Robert Luby

LUBY--Robert Maurice, of Cheshire, CT, formerly of Meriden, passed away on Friday evening, May 22, after a long and glorious life one week before his 95th birthday. Mr. Luby lived at Elim Park, Cheshire, CT. Mr. Luby is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth McGee Luby. Mr. Luby was born in Meriden, CT on May 29, 1914, and was the son of the late William J. Luby and Ellen O'Donnell Luby. He resided in Meriden for nearly 90 years. Mr. Luby attended St. Joseph School, and was graduated from Meriden High School in 1932. He graduated from Yale College in 1936 and Yale Law School in 1939. He then opened his practice of law in Meriden. He was a veteran of World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, and served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 3rd Engineer Special Brigade, 32nd Division. He spent most of his service in the South Pacific Theatre as an Amphibious Engineer and Shore Battalion Commander, participating in the military campaigns of the Bismarck Archipelago, Luzon, Southern Philippines, and New Guinea. He also served as Combat Liaison Officer on the staff of General Ogden. Following the Japanese surrender, he served in the first Provisional Government for the Island of Hokkaido. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery, and was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Luby returned to the practice of law in Meriden after the war, and was the founding partner of Luby Olson, P.C. He held many leadership positions in the community during his lifetime, including President of the Meriden Boys Club, the Meriden Wallingford Hospital, and the Home Club. He served as Chairman and Director of the Home Bank and Trust Company, and Director of the Bradley Home, the H. Wales Lines Co., the C.N. Flagg Company, and the Meriden Gravure Co. He was a founding member of the Meriden Industrial Development Corp., a small group of private citizens who sought to preserve space for industrial growth to increase employment in the Meriden and Wallingford area, and which is now known as Research Parkway. He also played a key role in the formation and development of the Cuno Foundation. Mr. Luby and his wife Ruth shared a love of travel, history and reading. They traveled to Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Egypt, New Guinea, China, Thailand, India, Panama, Peru, and throughout the United States and Canada. He never missed a birthday, first communion or a graduation. He was a frequent spectator at his grandchildren's softball, basketball, and horse riding competitions. He loved his family, lunch at Fischer's with his law partners, history, the novels of Louis L'Amour, Yale, and Sunday afternoon naps. Despite his sustained efforts over many years, his golf game was an object of sympathy. In addition to his wife, Mr. Luby is survived by three children and their spouses, Deborah Luby Rie and her husband John Rie of Westbrook, CT, Robert M. Luby Jr. and his wife Karen Grava of Wallingford, CT, and Attorney Thomas S. Luby and his wife Paula of Old Saybrook, CT; by four grandchildren, Jessica Ruth Hammatt and her husband James Adam Wrubleski of Westbrook, Caroline Ruth Luby and Katherine Mary Luby of Old Saybrook, CT, and Elizabeth Theresa Luby of New York City; by four nieces, Jane Luby, Mary Luby Larsen, and Ann Luby Adamczyk, all of Meriden, and Ellen Luby Larsen of Middlefield; by his sister-in-law Agnes Stazewski Luby of Meriden and formerly of Kensington; by three step- grandchildren, Johanna Wolfe of Rockville, MD, Jacob Williams of Woodbury, CT and Colby Williams of Secaucus, NJ; and by two great grandchildren, Hannah Elizabeth Wrubleski and Cooper James Wrubleski. Mr. Luby was predeceased by his brothers William J. Luby Jr. and James F. Luby. The family of Mr. Luby wishes to express its appreciation to the staff of Elim Park for the attention, quality care and respect shown to Mr. Luby during the final chapter of his life. The funeral will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 10am at the Saint Rose of Lima Church, 35 Center Street, Meriden. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 250 Gypsy Lane, Meriden. Friends and relatives are invited to call at the John J. Ferry Funeral Home, 88 East Main St., Meriden, CT 06450, on Wednesday, May 27, from 4pm to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Elim Park Resident Benevolence Fund, 150 Cook Hill Rd., Cheshire, CT 06410. www.jferryfh.com