Robert E. Fairfield

Robert E. Fairfield, 84, of 65 Masonic Avenue, Apt. 216, Wallingford, formerly of Newtown, died October 24 at the Masonic Geriatric Healthcare Center. He leaves his wife, Ann (Pinkerton) Fairfield.

He also leaves four daughters and their families, Marilyn and Gene Rosen of Sandy Hook, and their son, J.R. Morrison and his wife, Sharon; Susan and Kenneth Risse and their children, Michael and Michelle, of Fairbanks, Alas.; Judy and Dale Dunning and their children, Rebecca and Robert, of McKinney, Tex; and Liza and Lenny Paglialunga and their daughter, Megan, of New Canaan. He also leaves his wife’s children and their families, Kathy Szczepanik of Exeter, N.H. and her children, Danielle, Gabe, Stephanie, and Jessalyn, and Jessalyn’s son, Tyler; Peter and June Webster and their children, Emily, Ben, and Andrew of Cheshire; and Lloyd and Debbie Webster of Camas, Wash., and their daughter, Kristie, and her husband, Kevin, and two children, Ryan and Vanessa.

Mr Fairfield was born May 22, 1916 in Springfield, Mass., son of the late Walter Noble and Ruby Ethel (Stagg) Fairfield. He graduated from Burdett Business College, Boston. He was a gold leaf salesman for most of his life, something he dearly loved. Mr Fairfield has lived in Wallingford for the past two years. Prior to that, he made Killingworth and Plainville his home. He raised his daughters with his first wife, Margaurette (Sutter) Fairfield, in Newtown. His beautiful tenor voice blessed the First Congregational Church choirs of Newtown, Plainville, and Killingworth for over 40 years.

He became a Mason in the Rising Star Lodge in Stoughton, Mass., and later became affiliated with the Madison Lodge in Madison. He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Hartford in 1972 and also joined the Sphinx Temple Shrine in Newington. He was conferred with the Arthur M. Brown Meritorious Service Award in 1977. In 1994, he became a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. Mr Fairfield was very active in the Sphinx Temple Chanters and the Scottish Rite Choir.

Mr Fairfield’s gracious and untiring service to his community included Meals on Wheels, tutoring students, Rotary Club, hospital volunteer work at New Britain Hospital, and aiding residents at the Johnson Apartments in Wallingford.

Mr Fairfield was a US Army Air Corps captain during WWII.

A memorial service was held October 31 at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire. Burial was at the Masonic Home Cemetery, Wallingford.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104.

The Newtown Bee        November 3, 2000