Robert ( Bob) Bilafer

We regret to announce the passing of Robert (Bob) J. Bilafer, aged 86, who passed away peacefully on May 17th, 2023 in Berlin, CT. Bob was the 3rd of 4 children to Gracia and Matilda Bilafer in Arlington, MA born on May 14, 1937.  After serving his country in the US Air Force, he made his way to Connecticut where he met and married Patricia, they settled in Higganum and had three sons. He is survived by his wife Patricia W. Bilafer and his three sons; Keith (Vicki), Kurt (Michele) and Kyle (Shelley); grandchildren: Evan, Ashley, and Eric; Lauren and Nicholas; and Ava. His sister Mary (Tony) Day.  Bob is preceded in death by his sister, Helen and brother, Martin Bilafer.  Bob was a salesman for Manchester Tobacco & Candy.  He was also the owner of Middletown Tobacco & Candy Company.  Earlier in his career he worked in sales for F.D. Grave & Sons, was a Wethersfield Police Officer and worked at Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky.  He also held  positions on the Haddam-Killingworth Board of Education, was a Little League and soccer coach and a soccer referee. In the years since moving to Silver Ridge in Berlin he served on the board and several committees. In his free time, Bob enjoyed spending time with his family, watching western movies, fishing, cheering on the UCONN Lady Huskies and was a die-hard fan of the greatest baseball team in the land, the Boston Red Sox. Bob was always focused on what he could do for others, his family, friends and greater community.  If you needed something he was there, always.  He was a people person, he remembered the big and small details of everyone he met, he might forget your name but he would know everything about your life, including random facts like your cat’s name.

Bob will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but his legacy will live on through his family, friends, and colleagues.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Berlin Memorial Funeral Home at 96 Main Street Kensington, CT 06037 on Tuesday, May 30th from 10 AM - 12 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hartford HealthCare at Home - https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/502445 and Middlesex Health Oncology Group - https://middlesexhealth.org/donate/make-a-gift

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