Robert K. Killian

KILLIAN, Robert K. Robert K. Killian of Hartford, former Connecticut Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General died Saturday, (June 25, 2005) at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center after a brief illness. Killian was born September 15, 1919 in Hartford, the son of Edward F. and Annie (Nemser) Killian. He was married for over 50 years to his high school sweetheart, Evelyn Killian, who predeceased him in 1993. He and his late wife graduated from Hartford High in 1937. He attended Kingswood School for a P.G. year and graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1942. While at Union, he was quarterback for its undefeated football team, boxed, played lacrosse and chaired the Union Young Democrats for Roosevelt. As a 1st Lieutenant in World War II, Killian commanded an infantry company and in four years earned four battle stars and a Purple Heart in campaigns on the Pacific Islands of Kwajalein, Palau, Mindinao and Okinawa. Thanks to the G.I. Bill he attended the Hartford Law School (now UCONN). A few years after graduation, he, his law school classmate Judge Robert Krechevsky and the late Samuel Gould started the Hartford firm of Gould, Killian and Krechevsky (now Gould, Killian and Wynne). Killian drove to work at the firm up to the date of his hospitalization. Killian became Hartford Democratic Town Chairman in 1963 and was proud of his leadership in electing Hartford's first African-American Councilman and its first African-American State Senator. His friendship with the late Democratic Chairman John Bailey resulted in his appointment as Attorney General by Governor John Dempsey in 1967 to fill a vacancy and he won election in his own right in 1970, one of only two Democrats to survive a Republican sweep of the Governorship and other statewide offices. In 1974, he was elected Lieutenant Governor on a ticket headed by Governor Ella Grasso. After leaving state service in 1975, Killian spent a decade as Chairman of the Hartford Civic Center and Coliseum Commission. During that period, he and his fellow commissioners turned around an organization that had suffered recurrent operating deficits into one that showed operating profits in nine out of ten years. In his later years, Killian was particularly well known (though not always by name) as the dapper, elderly gentleman with the quick smile and friendly hello who strolled Hartford's west end, and particularly Elizabeth Park, with his handsome, snow white Great Pyrenees dog Moby who charmed people even as he drooled and shed hair in abundance. The wonderful, caring staff at St. Francis Hospital, floor 10-9, smuggled Moby in three times during the last few weeks, not an easy task with a 115 pound dog! Killian is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Killian Dodd and her husband, Mark, who live in West Hartford. Cindy was a great daughter who was constantly doing things for her dad and could coax a smile out of him right up to the day of his death. He is also survived by his son, Robert K. Killian, Jr, and his wife, Candace KilIlian of Hartford, and their two daughters, Virginia K. Killian of Chicago, IL and Carolyn K. Killian of Hartford. He called Candy, Virginia and Carolyn "the Momma and the Girls" and treasured their company and phone calls. He referred to his much loved son, Robert as "the Judge" when talking with his friends and strangers, but always called him his "Boy-Boy" around family. Killian is also survived by his younger brother, James D. Killian of Avon; a sister-in-law, Terry (O'Brien) Killian of East Hartford; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward F. Killian, Jr., David J. Killian and Rev. William A. Killian; and his sister, whom he always introduced as his "oldest sister," Doris Sturges. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Killian's family asks people to consider a gift to The Intensive Education Academy, c/o Sister Helen Dowd, 840 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06117, the Friends of Elizabeth Park, P.O. Box 370361, West Hartford, CT 06137, or to do an act of kindness in his memory. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Sheehan-Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford. The funeral procession will be Wednesday at 9 a.m. from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave., Hartford. Interment with Full Military Honors, will be at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.