WILMINGTON — Robert “Bob” Joseph Dovichak, 74, of Wilmington, NC, died peacefully Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.
Bob was born in Erie, PA on July 21, 1947, to John Alexander and Rose Hermine (Shuster) Dovichak. As a young man Bob attended St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, NY for two years before returning home to complete high school. He graduated from Penn State University in State College, PA, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1969, and served in the Air Force Reserves from 1969 to 1972. Bob found professional success as an advertising sales executive for Forward Communications in Sioux City, IA and Peoria, IL.
In 1975, Bob met and married Nora Ink of Cleveland, OH. Sons Christopher John (1978) and Jonathan Robert (1981) were born in Sioux City, and in 1981 the family relocated to Wilmington, NC where they opened three Little King Deli and Pizza restaurants. Bob was an avid golfer, voracious reader and enjoyed traveling, cooking and time with his family. His sincerity and wry sense of humor made him successful in business, but his generosity of spirit made him even more successful in life. He will be deeply missed.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jack Dovishaw and Steve Dovichak; and sister-in-law Carol (Laird) Dovishaw. He is survived by his wife Nora; sons Christopher and Jonathan; daughter-in-law Tammy (White) Dovichak; granddaughters Arabella Elise Grigley and Arianna Nicole Salle; grandson Fox
William Dovichak; siblings Margaret Burkell of Richmond, VA, Catherine Grzelka and Don Dovichak of Erie, PA; and sister-in-law Kathleen (DiLuzio) Dovichak of Erie.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass celebrating Bob’s life at 9am on Monday, May 9 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wilmington, NC. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (https://lifecare.org/donate/) or Oblates of St. Frances de Sales
(https://www.oblates.org/support-us).
Messages of condolence can also be shared at: Robert Joseph Dovichak – Coastal Cremations (coastalcremationsnc.com)
