Obituary: Robert Graham Hale, Sr., 89, of Madison

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Robert Graham Hale, Sr. (Bob) passed away at his home in Madison CT on May 31, 2023 at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife Pauline (Schweizer) and children Robert Jr. (Jill) of Clinton CT, Kathleen Tobin (Michael) of Bluffton SC, and David of West Chester PA. He was a family man above all who loved being a Grandpa, Pop-pop, and Baba to his 7 grandchildren Christopher Hale, Rebekah Templeton, Thomas Tobin, Carolyn Gbunblee, Alice Tobin, Emily McKenna, William Tobin and their families. He loved visits from his 6 great grandchildren.

Born April 20, 1934 in Waterbury CT, he was the son of Randal and Doris (Dimock) Hale of Haddam, Essex, and Waterbury and was predeceased by his sister, Edith Gratta, and brother, Randal Hale Jr. He is survived by his sister, Cheryl Hale.

He attended Pratt HS in Essex, graduated from Valley Regional High School in Deep River, and is a member of the VRHS Hall of Fame. He held degrees from Teacher’s College of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State College, and Syracuse University. He was a life-long educator first serving as an industrial arts teacher in Manchester and Branford and served as an administrator in Branford before assuming a variety of leadership roles with the Connecticut State Department of Education. He was a member of Branford’s Education Hall of Fame.

Bob served as president of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) from 1985 to 1987 and was among the first US educators to visit China to assist in their development of education communications.

He was a founding member of Madison Interfaith Housing and a leader in the construction of Concord Meadows senior living and on their board for over thirty years. He Served on the Madison Board of Selectmen, and as a long-time member and chair of the Madison Board of Education. Bob served in many community leadership roles including President of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Deacon and Chair of the Prudential Committee at the First Congregational Church of Madison, president of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, member of the Madison Republican Town Committee. He was recognized for distinguished service by the Madison Jaycees, Madison Lions Club, and the Madison Chamber of Commerce which also named him an Honorary Life Member.

Bob was able to build or fix almost anything around the house and loved being involved in a project. He loved traveling and cruising and delighted in collecting creches from around the world.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the First Congregational Church, 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison CT. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meeting House Ln, Madison, CT 06443 https://www.fccmadison.org/ or Madison Emergency Medical Services, 9 Old Route 79, Madison, CT 06443 https://madisonctems.org/