MARLBOROUGH - Robert E. Hagan, 87, of Marlborough, formerly of Palos Heights, Ill., died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 after a brief illness. For 61 years, he was the devoted, loving husband and best friend of Irene (Zurek) Hagan. Born in Chicago, the son of the late Carl E. and Florence (Wilkins) Hagan, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as a surgical technician 4th grade in the Asia Pacific Theater. Following an honorable discharge, Bob and Irene married in 1948 and he graduated from Loyola University in Chicago. He received a master's degree in education from DePaul University, Chicago, and did postgraduate work at the University of Chicago before becoming part of the Chicago public school system as a teacher and counselor in the department of personnel.
Later, he was named principal at the Copernicus and Herman Raster elementary schools. Bob owned and was director of Circle H Day Camp. He volunteered at Maryville school, taught CCD at St. Alexander and St. Theresa School in Palm Springs, Calif., and was involved in youth activities in Palos Heights, where he served on the school board of District 118. He loved camping with his family and the RV Club, and after their children finished college and began careers and families of their own, Bob and Irene continued their travels. His greatest joy in life was having a child on his lap and holding Irene's hand. Besides his wife, he leaves a son and two daughters, to whom he was a devoted father:
Dr. Robert C. Hagan and his wife, Whitney, of Long Valley, N.J., Patricia J. Hagan of Questa, N.M., and Mary Jaiswal and her husband, Sameer, of Northborough; the proud grandfather of Cullen Stevens, Jennifer Miller, Trent and Cody Hagan, and Hannah and Maya Jaiswal; the great-grandfather of Huxley Miller; the brother of Shirley Cilley of Venice, Fla., Carole Hagan of Palm Springs; and the loving brother-in-law of Clarence and Judith Zurek of Phoenix, Ariz. and Edward and Kathy Zurek of Illinois. He was the brother of the late Gloria Duda of Woodstock, Ill.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11 a.m., at the Good Shepherd Center Chapel, 400 Hemenway Street, Marlborough. Burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Instead of flowers, please follow what Bob would always say, "Buy some needy child a new pair of shoes and a book of his own." Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.