Robert Gruskay

Robert H. Gruskay, Born October 28, 1933 in Waterbury, CT son of Maurice and Rose (Elbin) Gruskay. He passed away surrounded by family and friends November 4, 2025 in Bloomfield CT days after his 92nd birthday.

Survived by son Andrew and his wife Susan, daughter Holly and grandchildren Zoe, Jacob, Seth and Sophie. Host of friends including Edwin Lewis III, Martin Melnick, Herb Hoffmann and Rabbi Joseph Wolvovsky. Bob was graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury in 1950 and earned his B.A. from Wesleyan University in Middletown in 1954. Member of Beth El Temple where he served as President of the Mens Club. He was honored with the Keeper of the Flame Award by the Mens Club in 2014. Long-term volunteer at the Hebrew Home and Hospital where he presented a weekly opera program for residents for over nine years. He also presented a weekly opera program at the West Hartford Senior Center for over three years. Also, he taught an opera class at the Presidents College University of Hartford for two years. Bob is currently a resident of Duncaster Retirement Community where he teaches a course in opera.

He chaired the Marketing Committee at the Presidents College for a number of years and hosted a monthly TV program on the West Hartford Access Channel with Humphrey Tonkin called Conversations with the Presidents College. He was a member of the Board of the Connecticut Opera and headed the marketing committee. He was a host of a monthly TV program on WHC-TV called Live from the Connecticut Opera. Bob was a regular at the Hartford Bridge Club where he attained the honor of Silver Life Master a few years ago. He was known as Mr. Opera and Mr. Waterbury all over West Hartford and Bloomfield.

For many years Bob held court from the bench in front of the Professioanal Barber Shop on LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center. A once a week fisherman, Bob’s companions on the salty brine of the Niantic River and Long Island Sound were Jeff Steckler and Bob Adams. Bob is a member of the B.O.O.B.s, a bunch of old broadcasters who meet monthly at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford to talk about the good old days of Hartford radio and TV. Bob began his advertising career in New York at Kenyon & Eckhardt and Ted Bates Company,. He came to Hartford in 1961 to work as an account executive at WHNG-TV, which was followed by a two year stint at Wilson Haight & Welch Advertising as its media director. He was then hired by WHNB radio where he became General Manager in 1968. Working for the station owner Merv Griffin.

In 1975, Bob opened his own advertising and marketing firm. He represented many Connecticut clients including Sears Roebuck& Company and Colonial Bank of Waterbury. He was also the publisher of four professional magazines for area associations including Connecticut Homebuilders Association, the Massachusetts Homebuilders Association, the Connecticut Automotive Trades Association and the Connecticut Association of Street and Highway Officials. He also served as marketing director of Sorokin, Gross & Hyde, P.c. From 1991 to 2000.

A graveside ceremony will be held at the Beth el Cemetery in Avon Connecticut on Wednesday, November 5 at 1pm. Following the funeral, a reception will be held at Caleb Hitchcock in Bloomfield , CT at 4pm.