Arthur E. Roberts Jr.

1945 - 2015

Southbury, CT: Arthur E. Roberts, Jr. 70, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at Danbury Hospital after a long illness. Born June 25, 1945, in Paris, Texas, to Virginia Dautrich and Arthur E. Roberts, Sr., while, serving in the U.S. Army. The family returned to Winsted where Art attended St. Anthony's Parochial School. Art was an active little boy, who loved spending time with his grandparents, Alice and Ted Dautrich, and his Aunt Allie, fishing, gardening and swimming in Highland Lake. Art attended Wallens Hill School, which was established by his mother, Ruth Katzin and Mary Darling, as a special education program for Winsted students. Art was later mainstreamed at the Gilbert School and educated by his favorite teacher, Mr. Richard Ackerman. He received a Special Education certificate. Art loved to do outdoor chores and spent his spare time shoveling snow, raking leaves and mowing lawns so he could earn spending money and go to Atkins Candy Kitchen. Art was surrounded by large loving families, the Dautriches and the Robertses. He loved to swim, fish, play baseball and collect matchbox cars. Art Transitioned to Southbury Training School where he has enjoyed a loving community of residents, care-givers and for over 40 years, a safe enviroment where he could walk freely to get his daily coffee or soda, visit his girlfriend Antoinette, pick up his mail or his pay check. Art was predeceased by his parents, and is survived by siblings, Neil (Susan), Nassau, NY, Barb Hirsch (Jerry), Simsbury, CT, Mark, Winsted, CT, Dave (Shirley), Bay City, MI, Anne, Granville, MA, Glenn (Liesle), Minneapolis, MN. He has numerous nieces and nephews and was especially close with his Aunts, Allie Dautrich and Kitty Kelly. Art was a Boy Scout, (Troop 17), under the kind leadership of Larry Robertson. Art's extended family included many friends, Larry Marolda, Dave Gundelach, Bill McCarthy, Karen Ross and Jim Belli, who all treated Art with special kindness. His close friends in STS are Eddie, Roger, Moses, Helen, Chipper and Edwin, with whom he made his home for over 30 years. Art will be remembered for the love, joy and courage that he brought to this world, and the lessons he taught his family and friends. He has represented for many, the battle to live in the safe place called home, which you know and love. For Art, for 40 years, STS was his home, where he received the loving care of true angels, who provided him with the best quality of life available for his special needs. He enjoyed his work, Dunkin Donuts, dances, John Wayne movies, singing with Music Meg and the dedicated staff who cared only to provide a sense of well-being for Art and a quality of life. Words are inadequate to thank the dedicated staff at STS who have nurtured and our family through 40, at times, challenging years. Although difficult to single out individual staff, the family would like to express gratitude to Dr. Michael Barbieri, Psychiatrist, Robin Bacon, RN, Sue Harvey and Heather Ferguson, Staff, and Pat Ryan, Cottage Charge. It is impossible to express the depth of gratitude we feel for these professionals who for 40 years, loved, protected and nurtured our brother. The family would like to thank the staff at Danbury Hospital, in all departments, who embraced our special needs brother and provided stellar care to Art and our family, at a most meaningful time. A service of Remembrance will be held at STS in the near future. Burial will be at a later date, where Art will join his parents and grandparents in St. Joseph Cemetery in Winsted. Services are arranged by Jerry E. Hamilton at Maloney Funeral Home, 55 Walnut Street, Winsted, CT 06098. To leave an online condolence, please visit: www.maloneyfuneral.com.