Roberta "Ro" Burghart

Roberta “Ro” Bertha (Schweizer) Burghart died peacefully at her home with several of her loved ones by her side on June 22, 2023. Born with a fraternal twin sister February 15, 1930, to Albert and Irene Schweizer, Ro grew up during a poor but idyllic time on Staten Island, NY. She and her three sisters bicycled to the beach, the zoo, the library, and the five and dime store for knitting yarn and fabric to make their own clothes, and for True Romance magazines that they shared and reread. She climbed apple trees and snacked on berries and carrots from neighbors’ gardens, earned money by cleaning houses, mowing lawns and working in her aunt’s “shirt hospital” in Brooklyn.

There weren’t many prospects for a policeman’s daughter in 1947, so she and her sister and best friend quit school and went to work as switchboard operators for the telephone company. She enjoyed being good at her job and earning money for small luxuries like store-bought dresses and going to the local dances.

She met her future husband at one of those dances; he was just back from serving as a Staff Sergeant with the US Army in war-torn Germany. Philip Ard Burghart won her heart and her hand, and they were married in 1948. While Phil pursued his chemistry degree at Wagner College on the GI Bill, Ro continued her job with the phone company; they were both grateful for the family support they received in caring for their first child.

Over the years, Ro and Phil prospered and moved to new locations as Phil’s career took him to new and bigger responsibilities at companies such as Eastman, Houdry, Air Products, Halcon Scientific Design, and Ergenics Corporation. Their longest stretch in one place was the 31 years they spent in Franklin Lakes, NJ, where Ro was an extraordinarily devoted wife, homemaker, and mother with four children. In addition to feeding and cleaning up after her family of six, Ro made draperies and bed coverings, painted rooms, landscaped her large yard, hosted foreign guests from Phil’s work on a regular basis, repaired the dryer and the dishwasher, and kept the household functioning. She was an excellent cook and meal planner, and experimented with many different cuisines over the years, much to her family’s delight. Her favorite part about Franklin Lakes: Ro learned to play tennis and paddle tennis while in her 30s and continued playing well into her 50s. She joined the roller-skating resurgence of the early 1980’s and would pack her rust orange suede skates in the car whenever she went to visit family and friends so she could try out new roads. She also loved to canoe and accepted every opportunity to do so.

One thing that was clear to all who knew her: Ro loved animals and people of all ages (most especially children). She had a magnetic personality that drew people close and enfolded them in her warmth and good humor.

Ro was a selfless soul who would help anyone in need. She was a tireless caregiver who took in and spent 10 years caring for her twin sister who had early onset Alzheimer’s. In 1999 she and Phil retired to Cape Charles, VA, where they built their dream home on the Chesapeake Bay. They enjoyed 10 years together in their bayfront home before Phil passed away, shortly after their 62nd wedding anniversary.

Ro moved to Asheville in 2010 to be near her daughter’s family. For the first time in her adult life, she got to make all of her own choices in decorating her home, buying a car, choosing which TV show to watch, and when and what to cook. Every day she thanked Phil in her prayers for helping her to achieve finally a carefree life.

Ro’s family helped her to maintain her independence through several life-threatening health events and she achieved her goal of living in her own home until her death. She remained sharp and witty until the day she died. The doctors believe she set some kind of record for living with congestive heart failure over 28 years. She believed that enjoying a daily glass of wine, playing games with friends, having an affectionate cat, and maintaining a positive attitude were the secrets to her longevity. She was well known as the World’s Greatest Solitaire Player and spread her love for several card games and her cooperative version of Bananagrams to many others.

Ro found her very best friends in Asheville and enjoyed living in a vibrant multi-generational community. She had an eventful life and she navigated many difficulties, always with her eyes aimed forward, with hope and determination, grace and strength. She is missed by many.

Preceded in death by her husband Phil, her son Gary, her granddaughter Krista, and her three beloved sisters, Ro is succeeded by her daughter Roberta Ahmed (Mian), her son Scott Burghart (Lisa), her daughter Jill Scobie (Bill), her beloved former son-in-law Tom LaGuardia (Kathy), 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and her sweet kitty Blondie.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, https://www.bwar.org/, or the Reynolds Volunteer Fire Department, 235 Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803. Or as her grandson plans to do, plant a dogwood tree in your yard and name it Ro. She loved the Cornus florida variety.

Ro’s cremains will be interred with her husband’s at Arlington National Cemetery.

Anders-Rice Funeral Home is honored to serve the Burghart family.