Obituary of Robert H. Saunders, Jr.

Robert H. “Bob” Saunders, 78, of Stuart, FL and Glastonbury, CT, died with his family by his side on January 5, 2020 at Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford. Bob was born in Hartford, CT on May 12, 1941, the son of the late Robert H. and Mary Ellen (Farrell) Saunders. He was the beloved husband of Katherine (Stearns) Saunders for 52 years whom he met in Hanau, Germany while he was serving in the Army and she was vacationing. After a long distance romance they married three years later in her hometown of Seattle, WA. He is also survived by his son Rob and wife Beth of Glastonbury, son Kevin and wife Tammy of South Glastonbury, his grandchildren Grace, Braeden, Caroline, Christopher and Matthew, his brother Brian Saunders of Hartford, his brother Michael Saunders and wife Denise of Bradenton Beach, FL, his brother-in-law David Gendell of Arnold, MD, his sister-in-law Patricia Martin and husband Paul of Maple Valley, WA, his brother-in-law Charles Stearns and wife Sharon of Mattawa, WA and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his sister Mary Gendell. Bob attended local Hartford schools and graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1959. He received his BS degree in accounting and economics from the University of Connecticut. While working he received his MBA degree from the University of Hartford. He began his working career after graduating from UConn, spending two years on active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and then joined Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. CPAs (now KPMG) where he became a certified public accountant. He was later CEO and President of The J.M. Ney Company, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at the University of Hartford and Senior Vice President of Kaman Corporation and President of Kaman Music Corporation. He served on the Board of Directors of Spencer Turbine Company, the Associated Construction Company and the Takamine Guitar Company. His professional activities included membership on the board of directors and executive committee of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants. Bob was also active the Hartford community. He was a member of The Greater Hartford Jaycees having served as Chairman of The Greater Hartford Open (now The Travelers Championship) in 1972 and continued being involved with the tournament serving as liaison between it and Sammy Davis, Jr. and the celebrity community for a number of years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of The Village for Family and Children and Junior Achievement of Southwest New England. Bob was an active golfer and a member of Willoughby Golf Club of Stuart, FL, Wethersfield Country Club and the Junior Senior Golfing Society of Connecticut. He was an avid fan of the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams, having season tickets for many years, and also the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants. Bob and Kathy enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to have visited countries in six continents. Some of his fondest memories were from the sidelines of his grandchildren’s sporting events and dance recitals. Bob’s family would like to thank the Smilow Cancert Center at St. Francis Hospital, Trinity Home Care, and St. Francis Hospital for the wonderful care extended to him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 10:00 am in St. Dunstan Church, 1345 Manchester Road, Glastonbury. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury on Monday, January 13, 2020 from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm.