Dr. Robert Edward LONG

LONG, Dr. Robert Edward Dr. Robert E. Long, 69, died on Tuesday (April 27, 2010) at his Hartford home of 32 years, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Boston on November 21, 1940, Bob attended Boston State (B.S.), Boston College (M.S.), and Columbia University (Ed.D., Federal Fellow). Retired in 2001 as an educator of the visually impaired, most recently in the Hartford Public Schools, Bob also worked as Chief of Children's Svcs., BESB; and for The Lighthouse (NYC); Amer. Fed. for the Blind; Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind; and taught at Jersey City St. Coll., U. of Colorado, and Hunter College. He belonged to several professional organizations. Bob served for three years on the Hartford Bd. of Ed., and was a board member for the Hartford Public Library. As a Third Age Initiative, L.G.H., participant, he helped found "Readers as Leaders." Most recently, he served as a hospice volunteer. He founded and coached the Hartford Public H.S. crew, presided over the Noah Webster PTA, the HPHS PTSO, and HPHS governance board. Bob coached chess, soccer, and football. Bob was a foster parent and "Dad" to many youth who sat around our table, regaled with storytelling, political and social justice discussion, and wit, or who joined us for biking, sailing or hiking trips. Bob created some of our richest family bonds during several U.S. camping trips. Bob was an avid reader, wood and stone carver and sailor; he delighted many with his harmonica playing. As a life-long advocate for social justice, he marched on Washington with Martin Luther King, was an antiwar activist as a grad student and student govt. president at Columbia, and recently as a JP, performed many same-sex marriages. He is survived by "the love of my life for 35 years," his wife, Gloria Gruber Long, and his six children: Julie Misenti and her husband Nicholas, Jennifer Long and her wife Amy Ojerholm, Robert E. Long, Jr. and his wife Skye, Justin Long and his wife Ariana Silverman, Colman Long and his wife Elsie Vazquez-Long, and Gannon Long; and his grandchildren: Kali Edwards and her husband Jeremy, and Zachary, Travis, and Forrest Misenti; and sisters: Nancy Seglin and her husband Jeffrey, Jeanne Berrigan, and his sister-in-law, Sachiko Long. He is also survived by several loving nephews and nieces, grand nieces and nephews, sisters- and brothers-in-law and cousins. He is pre-deceased by his daughter, Ceya, mother, Catherine, father, Edward, brother, Edward, Jr., and brother-in-law, William Berrigan. A memorial service will be held on Saturday (May 8, 2010) from 11-12:30 p.m., followed by visiting until 2 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Online condolences may be offered at www.molloyfuneralhome.com. Donations may be made to Foodshare.