Robert G. Oliver

Robert G. (Bob) Oliver of New Haven, husband of Barbara Cooney Oliver, passed away September 6, 2025 at the age of 85. He was born June 5, 1940 in San Diego, the son of Captain Robert J. Oliver, USN, and Esmeralda Godfrey Oliver. His father was from Ohio, and Bob traveled there regularly throughout his life maintaining his family roots. He spent his early years on the West Coast while his father served in the Pacific during WWII. As a young boy, he was at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. After the war, his family settled in Washington DC. He was valedictorian of the class of 1958 Landon School, Bethesda, MD, and went on to Yale College, graduating Class of 1962 magna cum laude. He graduated from Yale Law School, then settled in New Haven, joining the firm of Daggett, Colby and Hooker. He worked there until 1982 when he joined Flanagan, Mulvey and Oliver, later Mulvey Oliver Gould and Crotta. He practiced law in New Haven for over 50 years and was active until his recent illness. He was a proud resident of the Elm City. Between 1966 and 1972 he served on the City of New Haven Board of Aldermen and as a State Representative for Wards 1-5. He served 30 years in the United States Navy Reserve JAG, retiring with rank of Captain, like his father. His service included stints throughout the United States, onboard ship, as well as at the US Embassy in Rome. In 1968, he married Barbara (Ann) Cooney, daughter of Joseph P. and Polly M. Cooney of Hartford. He was a devout Roman Catholic. He served as lector at St Aedan's Church in Westville for many years, and later at St Francis Church of Blessed Michael McGivney Parish in Fair Haven, where he was honored for his service. He loved sports and adopted the Red Sox when he moved to New England. He attended Game 6 of the 1975 World Series - some say the greatest game ever played - and scored Carlton Fisk's game winning home run in pencil in the program. He loved hockey, and the relationships that it afforded enriched his life. He stood for 60 years on the rail at Yale's David S. Ingalls rink, always in jacket and tie, where generations of Bulldog fans knew his signature chants of "Go Eli" and "Pressure!" He traveled to Pittsburgh to watch the Bulldogs win the 2013 NCAA National Championship. He was devoted to his children, grandchildren and their families. As hard as he worked during the week, he was selfless with his weekends, shuttling his children and their friends to rinks and fields near and far, often before sunrise. He attended nearly every game for his kids and grandkids, from Yale Youth Hockey, Fairfield Prep, Hobart College, Choate, and more recently Hamden Youth Hockey, Amity High School, and Stowe VT Youth Hockey. He was active in Yale Youth Hockey and was proud to have played a role in establishing the annual Carl Marottolo sportsmanship award. He is past president of the New Haven County Bar Association. A long-time resident of Westville, he was involved with the polls for what is now Ward 25. He was a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, the St Nicholas Society. He read widely, but had a particular love of military history. He was an only child, so he relished a bustling home full of friends and family - hosting Yale-Harvard parties and holiday gatherings. He never wanted to take the Christmas lights down at his Westville home. He took pleasure in maintaining lifelong friendships, and was proud when he saw his children do the same. He took great interest in his children's' friends, whom he regarded as extended family. He served as Alumni Class Secretary for Yale Class of 1962, and was labeled the "shepherd" of his class. In later years, he wrote the obituaries for his deceased classmates, devoting himself meticulously to the research for each. He was Chairman of the Yale Class of 1962 50th reunion. He loved to travel, especially wherever his children were. He was an avid hiker, with frequent trips on the Appalachian trail in New England. Other trips included the Pacific Coast Trail and Alaska. He and Barbara loved the beauty and tranquility of Mohegan Island, ME. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Barbara of New Haven; his 4 children: Rob Oliver (Adrienne Betz) of Woodbridge, John "Mac" Oliver (Elide Valerini) of Santa Barbara, CA, Patrick Oliver (Meredith Ford) of Oakland, CA, and Kate Challenger (Grant) of Stowe, VT; and by 7 beloved grandchildren: Liam (17), Seamus (14) and Maeve (10) Oliver; Olivia (13) and Heath (9) Challenger; Desmond (4) and Louisa (2) Oliver. Visiting hours will be held Friday evening from 4:00-7:00 in the Iovanne Funeral Home, Inc. 11 Wooster Place in New Haven. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday morning at 10:00 in Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. Michael Church, 29 Wooster Place, New Haven. Relatives and friends are asked to meet directly at Church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, and William's Be Yourself Challenge.