Francis Anthony "Toni" Corr

Francis "Toni" Anthony Corr
Francis "Toni" Anthony Corr, born on March 29, 1934, in Port Henry, New York, passed away peacefully, at his home, on December 10, 2025. Beloved son of Anna (Flynn) and Robert Dabbs, Toni, who also went by Frank, was raised in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, where he made cherished lifelong friends, attended St. Ann's School, played all kinds of sports, swam the Rooster River, and roamed freely about the neighborhood he loved so much. He was a proud graduate of Fairfield Prep and Fairfield University. He served in the Army during the late 1950s and was stationed in Iceland, where he met one of his dearest friends. When his service ended, he returned to Fairfield University to finish his bachelor's degree. He then began a thirty four-year teaching career in the Norwalk Public Schools and spent his summers umpiring in local baseball leagues. He obtained a master's degree and 6-year certificate in education from Fairfield University.
In 1961, he met Barbara Parker of Waterbury on a blind date. They married in August 1961 and rented a house on Brewster Street in Bridgeport. By May of 1966, they had three children and had moved to the home in Fairfield he and Barbara would share for 60 years. Toni loved living in Fairfield, but he and Barbara also loved to travel: out west to the National Parks and Alaska, to Bermuda, and to Europe, including Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, and Paris.
Toni loved his family and the communities in which he put down deep roots. He loved his hometown friends, St. Mary's by the Sea, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield University, the Jesuits, Stags basketball, and his colleagues and students at Benjamin Franklin and Roton Middle Schools.
Toni pursued his passions ardently. He didn't just love baseball; he made pilgrimages to Yankee Stadium and spring training in Tampa Bay, he amassed a baseball card collection that filled multiple rooms (and a garage), and he devoured sports articles and box scores. He loved to share his passions, especially teaching his kids and grandkids how to score baseball games. He also loved the New York Giants, investing in the stock market, reading the newspaper and military histories, and all manner of jokes. He was always looking for opportunities to crack a signature pun, and those who knew him will recall the mischievous expression he used to draw you in before making one. Toni loved to laugh. He loved to eat. He loved ice cream. He loved life.
Toni is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Corr, his children: Jane Corr and her husband, Jim Wall of Winchester, MA, David Corr and his wife, Sheila Corr of Redding, CT, and Eileen Corr and her husband, Peter Sturr of Brewster, MA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Kevin Wall, MD (Jackie Wall, MD), Colin Wall (Gökçe Yürekli), Kate Wall (Eyad Nagori), Rachel Corr, and Ryan Corr. In addition, he is survived by his great-grandson, James Gabriel Wall. Toni is also survived by his dear "cousin", Millicent Sullivan (Mark Sullivan), of California and Florida and her children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Anna and Robert Dabbs, his birth parents, Frank and Beatrice (MacDonald) Corr, his sister, Eva Meunier, his brother, David Dabbs, and his "cousin", Valerie Meunier.
Toni's family would like to extend their immense gratitude to the generous and compassionate aides from BrightStar Care who cared for him over the past two years and the many caring staff from RVNAHealth Hospice who cared for him and Barbara over the past six months.
Friends may greet the family on Monday, December 15, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, December 16, at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 700 Old Stratfield Rd., Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery, 1530 Bronson Road, Fairfield.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Toni's memory to Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, Attn: Lisa Sabia.