Robert A.'s Story
Robert “Rob” Daigle, 51, devoted to family, an Army veteran, avid baseball player and fan, and a friend and inspiration to so many, was freed from the grips of ALS on Aug. 11, 2016.
Rob approached this disease with hope, grace, dignity and honesty. With the support of his wife, Jenny (Serratore), Rob helped bring attention to the desperate need for funding to find a cure for the incurable. The couple’s openness about their ALS challenges may someday help others afflicted.
Born in Newburyport, Mass., Rob attended local schools, and that’s where his unwavering passion for baseball, which extended well beyond his being a fan, began. He was truly one of the Boys of Summer as a player for Newburyport High School, the Senior Babe Ruth team, taking on professionals in his annual trips to Florida to play in the Roy Hobbs World Series and many years playing in the Ohio & New Hampshire Adult Men’s League. He taught the game he loved to countless boys and young men, serving as a mentor and helping them learn life lessons from the sport. He was also assistant baseball coach at Newburyport High School, helping players one season earn a Division 3 state championship.
Rob enlisted in the United States Army in 1982 as a Fire Direction Specialist in the Artillery. He was stationed at Fort Bragg North Carolina, Fort Riley Kansas and Bamburg, West Germany. Rob served with 3/1 Field Artillery, in the Persian Gulf during the Persian Gulf War. After completing his Military service in 1991, he returned to Germany as a civilian where among a number of pursuits, he volunteered as a Player Coach for the German/American baseball team.
Over the last 25 years, Rob has worked in hospital facilities across the country and for the last five years as manager of environmental services at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H. up until his disability leave in late, 2015. He won numerous individual and group awards over the years, including and most prestigiously, Environmental Services Department of the Year (country-wide) two out of the last three years.
He leaves Jenny, his life partner since November 8th, 2014; his parents, Francis “Pete” and Carol Daigle of Newburyport; aunt, Jean Chase of Newburyport, brother, Mark Daigle of Newburyport; sisters, Karen Daigle Dumais of Danvers, and Pamela Daigle Wesley of Lynn; his brothers-in-law, Roland Dumais and Peter Wesley, sister-in-law, Lisa; nephews, John, Christopher, Tyler and Benjamin and niece, Nicole “Pinky." And he leaves his beloved Boxer dogs, Diamond and Louie Boo-Boo, fur-babies that provided comfort through the most difficult times during his illness.
Family and friends may call on Sunday, August 14, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950. Parking available behind the Funeral Home. Rob’s Funeral service will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday August 15, 2016 at Central Congregational Church 14 Titcomb St, Newburyport, MA 01950, followed by burial at Belleville Cemetery in Newburyport.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in Rob’s name via the link on this page or sent to NHS Baseball Alumni Association, 25 Walnut St. Newburyport, MA 01950 and/or ALS TDI www.als.net
For directions or to offer online condolences, please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com
source: The Daily News of Newburyport