Robert F. Joy

Robert Francois Joy, 89, of South Kingstown, passed away on Friday, December 20th. Born January 12th, 1935 at South county Hospital, he was the loving son of the late Frank and Marion (Clifford) Joy.

Bob lived in South Kingstown most of his life. He graduated from South Kingstown High School in June 1953 where he was president of his Junior and Senior class and played many sports.

After high school Bob worked as a Narragansett Beach and Dunes Club lifeguard for several years where he was eventually elected Captain of the Dunes Club lifeguards. Later, he volunteered for the United States army draft in 1955 and served through 1957.

After his time in the service, Bob went to URI where he graduated with a BA in 1961. After graduation from URI he took a job teaching 7th and 8th grade in Exeter, R.I. later to become Exeter- West Greenwich Regional School System . While teaching in Exeter-West Greenwich he went to school nights and graduated from URI with a Master Degree in Guidance and Counseling. In 1970 he left teaching to become a Teacher Union Representative. He held that job for the next 35 years, retiring on Dec. 31st, 2005.

Bob married Donna Malgeiri in 1960 and they had three children, a daughter Michele, and two sons Christopher and Thomas. Later in life, in 1978, he married Clare Flynn Eckert and had a daughter Alicia.

In 1995 he began playing baseball again in the Rhode Island Men's Senior Baseball League at the age of 60 and continued playing for many years even being inducted into the 2004 RIMSBL Hall of Fame. He bought a house in Phoenix Az.in 1998 and enjoyed spending quite a lot of time in Arizona. In his later years he spent time with his companion, the late Donna Moore. Bob was a friend of Bill W. and Dr. Bob.

A memorial service for Bob will be held at a later date.