Obituary of Robert Thomas Sheeran Sr.

Robert T. Sheeran Sr., 88, of Sayville, Long Island, died on Jan. 14, 2007, at his home. Friends and family may call on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange. The interment will be in Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah. Born in Troy, N.Y., Mr. Sheeran was a reporter with United Press International, where he covered the New York Legislature in Albany, and later became bureau manager in Boston. In 1956, he moved to Dumont, N.J., and worked in public relations in New York. In 1975, Mr. Sheeran was named vice president of public affairs for GTE/Sylvania in Stamford, Conn. He was a World War II veteran, and served as a Marine in major campaigns in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal. Mr. Sheeran was predeceased by his wife, Rita Chapman Sheeran in 1997. Surviving are four children, Monsignor Robert, president of Seton Hall University, Maureen Riordan of Medford, N.Y., Thomas of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and Patrick of New York City; a brother, Vincent of Troy, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Deidre, Megan, John, Anne Marie and Theresa, and one greatgrandson, Thomas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sheeran Family Scholarship/Seton Hall University, in c/o Office of the President, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. 07079.