Robert A. Grudzien

GRUDZIEN, Robert A. Robert A. Grudzien, 70, of West Hartford, the husband of Virginia Burnes Grudzien, died suddenly Sunday, October 29, 2006 at John Dempsey Hospital. Born in Gowanda, NY, the son of the late Walter and Mary Burek Grudzien, and he had made his home in West Hartford for the past 35 years. He was a 1958 graduate of the University of Buffalo, where he earned a degree in business administration and met his beloved wife, Virginia. He was also an outstanding athlete on the basketball and track teams and volunteered for military service, spending four years in the army stationed out west. He later became a manager for Aetna Life and Casualty, moving from Buffalo to Utica and Syracuse, before joining the home office in Hartford as an officer of the company. After retiring from the insurance business he became a realtor for Remax. Bob?s greatest joy was time spent with Virginia, his beloved wife of 45 years, and his two children and grandchild. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather as well as a good and faithful friend to many. Bob was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf and tending to his gardens. He served his community as a former chairman of the Boulevard Neighborhood Association and was a member of the Architectural Preservation Committee for the Town of West Hartford. He is survived by his wife Virginia, his son Mark A. Grudzien, his daughter and her husband Valerie and Kevin Brew, and his grandson Cody Robert Brew, all of West Hartford. He is also survived by his two brothers; Chester Grudzien and his wife Shirley of Gowanda, NY, and Edward Grudzien of St. Cloud, FL; his sister and brother-in-law April and Alex Kopecky of Buffalo; his sister-in-law Deanna Solokowski of Cape Cod; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his infant daughter Jennifer. Friends are invited to join the Grudzien family at the celebration of his funeral Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, Nov. 2nd at 10:00 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Disposition of his ashes will be private at a later date. Calling hours are Wednesday Nov. 1st from 4-7 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Donations in his memory may be made to Connecticut Humane Society or a charity of the donor?s choice. Online messages of remembrance and sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com

Robert A. Grudzien

August 15, 1936 - October 29, 2006