Robert "Bob" James Brueckner

Robert James (Bob) Brueckner passed away on February 23, 2025 at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home in Pittsboro, NC. He was born in Fort Wayne, IN, on Dec. 23, 1955, the eldest child of the late Mynhart O. Brueckner, Jr., and Georgene Rose Deller Brueckner. Family moves took Bob to Wabash, IN, back to Ft. Wayne, IN, then to Lake Katrine, NY, and Durham, NC, where he graduated from Northern High School in 1974. Bob played French horn in the NHS band and more recently in the Durham Community Concert Band. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 400 and the Order of the Arrow, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in March 1972. 

Bob received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in college, Bob wrote articles for the student newspaper, The Daily Tarheel. Following positions at Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC and the Union Daily Times in Union, SC, Bob had over 30-year career at the News and Observer newspaper in Raleigh, NC. In 2015, Bob was fortunate to receive an Editor’s Circle Award for his online news work.

In 1994, Bob married Suzanne Corr, and they enjoyed a fun 30-year marriage in Durham, NC. Bob was a gentle, supportive husband and friend. They enjoyed biking, hiking, watching movies, and laughing at the antics of their cats. 

Bob was an incredible uncle to eight nieces and nephews and attended their plays, birthday parties, and graduations whenever he could. He was always there for family members whenever they needed anything. Even-tempered, calm, and brave were words often used to describe Bob.

Outside of family and friends, Bob’s big passion was the outdoors, especially rivers. Bob was an avid kayaker and taught countless people kayaking. Since 1987, Bob’s second family was the Carolina Canoe Club, and in 2024 the club celebrated him for his service in leadership, including four terms as president and seven years as conservation chair. In 2020, Bob was honored to receive the American Canoe Association’s Green Paddle Award for waterway conservation. Bob volunteered with other environmental groups including the Haw River Assembly and the Haw River Trail Steering Committee. 

Bob is survived by his wife Suzanne Corr of Durham, NC; sister Ann Brueckner White (Thom White) of Union, SC; brother Mark Lee Brueckner (Claudia Credle Brueckner) of Durham, NC; eight nieces and nephews: Kelsey White (Henry Bley-Vroman), Emma Brueckner Paris (Matt Paris), Caitlin White, Olivia Brueckner, Daniel Arnold, Ryan Rickenbacher (Hunter Engstrom), Adrienne Corr and Jason Rickenbacher; grandnephew Colin Paris and grandniece Avery Paris.

Treasured as a spouse, brother, uncle, brother-in-law and friend, Bob will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held on March 14, 2025 at 11:00 am at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. To honor Bob, please dress casually and bring good stories to tell.

Memorials may be made to one of Bob’s favorite non-profit organizations:

• Carolina Canoe Club
• Haw River Assembly (P. O. Box 187, Bynum, NC 27228; hawriver.org)
• Durham Community Concert Band (https://durhamband.org/)
• UNC Lineberger Cancer Center’s Get Real and Heel program (https://unclineberger.org/getrealandheel/donate/)