Obituary: Robert S. Avery, 91, formerly of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT - (From Sisk Brothers Funeral Home) Entered into eternal rest on November 30, 2021, Robert S. Avery of Murrells Inlet, formerly of Hamden, CT, passed quietly at his home after a long illness.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jerrie Avery, her children, and grandchildren, and his children, Stephen (Kathy), Richard (Mark) and Maureen Avery Carroll (Bob).

Bob was predeceased by his first wife, Jeanne B. Avery, and his sons, James Robert and R. Kevin Avery.

He is also predeceased by his parents, his sister, Berniece Eckels, and brothers George and Edward Avery.

He is survived by his brother, golf partner and dear friend, Raymond Avery (Bunny), his beloved grandchildren Corey Arnao (Danny), Elizabeth Carroll, Megan Carroll, Matthew Carroll, Patrick Avery, Connor Avery, many cherished nieces and nephews, and his new great grandson, Mac James Arnao.

Born on December 26, 1929, Bob was a lifelong resident of Hamden, CT prior to relocating to Myrtle Beach, where he met his current wife, Jerrie. The youngest of five children born to George D. Avery and Veronica Boland Avery, Bob was born and raised in Hamden, CT, where he dedicated his life to public and community service.

Bob first attended college at Brown University before transferring to the New Haven State Teachers College to pursue his passion for history and education. While student teaching, he met his first wife, Jeanne.

Together they created a family of five children who shared fond memories of family vacations on Cape Cod and of summers at Indian Cove in Guilford, CT.

Bob earned his Master’s in Education from Fairfield University, and his Ph.D from the University of Connecticut. He served on various state, national and international commissions focused on developing and implementing programs for Talented and Gifted children.

Throughout his life, Bob served the Hamden community with a deep sense of commitment. Over the course of his career he worked as an elementary and junior high school teacher, school administrator, and finally served as Executive Director of the Hamden-New Haven Cooperative Education Center until his retirement in 1984, developing innovative programs to support migrant student education, talented and gifted education, ethnic arts education and a variety of pilot programs to meet current educational trends and needs.

Bob’s spirit of community involvement included many years of affiliation with the Civitan Club, serving as its first president, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, where he served as Exalted Ruler, the Knights of St. Patrick and the American Legion.

An avid sports enthusiast, Bob was a lifelong, diehard Red Sox fan. Trips to Fenway Park were special events. Bob was a good athlete, played hockey in high school and college, coached hockey for Hamden youth and was a regular fixture at local golf courses throughout his life.

Upon his retirement from public education, Bob and his brother Ray assumed management of the Meadowbrook Golf Course, a course he and his brothers played as a foursome from childhood to adulthood.

Later in life Bob developed an interest in genealogy, tirelessly researching the history of the Avery and Boland family lines. His passion took him on many trips to historical societies, halls of records, and several trips to Ireland where he was able to locate and connect with distant relatives still living in Ireland.

He was proud of his heritage and loved learning about his family history.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning at 10:00 in Divine Mercy Parish, Church of St. Rita, Hamden. Mask is required in church. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hamden.

Local arrangements are with Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden.