Robert L. Traversa, 80

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Robert L. Traversa, 80, of 53 Zeff Drive died Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Baystate Medical Center. 

He was born in Pittsfield on August 3, 1935, the son of the late Harry and Lena (Bonanate) Traversa. He attended Pittsfield schools and graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1953. 

While at Pittsfield High School he played centerfield on the PHS County Championship Baseball Teams in 1952 and 1953 and was a member of the American Legion New England Championship Team in 1951 and its Western Massachusetts Championship Team in 1952. He was named to the Springfield Union All Berkshire team in 1953. 

Robert served in the U.S. Army for two years and then was employed by the Berkshire Eagle as a compositor for 20 years. He later was employed as a teacher in the Pittsfield School Department for 13 years and was last employed as a Court Officer for 11 years for the Massachusetts Trial Court, retiring in 1999.

He was a former communicant of All Soul’s Church and presently a communicant of Sacred Heart Church. Robert was a former member of the Italian American Club, Faccioli Club, UNICO of Pittsfield, Berkshire Hills Country Club and was currently a member of the G.E. Athletic Association Golf Course. 

Survivors include his wife, the former Mary Belanger, whom he married on April 19, 1965, at St. Mark’s Church; one daughter, Gail Briggs and her husband Todd of Tyringham; two sons, Dr. Brian Traversa and his wife Christine of Pittsfield and Gary Traversa and his wife Deanna of Lanesborough; one sister, Vivian Montini of Lanesborough; and seven grandchildren, Anthony, Dominic, Joseph, Talia and Luca Traversa, Shane and Taylor Briggs.

Funeral notice: Services will take place Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 9 a.m. from the Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Funeral Home, 5 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 196 Elm St., Pittsfield, with the Rev. Michael Bernier officiating. Inurnment will take place in St. Michael Archangel Mausoleum at St. Joseph's Cemetery at the convenience of the family. 

Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday, June 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund in care of the funeral home.