05/26/2026
Robert Edward Kern, Jr., 90, of Lake Winola, PA passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Son of Robert Edward Kern, Sr. (1908-1986) and Gladys Sophia Jones (1904-1936), and stepson to Jane Kern (1915-1984), “Bob” was born in Scranton, PA and grew up in Factoryville, PA with his cousins Charlie Hughes (dec) wife Kathy (dec), Ronald Hughes (dec) wife Dawn, Richard Hughes (dec) wife Lois, and Mary Jane Hughes DaPuzzo husband Peter. He was raised by his grandmother Leona Jones and his aunt Thelma Hughes Colvin. Graduating from Factoryville High School, Bob spent 2 years in Buffalo with his father and siblings, Mary Jane Bednar husband George, Carol Everson (dec) husband Bjarne (dec), and James Kern wife Peggy, before attending Purdue University.
After graduating from Purdue in 1960, Bob served in the Army and then worked for General Electric in Lynn, MA and for Boeing in Huntsville, AL. His real passion though was stock investing. He attended New York University at night and worked for Chase Manhattan Bank as an equity research analyst. With his success at focusing on lesser known smaller companies, Bob was chosen to create and manage Chase’s dedicated small-cap equity business and became widely recognized as a pioneer in small-cap and micro-cap growth stock investing. After being with Chase for over 20 years, Bob and his team moved to Morgan Grenfell in 1986. In 1997, Bob along with his son David, started Kern Capital Management in NYC.
Bob spent his early days commuting to NYC from Madison, NJ where he helped raise his three children, David, Michael, and Karen. In 1977, Bob fulfilled one of his dreams of buying a house on Lake Winola, PA. In 1982 Bob met his wife, Deborah (“Debbie”) Bichler. They lived in the house on Lake Winola while building their dream house on the farm overlooking the lake. They traveled the world together, but the lake was always home. Bob took great pride in getting family together at the lake and in seeing his four grandchildren develop into young adults.
Bob had many partnerships and interests. He went into the restaurant business, operating the East Bay Tavern and Gin’s Tavern, with his friend Mark Vanko. In 2002, Bob and his son Michael purchased Eden Pines Inn in Rockport, MA. Bob also worked with his cousins on various ventures with the Hadly HuDaK partnership, including ventures in St. Thomas, USVI. Bob loved to garden and always had an abundance of fresh vegetables to share. He loved to travel and had passion for Formula One racing. Bob was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan and an avid country music fan often seen at various venues around NYC listening to great music.
After an amazing 50-year career on Wall Street, Bob retired to his home in Lake Winola, PA. He and Debbie summered there and wintered at their farm in Ocala, FL. He was lucky to be cared for at home by his loving family and a great care team. Thank you to everyone who visited, called, helped care for him, and sent thoughts and prayers. Bob knew he was loved by many.
Bob is survived by his wife, Debbie, his son David Kern and wife Adrienne of Bradenton, FL and their children Harrison and Katie, his son Michael Kern and wife Nicole of Rockport, MA and their children Patrick and Sean, his daughter Karen Kosman and her husband Robert of Clifton, VA, his sister Mary Jane Bednar and husband George of Alexandria, VA and their children Carl and Nancy, his brother James Kern and wife Peggy of Portland, OR and their children Lauren and Julia, his sister Carol’s daughter Sonja Everson and her husband Ryan of Seattle, WA, his cousin Mary Jane DaPuzzo and her husband Peter DaPuzzo of Greenwich, CT, and several generations of nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be on May 28, 2026 from 11am-1pm at the Anthony P. Litwin Jr. Funeral Homes at 33 Reynolds Street, Factoryville. A service will be held immediately afterwards, followed by a graveside committal service at the Evergreen - Woodlawn Cemetery in Factoryville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you do an act of kindness as Bob always saw the good in people and liked to help people.
