Robert Charlton Avery, 89, died Thursday, May 25, 2023, at The Landing at Saco Bay, Saco, Maine.

Bob was born May 1, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, to Charlton Luther and Elsie Clara (Gustafson) Avery. The family moved to New England when he was a child. He attended Hartford, Connecticut primary schools and graduated from Braintree (Massachusetts) High School in 1952 before returning to the Hartford area and starting his first job at the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company (CBT), in the mailroom. It was the beginning of a long career with the bank where he was instrumental in such initiatives as a pioneering check processing system in the 1970's, the installation of the first ATMs in the state (the Barney machine), and the renovation of One Constitution Plaza in Hartford. He would retire as Vice President of Facilities. Bob loved his time at the bank, and often shared stories of his work there.

After retiring, Bob visited his children and grandchildren, and spent many winters with his beloved aunt, Mildred Gada, in Margate, Florida. He also loved to work tirelessly on his yard and home in West Hartford, always attacking one project or another. He proudly stained and painted his house well into his early 80's.

Bob served in the U.S. Army as a Specialist from 1957–1959. He volunteered extensively for the Red Cross for over 30 years, serving for many years as the treasurer of the Greater Hartford Chapter. He was a Mason for over 65 years, as a member of the Hartford Evergreen Lodge No. 88, and was a long-time congregant of South Congregational Church, Hartford.

While Bob spent most of his life in Connecticut, he was true to his Detroit birthright sports teams and followed the Tigers and Lions. A baseball fan, Bob would reminisce about going to games with his dad at Ebbets Field and watching the Brooklyn Dodgers play while he scored the games.

Bob loved to help others, always offering his children his skills and ideas on visits. He was always generous with his time and advice. He had a great kinship with his neighbors and always remarked how lucky he was to live among such a wonderful group of people.

He is predeceased by his parents, his son, Eric S. Avery and his daughter-in-law Tina M. Avery.

He is survived by his children Kent Avery and his wife Demetra Giatas of Portland, Maine, Reed Avery of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Lori DeAngelis and her husband Richard of Lakeland, Florida, and his grandchildren Truman, Eleanor, Linus, Adelaide and Clementine Avery, Henry and Ethan DeAngelis.

Calling hours will be held at South Congregational Church, Hartford, Friday, June 2, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., and funeral service at 11:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 410 - 453 Bridge Street, Suffield, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Red Cross of Connecticut, 209 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06032.