Robert C. Florin Jr.

Bob was a one-of-a-kind man, passionate about the people and pastimes he loved, mechanically gifted, generous with his time and a lifelong learner and teacher. As a young man, he enjoyed fishing, skiing, camping and attending concerts. During their 33-year marriage, he enjoyed walking through the woods with his wife Karen (Webber) Florin and their dogs Jericho and Jett, traveling and spending time with family. He was an avid news consumer, expert target shooter and a master crossword puzzle and Sudoku solver.

He was born in Yonkers, NY on Jan. 11, 1961 to Robert C. Florin Sr. and Kathleen H. “Dolly” Florin, who predeceased him. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School in Yonkers. The Florins moved to Chester in 1971 and later settled in Old Lyme.

Robert graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown in 1979. After attending Middlesex Community College, he returned to New York, where he became a journeyman electrician with IBEW Local 501, retiring in 2021 as a master electrician.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three sisters, having been a loving big brother to Kathleen Emerson, Mary Elizabeth Florin, Patricia Florin and her partner Kenneth Emerson of Old Lyme. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law Dean Emerson.

The four Florin siblings grew up in a tightknit group of eight with their cousins, Anne Marie (Horrigan) Menton of Yonkers, Eileen (Horrigan) Drescher of Duanesburg, NY and the late John Horrigan and Barbara (Horrigan) Thiemann, both of Yonkers.

Robert was a loving son-in-law to Mary Webber of Merritt Island, Fla., and was close with his brother-in-law John Webber and his wife, Marcie Webber of Glastonbury, and his sister-in-law Melanie Webber of Merritt Island.

Many people called him “Uncle Bob,” but he was dearest to those who held the official title of niece or nephew, including Cristine Emerson and Joshua D’Lizarraga of Old Lyme, Katherine Machol of East Lyme, Candice Webber and Jenna Webber, both of Middletown, Cara Webber of Waterford, John Webber Jr. of Garner, NC and Oliver Gates of Merritt Island.

He will be sadly missed by his relatives in the Roche, Horrigan, Brown, Florin and Crimmins families and the hundreds of friends he had gathered from near and far.

Bob was a proud, longtime member of the Niantic Sportsmen’s Club, the Raven’s social club and the American Legion.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Lane in Old Lyme. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, followed by internment in the Duck River Cemetery.