Robert William Yaklich, Sr.

Robert William Yaklich Sr., a highly accomplished research scientist, passed away suddenly on September 3, 2025, at the age of 83. Bob was born on June 21, 1942, in Rochester, PA to his loving parents Joseph Yaklich Jr. and Theresa Anna Wable. Bob graduated from Aliquippa High School (Aliquippa, PA) in 1960, a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from Edinboro University (Edinboro, PA) in 1965 and attained his PhD from West Viriginia University (West Virginia) in 1970 in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. Bob was married on July 4, 1970, to his wife Roberta Behan for 55 years, fifty-three of which were in Beltsville, MD. She so admired him for his values, character, eagerness to learn, to help others, and above all his genuine love in God. They had 3 children including two sons Robert William Yaklich, Jr. and Joseph Austin Yaklich and a daughter Roberta Katheleen Yaklich. Born into a humble background, Bob's passion for scientific inquiry fueled a prolific career that spanned more than three decades. Throughout his distinguished career, he made significant contributions to agricultural and forensic science, publishing over 100 papers and holding eight offices in professional societies. After earning his Ph.D., he began his work in 1970 at the University of Massachusetts Cranberry Experiment Station in East Wareham, studying cranberries. In 1972, he joined the USDA ARS Beltsville Agriculture Research Center (BARC) Chemonarcotics Laboratory. His work there focused on identifying the origins of illicit drugs and developing methods for the selective control and eradication of hemp and poppy plants. Two years later, in 1974, Bob shifted his focus to environmental factors affecting seed production, including seed formation, deterioration, and viability. This research laid the groundwork for his later work in soybeans. Starting in 1988, he dedicated his research to understanding the morphology and anatomy of the soybean seed and pod. He sought to determine how environmental factors influenced protein and oil concentrations and to find ways to increase protein concentration in different genotypes. This research included pioneering work using single nucleotide polymorphism-based technology to map quantitative trait loci responsible for seed size and protein concentration. In 1992, Robert was honored by the National Research Council, United States National Academy of Sciences at the Agricultural Research Institute, for a research opportunity in Martonvasar, Hungary to assist them in advancing their agricultural knowledge with the fall of the Berlin wall. His dedication to his field was further demonstrated by his membership in the Crop Science Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and The American Oil Chemist Society. He was an active participant in national scientific meetings and technical conferences for a range of societies, including the American Society of Agronomy and the World Soybean Research Conference. This included being the Editor, Chairman and Member of the Executive Board. Robert retired from the USDA-ARS in 2004, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated research and significant scientific achievement. His family is grateful for the memories and the quiet strength he provided throughout his life. Bob was a multi-talented individual with a passion for the outdoors, known for his exceptional singing voice and love of music, gardening skills, and the outdoors. A skilled craftsman, he built an addition onto his own home. Remaining to cherish Robert William Yaklich, Sr. in death is his wife Roberta Behan Yaklich, his two sons Robert William Yaklich, Jr., Joseph Austin Yaklich, and his daughter Roberta Katheleen Yaklich. He is survived by his brother John Yaklich Sr and his wife Carol Yaklich and their daughters Yvette Yaklich and Kelly Yaklich. His sister in-law Mary Jean Behan and numerous other relatives throughout the U.S. Preceding Robert William Yaklich, Sr. in death are his parents Joseph and Theresa Yaklich, his sister Theresa Yaklich, his in-laws Austin and Adelaide Behan, his brother in-law Austin Charles Behan and his nephew John Yaklich Jr. Visitation will be held on September 12, 2025, at Borgwardt Funeral Home at 4400 Powder Mill Road in Beltsville MD from the hours of 4 to 8 p.m. Church service will be held on September 13,2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 11007 Montgomery Road in Beltsville, MD, Visitation at 11 a.m. and service at 11:30 a.m. Bob will be buried at St Teresa's Cemetary at 145 E. High St. Union City, PA on Tuesday September 16 at 11 a.m.