Robert Charles Wilson, Jr.

NORWALK, CONN Robert C. Wilson, 64, a resident of Norwalk for over thirty years, died on Saturday, October 24, 2009 in his home. He was born in Staten Island, NY, on October 24, 1945, son of the late Robert C., Sr. and Elizabeth Harvey Wilson. He retired in June 2006 after thirty-seven years as an educator. His retirement came earlier than he had planned due to a diagnosis of lung cancer in July 2005. He graduated from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, NY. He received a B.A. in English from The Catholic University of America and an M.A.T. in English from Wesleyan University. He also did graduate studies at Fordham, Fairfield, and Oxford universities. He began his career in 1969 by teaching for five years at Xavier High School in Middletown, CT, after which he spent three years at Fordham University doing doctoral work while on a teaching fellowship. Most of his teaching was in Connecticut public schools. He taught in Brookfield for eighteen years, where he also served as department chairman as well as the district curriculum and staff development specialist for English. He taught at Greenwich High School for eleven years where he was also the Program Administrator for English. For over twenty years he was a consultant and a popular workshop presenter with the Connecticut Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project, a teacher-training initiative. He was also one of its associate directors and an adjunct professor in English and Education at Fairfield University. Over the years he held leadership positions in local, state, and national organizations. He was active in the community as a past chairman of the Rowayton Civic Association, a past chairman of the St. John Church Parish Council, and a current board member and vice-president of the English-Speaking Union, Greenwich Branch. He also served as an ambulance driver with the former Rowayton EMS. Professionally, he is a past president of the Connecticut Council of Teachers of English and was an elected board member of the Council on English Leadership of the National Council of Teachers of English. He enjoyed international travel and had friends around the world. Some of his other interests included photography, genealogy, and Rensselaerville, NY. He is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years, Sarah "Sally" L. (Dawson) of Rowayton; his daughter Rebecca of Greenwich; and his sons: Brendan of San Francisco and Timothy and his wife Angela of Rowayton. He is also survived by his brother William Wilson and his family of Staten Island as well as his sisters: Sr. Patricia Wilson, SC, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Kathleen Buxton and her family of Toms River, New Jersey. In addition, he leaves many loving friends and colleagues, especially his devoted companion, Hajime Ogawa. Mr. Wilson's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 in Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street from 4:00PM - 8:00PM. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 9:00AM from the parlor, where the funeral cortege will proceed to Saint John Parish Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Norwalk. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Xaverian Brothers, 4409 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21229 or to The Whittingham Cancer Center, Norwalk Hospital, 24 Stevens Street, Norwalk, CT 06850. MR. WILSON'S DVD VIDEO TRIBUTE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THIS PAGE STARTING TUESDAY NIGHT. WHEN AVAILABLE, CLICK ON 'VIEW A VIDEO' BELOW HIS PHOTO AND PRESS PLAY.