May 10 2015: RIECK, Robert E.

Robert Eugene Rieck

Robert Eugene Rieck, 83, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on May 6, 2015, after a long illness.  Visitation will be held at Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd West, Silver Spring, MD 20901 on Monday, May 11 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow the funeral at Gate of Heaven, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906 at 12:15 p.m.  Bob was born in Butler, PA on February 18, 1932, to Adam and Jayne Rieck.  He graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science before serving in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956, where he became an aerographer.  He received his Bachelor of Arts (with emphasis in Meteorology, Mathematics and Physics) at the University of Miami, and his Master’s of Public Administration at the University of Georgia.  After meeting at the National Weather Service, Bob married to Mary J. Witham Breeskin on August 15, 1980.  Bob worked at the National Weather Service (NWS) for 42 years.  He was a lead forecaster and worked at forecast offices in Miami, FL, Key West, FL, Athens, GA, and Birmingham, AL.  After working in the NWS headquarters, where he authored the Forecasting Handbook and numerous Technical Procedure Bulletins, he returned to forecasting at the Sterling, VA office. After retirement in 1997, Bob wrote an adventure novel.  He enjoyed his dogs and Mary’s horses, watching sports, cooking, and studying American history.  Bob is survived by his wife, Mary; his brothers, Gerald and Donald; his sister; Corinda; several nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.