Robert J. Kirby, 87, of Manchester, died July 17, 2015 at Catholic Medical Center surrounded by his family.
Born in Manchester on May 8, 1928, he was the son of John and Frances (Burke) Kirby. He attended Mount St. Mary, St. Joseph High School for Boys, Boston School of Floral Design and St. Anselm College before entering the U.S. Navy.
A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he served much of his time in French Morocco prior to returning to his beloved hometown. Bob felt there was no better place to live and raise a family than Manchester, so he dedicated his time and energy to both. In 1956, he married Margaret “Margie” McNamara in New York City and quickly returned to Manchester.
As a youth, Bob was the Manchester city tennis champion, flew Cessna planes and ran his own florist business. He served briefly on the Manchester Police Department before his professional career took shape at the New England Telephone Company, from which he retired as the Labor Relations Director for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and western Massachusetts. In retirement he was a hearings officer with the NH Labor Department and a member of the NH Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board.
Bob served on numerous boards and committees but was most proud to have been associated with and serve as Post Commander at Henry J. Sweeney Post 2, where he was an honor guard member for several years. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a gold card member of the Raphael Social Club, past chairman of the Manchester Parks and Recreation Commission, past chairman of the Manchester Zoning Board of Adjustment, a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, past chairman of the Democratic City Committee and a member of the Knights of Columbus Marion Council. He was also a founding parishioner at St. Catherine of Siena Parish where he ushered for over 40 years.
He was predeceased by his brother, John Kirby in 1978 and his oldest son, Robert Emmett Kirby in 1996. All will miss his warm smile, gentle touch, kindness and sage advice and ever present Irish wit and humor.
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Margie Kirby; their children, Theresa Kirby Sinotte and her husband, Daniel, Margaret “Peggy” Kirby and her husband, Arthur Casavant, James M. Kirby and Carolyn M. Kirby and her husband, James Stankiewicz; his daughter in law, Rosemary Kirby; his grandchildren, Ryan, Daniel, Joseph, Dillon and Garrett Sinotte, Thomas, Caroline and Timothy Casavant, Christine, Meaghan and Katie Kirby and Grace and Colleen Stankiewicz; a sister in law, Eleanor Kirby and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Webster St., Manchester. Committal prayers followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, 448 Donald St., Bedford.