Robert F Treat

Robert F. Treat, 94, of East Haven, Connecticut, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 8, 2026, at Yale New Haven Hospital. Born in Hartford on August 28, 1931, he was the son of Franklyn and Mary Treat (Rourke). Raised in Newington, Bob graduated from Newington High School in 1949, where he played basketball, baseball, and soccer. Known affectionately as “Mutt” as a boy, he worked as a paperboy, tobacco picker, and bottle washer at Eckert’s Dairy before serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953, where he drove a tank and earned the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

Bob married in 1962 and raised his four children in Wethersfield, spending summers in Salisbury Beach, New Hampshire. A Master Steamfitter and Pipefitter with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 777 for over forty years, he worked on numerous power plants, nuclear facilities, hospitals, and universities. After his marriage ended in 1987, he settled in East Haven, where he lived for nearly forty years. There he transformed a small beach cottage into a sturdy home that withstood many storms, kept a boat for fishing, and continued to center his life around family.

He is survived by his children, Julie Treat, Robert Treat (Wendy), Susan Kaczor (Rich), and Christine Castellano (Joe); nine grandchildren, Ryan Treat, Joseph Castellano, Michael Castellano, Dylan Kaczor, Gianna Rose Castellano, Skyler Kaczor, Kiara Kaczor, and Vincent Robert Castellano; his sister Marilyn O’Connell (Arthur); his ex-wife Marilyn (Gobush); and his cherished cousin and dear friend Sharon Adams. Bob was also known as “Grandpa” to many families in East Haven, including the Leigh and Swoverland families and countless local sports families. He shared fifteen loving years with his companion Barbara M. Kacenski, who passed in 2020, and was cared for in his later years by his dear friend and caregiver Lois Fox.

A dedicated powerlifter who bench-pressed 425 pounds, Bob earned four black belts in Karate, Kempo, and Kung Fu after retiring at age 58, competing into his eighties. An avid runner, he completed the New Haven Road Race at 64 and the Hartford Marathon at 72, continuing to jog until age 92. He was a passionate sports fan who rarely missed his grandchildren’s games, especially those of his beloved Gianna Rose, whom he taught to play basketball. Above all, Bob will be remembered for his quick wit, endless sayings, blunt honesty, and remarkable ability to make anyone laugh. Dependable, selfless, and resilient, he put others first and faced life with an unwavering spirit.