Obituary of Robert Bernard Laughlin

Mendham Borough - Robert B. Laughlin died on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Morristown Memorial Hospital suddenly after a long illness. He was 80. Born in New York City to the late Bernard and Ursula (Dowling) Laughlin on May 30, 1934, he moved to New Jersey in 1961 and was a resident of Mendham since 1978. He was President of Sondheim & Laughlin, Inc, an Insurance Brokerage established in New York City in 1875 and moved to New Jersey in 1983. Bob joined the company in 1955 and retired in 2003, when the Company was sold to Hub International. He was a licensed New York Insurance Broker as well as a New Jersey Insurance Producer along with many other states and one Province of Canada, having been licensed for over 50 years. Prior to that he had been employed by Chubb & Son, in NYC, as a Claims Examiner and Investigator. Most importantly it was where he met his devoted and darling wife Connie. In 1965 he moved to Manalapan Township where he was appointed Township Treasurer and elected Township Clerk, and was appointed to the Township Committee. In Manalapan he served as Republican Municipal Leader. He became a member of the Monmouth County Recreation and Parks Commission, in 1969 on which he served nine years and was Vice Chairman for several years, during which he also served as Acting Chairman. He also served on the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts. He is survived by his wife of many years, Constance and a daughter, Debra Higgins and her husband Brian; his grandson Russell Higgins and his wife Kristin; and brother in law, George Hansen, who he raised from childhood and was his partner at Sondheim & Laughlin. Arrangements are by the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ 07945 (973) 543-4720 www.baileyfuneralhomes.com Visitation will be on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the funeral home from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. Memorial Services will be on Monday December 15, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Mendham, Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ 07945. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 would be appreciated.