Robert A. Browning

After a long and happy life, our dearest Robert Browning passed away at the age of 85 surrounded by his family on January 2, 2023. He was preceded in death by his father Claude (1946), brother Leroy (1973) and mother Mary (1982). Robert is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janice; his grateful daughters, Jennifer Notaro (Anthony), Stephanie McVicar (Kevin); and his beloved son Todd (Danielle). He is the very proud grandfather of Matthew (Rachel) and Marisa Notaro, Seamus and Finnegan McVicar, Christopher and Claire Browning, and of his darling great granddaughter, Scarlett Notaro. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Robert was an Army ROTC graduate of mechanical engineering at Marquette University. He became a Captain in the US Army and served for 8 years in the Corps of Engineers. Robert and his family moved from Sacramento, California to Buffalo, NY in 1966. A brilliant man who could answer every Jeopardy question correctly, Robert was a rocket scientist and played a key role in Americas space race in the 1960s, designing the pilot safety system for the Gemini spacecraft, a part of NASAs second human spaceflight program. While working at Aerojet General he was a member of Project 624A Minuteman 3 where he helped design an expendable rocket, the Air Force Titan intercontinental ballistic missile. The space launch vehicle versions of this were used to launch all of the Project Gemini crewed flights in the mid-1960s and to send interplanetary scientific probes throughout the solar system. Later in his career he became a certified safety professional specializing in safety engineering and taught his last classes on workplace safety at the age of 80. An avid fisherman, woodworker, softball coach, marathon runner, joke teller, classical music aficionado and Buffalo Bills fan, some of Roberts greatest joy was found in cheering on his grandchildren in their many athletic endeavors. Two hands on the stick and the stick on the ice! A true gentleman to the end, he always had a smile and a story to share. Robert was a gift to all who knew him. See you later, alligator. Relatives and friends may visit the LOMBARDO FUNERAL HOME (Snyder Chapel) 4614 Main Street, Snyder on Sunday January 8th from 4-8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning, January 9th in St. Philip the Apostle Church, 950 Losson Rd., Cheektowaga at 10 oclock. Please assemble at Church. Leave condolences and share memories at www.lombardofuneralhome.com Your browser does not support this video format. You should be able to view it in Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer. Services Visitation Sunday January 8, 2023 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Lombardo Funeral Home (Snyder Chapel) 4614 Main Street Snyder, NY 14226