Robert J. Scavuzzo, 83, of Zionsville, died Feb. 14, 2022. He was the husband of Jennifer Herald. They were married 57 years. Born in North Plainfield, N.J., he was a son of the late Antoinette Cherichetti Scavuzzo and Rudolph Scavuzzo.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree at Lehigh University (where he was a member of Delta Chi) and a doctorate in physics at the University of Pittsburgh.

He spent most of his 35-year career working for Bell labs (later AT&T, Lucent, and then Agere). He managed the overall architecture, design and development of the Hobbit microprocessor and other components for the emerging personal communicator market, working on predecessors of the now-ubiquitous smartphones. This work led him to travel the globe, from Ireland to India.

One of the early members of the AT&T Bell Laboratories’ CRISP research project, he led the product design and development effort that incorporated RISC-based architecture, which simplifies individual instructions given to computers in order to realize a task. Over his long career he contributed to and was responsible for managing a broad range of projects, including AT&T’s Data Systems Group, CMOS VLSI design, bipolar ASIC design, ion implantation technology and integrated circuit process technology. He authored numerous papers on bipolar transistor technology and digital logic design and held a half-dozen patents.

His life was centered and enriched by his dedication to his family.

Most at peace in nature, sitting on his screened-in porch amid the glory of a thunderstorm or hiking through the vast redwoods of the Muir Woods, he held a deep affection for so many things: dogs, birds, opera, the symphony, chamber music, complex works of non-fiction, designing and overseeing the construction of his beloved house in Zionsville or finding a new interest to pursue.

He is survived by his wife; children, Laura and her husband, Jeff Wheeler, of Long Beach, Calif.; Julia and her husband, Ed Shea, of Norfolk, Va.; Robert Charles and his wife, Katina Pruden, of Newfield, N.Y.; grandchildren, Chloe Elizabeth Wheeler, of Princeton, N.J. and M. Blake Wheeler, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Luciano and Matteo, of Newfield, N.Y.; cousin, Norma Cherichetti Monahan and family, of Stratham, N. H.; numerous loving nephews, nieces, their children and lifelong friends. He was predeceased by sisters, Linda and Caroline, who died in childhood; a brother, Dr. Rudolph J., of Akron, Ohio; aunt, Linda Cherichetti.

In lieu of flowers, consider planting a tree to honor his love for the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania.

A Celebration of Life will be held in April at a private residence. Please contact Schantz Funeral Home, Emmaus, (610-965-2421) for details.