Robert S. Corriveau, Sr. ’64
Robert S. Corriveau, Sr., Enfield, CT, died in Arcadia, CA, on May 2, 2024.
Born in Hartford, CT, he graduated from Windsor Locks (CT) High School. After Saint Michael’s, he completed a master’s in education at the University of Hartford.
Bob then taught middle school math and science in Windsor Locks. Later, he turned his interests to a successful career in real estate sales. He owned a real estate company in Enfield CT, Corriveau and Kissell Realty Inc, for many years.
Never a person to stop learning new things, Bob began taking courses in financial planning. He eventually completed the requirements for and earned designations as Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Certified Financial Planner. He was the New England regional financial sales manager for Nationwide Insurance for several years, until his retirement. He turned back to his first love, real estate, and was still working with commercial property clients until he died.
Bob was an engaged and deeply appreciated member of his community, sharing his gifts of financial expertise, humor, and friendship. He was active in area churches, mostly recently serving on the Vestry and Finance Committee of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. He enjoyed singing with groups, dating back to his college years in the Saint Michael’s Glee Club. Bob sang in the St. Andrew’s choir for the past several years.
Bob worked at Pauline’s Stockpot Kitchen in Warehouse Point for many years as a chef. He was very creative with the limited ingredients and the guests always appreciated his meals. He spent a week in Haiti, after the 2010 earthquake, building homes with a group of volunteers from his church. He also volunteered with Sue at the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Dental Clinics.
Bob held the positions of president, vice president and member of the Board of Directors for the Shaker Heights Homeowners Association, as well as president and member of the Board of Directors for the Lake Chafee Improvement Association.
He was both optimistic and persistent and a good listener when faced with seemingly insurmountable problems and found a way to resolve issues in creative ways in a calming way that spread happiness.
Bob retired early, leaving him time to be available and present for his children and grandchildren. He often was called upon for advice on many of life’s challenges — often for things as simple as fixing a toy or driving a child to school, and sometimes for more complicated things like financial advice. He was especially adept at offering encouragement and building self-confidence for his family.
In 2003, Bob and Sue bought a lake cottage in Ashford, CT, and he began restoring and redesigning it to become a beautiful retreat for family members and friends who enjoyed many parties and gatherings there. Bob was always a welcoming and generous host.
Bob was a talented and creative woodworker. He often built practical things for the home, including a beautiful wall-sized bookcase. As time went by, he made things for his grandchildren, such as a treasure chest, music box, and jewelry box out of interesting woods. In recent years he was given some wood from old structures and started designing and building practical but beautiful objects, from tables, benches, trays, and display cases. He could take something that was a mess—worn and scarred—and make it beautiful.
The mother of his children, Donna, and a grandson predeceased him. Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 35 years, Susan, six children, a brother and extended family.
