Serving as the counterpart to our Chief Disaster and Logistics Officer, is our Volunteer of the Year Hero and friend, Bob Calzaretta. Bob is a wonderful contribution to the Jersey Coast family because of his positive attitude and cheery disposition.

Bob retired from the computer industry at age 67 after serving 35 years in the scientific/engineering side of the computer industry, all with computer system manufacturers. His last assignment was working with AEGIS, a Navy Radar Weapons System for Destroyers and Cruisers. He spent most of his later career working with Military Prime Contractors providing computer systems for the Marine Corps, Army programs, and MIT Lincoln Lab Radar Systems for the U.S. Air Force. During his career he spent 25 years in numerous management positions with different computer manufacturers.

In the early part of his career Bob was heavily involved in the development of computer store & forward message switching communications systems providing systems to Western Union, Western Union International, International Telephone & Telegraph, as well as WorldCom Communications Systems. He assisted in the development of a competitive product to an IBM offering which resulted in sales to every U.S. based airline and was promoted to Airline Industry Sales Manager. He was a co-developer for a reservation system for travel agents utilizing one terminal to establish airline, hotel and auto reservations.

Early in his career Bob has the distinction of co-developing the interface to the Bell Laboratories Prototype Modem (801-A) and establishing the very first computer to computer dial up connection between Paramus, NJ & Chicago, Il. He later demonstrated remote printing between a computer in Paramus, NJ & a printer in Las Vegas, NV over a private telephone line.

Bob took a 5 yr sabbatical from the computer industry and worked in the Commercial Investment Real Estate business selling apartment complexes, shopping centers and industrial parks. During this time he also taught Real Estate Contract Law at Tulsa University and worked toward a certification as a Certified Commercial Investment Manager. He is a product of Jersey City and has lived in 6 different states during his business career. He has 6 children who now live all over the country.

Over the past year, Bob has been very active within the Disaster Department. Single handedly, Bob took over our fleet management of 18 vehicles and regularly comes into the chapter to inspect them to ensure they are ready to respond in the wake of a disaster. A member of the Disaster LEAD Team and Disaster Action Team, Bob is a Red Cross advocate through many spectrums. He volunteers for multiple community events within our chapter - always willing to help wherever the need may be. Not only does Bob volunteer his services to our local disaster efforts, but also on the national and international level.

With Bob’s level of dedication you would think he was a full-time employee because of his 150 or more days spent at the chapter last year alone. Bob truly lives and breathes the Red Cross and we are lucky to have him. Congratulations to our very deserving Volunteer of the Year Hero.