Robert E. Jellen

Robert "Bob" Edward Jellen of Willington, CT passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua, NH after relocating to New Hampshire in November 2024 to be closer to his only daughter, Amanda (Jellen) Dumont's family in Wilton, NH. He was born at Johnson Memorial Hospital on May 17, 1946, raised on East Street in Stafford Springs, CT, son of Julius P. Jellen, (d. Feb. 6, 1999) and Cornelia R. (Maski) Jellen (d. Feb. 22, 1970). He was the eldest of three siblings. Bob is survived by his only child, daughter Amanda Rose (Jellen) Dumont and son-in-law Tyler Meade Dumont and his grandchildren Benjamin Sutton Dumont and Josephine Thea Dumont. He is predeceased by his wife Sharon Kay (Sutton) Jellen (d. July 28, 2009) and his brother James P. Jellen (d. May 2, 1999). He is also survived by his sister Leigh and her son Gregory's family and his brother Jim's former wife Barbara Knotek and their adult children Kristina Agarwal and Scott Jellen.
Bob taught in the Tolland Public School system for 37 years and made a huge impact on his students and co-workers alike. He was a member and Vice Chair of the Region 19 School Board for over 20 years up until this past year and a member and Vice Chair of the Willington Board of Education from 1987-1995. He also was a member of the Willington Democratic Town Committee since 1977, serving as both Chair, Vice Chair, and Delegate. Bob enjoyed working for six years post-retirement as a costumed interpreter and museum educator at Old Sturbridge Village. He was also a member and President of the Parish Council at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Storrs, and served as a board member/director on the Willington Scholarship Foundation.
Always passionate about education, Bob received both his undergraduate and master's degrees from Central CT State University. He was especially interested in Russian history, the British Monarchy, foreign languages, genealogy, and travel. Bob and Sharon were avid travelers even before starting their family. Then in 1981 they took their young family on the adventure of a lifetime, moving to Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland for one year with their baby daughter after Bob was awarded a Fulbright Teaching Exchange. 2012 took him to Poland to explore his Polish and Slovak roots. Bob also loved music, conversation, and coffee and was a fixture at the UConn Starbucks across from EO Smith where he made many friends.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas at 46 N Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT 06268. Following the Mass in lieu of a wake, the family invites anyone who would like to gather to reminisce at Willington Pizza House for a casual lunch gathering at 25 River Rd., Willington, CT. Drop in anytime between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Burial to follow at St. Edward Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT. Memorial donations can be made to the Robert Jellen Memorial Scholarship Fund which will serve to help young people interested in following in Bob's footsteps as an inspiring teacher and lover of history and social studies Willington Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 194, Willington, CT 06279 or www.willington.dollarsforscholars.org. Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., Stafford Springs, CT, has care of the arrangements. To leave a condolence online for the family, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com