Obituary: Robert J. Massey, Sr., 87, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Assistant Fire Chief Robert J. Massey, Sr., (RET), of Branford, died Wednesday June 9, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Jean Paproski Massey. Bob was born in Hardwick, Vermont on March 15, 1934, son of the late Jerry and Christina Anair Massey.

He proudly and honorably served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. Bob was a life-long communicant of St. Mary Church in Branford where he also served as an usher.Bob founded Massey’s Plate Glass & Aluminum, Inc. in 1973 by taking a risk leaving his job as a well-respected General Superintendent at New Haven Glass to start his own business. He had a young family at the time and the easy thing for him to do would have been to stay at New Haven Glass.

Bob never took the easy way which was a true testament to the person he was: fair, honest and generous. Massey’s Plate Glass & Aluminum, Inc. has grown over the years under the leadership of his son, Bob, Jr., and is recognized as one of the Top 10 Glazing Contractors in the country. It all started with a dream and a risk.

Bob was an accomplished athlete where he was a 3-sport letterman at Branford High School. He was also a catcher on a semi-pro softball team traveling around New England playing in the summer tournaments with his friends and teammates. Bob was proudly inducted into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame in November 1994.

When Bob wasn’t running the glass business, he was volunteering for the Branford Fire Department where he started as a volunteer fireman of Hook and Ladder Company #1 starting in 1952. He then rose through the ranks to become Lieutenant, Captain, and in 1970 he was a founding member and the first Captain of Rescue Squad 1. In 1976 he was promoted to Deputy Chief and then he was again promoted to Assistant Chief of Support Services in 1996, a commitment of dedicated service that he carried out for over 69 years. In honor of his service and dedication, the Branford Fire Department Training Pavilion was named in his honor.

During his tenure as a volunteer fireman, he battled some of the most significant fires that Branford has ever seen.

Bob was a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E Branford Elks, past RTM District 5 representative, past Chairman of the Branford Ambulance Commission, a member of American Legion Post 83, New Haven County Fire Chiefs Association, Branford Lions Club, Connecticut Fire Irregulars Association and a founding member and coach of the Branford Youth Football league.

In 1999 Bob was awarded the Town of Branford Citizen of the Year and Union Glaziers District Council 11 Man of the Year. Bob’s generosity also extended to the Branford community with his sponsorships of American Legion senior, junior and prep baseball teams, Branford Little League baseball and softball leagues.Bob was an avid fan of all sports, including UConn Men & Women’s basketball, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New York Giants. He was most fond of watching the Cape Cod Baseball league with his bride when he spent summers at his home in Cape Cod.

In addition to his beloved wife of 64 years, Jean, Bob is survived by his children, Julie Massey (David Fyfe) of Providence, RI, Laura Massey of Branford and Robert J. (Shelley) Massey, Jr. of Branford, and his grandchildren, Morgan, Taylor and Brandon Massey. He was predeceased by his brothers, Clayton, Oscar, Leonard, Lawrence, Raymond, Burton and Harold Massey, and his sisters, Elizabeth Donadio, Irene Morris, Dorothy Lepre and Iva Lucarelli.

Donations may be made in Chief Massey’s memory to: Branford Fire Department Training, 45 North Main Street, Branford, CT 06405.