Robert Hockenbury

McKOWNVILLE - Dr. Robert Hockenbury, Associate Professor Emeritus at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, passed away on December 28 after a brief illness at the age of 96. He was the son of the late John and Lena Hockenbury. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Bernice Cehowski Hockenbury in 2022. Bob and Bernie were happily married for 66 years. He is survived by a son John (Kathleen) Hockenbury of Selkirk, Beth (Thomas) Maney of Colonie and Judith (Mark) Peplowski of Clifton Park. Bob was very pleased with the successful marriages and careers of John, Beth and Judith. He was the proud grandfather of Sean and Brett Maney (Paige Weinman), and Matthew Hockenbury. He is also survived by a brother Thomas Hockenbury ( predeceased by his wife Carole ) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bob reserved several employment offers after retiring, but preferred to have a more conventional retirement, than is the case now a days. Bob truly enjoyed the time spent with his grandsons, particularly after his retirement from RPI in 1992. Their enthusiasm led him back to baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, music, fishing and woodwork. Their musical interests included cello, electric and acoustical guitars. Following this came the construction of several guitars and the analysis of stringed instruments. For Bob, family was most important and family events, holidays, graduations, and all of their activities came first. He often said that having grandchildren and helping to raise them was a great gift. 

Bob and Bernie enjoyed many summer vacations in the : Adirondacks, Maine and Cape Cod. As a couple, they often attended Polish, American, and German dancing events, crediting their good health to the exercise therein. Bob was a member of the Polish American Citizens Club, frequently attended the Polish Community Center and occasionally the German-American Club. Summer concerts were a pleasure to Bob and Bernie for the variety of dancing to Polish, Irish, Italian, German and the American music of their youth. 

Bob served in the 2nd Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division in 1946 and 1947, during the Occupation of Japan. In Yokohama and Tokyo, earning the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After graduating from Union College in 1952 with a BS in Physics, he became an analyst in the US Naval Hydrographic Office near Washington DC. Winning a NY State Veteran’s Scholarship, he returned to Albany to do Graduate work in Physics at RPI. At RPI, he earned a Master’s Degree in Physics and later a PhD in Nuclear sciences. 

In 1976, he was promoted to Associate Professor in the RPI Nuclear Engineering Department. Courses taught by Professor Hockenbury included Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Neutron Interactions, Lumped Parameter Systems, Reliability and Risk Assessment and Non Destructive Testing. Bob also performed physics research with other scientists from laboratories in the US, the Philippines, England and Japan. When nuclear power plant safety took on an increased interest, he taught a new course at RPI in Risk Analysis and Risk Assessment. Bob was a consultant in nuclear plant systems analysis, fire risk analysis and component reliability analysis for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and several electric power utilities and in nuclear waste disposal for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Bob was co-author and author of more than 57 publications and conference presentations in metals science and risk assessment studies of nuclear power plants. He had been a member of the American Physical Society, a Charter Member of the Society for Risk Analysis and a member of Sigma XI, an honorary society.  

Bob and Bernie are forever grateful to John, Beth and Judy for their faithful support during the years of the Covid Pandemic. Robert’s family extends a great appreciation to the staff at the Peregrine Guilderland Assisted Living Facility, for providing a loving and safe environment. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Robert’s name, to The Community Hospice Foundation for the benefit of St. Peter’s Hospice Inn. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Parish, 250 Old Maxwell Rd, Latham, NY 12110, Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Watervliet. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.

Click here to view Bob's resting place in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Watervliet, NY.