Robert "Bob" Theodore Duquet

Duquet, Robert Theodore died peacefully at the age of 84 on Saturday, April 19, 2014 in Socorro, NM after a long illness. He was born on September 17, 1929 to William F. and Marie C. Duquet in Sherbrooke, Quebec Province, Canada. William and Marie had one other child, Mary Frances, who is Robert�s beloved younger sister. Robert, known by many of his friends in Socorro as Bob, had a long and illustrious academic career, attaining both his BS and MS degrees in Meteorology in Montreal, Canada, and moving to the USA to attain a PhD in Meteorology at New York University. Although Bob�s studies were in Meteorology and he started his professional career as a Meteorologist at an airfield in Gander, Newfoundland, most of his career was spent in the emerging field of Computer Science. He was on the ground floor of computer science, studying and teaching classes in this new field at Penn State, and SUNY Albany, and was the head of the Computer Science Department for several years at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Bob helped to write the first SETI programs and even collaborated with luminaries in the field, Frank Drake and Carl Sagan. Eventually, Bob�s passion for Computer Science led him to work for National Radio Astronomy Observatory through Cornell University, first at Arecibo in Puerto Rico for 5 years and finally at the Very Large Array (VLA) just outside of Socorro County on the San Agustin Plains for 14 years. While working at VLA, Bob also taught classes in Computer Science at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM. Bob retired in 1994. Bob�s first marriage was to Mary Alice Duquet with whom he had 5 children: Christopher, Mia, Paul, Kati, and Andrew. Later in his life, he moved to Socorro in 1980 to work at VLA. In 1986, he married Alice Harriet Caldwell, who had 3 grown children: Deb, Kimberly, and Madelyn. Bob and Alice were married for almost 28 years, during which time he also gained 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Despite Bob�s very busy life as an academic, computer scientist and programmer, father and grandfather, he also had several hobbies. He was a voracious reader his whole life, a lover of classical music, and a skilled gardener. He also enjoyed playing bridge, SkipBo, and Cribbage. Bob is survived by his sister and her spouse, Mary and Ian Cogan of Orleans, Ontario, Canada; 5 children and their spouses, Christopher and Jinshil Duquet of Evanston, Illinois; Mia Duquet of Santa Cruz, California; Paul Duquet of Puerto Rico; Kati and Scott Long of Phoenix, Arizona; and Andrew Duquet and Suman Gill of Kensington, California; his 3 stepchildren and their spouses, Deb Caldwell and Don Boyd of Socorro, NM; Kim Caldwell and Kyle Miller of Leadville, Colorado; and Madelyn Caldwell of Las Cruces, NM; his 6 grandchildren, Christopher Shaunfield of Houston, Texas; Michaela Mabry of Las Cruces, NM; Holden Long of Phoenix, Arizona; Emilie Duquet of Evanston, Illinois; and Ryan and Annika Duquet of Kensington, California; and one great grandson, Maverick Shaunfield of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews who all reside in Canada. Funeral services for Robert Duquet will be held on Friday, April 25 at San Miguel Catholic Church in Socorro, NM, with the Holy Rosarybeing recited at 9:30 AM and the Mass of resurrection following at 10:00 AM with Father Andrew Pavlak as Celebrant.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to San Miguel Church Restoration Fund, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro, NM 87801 . To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com. Bob's care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 309 Garfield St Socorro, NM 87801 575-835-1530