Robert Bruce Ludgate, Sr.

Robert Bruce Ludgate, Sr., 86, of Reading, PA, passed away on October 23, 2025, at Wyomissing Health and Rehabilitation Center, after a long illness.

Born on August 14, 1939, in Jamaica (Queens), NY, Bob was the first son of the late Harold "Al" C. Ludgate, Sr. and Edna L. (Noviello) Ludgate Terrell. He played basketball on the Brockport High School varsity team in Brockport, NY. The year he graduated, 1957, his team won the Monroe County Class A basketball championship, and he was awarded a partial scholarship to attend Clarkson College.

Bob was 17 when his father passed suddenly. To ease the financial strain on his mother, he opted to leave college and enter the workforce. Upon his return to the Rochester area, Bob met his future wife, the late Honorable Judge Linda K. Mowson Ludgate, and married her in 1961. They were married for 63 years prior to the Judge's death in 2024, and he eventually became the proud father of four children, "Pop" to five grandchildren, and "Great Pop" to a great-grandson.

Bob began his career in Consulting Engineering as a surveyor for Erdman & Anthony in Rochester, NY. Between 1959 and 1973, he was promoted to Highway Designer, working on I-87, a design that won "America's Most Scenic New Highway of 1968", US-15, US-17 and others, and later he worked on nearly 100 bridges as a Bridge Engineer. His last role at Erdman & Anthony was branch office manager in Hornell, NY. In 1973, he was employed as a Structural Engineer for Gilbert Associates, where he designed fossil fuel and nuclear power plants.

Bob entered the Ludgate & Kent partnership in 1975, and became sole proprietor in 1976. The firm evolved into Ludgate Engineering Corp., where, for over 40 years, Bob served as CEO, Chief Civil and Structural Engineer, and Chief Surveyor. During his career, several innovations in engineering and surveying that have become commonplace today were his brainchildren, including designing the first steel box girder bridge in NY and the adaptation of precast concrete catch basins as detention pond outlet structures. He was also mentor to a multitude of new college graduates and other young people in his employ and in the community.

Passionate about community service, Bob was a member of Berks County Chamber of Commerce among others, was involved in local politics, serving as Chair of the official study committee that proposed the Berks County Home Rule Charter, and was especially proud to have helped in the elections of the late Judge Ludgate and Judge Madelyn Fudeman. He was also proud of LEC's role in the revitalization designs of Phoenixville, West Reading, and other business districts.

A travelbug, Bob visited a number of countries over four continents with his wife and assorted members of his family. He traveled to Ireland many, many times, often visiting relatives there. Bob also loved crossword puzzles and card games, and was an athlete who excelled at several sports. Most of these activities were ultimately eclipsed by his love of golf. He was a longtime member of Moselem Springs Golf Club and enjoyed playing different courses during his travels; his favorites were the courses at Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife and his two brothers, Richard Allen and Harold Charles, Jr. He is survived by his sons Robert B., Jr., husband of Mary Harris, James Brendan, and Thomas B., husband of Jennifer, his daughter Laurie K.; his grandchildren Katie, Timothy, Jamison, Dana, and Shane; his great-grandson Malcolm; and his sister Margaret-Ann, wife of Chester Ciesinski and mother of Christopher.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 3, 2025, 10:00, at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Ave., West Reading, PA, with memorial services to follow at 11:00. Inurnment will be in the Chapel of St. George at Gethsemane Cemetery.

Contributions in Bob Ludgate's name may be made to SafeBerks or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.