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Post by JohnM on Oct 4, 2014 7:03:07 GMT -5
East Lyme - Robert Joseph Reagan, 74, of Niantic, husband of Margaret Creasy Reagan, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.
He had been a teacher for many years at Waterford, New London, and Montville High Schools.
The funeral will assemble at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic, and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated in St. Agnes Church at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association.
A full obituary will be published in Sunday's edition of The Day. Funeral Home Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home 48 Grand St Niantic, CT 06357 (860) 739-6112
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Post by JohnM on Oct 5, 2014 6:07:27 GMT -5
Book East Lyme - Robert Joseph Reagan, 74, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at his home in Niantic. He was born in New London, on March 18, 1940, the son of the late William Thomas and Blanche (Paquette) Reagan. He was the husband of Margaret (Creasy) Reagan, his loving and devoted wife of 49 years, who survives him. Mr. Reagan, after jobs at Electric Boat (1963-1964) and Seaside Regional Center (1964-1966), became a public school teacher in 1966 at New London High School and later Montville High School. From 1972 until 1997, he taught and coached at Waterford High School. After retiring from teaching, he worked as a mail clerk at Connecticut College for 10 years. Bob enjoyed holding "court" talking sports with his many friends at the Thames Barber Shop in New London and meeting his "Sports Authority" companions at Panera Bread in Waterford. He was an avid Yankees and Giants fan, loved watching UConn basketball, going to Misquamicut Beach, and skiing when his knees allowed him to do so. Family vacations in Cape Cod, Frank Pepe's Pizza, taking walks and enjoying the waters of Long Island Sound were some of his favorite activities. His love of sports was evident throughout his life. He was a four-year basketball star and captain his senior year at Central Connecticut State College (1959-63), where he was the school's first 1000 point scorer. He was inducted into the CCSU Athletic Hall of Fame for his basketball exploits. Later, he played in many semi-pro basketball leagues, including Ocean Beach Park in the early and mid 1960s. He served as head basketball coach at New London High School from 1966-1968, athletic director at Waterford High School from 1994-1996, as well as holding various other coaching positions at Waterford High School and in youth sports programs in East Lyme, where he raised his three sons. The greatest joy of his last years was being with his seven wonderful grandchildren and delighting in their many activities. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Michael Reagan and his wife, Kathleen, of Avon, Sean Reagan and his wife, Bridget, of Duxbury, Mass., and Kyle Reagan and his wife, Heather, of Amherst, N.H.; two brothers, William A. Reagan of Niantic, and Kevin M. Reagan of Groton; two sisters, Ann Marie Heym of Milltown, N.J., and Kathleen Lovetere and her husband, Michael, of Niantic; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Creasy of Waterbury. He has seven grandchildren, Matthew, Molly, Daniel, Ryan, Bryce, Cameron, Drew; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his in-laws, Lloyd and Rachel Creasy of Waterbury and his brother-in-law, USCG Captain Richard J. Heym of Milltown, N.J. On Bob's gravestone there will be two dates, the date he was born and the date he died with a dash between. That dash between those two dates will represent Bob's abundant and fulfilling life. The funeral will assemble at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic, and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, Haigh Ave., Niantic. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Condolence messages may be left on Bob's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2014 9:40:50 GMT -5
Thanks Johnny....here is an article that a sports writer put in the local paper today- the New London Day. He hit it out of the park, IMO
Region has lost its star of the show with Bob Reagan's passing By Mike DiMauro October 5, 2014 COMMENTS (1) New London
Louie Pica, his forever friend, saw Bob Reagan walking toward the Thames Barber Shop the other day. This was news, given that you usually heard Reagan's voice, louder than a lawn mower, before you ever saw him.
"Watch this," Pica said to the patrons awaiting haircuts, including former New London High School football player Marty Leff. "Bob is going to take one look here at Marty and go, 'Marty Leff! He used to play right tackle at New London!'"
Reagan loved the joke about "Leff" playing somewhere on the right, when Leff should have been left.
And here came Reagan, making the same grand entrance he made every day at the Thames around 11 a.m. As if on cue, he said, "Hey! Marty Leff! He used to play right tackle! Leff right! Can you believe it?"
Laughter erupted.
That was Bob Reagan.
He made you laugh every day.
And it was with the deepest sorrow that we learned Bob Reagan died unexpectedly Thursday night at home.
The Thames Barber Shop has lost its public address announcer. The star of the show. Our region has lost one of its grandest voices and greatest senses of humor. And this is where it begins and ends with the man they've called "Bubba," "Bottles" and "Thunder." With his sense of humor. If you didn't know him, you will now.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Bob Reagan:
Bob once told former U.S. Rep. Sam Gejdenson, while Sam was getting a haircut, that the country could save a lot of money by combining the four military academies to one piece of property. … He called former Yankee Marcus Thames "Marcus Barber Shop." … He lost 110 pounds at Thin's In … You would ask him, "Hi'ya doin' Reeg?" He would reply, "Lost, but I'm making good time."
Bob left a manila envelope at the Thames titled, "Yankee Stuff, please save." … He loved the Yankees, Giants and UConn basketball. … He once suggested the Yankees should send scouts to Oklahoma to see if Mickey Mantle has any nephews. … He was a local sports historian, a former great basketball player at New London High and Central Connecticut, coach at New London and athletic director at Waterford High. … He once refused to enter the barber shop because Lou and Danny Cardillo, not fans of the UConn women, had an autographed photo of Pat Summitt hanging on the wall.
Bob loved watching his grandchildren play sports. He was talking the day he died about a recent great experience at Bridgewater-Raynham in Massachusetts, or as he said, "Bridgewater Raymond." … He once bought a $100 pair of socks. … He loved busting a few chops with barber shop patrons, especially John Madden … He responded to young people who blast that jackhammer music in their cars with the windows down with merry-go-round music blasting louder. … He called Sue Cash, who cuts hair now next to Lou, "Radio Free Europe … If you ever want people to know something," he said, "use the telephone, telegraph or tell Sue."
Bob once bought a new truck. He was leaving the barber shop one day when an apple fell from the front seat to the floor. Bob leaned over to pick it up, took his eyes off the road and rammed a telephone poll. "He hit it dead solid," Pica said. "I went nuts." … He loved the hot dogs and burgers at Kamp Dog in New London, saying Thursday they were better than the burgers and dogs at Harry's in Colchester. … He loved the lobster rolls at Capt. Scott's. He loved Captain Jacks in Rhode Island, Panera and brought Muzzys from the Flanders Bake Shop to the barber shop every Friday.
Bob would tip me off to stories and sign his e-mails, "The East Lyme Phantom." … He liked Mayor Finizio, especially after the fire hydrants in the city were painted green and gold. … Pica used to like to watch Reagan eat at the Italian Dramatic Club. "When he was done with the chicken, it looked like he had a volcano of bones in front of him," Pica said. … He loved Springsteen and when Frog Mei would drop his pants to the song "Eh Cumpari," by Julius Larosa.
Bob loved the view of New London from the ferry, especially coming home from Orient Point. … He grew up in the Crocker House and used to dribble a basketball as a kid past what would become the Thames Barber Shop. The place where he had so much fun and delivered daily doses of joy. Faithfully.
A wonderful, generous, happy man. My son, 4, is generally shy around strangers. He met Bob for the first time Thursday and actually shook his hand.
Bob had that effect on everyone.
I loved the guy.
I'll spend every day missing him. As will everyone else who knew him.
This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.
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Post by JohnM on Oct 5, 2014 10:59:58 GMT -5
Kyle, thank you for sharing this wonderful write up. The other day I was recalling him telling me if it was ok to tell the guys in the barbershop in reference to the scoop I posted that the Yankees were going to sign Mark Teixeira in a few days. At the time I didn't know if he was using that as a figure of speech. The article backs up what I concluded long ago that he was a special guy.
You and your family are in our thoughts.
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Post by Yankin'It in Beantown on Oct 5, 2014 11:05:30 GMT -5
That is awesome stuff. 1000 points in college hoops is not too shabby either. Thanks for posting this, seems he was very popular everywhere, not just on BTB.
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Post by Knuckles on Oct 5, 2014 11:47:45 GMT -5
Not hard to believe that he was our GOFERIT guy, reading this.
You must be very proud, Kyle. Very sad, but very proud.
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Post by BernzAMatic on Oct 5, 2014 12:05:45 GMT -5
Kyle,
So sorry to hear this, your Pop was an awesome guy, and yup, you're right, that article was your dad to a "T".
My prayers for your Dad, Mom and entire family.
Love Ya RJ, You shall be missed my friend!!
God Bless
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Post by jimbue2 on Oct 5, 2014 12:40:23 GMT -5
awesome writeup.....rip big fella
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Post by Lefteroo on Oct 5, 2014 18:23:10 GMT -5
Thank you for posting the obituary, John, and the wonderful article, Kyle. The article certainly made me smile throughout, and helped me forget for a minute how sad I am. RJ was a fabulous guy indeed, and we all loved him. May God bless your family, Kyle.
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Post by Skinnyhead on Oct 5, 2014 19:28:28 GMT -5
I am very impressed with RJ's biography and wish I knew these things about him when he was alive. Gives a different perspective of the man who always said "GOFERIT". Sounds like RJ went for it a lot in life. Rest In peace, Mr. Reagan.
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Post by bruce on Oct 6, 2014 5:26:35 GMT -5
Rest in peace indeed. What a colorful character!
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Post by goodad on Oct 7, 2014 19:10:36 GMT -5
That was awesome AB.
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Post by tarheelbomberfan on Nov 22, 2014 15:03:38 GMT -5
Terrific article, he was certainly one of a kind.
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Post by JohnM on Nov 22, 2014 15:34:23 GMT -5
Unforgettable guy. Never had the pleasure of meeting him.
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