The Obit For Bob Currier

Robert G. Currier

Published in The Citizen from 7/7/2009 - 7/8/2009

AUBURN: On Saturday, July 4, 2009, Robert G. Currier passed from this life to the next to be with his beloved wife Viola and our Lord Jesus Christ, with his loving family at his side.

He was born on March 12, 1922, in Auburn, the son of the late Percy and Lina Leiger Currier and had resided here for most of his life.

Mr. Currier was a graduate of Auburn High School and served in the Army during World War II. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre as a combat medic where he supervised and inspected the personnel of various medical units in the care and treatment of the sick and wounded. He was awarded the India-Burma Ribbon with a star for his commendable service, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

He was employed as supervisor director for the New York State Division of Youth for 20 years. In addition, he was employed by the Cayuga-Seneca ARC as a job coach. Prior to that he was employed as a foreman at the Mustad Company.

Mr. Currier was an outstanding athlete and was inducted into the Auburn High School Hall of Fame on Nov. 2, 2002. In 1981, the St. Francis Athletic Association honored him for his lifetime contributions to youth and athletics.

He was a four-sport letterman at Auburn High School being a captain of the 1940 undefeated football team, achieving this distinction for the first time in 33 years. He won several football scholarships to colleges. He accepted an athletic scholarship to Western Kentucky University and played varsity football in his freshman year.

He then signed a baseball contract with the old Brooklyn Dodgers organization out of Western Kentucky University and played minor league baseball in both the Dodger and White Sox chains.

While serving in the Army, he played baseball for Camp Pickett. In addition, he played and managed many area softball and hardball semi-pro teams. He served as a recreation director for the village of Cayuga. He coached several semi-pro basketball teams in the area including traveling women"s basketball teams.

He also played basketball in the old Catholic and city leagues and umpired for 20 years in both city softball and high school baseball. He had the distinction of being the area scout (bird dog) for the Chicago White Sox.

He was a communicant of both St. Hyacinth"s Church and St. Alphonsus Church.

He is survived by one daughter, Sharron Currier-Lotz, of Union Springs; one son, J. Michael Currier and his wife Donna, of Auburn; three grandchildren, Dr. Shane Lotz and his wife Dr. Janis Girt, of Marcellus, Michael B. Currier, of Auburn, and Shanutelle M. Currier, of Auburn; one great-grandchild, Violet Rose Lotz, of Marcellus; sisters-in-law, Mary Blake, of Dallas, Texas, and Josephine Currier, of Auburn; cousins, nieces and nephews; beloved friends, Sharon and Charles Killam of Auburn.

Robert was predeceased by his wife, Viola Currier on Jan. 10, 2006; a brother, Raymond Currier; and three sisters Evelyn Day, Eleanor Hai, and Dorothy Hunt Nagle, who died several years ago.

Friends are invited to call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Brew Funeral Home, 48 South St. Auburn. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9, at the funeral home, with Deacon Gary DiLallo officiating.

Interment with full military honors will be held in St. Joseph"s Cemetery, town of Fleming.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Babe Ruth League of Auburn, PO Box 902, Auburn, NY 13021, in memory of Robert G. Currier.

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