 鈥� Nancy was a dedicated MUBB fan 鈥� and one for students studying electrical engineering. In 2017 he finalized a women鈥檚 basketball scholarship and a women鈥檚 chorus member scholarship.
Even as he receives the College of Engineering Service Award, Rob continues Nancy鈥檚 legacy 鈥� she received the same award in 1987.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very gratifying to receive the very same award she did,鈥� he says. 鈥淥f course, she beat me to it, as she did in most things.鈥�
Fun Fact: The plane that Rob and Nancy crewed was called Sly Dog. Rob also designed the team鈥檚 logo and artwork.
