Robert Sbriglio Sr. died peacefully on March 28 surrounded by his loving and dedicated wife Margaret and his family at his home in Fenwick, Old Saybrook, Conn. He was 85.

Robert and his wife worked tirelessly for 63 years to create a health care organization that has received widespread recognition for the superior quality of care provided. Along with his wife, he was the owner of the Aaron Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chester, Conn. Together with their sons, Dr. Robert Sbriglio and Martin Sbriglio, RN, they expanded to a total of six nursing and rehabilitation centers: Bel-Air Manor in Newington, Conn., Lord Chamberlain in Stratford, Conn., Cheshire House in Waterbury, Conn., Greentree Manor in Waterford, Conn., and Mystic Healthcare in Mystic, Conn. They also established Ryders Health Management in Stratford, Conn., and Lighthouse Home Health Care in Old Saybrook, Conn.

With his family, he cared for thousands of patients and created thousands of jobs throughout his long career of service above self. He was an icon in the health care field. He and his wife were very proud to pass the baton of dedication and service to their accomplished sons so that they can continue to carry out the family’s philosophy of providing quality care and maintaining professional values at all times.

Robert graduated from the St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn., and continued his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary College in Baltimore, Md. He decided on a career path in health care and entered the nursing profession. He received his nurses’s training at the St. Vincent’s College of Nursing in Bridgeport, Conn., and he and his wife received their administrator’s education from the University of Connecticut. In 2007, they received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities for the delivery of the highest quality of health care.

In 2010, they both received honorary doctorate degrees in humane letters from St. Vincent’s College of Nursing for their outstanding contributions and generosity to the nursing and health care fields.

Robert served his country in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was an accomplished boater and enjoyed cruising the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. He was a former commodore of the Middletown Yacht Club. He was also a very passionate antique automobile enthusiast.

In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his loving sons, Dr. Robert Sbriglio and his wife Catherine and their son Max, and Martin Sbriglio and his wife Jennifer and their sons Martin George, David and Daniel.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Peter Dixon for his remarkable care and concern and the staff of caregivers from Lighthouse Home Health Care. The family also wishes to thank family, friends and staff for their support over these past few difficult years.

Funeral services were private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his honor be made to the Yale-New Haven Hospital Cardiology Department, the Middlesex Hospital Cardiology Department in Middletown, or to St. Vincent’s College in Bridgeport, Conn.