Robert Rubega

Groton — Robert A. Rubega, 90, of Groton, passed away on Sunday morning, Dec. 31, 2017, at Fairview Nursing Home in Groton.

He was born in Blackstone, Mass., on Aug. 2, 1927, the son of Alfred and Madallana (Segalla) Rubega. Robert was married to Mary Patricia Casey, on April 20, 1954, in New London. Patricia, the love of his life, passed away Oct. 14, 2009 after an extended illness.

Robert served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 until 1946. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island, earned his master’s degree from UConn and his PhD from the University of Rochester. He worked as an engineer at the Underwater Sound Lab in New London, for General Dynamics and Marine Resources, a company which he co-founded, both in Rochester, N.Y. He held many awards, including the Navy’s Decibel Award, as well as a patent.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Groton, Groton Post American Legion and the Acoustical Society of America.

Robert is survived by his sons, Alfred (Mary Kalinowski) of Washington, N.H., Robert (Patricia Allen) of South Yarmouth, Mass. and Patrick (Susan Paray) of E. Hampton; his daughters, Madeline (Robert) Martin of Groton, Margaret Rubega (Christopher Elphick) of Storrs, Anne Marie of Old Lyme and Sheila (Richard) Siborg of East Lyme; and 17 grandchildren.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by a daughter, Mary (Jack) Myers; a granddaughter, Jordan Siborg; and his sister, Irma Dickie.

In addition to being an exceptionally devoted husband to his wife of more than 55 years, father to his eight children and grandfather to his 18 grandchildren, he was throughout most of his life a very devoted and skillful fisherman, wine maker, gardener and mushroom hunter. When caring for his wife and his own failing health prevented such active pursuits, he turned to authoring many letters to the editor, cooking, avidly following UConn women’s basketball, along with offering recipes and invaluable advice on a wide range of matters to his children, grandchildren and broad range of friends and relatives.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Sacred Heart Church, Sacred Heart Drive, Groton. Private interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. Visiting hours will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, at the Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London.

Donations in his memory may be directed to Fairview Nursing Home in support of the outstanding care which they provided to both he and his wife during their stays there.

Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guest book or to share a memory.