Bob Bettendorf: IBM Executive and Devoted Family Man Passes Away at 93
Bob Bettendorf, a successful business executive and devoted family man, passed away on August 7th, 2026, at the age of 93. Born in New York City, he was raised in Queens and Long Island before attending Regis High School and graduating from Hempstead High in 1951.
Bettendorf went on to Hofstra University, where he graduated with Cum Laude honors in 1955. He worked at IBM for over three decades, starting as a salesman in 1955 and eventually becoming Director of Plans and Controls and advanced technology of the Communication Products Division in La Gaude, France from 1981 to 1984.
After retiring from IBM in 1989 as a Senior Development Executive, Bettendorf started his own office ergonomics consulting business. He is survived by his three children, Robert Jr., Kathleen McGinnis, and MariAnne Apuzzi, as well as five grandchildren who meant the world to him.
Bettendorf's legacy of love and care will be felt through generations. His family described him as a fun-loving person with a great sense of humor who enjoyed golf, skiing, college football, gardening, and travel. He took advantage of his time in France to explore Europe with his family and later became an avid fan of cruises.