Robert Huebner

Huebner, Robert W.
Robert William Huebner, age 92, a long time resident of Fairfield, Connecticut and beloved husband of C. Patricia Daly Huebner, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2013. Prior to his retirement in 1984, Huebner was Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Southern New England Telephone Company.
Born in Methuen, Massachusetts on January 18, 1921, he was the son of the late William Frederick and Ida Katherine Suess Huebner. He prepared for college at the Edward F. Searles High School in Methuen, Mass., and graduated in 1938. In October, 1940, Huebner enlisted into the Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Simpson in the European and African theatres of the Second World War from January, 1941 until June, 1944, at which time he entered Yale University as an enlisted man in the Naval V-12 Training Program. He received his honorable discharge from the service in June, 1946. He subsequently graduated from Yale in 1947 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. While at Yale, he belonged to Chi Phi (York Hall) and he played on the Branford College football team. Huebner often noted that the education he received while at Yale was a major factor throughout the rest of his life, aiding him in all of his endeavors.
Huebner joined the Southern New England Telephone Company in 1947 as an outside plant engineer, working out of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Other early jobs at S.N.E.T. included pole inspector, traffic engineer, district plant manager, and division traffic manager. He was promoted to southern area Vice President in January, 1965, and in 1967 he became Vice President, Operations and he was elected to the board of directors. Huebner considered his roles in helping repair the 1955 flood damage in Waterbury and developing S.N.E.T.'s plans for deregulation among the many highlights of his 37 year career. In addition, Huebner served on the boards of directors of a number of Connecticut corporations including Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, Woodbury Telephone Company, People's Mutual Holding Company, and People's Bank of Bridgeport.
Throughout his life, Huebner was very proud of his involvement in the community. He served on the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University for over 25 years, where he was a former chairman of the Executive Committee, and remained a Trustee Emeritus. Huebner played a key role in the growth of Sacred Heart, helping to transform it from a community college for day students to a full time residential university. For these and other efforts, he was honored by being awarded a Knighthood in the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 1983. Huebner was a former Campaign Chairman of the United Way of New Haven, a former Director of the Connecticut Business and Industry Council (CBIA), and a former member of the Board of Trustees of Bridgeport Hospital, where he was also a member of the Executive Committee. In addition, he was President of Brooklawn Country Club, and he was a member of the Connecticut State Seniors Golf Association. Huebner also received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from the Bridgeport Engineering Institute in 1982.
Huebner married his first wife, M. Barbara Dillon Huebner, on April 29, 1946. The couple remained married for 55 years until Barbara's death in 2001. He is survived by the couple's four sons and their wives: Robert and Rosemary Huebner of Tamiment, Pennsylvania; Bryan and Pamela Huebner of Easton, Connecticut; Richard and Deborah Huebner of Simsbury, Connecticut; and Allen and Laurie Huebner of McKinney, Texas. He is also survived by his two sisters: Ruth Evelyn Huebner Woodhouse of Massachusetts and Dorothy Elizabeth Huebner Gerber of Idaho. Robert is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Robert W. Huebner III, Karen E. Huebner Blymire, Amy L. Huebner, Janice A. Huebner Gardner, Diane L. Huebner Vukovich, Michael C. Huebner, Matthew L. Huebner, Shane B. Huebner, Dylan M. Huebner, Carly J. Huebner Yearsley, and Stephen G. Bisogno. He is also survived by two great grandchildren: Aries Blymire and Isabel Vukovich.
Huebner was devoted to his family, and he always displayed deep respect and empathy for all others who came to know him. He enjoyed travel and he loved sports - outdoor camping, bowling, and especially golf. He was an avid Giants and Red Sox fan. In addition, Huebner was an active member of Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic church, where he lent his wonderful singing voice to the Resurrection Choir. The legacy of his life examples will be passed down by all who had the pleasure to be touched by him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. directly at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road in Fairfield with interment to follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery with full Military Honors. Visitation is on Friday, August 16, 2013 from 3 - 7 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road in Fairfield Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made in his name to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, Maryland, 21297-0303; or to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, 1088 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06605. To send an online condolence, please visit www.shaughnesseybanks.com.