Robert J. Sheehan

Robert John Sheehan of Greenwich, CT and Eastham, Cape Cod, MA, formerly of Morris Township and Scotch Plains, NJ, died peacefully with family by his side in Greenwich on March 10, 2022. Born in Elizabeth, NJ in 1924, he was the son of the late Elizabeth Wacker Sheehan and Frank E. Sheehan. He was 97. Bob was married to Dorothy O’Donnell Sheehan from 1949 until her passing in 2001.

At age 18, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Europe during WW II. He landed at Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day and participated in the Battle of St. Lo and the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the Greatest Generation and was a proud veteran. One of his great joys was participating in Veteran’s Day Programs at his granddaughters’ school. Thanks to the G.I. Bill he received his BA from Rutgers University. He later earned an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He retired from the Mennen Co. where he was the corporate systems manager for over 30 years. Previously, he worked for Reitman Industries in Newark, NJ. He was the navigator of a schooner when he and friends island hopped in the Caribbean.

Bob and Dot enjoyed traveling to Florida, Sun City AZ, Hawaii, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Thailand. They took their family on many camping trips in the Northeast, including Canada to see the Montreal World’s Fair. They built their retirement house on Cape Cod where they enjoyed entertaining family, friends, and neighbors.

Bob was a founding member of Springwood Swim Club in Colonia NJ and Willow Grove Swim Club in Scotch Plains, NJ. He was president of Star Dust Swim Club in Morristown, NJ. In retirement, he was a founder and president of the Herring Rise Civic Assoc. in Eastham.

Bob was dedicated to his family, church and country. He served on the financial committee of St. Joan of Arc Church in Eastham, taught religion classes in NJ, and volunteered for church projects. He was chair of the Eastham Town Personnel Committee and on the Morris Township Zoning Board. He was a parent volunteer at his children’s schools, especially Bayley Ellard High School in NJ.

Following Dot’s passing, Bob married Eleanor Higley Sheehan and they lived between Cape Cod and Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls, NJ.

He leaves to share his loving memory, daughters, Kathleen Sheehan Imholt (Robert) of North Haven CT, Maureen Sheehan of Greenwich, CT, and Colleen Sheehan Alfano ( David) of Greenwich CT, whom Bob lived with in recent years; and son-in-law Daniel Snyder ( Debbie). He leaves surviving grandchildren Katherine Imholt (F. Jack Gribble ), Christina Imholt ( Christopher Burley), Margaret Oates ( Daniel), Erin Snyder Raymond (Nicholas), Daniel Snyder, Emma Schuren, Grace “Franky” Alfano and Angie Alfano. Great grandchildren include Jacob and Josephine, and a new great grandchild soon to be born. His surviving siblings include Joan Sheehan Kotarsky Miller and Betty Sheehan Therezo, both of Colonia, NJ. Also, surviving him is his brother-in law Neil O'Donnell (Gail) of Brick, NJ.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Sheehan O’Donnell; his daughter, Eileen Sheehan Snyder; and a brother Edward Sheehan. Also predeceased by his second wife, Eleanor Higley Sheehan. Predeceased by brothers-in-law Andrew Kotarsy, Armand Therezo and Thomas Miller and sisters-in-law Mary Jane Sheehan, Anita Sheehan and Joan O'Donnell. He will be missed by many other friends, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Church , 4 Riverside Ave, Riverside, Greenwich, CT, Saturday, Mar 26 , wake at 9:00 am, funeral mass at 10:00 am. Burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Monday, March 28, 2:00. No flowers please.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Wounded Warriors, P.O.Box 758516, Topeka KS 66675.

A Memorial Service will be held on Cape Cod in the future.