Robert F Muttart

He was born in Norwich, CT on May 11, 1940, to the late Harold and Edith (Pierce) Muttart and spent a carefree childhood in the small village of Preston City. He graduated from NFA in the class of 1948 and enrolled in Trinity College where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962, majoring in Languages and New Testament history. He next attended Union Theological Seminary where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Mass Media and Propaganda, receiving a total of three Masters Degrees.

After serving as an Assistant Pastor at the Bedford-Parke Presbyterian Church in New York City, he became the Manger of Community Services for WNET/Channel 13 in NYC from 1969 to 1980. During those years he also served as an adjunct professor, teaching courses at Columbia University, City University of New York, William Patterson College, Montclair State College, and Union Theological Seminary. From 1980 until 1985, he taught languages at the Northfield-Mount Hermon Schools in Northfield, Massachusetts before beginning a twenty year career as the Director of the Media Center at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. He retired from Wheaton College in 2005 and returned to the Norwich area.

For many years, Robert enjoyed taking windjammer cruises off the coast of Maine and continued his interest in sailing ships when he spent several summers in retirement as a volunteer tour guide at the Mystic Seaport where he often enjoyed playing the role of a pirate. Being designated the “Volunteer of the Week” in 2008 was the highlight of his volunteer service at the Seaport. He also had an interest in visiting old lighthouses as a result of his great-grandmother being one of this nation’s first women lighthouse keepers at Mark Island Light in Maine.

Robert was also an avid genealogist and frequently visited the Mormon Center in New York to trace his roots. During several summer vacations he visited Prince Edward Island; the home of at least four earlier generations of his family, including his grandfather, who came to Connecticut in 1922 to become the Pastor of the Preston City Congregational Church.

He is survived by his son, Andrew Pierce Muttart, and a grandson, Christian Muttart, of Glen Allen, Virginia; his brother, William P. Muttart, and his wife, Jeanne Muttart, of Uncasville, CT; and his sister, Betty Doyle, and her husband, William Doyle, of Bayside, Long Island. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 28th, beginning at 10am at the Preston City Congregational Church at 321 Route 164 in Preston, CT with burial immediately following at the Preston City Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Preston City Congregational Church.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.labenskifuneralhome.com.