Mr Robert G McQuarrie
June 2, 1929 ~ January 29, 2020 (age 90) 90 Years Old
Tribute
Robert Gordon (Mac) (Snowshoes) McQuarrie, 90, passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2020, surrounded by his family, who loved him beyond words.
He was born in Waterbury on June 2, 1929 to Gordon and Florence (Mattson) McQuarrie. At the age of 12 he moved to Thomaston, the town he lived in, loved and served for the rest of his life. He volunteered on several town boards and commissions through the years and donated his electrical skills to hang the town Christmas lights and rewire the Thomaston Opera House when it was being rediscovered in the 1960’s and 70’s.
As a young man, Bob excelled at all sports. He graduated from Thomaston High School in 1947 with letters in 3 sports, but he excelled at baseball. He pitched for several area teams and was sought after by professional teams, signing with the Cleveland Indians Farm Team. His pitching career was cut short by the untimely death of his father in 1948. Ever the athlete he took up golf at the age of 18 and it became one of his life passions. The golf course was one of his favorite places to be. He played hundreds of rounds of golf, honing his game and making wonderful friends, whom he cherished. He shared his love of the game by teaching adult education for over 10 years.
Being raised in a musical family, but unable to read music, he learned to play by ear. Mac learned to play the piano and the banjo and was a featured banjo player in the Stag Club Minstrel shows of old. He was the life of the party, providing music and leading the singing, at parties, church, Light Up Thomaston or anywhere he was invited to play. He was known in Thomaston as “Mr. Banjo”. He shared his love of music with his grandchildren.
Bob worked for the Hartford Electric Light Company for 43 years, retiring as a maintenance supervisor, a job he really enjoyed. He served honorably in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He was a Freemason for 65 years and member of the First Congregational Church of Thomaston for over 50 years, where he served on various committees and volunteered his time. He loved working in his yard, growing tomatoes and tending his beautiful flower gardens. He was a proud member of Clan McQuarrie and kept in touch with members around the world. He especially enjoyed the winters spent with his wife at their home in Ocala, Florida, where he golfed and visited with friends.
Bob loved making friends and had many; young and old from all walks of life. He enjoyed his daily meetings for coffee and reminiscing. He and his wife Norma had a special group of friends referred to as the “Maine Group”, who vacationed together and loved and supported each other for decades. He leaves behind, his lifelong friend Richard DiMaria and others who he loved dearly. He was a loving husband and supportive father and grandfather.
Bob is survived by the love of his life, Norma (Lawson), whom he met in 4th grade and was married to for 67 years; sister Mary Jane McQuarrie; daughters Pamela Perkins, Kim Hartz and husband Joseph, Nancy Stancavage and husband Matthew; grandchildren Emily Lewis and husband Oliver, Joseph Hartz, Hannah Geider and husband Bill, Matthew McQuarrie Stancavage and Daniel Stancavage; and great grandsons Finn and Bowen Lewis. He also leaves his sister- in- law Nancy Dodge and brother -in- law Edward Lawson (Linda), nieces and nephews and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his sister Carolyn Sulek.
To honor Bob’s memory, enjoy a round of golf, share your music with others, make your town a better place, have coffee with a friend, help someone in need and fill every day with two days’ worth of life!
The family would like to thank caregivers Pauline and Yvette of Always Best Care of Bristol and Hartford Healthcare at Home for their extraordinary care.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday Feb 8, 2020 at 11:00 am at First Congregational Church of Thomaston 135 Main St Thomaston, CT.
Calling hours are 5-8pm on Friday February 7 at Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High St. Thomaston, CT. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to Light Up Thomaston, Thomaston Town Hall, 158 Main St Thomaston, CT 06787.
He was born in Waterbury on June 2, 1929 to Gordon and Florence (Mattson) McQuarrie. At the age of 12 he moved to Thomaston, the town he lived in, loved and served for the rest of his life. He volunteered on several town boards and commissions through the years and donated his electrical skills to hang the town Christmas lights and rewire the Thomaston Opera House when it was being rediscovered in the 1960’s and 70’s.
As a young man, Bob excelled at all sports. He graduated from Thomaston High School in 1947 with letters in 3 sports, but he excelled at baseball. He pitched for several area teams and was sought after by professional teams, signing with the Cleveland Indians Farm Team. His pitching career was cut short by the untimely death of his father in 1948. Ever the athlete he took up golf at the age of 18 and it became one of his life passions. The golf course was one of his favorite places to be. He played hundreds of rounds of golf, honing his game and making wonderful friends, whom he cherished. He shared his love of the game by teaching adult education for over 10 years.
Being raised in a musical family, but unable to read music, he learned to play by ear. Mac learned to play the piano and the banjo and was a featured banjo player in the Stag Club Minstrel shows of old. He was the life of the party, providing music and leading the singing, at parties, church, Light Up Thomaston or anywhere he was invited to play. He was known in Thomaston as “Mr. Banjo”. He shared his love of music with his grandchildren.
Bob worked for the Hartford Electric Light Company for 43 years, retiring as a maintenance supervisor, a job he really enjoyed. He served honorably in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He was a Freemason for 65 years and member of the First Congregational Church of Thomaston for over 50 years, where he served on various committees and volunteered his time. He loved working in his yard, growing tomatoes and tending his beautiful flower gardens. He was a proud member of Clan McQuarrie and kept in touch with members around the world. He especially enjoyed the winters spent with his wife at their home in Ocala, Florida, where he golfed and visited with friends.
Bob loved making friends and had many; young and old from all walks of life. He enjoyed his daily meetings for coffee and reminiscing. He and his wife Norma had a special group of friends referred to as the “Maine Group”, who vacationed together and loved and supported each other for decades. He leaves behind, his lifelong friend Richard DiMaria and others who he loved dearly. He was a loving husband and supportive father and grandfather.
Bob is survived by the love of his life, Norma (Lawson), whom he met in 4th grade and was married to for 67 years; sister Mary Jane McQuarrie; daughters Pamela Perkins, Kim Hartz and husband Joseph, Nancy Stancavage and husband Matthew; grandchildren Emily Lewis and husband Oliver, Joseph Hartz, Hannah Geider and husband Bill, Matthew McQuarrie Stancavage and Daniel Stancavage; and great grandsons Finn and Bowen Lewis. He also leaves his sister- in- law Nancy Dodge and brother -in- law Edward Lawson (Linda), nieces and nephews and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his sister Carolyn Sulek.
To honor Bob’s memory, enjoy a round of golf, share your music with others, make your town a better place, have coffee with a friend, help someone in need and fill every day with two days’ worth of life!
The family would like to thank caregivers Pauline and Yvette of Always Best Care of Bristol and Hartford Healthcare at Home for their extraordinary care.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday Feb 8, 2020 at 11:00 am at First Congregational Church of Thomaston 135 Main St Thomaston, CT.
Calling hours are 5-8pm on Friday February 7 at Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High St. Thomaston, CT. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to Light Up Thomaston, Thomaston Town Hall, 158 Main St Thomaston, CT 06787.
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