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Robert Mosley, 81, Longtime Danbury Volunteer, History Lover

DANBURY, Conn. – Robert Gordon Mosley, 81, of Danbury, died Sunday, July 10 at Regional Hospice and Home Care. He was 81.

Robert Mosley

Robert Mosley

Photo Credit: Danbury Public Library

He was the husband of the late Margaret Anne (Hughes) Mosley.

He was born Feb. 19, 1935, in Portland, Maine, a son of the late Philip G. and Sigrid (Simonsen) Mosley.

At 18, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War. He was a life member of the First Marine Division Association, a member of the Danbury Area Korean War Veterans and the Catholic War Veterans. He came by his patriotism naturally, as he was a direct descendent of Charles Henry Howard, aide-de-camp to Major General Oliver Otis Howard, U.S. Army, 11th Corp Commander at Gettysburg.

He was an active educator of the Civil War era. He proudly celebrated Memorial Day annually and spoke with the students for many years at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Brookfield. After his discharge, he pursued his education, graduating from the University of Maine with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. He went on to earn his sixth year-CAS from Fairfield University. He began his teaching career in Cape Elizabeth High School in Maine.

He and his wife, Margaret Anne, moved to New Canaan in 1964 and he continued his career there. Throughout the years, he taught advanced placement and regular U.S. history, world history, European, Japanese and Chinese history and civics. He was a past president of the New Canaan Education Association, on the board of directors for CEA and was a Connecticut state education mentor. He was passionate about high school sports and passed along his enthusiasm while coaching cross-country and track and field, and by officiating high school football and track and field events. He coached more than 3,000 athletes, several collegiate All-Americans and team captains and one Olympic racer. He was named coach of the year in 1978, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

The Town of New Canaan is in the process of honoring him by creating a landmark, which will be named "Mosley Hill." A civic-minded person, he served the Friends of the Danbury Library as past president, was a member of the Exchange Club and was past president of the Danbury Men's Club. He also was active in St. Peter Church and then later in St. Gregory the Great Church. Most of all, he enjoyed being a father and grandfather.

He is survived by two children, Scott Mosley of Danbury and Robyn Keffer and her husband, Philip, of Brookfield; two grandchildren, Alexandra and Samuel Keffer; a brother, Major Donald H. Mosley USMC and his wife, Evelyn, of Yuma, Ariz.; and several nieces and cousins in Maine.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Danbury. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Gregory the Great Church, Danbury. Interment will follow in St. Peter Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made to: The Catholic War Veterans Scholarship Fund, 2 Shalvoys Lane, Danbury, CT 06810 or to the Danbury Korean War Veterans Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2632, Danbury, CT 06813.

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