Robert Henry LaBreche

Robert Henry LaBreche passed peacefully into God's hands on June 2, 2025 succumbing to his struggles with dementia. He was 86 years of age. Robert Henry LaBreche was born in Ottawa, Canada on October 4, 1938, the son of Norbert and Eva LaBreche. The family moved to Hartford, Connecticut when he was 4 years old. Bob graduated from Hartford Public High School and got his BS degree in Physical Education while enlisted to serve in the Army for six years. He also received his MS degree in Health & Physical Education from Southern Connecticut State College. He ran track both in high school and college.

Bob was a physical education teacher in South Windsor High School for 35 years establishing a record for coaching 105 continuous athletic seasons. He was an assistant soccer coach for 3 years; started cross country and was head coach for 32 years; was assistant basketball coach for 24 years; started indoor track and was head coach for 11 years; started track and field and was head coach for 35 years.

His career accomplishments include coaching teams that became State Champions in Track and Field, in Indoor Track, and in Cross Country, and having numerous League Titles in these sports. Bob had a very special rapport with his student athletes and many who have kept in touch through the years attributed their success in life to the lessons he taught them: to maintain a high standard of honesty; to strive for their personal best according to their ability; to establish personal goals and work hard to achieve them.

“Coach”, as he was commonly called, had numerous personal accomplishments as well. He was named CT High School Coaches Association Track Coach of the Year 1972-1973; was given the North Central CT Conference Award for Service in 1981; the Manchester Journal Inquirer First Annual Appreciation Award for Service to Track & Field in 1985; was CT High School Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1985; inducted into the CT Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992; National High School Athletic Coaches Association Cross Country Coach of the year in 1994; National High School Athletic Coaches Association Track Coach of the year in 1997; and CT Sports Writers Alliance John Wentworth Good Sport Award for Unselfish Dedication to Community Sports in 1998.

He was married to Janice McKenna, now deceased, and they had two children, Robert and Lisa. In 1998, Bob and his present wife Haydee moved to Sun City Grand, a senior community in Surprise, Arizona. He joined the Softball Club and played and managed teams for 20 years. In 2013 he was recalled to Connecticut to be inducted into the South Windsor High School Hall of Fame. That same year he was also inducted into the Sun City Grand Softball Hall of Fame. To this day, Bob still hears from his former athletes in Connecticut. Some have visited him in Arizona, and many send greetings through cards, emails and Facebook recalling their years on his teams and thanking him for the positive influence he had on their lives. He was not only their coach but also a father figure interested in helping to shape their lives with a high standard of morals and principles.

Bob was deeply spiritual, a man of honor and integrity with a booming voice and a soft gentle heart. He gave liberally to charities and to the poor on the street. He loved people, stopping to talk to friends and strangers alike with an easy smile and a bit of humor to brighten the day. He strongly believed in and followed the advice of his idol Roberto Clemente who once said that if you don’t do something good for others, you have wasted your life. Bob LaBreche did not waste his life.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Haydee, his son Robert Jude LaBreche and wife Leah of California, his daughter Lisa Schambers and husband Matthew of Rhode Island, and five grandchildren Emma, Bridget, Matthew, Isabella Schambers and Landon LaBreche. Honoring his wishes, there are no services planned.