Month: April 2025 (Page 1 of 2)

Kevin John Slane Sr., beloved husband, father, papa, and friend, passed away peacefully
on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Born in Hartford on March 23, 1943, Kevin’s life was marked
by warmth, curiosity, and a genuine love for people.

A proud alumnus of St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, Kevin cherished his
college years and remained deeply connected to his alma mater throughout his life. He
served on the St. Michael’s College Alumni Board of Directors, dedicated to fostering
alumni engagement and supporting the college’s mission. In 2020, he was honored as
Alumnus of the Year for the Class of 1965. Kevin was also an enthusiastic member of
the local St. Michael’s alumni group, the “Lunch Bunch,” and enjoyed participating in its
monthly luncheons. This June, Kevin would have celebrated his 60th college reunion, a
milestone he looked forward to with pride.

Kevin’s professional career spanned over 30 years in the medical device industry, where
he earned a reputation for integrity, leadership, and a strong commitment to supporting
others. He served as a district manager for Coopervision Cilco in the Eastern Zone and
was recognized as an outstanding talent, receiving the prestigious S.T.A.R. Club award
for his exceptional performance and dedication.

His passions were as diverse as they were heartfelt. Kevin was an avid college
basketball fan who never missed a March Madness game and a true foodie long before
the term became popular—always on the hunt for hidden restaurant gems to share with
friends and family. The beaches of Cape Cod and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina,
were his sanctuaries, where he found joy and tranquility.

A people person through and through, Kevin delighted in learning about others’ stories
and making friends wherever he went. His kind heart and generous spirit were evident in
every interaction. As a cancer survivor, Kevin gave back to his community as a team
member of Plainville’s Relay for Life, Team Dragon. He also enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends from The Connecticut Old Guard. In 2024, he received the Old Guard Distinguished Service Award, a testament to his dedication to service and community.

Above all, Kevin’s greatest pride and joy was his family. For 56 years, he was the loving
husband of Maureen Elizabeth Slane (née Sennett), his “bride,” and together they built a
life filled with laughter, support, and unwavering love. He never missed a sporting event,
concert, recital, or milestone in the lives of his children and grandchildren, always
cheering the loudest and beaming with pride.

Kevin was predeceased by his parents, Mary Jane Boylan Slane and James A. Slane,
and his twin brother, John Paul Slane. He leaves behind his cherished wife, Maureen; his
daughter, Kathleen Slane McDaniel; his son, Kevin John Slane Jr., and daughter-in-law,
Ashley Slane; and his beloved grandchildren: Sean Patrick McDaniel, Clare Elizabeth
McDaniel, Fiona Josephine Slane, and Niall Frederick Slane. Though from a small family,
Kevin was embraced by the Sennett family, who became his beloved brothers and
sisters: Joseph Sennett (Laurel), Thomas Sennett (Beth Ann), Jean Sennett, and Joan
Sennett (Robert Compagna), as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the friends and relatives who visited Kevin in
his final days and to the compassionate nurses, doctors, and support staff at UCONN
Medical Center who cared for him.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Street,
West Hartford, CT, on Thursday, May 1, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Fairview
Cemetery, West Hartford, CT. Calling hours will be held at Molloy Funeral Home, 906
Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT, on Wednesday, April 30, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kevin’s memory may be made to the St. Michael’s College
(Vermont) Memorial Gift Fund or The Michael J. Fox Foundation—causes that were
close to his heart.Kevin’s legacy of kindness, curiosity, and devotion to family and friends will live on in all who were fortunate to know him.

Robert L. Hill of Avon and a long time resident of West Hartford was born in Bellaire, Ohio in 1931. He attended West Liberty State College, where he was a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society and the Ohio State University Law School where he received his Juris Doctor degree. He was Class President and Associate Editor of the  Ohio State Law Journal.

After graduation, he entered the military Service, serving in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years. He returned from Germany on furlough to marry Barbara Voorhees and they spent the next year traveling Europe on a Private’s pay. The year also involved troop transports, alerts, field exercises and Bob representing many enlisted men in court martials. After his active duty, he remained in the Army Reserve as a JAG officer for an additional 29 years and retired at the rank of full Colonel. He acted for the Army JAG in several NATO Exercises  and represented the Army. His final assignments were as commander of the 1075th Reserve Training unit and as a Mobilization Designee with the Army Chief of Legislative Liaison in the Pentagon . He represented the Army at Congressional hearings on Nisei reparations and the Freedom of Information Act. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College and the National Defense University National Security Management Course. His medals and awards included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He served for three years as Ambassador in Connecticut for the Chief Army Reserves with a protocol rank of Major General. Bob founded and moderated for many years a popular National Defense and Foreign Policy Forum.  For the past few years, he  worked with the World Affairs Center to expand and staff the Forum and it has become renown in the military and foreign policy area.

Bob’s legal career began with the Legal Department of the Nationwide Insurance Companies in Columbus, Ohio and concluded as counsel for Aetna Life & Casualty Company in Hartford, CT. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and to the bar in Connecticut, Missouri and Ohio. Although his legal background was corporate and securities law, his major impact on his profession was in the pro bono and mediation areas. He organized the Corporate Lawyers Legal Aid for the Elderly Program, which assisted several thousand elderly clients with their legal problems and which served as a model for pro bono programs across the country. In recognition of his work in this area he received the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, the Connecticut Bar Association Charles W. Parker Award, and the American Corporate Counsel Award for Pro Bono Service. In the mediation area, Bob served as Executive Director of the International Association of Defense Council Pre-Suit Mediation Program and the National Law Firm Mediation Network, which encouraged a large number of law firms and insurance companies to adopt mediation as a settlement method, avoiding costly litigation. Bob served as chair of both the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee and the Public Service Committee of the ABA Torts and Insurance Practice Section. He also initiated the Hartford Area Mediation Program which provided neighborhood dispute resolution services services to hundreds of families in the Hartford area.

Bob is a member of the Hartford Golf Club, the Old Guard (President), the , the Reserve Officers Association (State President), the Military Officers Association (President, Charter Oak Chapter), the Army Retiree Council, the Ancient Burying Ground (President),  the AARP (Interim State President), Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Army War College Alumni Association, the Ohio State Alumni Association and the Bellaire High School Alumni Association (named Outstanding Alumnus). As a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Bob served on a number of Committees , planned the Veteran’s Day service for many years and acted as Head Usher for some ten years. He was president of the Columbus and Hartford Chapters of the Federal Bar Association.

Bob participated for many years in tennis, squash, platform tennis, and basketball. The United States Squash Association ranked him third in the Nation in his age classification in 2012. He loved history and founded a Historical Book Club. He enjoyed traveling with Barbara to widespread destinations including Singapore, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Florence, Venice, Mexico, Barcelona, Bermuda, Jamaica, London, Paris, Vienna, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Monte Carlo and St. Petersburgh.