Robert J. McGuire Sr.

Robert J. McGuire Sr., 83, of Wilkes-Barre, died Monday in Hospice Community Care. Born June 21, 1922, in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late John J. and Anna (Williamson) McGuire. A graduate of Meyers High School, he earned a BA in education and biology from King’s College. Bob continued his education at Wilkes College and West Chester University and earned an MS in Education Administration and Supervision at the University of Scranton.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he served with the 1184th Training Group of Greensboro, North Carolina. Mr. McGuire started his teaching career at GAR High School for two years before becoming director of athletics for the Luzerne County Industrial School for Boys, Kis-Lyn, for eight years. From 1961 to 1966, he taught in Kennett Square and Glen Mills schools. Bob returned to teach at James M. Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre where he was head basketball and tennis coach. He remained there until his retirement in 1985.
Bob’s athletic interests were numerous and spanned his entire life. Beginning with the co-founding of St. Therese’s Little League Baseball in 1945, a program he remained with for over twenty years, he was instrumental in the development of a senior teeners league and Catholic War Veterans League. He coached baseball and basketball at St. Mary’s High School, Kis-Lyn, Coughlin High School and Kistler Elementary School, YMCA, YBA and PAL. He was also inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame.
Following hurricanes Agnes and Camille he orchestrated athletic and recreational programs for those affected in conjunction with the American Red Cross. Mr. McGuire was a member of the General Municipal Authority of the City of Wilkes-Barre until 1992. He served as secretary, vice-chairman and chairman during his tenure. He was also a charter member of, and served on the executive board of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Touchdown Club.
He was preceded in death by son, Robert J. Jr., who died Sept. 3, 2004; and brother, Jack.
Surviving are his wife, the former Dolores Lombardelli; daughters, Patricia and husband Don Martin, Scranton; Mary Rose and husband Mike Moran, Scranton; son, Daniel and wife Maureen McGuire, Esq., Philadelphia; stepsons, John and wife Portia McGuire, M.D., Canandaigua, N.Y.; Christian Zaccagni, Wilkes-Barre; stepdaughter, Charlotte and husband Greg Raup, Parsons; brother, Eugene and wife Miriam McGuire, Wilkes-Barre; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren,
Funeral will be held today at 12:30 p.m. from M.J. McLaughlin Company 142 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre, with Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. in Saint Aloysius Church. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Twp.