Robert PATTERSON

PATTERSON, Robert Robert "Bob" Patterson of Madison died on April 22, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. The son of Kathleen Patterson Weber and Michael Patterson, he was born in the Bronx on April 13, 1932. Bob graduated from Cardinal Hayes High and Fordham University, and attended New York University Graduate School of Business. He began his professional career in advertising working for Benton & Bowes and McCann Erickson in New York, before moving to Monsanto Chemical Company's Advertising Department, Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1960. In 1962, Bob joined The Southern New England Telephone Company in New Haven, and except for three years when he worked for AT & T in New York as Marketing Communications Manager, he worked at SNET until he retired in 1999 as Director of Public Relations. While at SNET, Bob was responsible in general for employee and community communications, and specifically at various times, for advertising, sponsorships, corporate identification, and special events. After retirement, Bob completed the New York Botanical Garden's Landscaping Program and later became certified as a University of Connecticut Master Gardener. He was affiliated with many community organizations, including: Connecticut Special Olympics, New Haven Festival, Inc., American Heart Association in Connecticut, Greater New Haven Festival of the Arts, Long Wharf Theater Marketing Committee, Madison Democratic Town Committee, AT & T Pioneers, Scranton Library, and The Connecticut Hospice Volunteers. Bob loved life, his family, his friends, gardening, and singing. He leaves his wife of 51 years, Sheila Moloney Patterson, and his children and their spouses. They are Brendan and Elizabeth Patterson of Cleveland, Ohio; Mark and Maribeth Brostowski of Boston, Massachusetts and Madison, Connecticut; and Liam and Leita Patterson of Natick, Massachusetts. He loved his six grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Caitlin and Nell Patterson, Ginger and Ian Brostowski, and Phoebe and Scout Patterson. He also leaves his brother, Patrick, his sisters, Kathleen and Patricia, and stepbrother, Harry. He was pre-deceased by his twin brother, Kenneth. A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Bob Patterson's life will be held at St Margaret Church, 39 Academy Street, Madison, Connecticut, on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 1 p.m. Following the Mass, burial will be at West Cemetery. A reception will follow immediately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob's memory may be made to The Connecticut Hospice, Inc., 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT, 06405. Funeral Arrangements are being handled by the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-3558. For more information or to send an online condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com