Robert Newell "Bob" Boggs died at UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, after a brief illness. He was 81 years old. Bob came to Chapel Hill with his wife, Gwen, in 1990, when he relocated to the area from Massachusetts as the Southern Regional Editor for Design News Magazine. He retired from publishing in 1995, and opened his own local business, The Bridge Center, with Gwen and Harrison Brooke of Durham, North Carolina. The Bridge Center offered contract bridge players bridge lessons and regularly scheduled games to earn American Contract Bridge League Master Points. After 15 years of serving local area bridge enthusiasts, The Bridge Center closed in 2010, and Bob entered his second retirement.

Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gwendolyn (Lee) Boggs of Chapel Hill; and his brother, Donald I. Boggs, of Aurora, Colorado; his children and their spouses, Kerrie and Leo Hanley of Hillsborough, North Carolina, Kristie and Chris Barszcz of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Kevin and Erin Boggs of Farmer City, Illinois, and Karole and Richard Johns of Winchester, Virginia. Bob also had seven grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

A private family graveside service and burial is planned for Saturday, September 8, 2012 in Chapel Hill. A private memorial service for immediate friends and family will be held on Monday, September 10, 2012 in Chapel Hill.

The family asks that memorial donations be made to The American Heart Association at 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231 or www.heart.org/ in lieu of flowers.