Obituary of Ronald Bourbeau

Ronald E. "REB" Bourbeau, 75, of Tryon Street, South Glastonbury, beloved husband of Patricia (Galipeau) Bourbeau, died Sunday, September 29, 2013 at home. Born May 10, 1938 in Taftville, Connecticut, he had been a lifelong resident of Glastonbury. He was the son of the late Adelard and Marie Anne (Beaudet) Bourbeau. He was a communicant of St. Paul Church. REB, as he was commonly known, was the embodiment of "The American Dream." Straight out of high with nothing but ingenuity and fierce determination, he focused on the goal of being self-employed. That goal was achieved as he became the founder of REB Industries and Glastonbury Gage, and a land developer, both residential and industrial. He served as a Director of the Glastonbury Bank & Trust, becoming the Chairman of the Board. He also served as President of the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce. Always the captain of his own destiny, he retired from most of these obligations in his early forties, then put all of his passion into his great love of boats and fishing. He became a part owner of Yankee Boat Yard and Marina, as well as Riverside Marina both in Portland and Scott's Lobster Dock in New London. He spent many joy filled days on his beloved Down-easter, the Del Marie with his family, friends, and grandkids. He instilled and passed on wisdom, values and passion and became an unofficial mentor to many young people. Besides his wife, Patricia, he is survived by a son, Dean Bourbeau and his wife Kristin, of South Glastonbury and a daughter, Faith and her husband Claus Platt, of Wilmington, North Carolina. He leaves six grandchildren, Jeremy and Jesse Bourbeau and Morgan, Andrew, Sunny, and Owen Platt. He leaves two brothers, Maurice of Glastonbury and Roger Bourbeau of Avon and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a son, Richard Del Bourbeau, a brother, Roland Bourbeau, sisters Laurette Lewis, Agnes McCaffrey and Dolores Bullock. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Church, 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury at Noon on Saturday (Oct 5) with burial to follow at St. Augustine Cemetery in South Glastonbury. Anyone wishing to participate in a Celebration of REB's life to be held at 2 P. M. at the Glastonbury Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles Street, Glastonbury is asked to contact the family at 860 982-2294. There will be a time to share your memories. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the R.E. Bourbeau Riverfront Park Memorial Fund, in care of Glastonbury Parks and Recreation, PO Box 6523, Glastonbury, CT 06033. For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.