To view the program created for Robert's Funeral Mass, please click the link to the service program below. Please find a tribute from Robert's daughter's following the obituary.

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robert "Bob" J. Crean, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and esteemed member of the legal community, who left this world on July 10, 2024. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut on April 25, 1940, to the late Martin J. and Concetta Christiano Crean, Bob grew up surrounded by love and faith, attending St. Thomas Grammar School and Crosby High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Fairfield University and his juris doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. His dedication to his profession led him to become a respected partner in the law firm of Weisman and Weisman, and then Hertzmark and Crean, proudly serving his clients for five decades with integrity and compassion. Bob's commitment to service extended beyond the courtroom, as he generously gave his time to various organizations, including the Salvation Army, Easter Seals, and the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra. His involvement with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Waterbury for over 40 years exemplified his dedication to supporting local communities through initiatives such as overseeing scholarship programs, showcasing his altruistic nature and unwavering kindness. A family man at his core, Bob shared his life with his beloved wife of 59 years, Paula, and their two daughters, Mary and Melanie, who brought immeasurable joy and fulfillment to his life. After keeping their home in Watertown for 43 years, Bob and Paula moved to the Watermark at East Hill in Southbury, quickly making lasting friendships and an impact on the community. Besides his wife and daughters, Bob leaves behind his sons in law Steven Holm-Hansen and Jordan Parnass, his brother James Crean and wife Mary Anita, his nephew Sean Crean and wife Gail, as well as several cousins and lifelong friends. His presence will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Christian and Colin Holm-Hansen and Micah and Shiloh Parnass, whom he adored and cherished beyond measure. Bob's passions for sports and leisure activities, whether cheering for his beloved Fairfield Stags, New York Yankees and Giants, or engaging in friendly poker matches, trivia matches, and bowling leagues, brought him immense joy and camaraderie with friends and colleagues. A man of profound faith, wisdom, and gentle spirit, Bob's legacy of kindness, humility, and generosity will forever resonate in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. As we mourn his loss, we find solace in the memories and lessons he imparted during his time on earth. Family and friends may greet Bob's family at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, on Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 11:00 am until 12:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob's memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, give.michaeljfox.org, a cause close to his heart, symbolizing his enduring legacy of hope and perseverance. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace as we cherish the memories and legacy he leaves behind. To leave a message of support, please visit munsonloveterefuneralhome.com

Our Dad

A tribute to Robert Joseph Crean

Mary and Melanie Crean

July 2024

Robert Joseph Crean was known by many different names – Bobby, Curly Crean the Coolest Cat in Crosby, Mr. Crean, Attorney Crean, Bob, Uncle Bob, Papa, Grandpa Bob, Daddy, and of course, Dad. He was many things to many people but to Melanie and me, he was oh so many things. To know the essence of our Dad, we need to start with his upbringing in the North End of Waterbury with our grandparents, or as we called them, Gram and Jake. Concetta/Coo/Connie Christiano Crean and Martin Crean raised two sons, similar to Melanie and me. But different from Melanie and me, they often didn't have two nickels to rub together. But they had each other. Marty asked his grandkids to call him Jake so the female lifeguards on the beaches of Cape Cod wouldn't guess he was our grandfather. So, Jake the Rake, as Dad called him, was born. He was a man of few words but he coined the perfect term to describe the familial love they shared, "This is Us". Gram had more one liners, stories, and words of wisdom than I can remember. But she raised her family with the core values of tradition, respect, and love. Dad and Uncle Jim made many lifelong friends in Waterbury through their stick ball and kick the can street games, among others. Gram was so incredibly proud of her boys and even though "Bob walked around the puddles and Jimmy walked through them;" "Jimmy knows the Magnificat", she proudly boasted to friends and family. From the stories we have been told, Dad had a busy childhood. He spent time playing baseball and basketball, attended to his studies, faithfully went to church every Sunday and was an altar boy, and apparently, developed his penchant for photography at a young age. One of his classmates mentioned that he was the first person in their high school to have a camera and was able to document their Graduation. Melanie inherited his love and proficiency for photographs and later, videography. Dad graduated from Crosby High School and attended Fairfield University to study political science. He cherished the Jesuit scholars who taught him and made many lasting friendships. He was a loyal alumnus and I have fond memories of traveling to Alumni Hall with him as a little girl to watch the Men's basketball team. Dad often hinted to Melanie and me that he would love to have one of us attend a Jesuit University, like Fairfield. While neither of us did, I ended up marrying a boy from Fairfield, so Dad was able to see the campus often well after he graduated. Following his graduation from Fairfield, Dad attended the University of CT School of Law. Gram couldn't be prouder – "Oh where we reached" she would often say. Dad has an epic bar exam story too, apparently severing his right finger the night before and then stayed up all night learning to write with his left hand. I am sure that telegram from Grandpa Joe during their honeymoon letting

Dad know he had passed the bar exam came at a great relief to Mom and Dad. Gram was right, "we have come a long way from Hill Street and Bishop School". Mom and Dad met through a mutual friend, Pat Perillo, when Dad accompanied him to Mom's house to return some party lights. Rumor has it that Dad was a bit shy at first and wasn't interested in any "dangling alliances", but almost 59 years later, everything seemed to work out. Our parents' marriage was the model of mutual respect, friendship, and love. Dad went back to his Waterbury roots to start his successful law career. Gram couldn't be prouder. One of her catch all phrases was, "No one uses the front door except for doctors and lawyers". If you knew Gram, you knew she wasn't very trusting of doctors and didn't know any other lawyers, so there was really only one person that was allowed to come in through the front door. There are so many stories and anecdotes I could tell from our childhood, but some of the fondest memories come from our summers on Cape Cod. Gram and Jake loved the Cape and my parents honeymooned there, later sharing a home there with the Hertzmarks. From ice cream trucks to Thompson's clam bar, to the "mystery rides" that usually ended at a Christmas Tree Shop, to Corporation and Sea Street beaches the Cape holds a special place in our hearts. While Dad loved to plan vacations, he had a hard time keeping up with the travel itineraries of Mom and Grandpa Joe, making them the co-Presidents of the Crooked Egg Club because they loved to run around like a chicken with a crooked egg! He also nominated himself as President of the converse, the Stump Club. Dad had many passions including gardening. Working in the earth was cathartic for him. He loved his flowers, especially the Daffy Down Dillies, as he called them, and his prolific vegetable gardens with zucchinis the size of baseball bats, kept us well fed throughout the warm months. He loved giving us rides in the wagon behind the lawnmower and spent many hours trying to outsmart the local woodchucks. Melanie, Mom, and I still chuckle about the time he couldn't find a favorite garden tool, spawning the prolific speech, "A Man has a Trowel". Other passions included Tuesday night poker games with the card club as well as his beloved bowling league. Dad loved history; all kinds – American, European, Art history and had an extensive book collection. He loved many different genres of music from opera to classical to pop. His musical tastes have greatly influenced mine with our shared love of Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, and Billy Joel, among others.

Dad loved entertainment from TV to movies to Broadway plays and shows. He always had the latest sound systems and the largest TV's. His collection of VHS recordings is hard to beat. Melanie recounts a fond memory that when she went to Nepal, Dad recorded 5 seasons of Seinfeld and cut out the commercials so she could binge watch them when she returned. Dad was patriotic. He loved blasting Sousa marches on a Saturday morning to get us out of bed when we came home from college. He loved barbequing while wearing his SAC apron. He loved 4th of July parades and marching around the bandstand at the Cape with his kids and grandkids. He taught us about love and patriotism and also taught us that hate is anything but patriotic. While Melanie shared her passion for the arts with Dad, I bonded with him in other ways. He gave me my first job as an errand girl in his office and I cherished the time I was able to spend with him driving to and from the office. But as most people know, Gram instilled a love of baseball in Dad, specifically a love for the Yankees, and he and I spent many hours watching them on TV or at the stadium, listening to them on the radio (as we did for Dave Righetti's 1983 4th of July no-hitter). My favorite memory happened on October 2, 1978, the day of the famous one game playoff at Fenway Park to decide the AL East. The game started midafternoon and I was glued to the TV set alone. But then I heard our garage door open – I knew it was Dad coming home early from work to watch the game with me. I still remember Dad's victory dance around the couch when Bucky Dent hit the infamous HR. It is only fitting that the last conversation I had with Dad was about the Yankees. Melanie and I have spent the last few days pouring over old photos and reminiscing about old times. We have never laughed or cried harder. From the groovy fashion of the 60's to the dreadful polyester and hairstyles of the 70's; from all of the special events that Dad captured on his film or on video (including his famous passing the microphone interviews); from all of the special places that he took us to all of the amazing things he taught us, the wisdom of this wise, wise man will live on in us and in our kids, Dad's beloved grandsons. July 6, 2024 was a strange day. Mom took a bad fall and Dad was ever so worried about her. I couldn't watch the Yankee game that day but when Mom and I returned to their apartment in the early evening, Dad was able to recount everything that happened in the game, including the fact that it was the first time a Yankee rookie had ever hit three HR in a game. Then he turned to me and said, "There is hope, Mary". I believe he wasn't referring to the game at that point and I will always remember that last conversation.

Thank-you, Dad, for being our first love; our first teacher; our first confidant; our first guardian. our first superhero. Thank you for teaching us about love and family, just like your parents taught you. Thank you for setting the bar so high for husbands, Dads, and Grandpas everywhere. You will be forever missed and forever loved.

Xxoo Mary and Melanie