Robert Crotty

Groton — Robert J. “Bobby” Crotty, 54, formerly of Groton, died Thursday, March 2, 2017, surrounded by his sister and friends at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

Bobby was born Nov. 20, 1962, in New London to Paul J. Crotty and Ann Marie (Alexander) Crotty of Groton. He attended Sacred Heart School in Groton from first through eighth grade. There, he served as an altar server during Mass. He then attended St. Bernard High School in Uncasville and graduated in 1981. He attended Hudson Valley Junior College in Ithaca, N.Y., for a year until settling on a career with the Hyatt hotel chain in Atlanta, Ga., as a chef. The Hyatt moved him to their Chicago location, until his chef skills returned to Connecticut at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

Bobby enjoyed athletics and was an accomplished athlete. He played for the Sacred Heart Sabers basketball team, as well as the St. Bernard Saints football team, where he was the quarterback for an undefeated season. He would always take an interest in his niece and nephew’s sports competitions and would look forward to their reports and results. He was happiest on the ocean fishing with his friends.

He is survived by his mother, Ann Marie Crotty of Groton; sister Corrine Sawyer; nephew Collin Sawyer; and niece Cora Sawyer, all of Stonington. He was predeceased by his father, Paul Crotty, on Aug. 12, 1998.

There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Sacred Heart Church in Groton. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic. Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St. in Groton is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Bobby’s memory to the Connecticut Humane Society, 169 Old Colchester Road, Quaker Hill, CT 06375 and The American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 . Please visit www. byles.com to sign the online register or to share a memory.