Roderick J. Cyr, 77, of East Hartford, entered into eternal rest with his family by his side Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Hartford Hospital. Born in Fort Kent, ME on December 11, 1932, he was the ninth child of the late John and Edna (Daigle) Cyr. Rod was predeceased by his wife and companion of fifty years, Linda (Kleinsmith) Cyr, his brothers, Roland, Jean Paul, and Lawrence, his sisters, Fern, Rita, Dora and Flora. Rod is survived by his two sons; Douglas J. Cyr and his wife, Sharon, of Cheshire, John D. Cyr of East Hartford; four daughters, Debbie Pattison and her husband, Stuart, of Trumbull, Diane J. Federico and her husband, Ralph, of East Hartford, Donna J. Szestakow of Wethersfield, Dorothy J. Vittner of Wethersfield; and fourteen adored grandchildren, Shayna, David, Phillip, Matthew, Danielle, Joseph, Anthony, Jenna, Alex, Chelsea, Patrick, Christine, Dylan, and Brendan; his brother, Renaud and his wife Pauline of Livermore Falls, ME. and his sister, Delores Levesque of Saco, ME.
Rod was a devout Catholic, who was proud of his six children. He cherished his fourteen grandchildren, never missing an event or activity.
Rod graduated from Thornton Academy in Saco, ME and was active in athletics serving as Class President for three years. He captained the football and baseball teams his senior year and also played basketball for four years. Having matriculated to the University of Maine, Rod played varsity football for three years, while on the dean’s list. After which, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as a center, however he chose a career in education. Early in his career he coached Prep-school football and high school basketball, while teaching chemistry and physics at Maine Central Institute. Rod received his Master’s Degree in Guidance from Boston University and established the Guidance program at Biddeford H.S. in Biddeford ME. In 1961, Rod came to Wethersfield High School where he taught biology and chemistry and coached football under the late Joe Cottone and began coaching the golf team. In 1968 he was Chairman of the Connecticut Science Fair and accompanied the Connecticut contestants to the International Science Fair in Detroit, MI. In 1969 he transferred to the Guidance Department at Wethersfield High School and was a counselor until his retirement in 1992.
Golf was an important part of Rod’s coaching career and in 1986 he was selected as Connecticut Golf Coach of the year by Connecticut High School Coaches Association and in 1990 he received the National Golf Coach of the year from the National High School Coaches Association. In 1997 his golf team established the National Record for coaching victories with 648 wins. In addition to coaching the golf team Rod taught golf to adults and beginners for thirty years for the Wethersfield Parks and Recreation Department. In 2001 Rod was selected as one of the first inductees to the Wethersfield H.S. Athletics Hall of Fame. This year Rod was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wethersfield Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame. Rod was also active as Financial Secretary for the Knights of Columbus, John A. Fleming Council 2533 in Glastonbury and was the Director of C.C.D. for Our Lady of Peace Parish in East Hartford for twelve years. Upon his retirement Rod remained involved with Wethersfield athletics and high school activities.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 10:00am from the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am in Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Interment will be in Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may call at the Funeral Home on Friday, October 15, from 3 to7pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Wethersfield High School Athletics, Roderick J. Cyr Scholarship Fund, c/o Wethersfield High School Athletic Dept. 411 Wolcott Hill Rd, Wethersfield, CT. 06109.
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