Robert “Bob” Antoniac Sr., of Old Saybrook and Arcadia, Florida, passed away on April 12 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Bob was born April 4, 1938, in New Britain, the son of the late Susan (Fallis) and George Antoniac Sr.

He graduated from New London High School in 1956. Bob served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed at West Point, where he worked directly under General Westmoreland remodeling his house. Bob owned and operated the Robert Antoniac Construction Co. until his retirement.

He enjoyed skiing and snowmobiling. When he retired, he traveled around the country and Canada with his wife in their motor home and spent winters at Live Oak RV Resort & Golf Course in Arcadia, where friends became family. He was a proud member of the Old Saybrook Rotary Club, where he served as president and was awarded the Paul Harris Award. He was given a Certificate of Achievement for outstanding service in the Rotary Club Foundation Board, and he was honored by receiving the Rotarian of the Year Award. Bob was a retired member of the Old Saybrook Volunteer Fire Department, where he served on the executive committee, and he was instrumental in building the department’s Clark Memorial Field Clubhouse and smokehouse. He served as co-chairman of the Clark Field committee. He volunteered on the ambulance when it was part of the Fire Department. Bob also volunteered his time with the beautification of Main Street in Old Saybrook. Bob was on the board of directors of the Old Saybrook Ambulance Association; he was the Republican Town Committee chairman and a member of the Old Saybrook Board of Finance. He was a founding member of the Desoto Fire and Rescue Support Team in Arcadia. Bob was also a member of the Elks, Moose, American Legion, and VFW.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years, Gail Koos; his daughter Sherry Karetnick; his son Robert Antoniac Jr.; and his grandchildren, Jeffrey Karetnick, Dr. Morgan Karetnick Casper, and Kendall Antoniac. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings: Dolores Antoniac, Regina Waido, George Antoniac Jr., and Joseph Antoniac.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, at St. John Church, 153 Main Street, Old Saybrook, followed by a reception at Clark Memorial Field, 210 Elm Street, to reminisce and celebrate Bob’s life.