Raymond Albert Roberts of Southampton died at home on January 27, after a short illness. He was 90.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, on October 29, 1925, and raised in Alexandria, Ontario, he was the son of Albert Arthur and Leontine Seguin Roberts. Mr. Roberts moved to New York City in his mid 20s and worked as a machinist for R. Hoe and Company and Roberts Printing Press Repairs, until an accident in 1972 that resulted in the loss of his eyesight. After summering in Sag Harbor since the mid 1960s, he and his family moved from Flushing to Southampton in 1972, where they have lived since. A man of many talents, he continued to do what he loved, including gardening, woodworking and clamming. Sightless, he remained active, maintaining his home by cleaning gutters, cutting and raking his lawn, replacing wiring, plumbing, etc. His downtime was spent listening to sports games on the radio or tinkering in his workshop. He was the go-to man for his children when it came to problems with appliances, cars, building projects, installing fences, etc.
Survivors said he maintained his sense of humor up until his last days, kidding with the nurses and aides and friends and family.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Brian Zielinski of Southampton. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elsie; son, Brian Roberts of Southampton; daughters, Karen Roberts of Southampton and Jennifer Roberts-Aldrich of Maine; and grandchildren, Albert Zielinski of Southampton, and Grady and Daniel Aldrich of Maine. He was predeceased by siblings, Evelyn DeBarbieri and Stuart Roberts.
A memorial service and burial will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria, Ontario, Canada at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978-7048.
on Feb 4, 2016