Robert G. Riddell

Robert G. Riddell, 59, of East Granby, beloved husband of Debra A. (Chamberland) Riddell, passed away tragically on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at Bradley International Airport. Born in Middletown on April 2, 1960, son of the late Robert James and Joann Mae (Boson) Riddell, he was raised in Colchester and was a graduate of Bacon Academy, Class of 1978. While growing up in Colchester, Rob served as a volunteer with the Colchester Hayward Junior Fire Department from 1975-1978. After high school, Robert continued his education at the Morse School of Business where he studied accounting and graduated in 1983. Rob started his career at The Hartford Insurance Company and would have celebrated 36 years with the company on October 3rd. Throughout his career he worked in several departments and most recently had served as a senior business analyst for reinsurance IT. A World War II history buff, he was 17 years old when he and his father purchased and began restoration of a 1942 Ford GPW Jeep. He spent many years restoring the Jeep and attending car shows. Over the last several decades, Rob provided rides to World War II veterans in his Jeep for Simsbury, Tariffville, and Granby parades. He was a member of the Connecticut Military Vehicles Collectors, serving as secretary in 2005 and the Valley Collector Car Club serving as treasurer from 2007-2010. He enjoyed working with his hands and there wasn't anything he couldn't do or fix. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. He was known for his quick wit, warm smile, calm nature, intelligence, bear hugs, selflessness, love of life, and love for his family. He was always there for his family, co-workers, and friends, and he was an excellent listener and always offered sound advice. Music was a large part of his life. He enjoyed attending concerts, the most recent, Aerosmith Deuces are Wild. His love of music was passed down to his son Bryan who enjoyed attending concerts with his father. He shared a love of Disney with his daughter Rebecca and was looking forward to experiencing the thrill of attending Walt Disney World in April for his grandson Zachary's second birthday. The birth of his first grandchild, Zachary Robert gave him so much joy. The project he was most recently working on was restoring a vintage Jeep pedal-push car for Zachary, to be a mirror image of Pop Pop's 1942 GPW. Rob's greatest regret would be that Zack will never know his grandfather. Rob and Deb met as soul mates in 2011 and married in 2015 and were about to celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary on October 18th. They built a marriage that was filled with love, respect, and happiness – that they both knew would last forever. Two people couldn't be any more compatible. They were best friends and what they called an "effective team." They enjoyed working on home projects together and camping in their travel trailer. They looked forward to their retirement in North Carolina where they purchased 10 acres at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. He warmly welcomed his stepdaughter Jessica and step-grandchildren, Alyssa and Sophia, all of whom will miss him tremendously. Rob loved spending good quality time with his brothers Gary and Jim, especially going to the Yard Goats games during the summer. Rob's English Springer Spaniels, Molly and Brooke will miss him terribly; he loved the dogs as much as they loved him. Rob's bucket list wasn't long but very near and dear to his heart. He had the opportunity to experience the Total Solar Eclipse in 2017 – something that profoundly touched his soul. In 2015, Rob and Deb spent part of their honeymoon paying their respects at Pearl Harbor – another profoundly moving experience. A trip to Normandy, the biggest on his bucket list was planned for his 60th birthday next year. Unfortunately, a ride on the B-17 Nine O Nine Flying Fortress was the last item he was able to check off his list. His family plans to complete the trip to Normandy in his memory in 2020. He was a wonderful father, husband, brother, son, grandfather, friend, co-worker, and overall human being. Anyone who met him immediately liked him. Besides his loving wife Debra, he leaves a daughter, Rebecca L. Lantzman and her husband Adam of Riverview, FL; a son, Bryan W. Riddell of Temecula, CA; his former spouse and the mother of his children, Melissa Riddell of Simsbury; a grandson, Zachary Robert Lantzman; two brothers, Gary Riddell of Colchester and James Riddell and his wife Sharon of Lebanon; a niece, Regina Riddell of Lebanon; a stepdaughter, Jessica Darling of Fairfield; and two step-granddaughters, Alyssa Mirizzi and Sophia Fazio both of Fairfield. His family will receive friends on Friday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 6:30 p.m., at The Lodge Community Chapel, 130 Deerfield Rd., Windsor. Memorial donations may be made to the Colchester Federated Church, 60 South Main St., Colchester, CT 06415. Carmon Windsor Funeral Home has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com. You will be in our hearts forever. We all love you and you will be missed by many.