Arthur Kenneth Rivard Sr.

Arthur K. Rivard Sr. 80, lifetime resident of East Hartford, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on April 21, 2016. He was the beloved husband for 61 years of Patricia Ann Seiler since April 27, 1957. He was born on March 24, 1936 in Hartford, a son of the late Rene and Marie Rose (St. Laurent) Rivard.

He attended and graduated from East Hartford High School. He was employed as a licensed Optician at Rivard Opticians in Hartford for 58 years.

Art Sr. was an assistant coach of East Hartford Elks Midget football A&B teams along with his two sons Art Jr. & Mark. Art Sr. enjoyed watching his sons play football, while his 3rd son Gerald played on East Hartford Mustangs Midget Football. Art Sr.’s beautiful daughter Denise offered her support as an Elk’s cheerleader. He was very involved in Boy Scouts as a Weblo Leader for many years. Art loved to travel the road with his wife Patricia, to Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, and to see all of their children & grandchildren.

If you did not know Art Sr., you surly wish you had.

He had a love for yardwork, and talking to everyone he walked by. He always found the positive in everyone he met & knew. Art Sr. enjoyed watching the Yankees, the Patriots and the UConn Women’s Basketball teams. He enjoyed bowling in leagues on Monday in Newington and Friday’s in Vernon. He was active in his church and community.

The family would like to thank the team from Hartford Healthcare at Home, especially Felicia, Mark, Eve, Linda Kronkite, Rachel from the infusion chemo center, Sharon Campbell from CNA, Dr. Steven Schichman and Dr. Mohanakrishnan Menon and the many other medical professionals for their loving & caring compassion and support throughout Art’s illness.

In addition to his wife Patricia, Art Sr. is survived by his sons Dr. Arthur K. Rivard Jr. and his wife Dr. Cheri of Danville, KY, Mark L. Rivard and his wife Louise of Ashford, and Gerald T. Rivard of East Hartford, daughter Denise R. Benavides and her husband Larry of Wauchula, FL, sister Veronica Anne DeGray and her husband Clyde Sr. of Norwich. He will also be dearly missed by his cherished 9 grandchildren; Tyler, Samantha, Amanda, Jackie, Rachel, Jason, Jessica, Jarrett, Jacob, 6 great grandchildren; Ethan, Avery, Corbin, Piper, Conner, Logan, several nieces and nephews, dear friends Jeanne Beltrandi (who was their maid-of-honor), Stanley Mowel and his wife Rose (who was their best man), and Gloria Fletcher (Patricia’s life-long friend).

He is predeceased by his siblings; Rene, Louise, Antina, Edmund (Chi), Yvonne, Charles and Alphee, and his lifetime friend Rich LeFebvre.

Funeral Services will begin on Friday, April 29, at 8:30am at the Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108 with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10am in St. Isaac Jogues Church, 1 Community St., East Hartford. Burial will follow immediately in Rose Hill Cemetery, Rocky Hill. Calling hours will be held Thursday, April 28, from 5-8pm at the funeral home. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.newkirkandwhitney.com.