Robert Thomas McTigue, Sr

SOUTH PORTLAND - Robert Thomas McTigue, Sr., 81, of South Portland, died Wednesday November 20, 2013 at his residence following a long illness. He was born in Portland, a son of Thomas Patrick and Madeline E. Murphy McTigue. He grew up on his beloved Peaks Island and attended Cathedral Grammar School and Portland High School. Robert was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corp as a young man. Following high school he worked briefly for the Maine Central Railroad. Robert later accepted a job as a warehouseman with E. G. Foden's Wholesale Tobacco and Candy Company. Robert retired from the Portland School Department in 1994 with over 20 years of service. Robert married the former Dorothy M. Sullivan on November 28, 1958 at St. Christopher's Church. Robert was a longtime communicant of St. Christopher's Church where he sang for many years at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. He played Santa for several years and was an honorary member of American Legion Post # 142 of Peaks Island. Robert was involved with the Boy Scouts as an assistant leader for several years. In 1984 he and his family moved to South Portland. He called his home "The Castle" and especially enjoyed spending time in his garage or at the table near the fire pit. He was a communicant of Holy Cross Church. Robert had many nicknames throughout the years, but was best known as "Mr. Miller" due to his enjoyment of Miller High Life Beer. He is predeceased by his wife Dorothy in 2005 and a daughter, Barbara Davis in 2001. Robert is survived by five daughters, Bonnie Petillo of South Portland, Cindy Dennison of South Portland, Deborah Dow of Scarborough, Mary Ann Graffam of South Portland, Margaret Tuttle of South Portland; five sons, Benjamin Smith of Portland, Donald Smith of Westbrook, Dennis Emerson of Windham, Robert T McTigue, Jr. of Falmouth, Michael McTigue of South Portland; 26 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2013 at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A 10:00 a.m. Saturday Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, corner of Broadway and Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: VNA and Hospice, 50 Foden Road, South Portland, Maine 04106.Online condolences may be expressed below.