Robert E. Roy

SOUTHINGTON - Robert E. Roy, 86, of South End Road, passed away on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the Westfield Care & Rehab in Meriden. He was the beloved husband of Dorothea (Caivano) Roy.

Born Oct. 18, 1923 in Torrington, he was the eldest son of the late Louis J. and Bertha (Courchaine) Roy. Robert was a veteran of World War II serving with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1946, and was a proud member of the U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers, BJU6. He was employed at Gray Mfg. Co., Hartford, Times Wire and Cable, Wallingford and retired from Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford in 1990, as purchasing manager. Bob was an active parishioner of Mary Our Queen Church, serving on the building committee and was a Eucharistic Minister and commentator.

Bob was actively involved in his community, most notably serving as the Republican Town Committee chairman in the 1960's. He was passionate about his numerous interests including, the arts, environment, genealogy, technology, photography, history, politics and lifelong learning. He was a member of the U.S. Beach Jumpers Association, American Legion Kiltonic Post 72 Southington, VFW Post 09086 Torrington, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Association des Familles Roy d'Amerique of Canada, French Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut, of Tolland, Southington Genealogical Society of Plantsville, Connecticut Historical Society, where he volunteered for over 10 years, Ocracoke Preservation Society, The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., and the National Geographic Society.

Bob's family would like to thank the staff at the Westfield Care and Rehab and the Franciscan Hospice care for all their care, attention and support shown to their husband and father. Bob will be incredibly missed for his quiet nature in achieving his many accomplishments and most of all his devotion and love to his family.

Besides his wife, Bob is survived by his two loving daughters, Annette R. Lombardi and husband, Anthony, of New Hartford, and Michele R. Pekoske and husband, David, of Bethesda, Md.; a brother, Donald J. Roy, of Torrington; four adoring grandchildren, Matthew D. Pekoske, of Alameda, Calif., Kristen M., Corinne N. and Jillian E. Pekoske, all of Bethesda, Md.; a niece, Lynn Banziruk, of Torrington; and a nephew, Thomas Roy, of Acworth, Ga.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the U.S. Navy Beach Jumper's Memorial Fund, 450-106 State Road 13N, #407, St. Johns, FL 32259-3860 or to a charity of one's choice. The funeral will be held on Saturday, July 17, at 8:45a.m., from the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington, to Mary Our Queen Church, 248 Savage St., Plantsville, for a Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Torrington. Calling hours will be Friday (TODAY) from 5 to 8 p.m. For online condolences and directions please visit, www.dellavecchiafh.com