Robert Eugene Hagerty

Robert E. Hagerty, 86, of Erie, and formerly of Franklin and Rocky Grove, passed away quietly at his home with family at his bedside on Sat., Aug. 21, 2010. Robert was born on March 8, 1924, the son of Andrew and Sarah Hagerty originally of Emlenton and later Rocky Grove. He graduated Rocky Grove High School in 1941 and accepted employment as an airplane assembler at the Martin Aeronautics factory in Baltimore, MD. Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and valiantly served his country for the duration of WWII (1943~1945) as a volunteer in the submarine service in the South Pacific theatre of operations. As a Seaman First Class, he served on the USS MINGO (SS261) assigned patrol duties in enemy waters off Australia and New Zealand. Robert received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, the American Theatre Medal and the Victory Medal. Upon Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Navy, he attended Duffs School of Business in Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Bankers Trust Training School at Bucknell University. For nearly 40 years, Robert represented clients in banking and finance as a trust officer with Oil City National Bank, Northwest Bank & Trust Company, Marine National Bank, and PNC Bank, rising to the position of Senior Vice-President and Trust Officer upon his retirement in 1989. During retirement, Robert enjoyed an occasional round of golf, cooking for family and friends, and travel with his wife. Robert is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia Coleen Dodds Hagerty, daughter of John Q. and Beth Renninger Dodds of Rocky Grove, and three children: David C. Hagerty and wife Louise of Boston, MA; daughter Ellen D. Hagerty and life partner Arthur Anders of Boston MA; and John R. Hagerty and wife Elizabeth of Manasquan, NJ. He is further survived by his loving and devoted sister Eleanor Hagerty MacKenzie of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Franklin; grand daughter Amanda Swanberg Baker and husband Robert and three great grand children, Kylie, Jewelie, and James Robert of Pembroke, MA. Additional survivors include niece Sally MacKenzie Dubel and husband Wayne Dubel of Beaver; and nephews Dr. Paul L. McKenzie and wife Nicole of Houston, TX and Zurich, Switzerland; Andrew MacKenzie of Houston, TX; and Jeffrey I. MacKenzie and wife Pamela of Franklin. Friends may call Monday, August 23, 2010 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Gardinier Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 11:00 am at the funeral home with the Rev. Sue Nageotte, interim pastor at the Rocky Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Bethel Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard. Memorials in lieu of flowers, may be made to: The Regional Cancer Center, 2500 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16505, 814-838-9000 (www.regionalcancercenter.org); The Great Lakes Hospice, c/o Hamot Guardian Angel Program, 814-877-6120 (www.hamotgift.org); or the American Cancer Society of Erie, 2115 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508 (www.cancer.org). Please endorse donations: In honor and memory of Robert E. Hagerty. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com