Obituary of Rob MacGregor

Rob Roy MacGregor, 88, of Glastonbury, beloved husband of Sandra (Trautwein) MacGregor, died Friday May 17, 2013 at Hartford Hospital. Born February 23, 1925 in Park Falls, WI, son of the late John Laurence and Gertrude (Barber) MacGregor, he had lived in Glastonbury for the past 37 years. During his 35-year career at the Travelers, he worked in Chicago, San Francisco, San Antonio, Albany, Buffalo, New York City, and Hartford, where he retired in 1987 as a Vice President of Commercial Lines. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin after attending Oberlin College, where he and Sandy met as freshmen. For 67 years, Rob and Sandy shared love of family, music, travel, nature, and lifelong learning. Motivated by his Scottish roots, Rob studied bagpiping in San Francisco and subsequently played in pipe bands in many states. As a Mason, he achieved the 32nd Degree (Scottish Rite.) He was a member of the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury and sang in their choir for over 30 years. In his youth, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and played the oboe on the all-state level in Wisconsin. From 1943-1945, he served in the US Army, receiving a Bronze Star for heroic action at the Battle of the Bulge, and later serving as a guard at the Nuremburg War Crime Trials. Besides his wife, he is survived by son Rob Roy Cameron MacGregor of Branford, 2 daughters Lauren MacGregor Phillips of New Canaan and Leslie MacGregor Levine of Watertown, MA, five grandchildren Jason (Rebecca) and Alex Phillips, Arthur, Charlotte and Gordon Levine, a great granddaughter Emma Violet Phillips, and many nieces and nephews, including Carrie Trautwein Hammond (Dr. Jonathan) of Farmington. A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, June 1 at 3:30 pm at the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury. Military honors will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury and the South Glastonbury Public Library, where Rob served as a volunteer for many years.