Robert J. Charbonneau, 75, Furniture Manufacturing Representative

Robert J. Charbonneau, of Barrington, passed away at home on July 19, 2013. He was 75.

Born in Elmhurst, NY, he was a son of Edward J. Charbonneau and Florence Campbell Charbonneau.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and his two daughters Suzanne M. Charbonneau and her husband John LeFrancois of New Canaan, CT and Leslie Sewall and her husband John Sewall of Cape Elizabeth, ME. He was also a loving grandfather to four grandchildren, Douglas Robert Sewall, Erin Elizabeth Sewall, Eugene Thomas Grogan III and Jack Robert Grogan. He has two brothers, Raymond J. Charbonneau of Raleigh, NC and the late Edward Charbonneau of San Rafael, CA.

He worked in the furniture manufacturing business for 45 years serving as the representative for several major manufacturers in the northeast.

He graduated from St. Anne's Academy, NYC, and St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, NY. He was a member of the New York Athletic Club and the Barrington Yacht Club. He was an avid sailor spending many hours on his sailboat, "Spellbound". He participated in the Newport and Marion to Bermuda races for several years and at times with his children. He also enjoyed skiing and spending time with his and the Mullen family.

His many volunteer activities included: frost-bite sailing, serving on the Barrington Harbor Commission for several years, working at Ronald McDonald House and the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, RI.

A memorial mass in his honor will be held at St. Luke's Church, 108 Washington Road, Barrington, on Thursday, July 25 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Ronald McDonald House, 45 Gay Street, Providence, RI 02905 (rmhprovidence.org) or the Herreshoff Marine Museum, 1 Burnside Street, Bristol, RI 02809 (herreshoff.org).

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