Robert Duane Sheehan Sr.

SHEEHAN, Robert Duane Sr. Robert Duane Sheehan, Sr., 72, of Longmeadow, MA, died Sunday, (July 17, 2005) in Agawam surrounded by his family. The son of the late Andrew Francis Sheehan and Edith Louise Marcelle (Roche) Sheehan, Robert was born and raised in Springfield, MA. He attended Springfield Public Schools and graduated from the former Springfield Technical High School in 1950. Robert was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean War, having served honorably at Inch'on, Wonsan, Munam, Samchuk, Yongduk, P'ohang, and Yang-Yang. He was discharged in 1955 after serving two tours of duty. Robert retired from Combustion Engineering in 1990 and later worked for ABB Power Plant Controls. An avid writer, Robert authored The White Family (1992) and Beyond the Pilgrims (1995) as he studied his ancestry. Robert was a direct descendent of Peregrin White, born on the Mayflower in 1620. He also descended from William Brewster, John Howland, Francis Cook, and Steven Hopkins. Robert was a member of Tin Can Soldiers, Inc., and was a Past Commander of Albert T. Woods Post 175 of the American Legion. Robert had a long membership in the Boy Scouts of America, receiving his Eagle Award in 1948 and currently was serving as a committee member of BSA Troop 90 in Longmeadow, MA. He also held many positions at the district council level. In addition to his parents, Robert was predeceased by his sisters, Constance Sheehan and Ruth (Sheehan) O'Brien. Robert is survived by his wife, Judith (Foley) Sheehan, whom he married in 1958, and four children,: Kathleen (Sheehan) Rugani and her husband, Thomas of West Warren, MA, Robert Sheehan, Jr. and his wife, Tammy of West Suffield, Andrew Francis Sheehan II and his wife, Wendy of Agawam, MA, and Bridget (Sheehan) Sabourin and her husband, Chuck of Holyoke, MA. He also leaves nine grandchildren, Kevin and Lauren Rugani, Jennifer, Ryan, Jason, Drew, Connie Sheehan, Craig Beauregard and Nikolas Sabourin. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 9 a.m. from Tazzini Funeral Home, corner of Locust & Main St. followed by a committal service at 10 a.m. at the MA Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Robert's memory to the Moses Boy Scout Reservation, c/o Douglas Root, Birch Hill Rd. Russell, MA 01071.