Robert J. Haggerty

Robert Joseph Haggerty, 82, of Windham Center, husband of the late Shirley Ada (Dunstan) Haggerty, died Friday, December 25, 2009 at Windham Community Memorial Hospital. Bob was born in Willimantic, Connecticut on July 6, 1927, son of the late Dennis F. Haggerty and Germaine (Vandenhole) Haggerty. He graduated from Windham High School in 1944, after which he served in the US Navy during WW II. Upon his return he attended UCONN under the GI bill where he obtained a B.S. in Marketing. During the 1950's he opened an insurance office on Main Street, Willimantic, in the same building that he was to later own and open a clothing store, "Barbara Jeans" with his wife, Shirley. In 1959 he returned to school and obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1963 from the University of Connecticut School of Law. During this period he also served as a Deputy Sheriff for the County of Windham. Upon graduation he was engaged in the practice of law in Willimantic. He served as Town Counsel for the Towns of Columbia and Ashford. He was appointed by the Governor as a Hearing Officer for the State of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. He was also a Justice of the Peace and performed many weddings during his tenure. Robert was a lifetime member of The American Legion and Windham Center Fire Department. He was a former member of the Windham Democratic Town Committee and Rotary International, as well as having served on the board of the Windham Community Concert Band. He also enjoyed sponsoring several students to the American Legion's Boys' State program. For many years he was the chairman of the Willimantic Rotary Club International Exchange Program and served as host to numerous exchange students over the years. He was predeceased in October of this year by his wife, Shirley Ada (Dunstan) Haggerty; with whom he celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in August. He is survived by his daughter Susan C. Haggerty and her husband John Bucko of Burlington Flats, NY, his daughter Barbara J. Khan and her husband Dr. Babar Khan of Vernon, CT, and his son, CDR Michael D. Haggerty, USN, of Appomattox, Va.. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Kevin Mercik and his wife Ariel Lambe Mercik, Keith Mercik, Vaughn Smith, Alexa Smith, Zakariya Khan, Catherine Haggerty and Sean Haggerty, and two great-grandchildren, Tolan Mercik and Carissa Mercik. He also leaves a sister, Marion (Haggerty) Skewes of Mansfield and numerous neices and nephews, including Debbie (Dunstan) Dingler and Joni Dunstan, both of whom provided great care and support to their uncle. He was predeceased by a sister Martha (Haggerty) Dunstan. Funeral arrangements are private with no calling hours. Arrangements are being made through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic, CT.. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com . Those who wish, may send memorial contributions in Robert's name to the Windham Center Fire Department, PO Box 265, Windham, Connecticut 06280.