Final Salute

Roy L LaGrave
January 23, 1956 ~ January 1, 2022 (age 65)

Roy L. LaGrave Jr., 65, of Prospect, passed away Saturday, January 1, 2022 at Waterbury Hospital. Roy is the husband of Sandra (Pfeiffer) LaGrave and father to sons Christopher, Ceferino and Marc Carrion. He was born January 23, 1956 in Waterbury, one of the ten children of the late Roy L. and Joan (Gagnon) LaGrave.

Roy was raised in Naugatuck and then went on to proudly serve his country in the US Navy as a SeaBee. He was honorably discharge in 1979 and first worked as a lathe operator for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft before moving on to work in the family business. Roy then established his own business, Bandit’s Flag Car Service, in 1989. In 2013, Roy drove tractor trailer for US Express, Lily Transportation, and Rand-Whitney Container until he semi-retired in 2019. Most recently he worked as a hiker for Penske Truck Leasing, driving locally.

Roy was the “human GPS” for family and friends, as he was very knowledgeable by first-hand experience of the roadways along the east coast. He maintained lifelong friendships with many truckers, offering a place to rest or words of wisdom in navigating around hubs of traffic.

He enjoyed Saturday morning dates with his wife, Sandie, at Prospect Dairy Bar and Teddy B’s in
Bethany. Roy was a big-hearted softie with a gruff exterior. He loved his “4 legged kids” and he had many over the years. He would take his dogs to Lowe’s and Home Depot and relax on the couch with the cats. He enjoyed gathering with friends and family around the chimnea, yard work to maintain his beautiful yard, picnics and holidays at home, riding go carts, going to local fairs and The Big E, and attending races at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Roy was an avid collector; tag sales and road trips for “finds” were great weekend fun. He collected Budweiser steins and was in search of the last missing one from 2013 to complete his collection. His family did find and purchase it as a gift for Roy but sadly he did not live to see it.

Left to honor his love, life and memory are his wife Sandie, sons Christopher, Ceferino and Marc as well as his eight brothers and sisters: Rochelle (Louis) Glick, Sally (Floyd) Hafford, Ronald (Deb) LaGrave, Steven (Kathy) LaGrave, Sandra LaGrave, Richard (Donna) LaGrave, Regina (Israel) Lebron, and Stacy Pino, as well as several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Roy was predeceased by his brother Scott LaGrave.

To honor Roy’s final wishes, a Celebration of Life is being planned for May 21, 2022 so family and friends can gather safely outdoors, relax, and share stories. Details will be provided as they become available.

Prospect Memorial/ The Palmerie Family Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the LaGrave family. For directions, updates or to share a fond memory or photo of Roy, or to express words of comfort for his family, please visit www.prospectmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers the LaGrave family requests donations be made to American Heart Association or the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 11 Cherry Hill Rd, Branford, CT 06405.