Robin Driscoll
Greenville, S.C. – Robin “Mimi” Driscoll, 60, of Greenville, S.C., passed away suddenly at home April 9, 2020. She was born on May 20, 1959, in New London to Bonnie Rice of Oakdale and the late James Rice.
Robin is survived by her mother, Bonnie Rice; daughter Sarah Driscoll (James); sister Michele Plemons (Brandon); brother Scott Rice (Beth); and brother Michael Rice. She also leaves behind the loves of her life, grandson Gabriel Stedman; nephews, Aaron Plemons and Damian Rice; nieces, Kelly Rice and Crystal Plemons; and her beloved dog Guese.
Robin was predeceased by her son Shaun Driscoll; father, James Rice; nephew Brandon Plemons Jr; and her dog Maverick, whom she loved dearly.
Robin will always be remembered for her love and dedication to her family, her often entertaining sense of humor and her love of sports. She was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears, Boston Red Sox and especially her nephew Aaron’s auto racing.
Robin will be missed by all that love her. Her family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all that have reached out and supported us at this extremely difficult time. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Mystic — William Joseph Gannon, educator, musician, tennis instructor, and true Renaissance man, died Sunday morning, May 3, 2020, of COVID-19. Remarkably, at age 99, he had lived to the exact same age as his own father did.
Bill was born on the first day of spring, March 20, 1921, the eldest of four children, to William and Alice Loughney Gannon. His father moved the family from Pawtucket, R.I., to Sterling to become foreman of the Sterling textile mill.
Bill loved growing up in the small rural community of Sterling. Bright, athletic and musically gifted, he excelled at baseball, tennis, and won several singing and dancing competitions. But it was his many happy hours spent skating on Sterling pond that led to a lifelong passion for ice hockey. A fine skater, he cherished any opportunity to play, watch, or if need be, simply LISTEN to a hockey game broadcast only on his crackly A.M. car radio.
After serving with the Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II, Bill attended Mitchell College, continuing on to Hillyer College (now the University of Hartford) on the G.I. Bill. Fulfilling his goal of becoming an educator, he insisted on completing an advanced Master of Education degree, not required in those days.
Bill became part of the original staff at the new West Side Junior High School in Groton, teaching seventh grade English and social studies. He was a born teacher, educating generations of students in his 35-year career. Following his personal teaching philosophy of the three F’s — firm, fair, and flexible: not just saying those words, but living by them. As an educator, Bill was an early champion of civil rights, refusing to join any club or organization that denied admittance to people of color.
Bill and his wife, Ellie, moved their young family to an antique “fixer-upper” home near the Mystic River. And fix it up, they did. Bill embraced living by the shoreline, and his motorboat, The Three Sisters, was a familiar sight moored on the river. Whenever the summer opportunity permitted, he and Ellie packed the children (think sardines) into his trusty station wagon and trundled to