Laconia-----Robert Victor Muzzey, 91, of 701 Elm Street in Laconia and Forestview Manor in Meredith, NH, died on Monday, December 19, 2016 at Lakes Region General Hospital after a brief illness.
Robert was born on October 13, 1925 in Laconia, the son of Victor Grey and Helen (Carr) Muzzey. He graduated from Laconia High School and at age 17, enlisted in the Army Infantry to serve in World War II in Europe.
Robert was married to Mary Alice (Lavallee) formore than 69 years. They lived and raised their family in Laconia where Robert was a toll test technician for the telephone company for 20 years, retiring in 1990 from Verizon. Robert also served in the NH Army National Guard, serving in both the 197th Field Artillery, Battery C in Franklin, and the 39th Army Band, retiring after 22 years of service.
A life-long musician, Robert played saxophone in many local dance bands, performing at the Margate Resort, Christmas Island Steakhouse, andthe Shangri-La at Weirs Beach. He spent many years with the 39th Army Band NHNG and was still active, playing 20 years in the Freese Brothers Big Band until the age of 85. He loved improvisation and was often a soloist. The band frequently collaborated with local Concord area high schools and raised over forty thousand dollars for young musicians to attend band camp.
As hobbies, Robert also enjoyed playing piano, oil painting and woodcarving birds. A member of the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club, Robert loved sailing and traveling with his wife and family. He attended the Lakeport Baptist Church and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers.
Robert is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Muzzey, three sons, Michael and his wife Jennifer, of Laconia;Eric and his wife Pamela, of Cape Coral, FL; and Thomas and his wife Karen of Rochester, NH; two daughters, April Whithed and her husband Jim, of Lancaster, NH; and Suzette Wilson and her husband Jody, of West Nottingham, NH;13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a sister, Janice Cole, a grandson, Jesse Muzzey and a great-grandson Easton Jeffrey McGowan.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 11:00am at the Beane Conference Center, 35 Blueberry Lane, Laconia NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the Freese Brothers Big Band Scholarship c/o the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 03301.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilksonbeane.com.