Bobby S. Payne

Bobby Swanson Payne, 87, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, June 15th. Bobby was the husband of Denice G. Payne. Born in Louisa, Virginia, to the late Joseph L. Payne and Alta H. Payne. Bobby attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia, where he graduated valedictorian of his class and was ranked 10th nationally in Juniors’ Tennis. He attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill on a tennis scholarship. While attending the University, he was a member of the SAE fraternity and the Navy ROTC. After graduating, Bobby served in the Navy as an Ensign at Ft. Campbell Air Force Base in Kentucky. During his time in the service, he had the opportunity to play on the All Navy Tennis Team where he went on to win the All Navy Singles and Doubles Championship in Newport, Rhode Island. In the summer after his discharge from the Navy, before entering the University of Virginia Law School, he met Denny, his wife of nearly 63 years. He became the Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and passed the Virginia Bar Exam before his graduation.

Bobby and Denny moved back to Connecticut in 1961 where he joined the law firm of Pinney Hull, which eventually became the law firm of Pinney Payne. Bobby was recognized as one of the top real estate attorneys in the state for over 40 years. Bobby was a major contributor to the growth of the Danbury Area and a mentor to a generation of Danbury attorneys. He was a humble and soft-spoken southern gentleman who was respected by all who knew him.

Bobby was a tremendous athlete who started as a tennis player in Richmond. He played at Byrd Park under the coaching of Sam Woods. Bobby was a 9 time Virginia state champion, 3 time Richmond City Champion and was inducted in the Richmond Tennis Hall of Fame. Upon his arrival in Connecticut Bobby became a golfer and was a longtime member of Ridgewood CC. Bobby was proud of winning the CT Father Son Championship and the Westchester Father Son Championship as well as the Member-Member at Ridgewood in 1996. He was also a long time member of Fort Lauderdale Country Club where he was a perennial participant in the senior championships and won the Member Guest with his son Todd in 1997. He was always a great competitor.

Bobby served on several boards in the area, but was particularly proud of being a founding board member of the Connecticut Golf Foundation which initiated the First Tee of Connecticut.

Bobby will be sadly missed by his wife Denny, his daughter Megan Kilcourse and her husband David, his son Todd Payne and his wife Heather. Grandchildren Faith Mancuso, Amanda Payne and Erica Payne. He also leaves behind an extended family in Virginia. The family would also like to thank Peter Douglas Asiedu for his love and care of Bobby for the last 11 years. They were the best of friends.

In lieu of flowers the family would ask for a donation to the First Tee of CT, 55 Golf Club Road in Cromwell, CT 06416, www.firstteeconnecticut.org or St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 174 Whisconier Road in Brookfield, CT.

There will be no calling hours. Funeral services will take place at 11am on Friday, June 18th at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookfield, CT. A private family burial to follow.