Marcel Carbonneau changed his name after WW2 to Marc Corb Bertrand Carbonneau died as an infant.
Robert Carbonneau was born July 30, 1928 in Detroit Michigan to Antonio and Eva Carbonneau immigrants of Quebec Canada. His brother Marcel was seven years older. He grew up in Lewiston, Maine.
While many of his relatives went to work earlier in life, Robert and his brother were pushed to finish school. His father passed away when he was 12 leaving his mother to raise him since his brother was off to war. His teen years were filled playing hockey. He attended St. Dominic Academy graduating in 1946.
Although the war had ended he immediately enlisted in the Army after graduation and before his 18th birthday. He trained as a medic and was stationed in Japan after the war in the Pacific. Rising to the rank of Corporal after three years of enlistment, he was honorably discharged to attend the University of Maine where he played hockey on the club team before the sport was officially NCAA.
He graduated in 1954 with a degree in Economics. In a newly purchased 1955 Chevy, he then moved to San Diego to work at General Dynamics. Through a friend named Lucy he met a beautiful young Portuguese girl, Olivia Figueira. They were married six months later (and this September it would have been 58 years). For the next 7 years they lived in La Mesa, San Diego raising a family. Barbara came first in 1958, John in 1960, and Rick in 1963.
Being transferred to General Dynamics Connecticut they were able to connect with family in Lewiston Maine experiencing snow and east coast life. This lasted three years before Bob was hired by Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank in 1969 where he worked until retiring in 1992. In 1970, their fourth child Mary Eva arrived. And the family lived in four different homes before settling in the home on Karen Street in 1973.
Life was constantly filled with sports and annual trips to San Diego and San Jose visiting cousins and relatives. Burbank life was generally good with the normal ups and downs of family struggles. By God's grace we seemed to survive all the pitfalls of the mid years. As a 46 year Burbank resident, Bob was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church remaining faithful to weekly church activities. He coached youth baseball and delighted watching his kids sports; Vikings football, baseball, softball and gymnastics.
Through the brokenness of life he began to mellow as the kids moved on from home. Generally a quiet man he was well liked at work, in the neighborhood, and throughout the City. He enjoyed working in the yard, all things UCLA, walking throughout the city, sun bathing in the back yard, and with a beer in hand nightly summer watering routines.
In the 1990's, grandkids came - from Barbara (and Ben Medina) Loli 24, Benny Jr. 21; from John (and Kathleen) Kevin 23; Carrie 21; Kyle 17; from Rick (and LaRayne) Jessica 21, Courtney 19, Blake 17; and Bridget 14. He loved when his grandkids visited. His retirement years were filled with trips to see relatives and his kids and several mini trips with Livie to various places.
He loved Big Band, Classical, and Easy Listening Music where in summer he would sit on the back porch reading his newspaper ? he strung up an orange bug repellant light bulb running a cord from the living room (its still there).
In 2003, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. As the disease progressed, starting in his feet, he eventually was confined to a bed. While he suffered with a broken body he never became angry or bitter. He actually became quite pleasant in his final 15 years of life. He had a special relationship with his caretaker Joseph. They would smile at almost everything, watch sports together, and talk about how Joseph was his adopted son. His doctor said that it was Joseph's incredible health care that extended his life these past three years. Hospice workers enjoyed their visits as well as visits from the Eucharistic Ministers from his church. To the end he stuck to his Christian beliefs.
Rick Carbonneau