Robert E. Johnston

Robert Johnston age 74 of Clearwater Florida and longtime resident of Fairfield passed away peacefully in his home with his loving family by his side on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. . Born in Fairfield he was the son of the late George Johnston & Marie Collins Johnston. Having attended both Andrew Warde & Fairfield Prep, Bob served his country in the United States Air Force. He returned home to Fairfield to open his very successful business Fairfield Transmission in 1961 and is still in operation today. He retired several years ago and has spent most of that time at his home in Clearwater Fl. As a local business man Bob became well known in the community and developed many relationships that became the business model for his success. In the mid 1980's Bob was invited and traveled to Munich Germany to repair American made automatic transmissions and conducted training to the German mechanics on how to rebuild American made automatic transmissions. Bob was a member of the Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Belleair Florida and was a past member of The Patterson Club & Black Rock Yacht Club. He was also a past member of the Fairfield Elks, the Fairfield Rotary Club and volunteered as a wish grantor for the Make A Wish Foundation. For the past 20 years Bob was a very big part of the Fairfield Wish Invitational benefitting the Make A Wish Foundation where he received outstanding service & recognition awards in helping to grant the wishes of area children for the past 20 years. Bob was a devoted husband and father and most of all loved spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed getting together with all of his family including all 11 grandchildren and loved when they came to visit in Florida. Bob had a remarkable relationship with each of his children & grandchildren and possessed an incredible network of friends both in Fairfield and in Clearwater. Bob is survived by his beloved wife Kathy of 52 years, his son Scott and wife Linda and daughters Lindsey, Taylor & Samantha of Monroe; his daughter Holly Cloutier and children Bradley & Allison of Monroe. His daughter Brenda and husband Ryon Ganser and children, Jack, Timothy & Katie of Milford and his daughter Kelle and husband Bill Palka and children William, Abby & Lucy of Highlands Ranch Colorado. He is also survived by his brother Charles and friend Sandy King of Juno Florida and his brother Jerry and wife Janice of Clearwater Florida, as well as several nieces & nephews. He was also predeceased by his adored sister in law Loretta Johnston of Hingham Ma. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. meeting directly at St. Luke Church, 84 Long Lots Road, Westport. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may call Friday from 4-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. If desired memorial contributions may be made to the Make A Wish, CT 126 Monroe Tpke., Trumbull, CT 06611. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com