Robert Defuccio

Robert DeFuccio, of Spinnerstown, Pa., much loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died March 13th. He was 85.

Bob was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 12th, 1936 to Joseph and Rose (Prezioso) DeFuccio. He grew up in Brooklyn alongside his sister, Alice, and brothers, John and Richard. He attended high school in Baldwin, N.Y. and graduated from SUNY Oswego, where he met his wife, Sally, acting in college theater. They were married for 62 years.

Bob believed strongly in the importance of good design. He studied woodworking and furniture design at the School for American Craftsman at the Rochester Institute of Technology and went on to become an award-winning designer known for furniture that was innovative yet functional and comfortable. Winner of the Rome Prize for design, he spent six months in Italy in 1976 as a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. He joined the Knoll Design Development Group in 1960, where he helped bring many iconic Knoll designs, including his own DeFuccio tables, to production. In 1971, Bob established his own firm and continued to design furniture for clients such as Thonet, Gunlocke, and Knoll. His Triangle Chair, designed for Stow Davis, was named one of the most significant furniture designs of the past 50 years by Interior Design Magazine in 1975, and the chairman of the board of the Industrial Designers Society of America called it “a beautiful and logical solution to a familiar product.” He also taught woodworking and design at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship.

Bob was thoughtful and curious, creative and passionate, an avid cyclist, traveler, and photographer with an enduring love of learning and the arts. He lit up every gathering with entertaining stories, always delivered with his warm laugh. He sought out — and had sharp opinions on — the best Italian food, wine, and coffee. Above all, he loved his family, who will cherish memories of time spent together in Rome, in the woodshop, at concerts, and around the dinner table.

He is survived by his wife Sally (Fors) DeFuccio; three daughters and sons-in-law Elise and husband Michael DiCorato (Wilton, Conn.), Simonee and husband Gerard Marhefka (Allentown, Pa.), and Kate and partner Brian Robb (Ypsilanti, Mich.); seven grandchildren Alina, Owen, Celia, and Emma Marhefka (Allentown, Pa.), and Allessandra, Adrian, and Nicholas DiCorato (Wilton, Conn.); as well as niece Maryann Rufrano (Saddlebrook, N.J.) and nephew Richard DeFuccio (Hampton, N.J.).

An intimate celebration of his life was held March 16th. No memorial service is immediately planned, and the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Doctors Without Borders .

This obituary was lovingly composed by Robert's family.