Robert Roy Tracy of Rochester, age 72,  passed away at his home on November 2, 2014.

Bob was born on June 2, 1942 in Waterloo, IA to Horace and Jeannette Tracy. He attended Waterloo Public Schools, graduating from West High School in 1960. He then attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics in 1964.  His first teaching job was in Cedar Rapids, but he soon returned to Waterloo, where he taught at West High until 1969. He met his wife Karen while they were both teaching in Waterloo. They were married on December 27,1969. In June of 1969 he was hired as a programmer by IBM Rochester.  During the 1970's he was involved in the development of IBM's air traffic control system for the FAA and taught classes on it both in the US and in England.  Bob was also instrumental in the development of the IBM System/38 and contributed to the merger of System 38 and System 36 into the IBM AS/400.  After his retirement in 1999, he returned to IBM as a consultant, working with database workloads until 2008. Bob had a lifelong passion for music and played the viola in various professional orchestras for nearly his entire adult life. He played in the Rochester Symphony until 2008, at which time he began singing in the Chorale. He also sang in church choirs, and loved being a part of musical gatherings. Bob was a generous, warmhearted person with a vast enthusiasm for life and a great sense of adventure and optimism.  He was a devoted husband and father, and he will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends.

Bob is survived by his wife Karen (Street) of Rochester, his four children, Diane (Eric) Swearingen of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Dan Tracy of Rochester, Deborah (Ryan) Scott of Eagan, MN, Carol (Tony) Eichenlaub of Rochester, six grandchildren: Jennifer and James Swearingen, Connor and Caidan Scott, Isaac and Gabe Eichenlaub, a sister and brother-in-law: Marguerite and Jacque Deweese of Portage, WI, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service for Bob will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 11:00AM at Rochester Covenant Church with Pastor Herb Frost officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are preferred to the Rochester Orchestra and Chorale or to Rochester Covenant Church.

Macken Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com