Arthur R. THAYER

THAYER, Arthur R. Arthur R. Thayer, 69, of 42 Summit Rd., passed away on Sunday, (April 4, 2010) after a long illness. He was the widower of Bonnie (Lewis) Thayer. Mr. Thayer was born on January 22, 1941, in Warrensburg, NY, son of the late Francis and Imogene (Arthur) Thayer. He was a graduate of Culinary Institute of America in New Haven in 1963. He worked as Head of Food Trades at JM Wright Technical School in Stamford and then Kaynor Technical School in Waterbury. He retired from teaching in 1996. He was a peacetime veteran of the US Navy serving aboard the USS Wasp. Arthur was very active with the youth athletic teams in Prospect, sponsoring several of the teams his children played on. He was an instructor and coach for the Prospect Shooter Education team and led six Prospect teams to the Daisy International BB Gun competition as the CT state champs. He was lifelong member of the Moosewood Hunting Club in Stony Creek, NY, a member and officer of the Washington Rod and Gun Club and a past president of the Prospect Gun Club. Loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, he is survived by his son, Matthew Thayer and wife Kari of Jacksonville, FL; his daughter, Rebekah Thayer and wife Cynthia of San Jose, CA; his daughter, Jessica Passaretti and husband Joseph of Plainville; his "son" Michael Cimini and wife Angela of Sturbridge, MA; two sisters, Alice Fisher of Belle Buckle, TN and Barbara Smaldone of Glens Falls, NY; seven grandchildren, Isabelle and Holden Thayer of Jacksonville, FL, Jenna Lepiane of San Jose, CA, and Louis and Alida Rose Passaretti of Plainville, Matthew and Christina Cimini of Sturbridge, MA; friend and companion, Thomasine Connelly of Prospect; his beloved pet dog, Maverick; several nieces and nephews and many friends. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 26 Waterbury Rd, Rte. 69, Prospect. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. Jonathan Puchalski, Dr. Donald Rosenthal, and Dr. Joseph Sinning for the exceptional care and friendship they extended to Arthur throughout his long struggle. Memorial Contributions may be made to: Thoracic Interventional Program, Dr. Jonathan Puchalski, Yale Cancer Center Office of Development, 157 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510.