Obituary of Robert C. Valentine

Robert C. Valentine, 88, of Glastonbury, died at his home on Thursday, January 1, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. He was born October 20, 1926 in Poughkeepsie New York, son of Henry and Louise Valentine. He grew up in West Hartford and graduated from Hall High School in 1944. He entered Trinity College and enrolled in the U.S. Navy's V-12 program. Discharged in 1946, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies at R.P.I. in Troy, New York, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. While in college he met Mary Margaret Stevenson of Wethersfield, CT who was a student at Russell Sage College. They married on June 17, 1950. His first job after graduation was at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia. In 1949 he returned to Connecticut to work at Pratt & Whitney. In 1952 he was recalled to active duty in the Korean War as Chief Engineer aboard the USS Noble. In 1954 the couple settled in Newington, CT. They moved to Glastonbury in 1962, where they joined the South Congregational Church. Bob was active as a Trustee and Chairman of the Building Committee, overseeing the addition of the former High Street school to the church. In 1966 he retired as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1991 he retired from International Aero Engines (IAE) and he and Mary began to spend summers at their cottage on Bear Island on Lake Winnipesaukee. He was an avid fan of both the men and women's UCONN basketball teams. When the Glastonbury High School crew team was formed in 2000 he took to the river, driving a safety boat in support of the rowers through the spring of 2014. He is survived by his wife, Mary, 4 children and their spouses—Anne & Gene D'Angelo, of Manchester, MA; William Valentine, of New York, NY; James & Heidi Valentine of Hingham, MA ; and Wendy & Rick Howard of Cheshire, CT—and six grandchildren—David and his wife Brittany, Katie, Emily, Steven, Nathan, and Jill. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 11 am at the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's name can be made to the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury (P.O. Box 187 South Glastonbury, CT, 06073) or the Glastonbury High School crew team (Friends of Glastonbury Rowing, Inc., P.O. Box 552, South Glastonbury, CT 06073).