Robert Duane Sheehan Sr.

07/17/2005

Robert Duane Sheehan Sr., 72, of Longmeadow, died Sunday, July 17, at Heritage Nursing Home in Agawam. His mother's family grew up in Housatonic and he summered there for many years. Born in Springfield, son of Andrew Francis and Edith Louise Marcelle Roche Sheehan, he graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1950. A Navy veteran of the Korean War, he served at Inch'on, Wonsan, Munam, Samchuk, Yongduk, P'ohang, and Yang-Yang. He was discharged in 1955 after serving two tours of duty. Mr. Sheehan retired from Combustion Engineering in 1990 and later worked for ABB Power Plant Controls. An avid writer, he authored "The White Family" (1992) and "Beyond the Pilgrims" (1995) as he studied his ancestry. He was a direct descendent of Peregrin White, born on the Mayflower in 1620. He also descended from William Brewster, John Howland, Francis Cook and Steven Hopkins. He was a member of Tin Can Soldiers Inc. and was a past commander of Albert T. Woods Post 175 of the American Legion. Mr. Sheehan had a long membership in the Boy Scouts of America, receiving his Eagle Award in 1948, and was serving as a committee member of BSA Troop 90 in Longmeadow at the time of his death. He also held many positions at the district council level. He and his wife, the former Judith Foley, were married in 1958. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Kathleen Rugani of West Warren and Bridget Sabourin of Holyoke; two sons, Robert Sheehan Jr. of West Suffield, Conn., and Andrew Francis Sheehan II of Agawam, and nine grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Robert Sheehan Sr. will be held Friday at 9 from TAZZINI FUNERAL HOME, corner of Locust and Main Street, followed by a committal service at 10 at the MA Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 4 to 8. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Robert's memory to the Moses Boy Scout Reservation, c/o Douglas Root, Birch Hill Road, Russell, MA 01071. He was predeceased by his sisters, Constance Sheehan and Ruth O'Brien. He leaves his sons-in-law, Thomas Rugani and Chuck Sabourin; daughters-in-law, Tammy and Wendy, and nine grandchildren, Kevin and Lauren Rugani, Jennifer, Ryan, Jason, Drew and Connie Sheehan, Craig Beauregard and Nikolas Sabourin.

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