Robert Matthew Schlesinger

SCHLESINGER, Robert Matthew Bob Schlesinger, 79, of Marstons Mills, MA, passed peacefully at home Monday (September 24, 2007). Bob was born October 10, 1927 in Dunmore, PA, the youngest child of Gerald W. and Frances (Dacey) Schlesinger. Bob is survived by his wife Irene of 54 years; three children, Linda Charland and her husband Ed of Saco, ME, Barbara Schlesinger of Pownal, VT, and Robert Schlesinger, Jr and his wife Gail of Medfield, MA; sister Jean Reap Russo of Bloomfield; grandchildren, Shawn Clark, Dawn Chafin, Michael Langwiser, Jessica and Robert M. Schlesinger III; sister-in-law Bernice Schlesinger; four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by brothers, Bernie and Gerald; and sister, Sister M. Francetta, IHM. Bob moved with his family to Hartford in the early 40s and graduated from Hartford Public High in 1946. Bob began his long affiliation with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in the early 50s. In these early Pratt years Bob continued his education while working and raising his family, earning his bachelors degree from the University of Hartford in 1959. At the time of his retirement from Pratt in 1987, Bob had risen to project manager, facilities, for Pratt's East Coast operations where he was instrumental in setting up Pratt's Berwick, ME and Columbus, GA plants. Bob then began his own consulting firm, Shanger Associates, of which he served as President. Having lived in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Georgia and Maine, Bob and Irene moved to Cape Cod six years ago to semi-retire. At the time of his death, Bob was employed at Stop & Shop in Marstons Mills. The funeral will be Friday at 9:15 a.m. from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Timothy Church, 1116 North Main St., West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, Bob requested that donations be made in his name to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneral home.com.