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Robert S. Zirlis, Sr., 75, of East Haven passed away peacefully on Sept. 11 at Yale-New Haven Hospital with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of 52 years to Barbara Lucibella Zirlis. Bob was born in New Haven on Dec. 16, 1944, the son of the late Joseph V. and Bertha Prusinski Zirlis.

He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School, West Haven, where he played football; he and his entire football team were inducted to the Notre Dame Sports Hall of Fame. Bob was a graduate of the Paier College of Art and was self-employed as owner of Designs Unlimited. Previously he was the head of the art department for the Olin Corporation. Always a sports enthusiast, Bob enjoyed coaching youth football, basketball, and softball. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, and bowling but most loved spending time with family.

He was the father of Kim Colapietro (Sal), Robert S. Zirlis, Jr., (Gina), and Krista Biehl. He was the grandfather of Pasquale (P.J.), Sophia, and Giovanni Colapietro, Robert J., Ava, and Alana Zirlis, and Michael and Matthew Biehl. He was the brother of Joseph V. Zirlis, Jr., (Jane).

The visiting hours were Sept. 16 at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave. His funeral procession left the funeral home on Sept. 17 to St. Michael’s Church, New Haven for a Mass of Christian burial. Interment followed in All Saints Cemetery. For an online obituary, visit www.northhavenfuneral.com.