Robert J. Kiely

Robert J. Kiely, 91, of West Hartford, Connecticut passed away peacefully at Hartford Hospital on August 15, 2018. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Robert (Bob) was the son of Howard Francis and Mary (Koverman) Kiely. Bob grew up as a member of the Greatest Generation, and throughout his life was committed to his family, country and faith. Bob graduated from New Britain High School in 1944 and had the honor and privilege of serving in United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Monterey, a WWII aircraft carrier in the Pacific Fleet. He attended Manhattan College in New York and graduated in 1951 with a degree in Civil Engineering, with distinction. Bob joined the Industrial Construction Co. in Hartford, CT in 1952 and in 1974 became Chairman, President and owner of Standard Builders, Inc., retiring in 1997. Over the years, Bob was President of the Associated General Contractors of CT, and on the Board of the Connecticut Carpenters Annuity Fund, Saint Francis Hospital and MercyKnoll Sisters of Mercy. In 1995, Bob received the AGC Connecticut Distinguished Service Award and in 2007 Bob was honored with The Public Service Award from the State of Connecticut. Bob was committed to his community his entire life and was personally involved with civil engineering projects for United Technologies, Hartford National Bank, Scoville Corporation, Phoenix Mutual, Travelers Insurance, Hartford Insurance and Aetna Insurance. In his retirement, Bob enjoyed traveling internationally with his wife Betty and playing golf at the Farmington Country Club. He was the past President and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of West Hartford, and an active member of the Old Guard and The Church of Saint Peter Claver. He leaves his beloved wife Elizabeth (Betty) who he was devoted to for 67 years; his son Robert J. Kiely Jr. and his wife Cherry and their children Megan, Kevin, Ryan and Sean; his daughter Mary D’Amico and her husband Andrew D’Amico and their children Josephine and Matthew; daughter Patricia Conry and husband Timothy Bye; daughter Kathleen Berg and her husband William Berg and their children Kiely, Emily and Thomas; Margaret Vogler and her husband Gary Vogler and their children Shannon and Nicholas, daughter Ann Kiely and daughter Elizabeth Kiely; and his nephew Michael Kiely and niece Laura Korn. He is predeceased by his brother Howard Kiely of Newington, CT. Calling hours will be at the Molly Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, on Friday, August 17th from 4:00-6:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of Saint Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford, on Saturday, August 18th at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Donations in his memory may be made to Friends of Fisher House CT, care of Creed Law Firm, 653 Terryville Ave., Bristol, CT 06010. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com