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Robert "Bob" Balinskas Obituary

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Robert "Bob" Balinskas

Enfield, CT

December 7, 1933 - April 7, 2011

Robert "Bob" Balinskas Obituary

Robert J Balinskas of Enfield, CT passed away on April 7, 2011. He is survived by his loving wife, Sonja Peltz Balinskas; his daughter Mary and her husband William Eichorn of Worcester MA; Teresa (Terry) and her husband John Cowles of Somers, CT; Carolyn Balinskas and her husband Rick Pastore of Marlboro, MA; his son, Stephen, of Brooklyn, NY; and his grandchildren Brian and Thomas Cowles, and Michael and Sharon Eichorn. He also leaves a sister, Joan Smith Yackow of Arlington, VA. Two other siblings, Marion Hollis, formerly of Cooperstown, NY, and John of New Britain, CT, passed before him. Mr. Balinskas was a first generation American, raised in New Britain, CT by his parents John Balinskas and Stanislava (Stella) Sakalauskas, both born in Lithuania. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1958 with a BSME and was a member of the engineering honor societies Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma. He also received an MSME from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1960. He was employed at Hamilton Sundstrand in Windsor Locks, CT, for thirty-three years, from the onset of the space program, retiring as Project Manager of the “Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit,” comprising the space suit and backpack worn by Gemini, Apollo, SkyLab and Space Shuttle mission veterans. On his retirement in 1992, he received congratulations and commendations from several NASA astronauts. He served on the Parish Council of St. Patrick’s Church; assisted with AmeriCares Homefront through St. Patrick’s; was Chairman of the Passionist Retreat House; acted as Treasurer of SHUSH, an area group that advocates for the hearing impaired; and was an active member of the Hartford Chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He was also an avid wood worker and cyclist. Though active in many civic and professional organizations, he had no greater concern than his family, for which he has their profound gratitude and deepest love. Relatives and friends may gather with his family on Monday, April 11, 2011, from 5pm to 8pm at Browne Funeral Chapels 43 Shaker Rd Enfield, CT. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 with the procession forming at 10am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am in St. Patrick's Church in Enfield. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in St. Patrick’s King St. Cemetery.

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