Obituary: Robert James McKay PE, 98, of Orange

ORANGE, CT - (From Cody-White Funeral Home) Robert James McKay PE, 98, of Orange, beloved husband of Bettyejane Esposito McKay, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2022. Born on August 29, 1923 in Tillicoultry, Scotland, he was the son of the late David and Millicent (Geary) McKay.

The family immigrated through Ellis Island to the United States of America in 1928.

Mr. McKay was survived by his beloved wife Bettyejane Esposito McKay, son Douglas, (wife Roxane), daughter Donna McKay O’Connor, (husband John Bird), and stepdaughter Cindy Breen. He was adored by his grandsons, Sheehan O’Connor (Tara), Kyle Murphy, Adam, and Alexander McKay, step-granddaughters Sheri, Cathy, and Samantha Breen, and step-grandson Brian.

He is also survived by one great- granddaughter, Kennedy O’Connor.

He was predeceased by his brother, David McKay, wife Mary Sheehan McKay, and son Dennis Robert McKay, and son-in-law Donald Breen. He was also survived by his beloved nieces, Maureen, Colleen, Teashe, Kathleen; nephew Thomas, and extended family members.

He grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. Robert’s first paying job was in 1929 tying the shoes of a disabled man every morning for 5 cents a week. Robert then delivered the Long Island Press newspaper to the Richmond Hill and Jamaica New York communities while attending John Adams High school where he later graduated.

He was drafted at the age of 18 and took an aptitude test by the United States Military. The Army offered him an appointment to West Point which he turned down, but instead received and accepted a commission in an Elite Army Engineering Training Program where less than 100 were chosen. He served as a Corporal in the Army 104th Infantry, 103rd Combat Army Core of Engineers.

He landed in France prior to the invasion of Normandy, clearing the way for the troops. After he made his way through Belgium and Luxembourg into Germany where he liberated a concentration camp.

When the war ended, he was given an Honorable Discharge date of December 11, 1946. Upon returning from the war, he finished his education at night while working for a firm in the Financial District of New York.

Mr. McKay has a degree in mechanical engineering from Princeton and an electrical engineering degree from the NYU campus of Princeton.

While working in his field in New York, he took a contract with Pan-American airlines doing their Hotels in European and Middle Eastern countries wherever the airline flew.

In 1967 Mr. McKay was offered a job in Orange Connecticut and moved his family from Seaford Long Island to Orange Connecticut. Within a year, he left and started his own firm, Mechanical Associates, and worked until receiving his last 1099 from the Town of Orange when he was 91 years old. By the end of his career, Mr. McKay traveled to every continent and over 52 countries doing the work that he loved.

In his spare time Mr. McKay loved the game of golf, belonged to numerous local clubs and he played for the farm team of the New York Giants. He also became involved in community theater by joining the Orange Players.

During his time with the Orange Players he appeared in The Last Clock, Born Yesterday, Mame, Wonderful Town, Diary of Anne Frank, Lend Me a Tenor, and Whose Life is it Anyway.

In addition to his stage appearances, Mr. McKay designed and built, sometimes single-handedly, many of the sets over the 45 years of the Orange Players existence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at Holy Infant Church, 450 Racebrook Rd., Orange, CT.

Military Honors will follow immediately after church service. Interment will be private. Friends and family may call on Sunday, March 13, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad St., Milford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Connecticut Fallen Hero’s foundation @ www.ctfallenheroes.org/donate....