MASTER SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED)

Robert “Bob” Sawada, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army (Retired), was born December 27, 1928, in Zduńska Wola, Poland, and died peacefully on the morning of September 11, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama, at 97 years old.

Bob’s legacy continues through his beloved, longtime partner, Brigitte Cooper (Huntsville, AL); beloved daughter, Maria (Miles) Anderson (Atlanta, GA); son, Bobby George Sawada (Hazel Green, AL); grandson Tyler (Maria P.) Anderson, great-granddaughters Ava and Sarah (Huntsville, AL); grandson Ryan (Cannon) Anderson, great-granddaughter Copeland (Atlanta, GA); adopted sister Suzy (Dr. Terry) Passman (Fairhope, AL); and nephew Hans-Stephan Burgermeister (Munich, Germany).

Bob was predeceased by his parents and biological sister, who died during the Nazi invasion of Poland; his beloved wife, Dorothea; foster parents, Lawrence and Gladys Blatchford; and son-in-law, Miles Anderson.

Bob’s life is a testament to hope and faith. Orphaned and alone at age of the 11, Bob endured one of humanity’s darkest chapters, the WW2 Holocaust. As a young boy, Bob was imprisoned at Auschwitz, forced into slave labor at Nazi munitions factories, and transferred to Dachau. Bob recalled, “I saw many prisoners throwing themselves against the electric fence, I was tempted a few times, but when I got close, I collapsed, knelt, and prayed. I said, if they want to kill me, let them.. I will not do it myself, because there was always something inside me—my faith in God and Christ. I knew God would liberate me someday.”

Bob’s liberation day came to pass on 29, April 1945, when troops from the U.S. Seventh Army, 42nd and 45th Infantry Divisions liberated the 32K prisoners (Jew and Gentile alike) at Dachau. At the time, Bob was 16 years old, weighing in at 38 pounds. Among the American liberators was the honorable Captain Lawrence “Larry” Blatchford. Captain Blatchford was not only Bob’s liberator but would also become Bob’s adopted father. Alongside Captain Blatchford, Captain Rodman Backus was instrumental in helping 16-year-old Bob transition into a new life and a new beginning in the United States. In 1946, after passing through Ellis Island, Bob was grafted into the Blatchford family in Matha’s Vineyard, MA.

- “The most precious time in my life I can remember is when we came into New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty … I am here. I am here,” Bob said.

Profoundly grateful, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948. Bob’s Army service became the calling on his life; he wanted to repay what he saw as an immeasurable debt to “his country”. Fluent/proficient in five languages, (Polish, German, English, Russian and French) Bob’s skills as a translator proved invaluable in postwar Europe. While stationed in Germany, Bob met and married his beloved Bamberg wife, Dorothea. Bob and Dorotthea would welcome two beloved children.

After 24 years in the Army, which included two tours in Vietnam, tours in the Korean War and Germany, Bob retired with honor as a Master Sergent in 1971. Bob then worked for the next 22 years as an Electrical Engineer at the Research Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal, retiring from government service in 1994.

- “If you needed a missile taken apart back in the day, you would call Bob Sawada, he was the guy who got everything done because he knew how to do everything.”

Despite unimaginable suffering, Bob chose to live a joyous life, rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ. Bob boldly attributed the miraculous story of his survival to the Grace of God and his Catholic faith. He recognized those things produced in him an “unwavering will to live”. Each day, Bob chose to focus on the indescribable loving kindness of people apart of his liberation. Truly, everywhere he went, Bob loved to make other people smile, oftentimes complete strangers. Bob also loved hunting at his ranch (Polecat Hill). He was a friendly, kind and humble soul, who had a wonderfully playful sense of humor.

Across oceans, continents and generations, Bob impacted the lives of many people. He will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama, on September 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a military burial at Maple Hill Cemetery.

We Love you Robert/Bob/Daddy/Opa/!

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9