Robert Yurch joined the Rotary of Avon Canton on February 28, 2025. In my recent interview with Robert I learned that he is affectionately known as Sy, a nickname he received from high school friends. Sy stands for “Smiling Yurch” thanks to his bright and ever present smile!

Sy, was born in Bridgeport, CT and grew up in nearby Trumbull. Sy attended and graduated from St. Joseph High School and then began his college experience at Marist in Poughkeepsie, NY. After graduating from Marist in 1971, he returned to his high school alma mater, St. Joseph High School, as a teacher.

Sy thoroughly enjoyed his year at St. Joe’s teaching and coaching, but the bigger world was calling. Sy and a group of friends moved to D.C., where Sy taught school by day and attended grad school at night, earning a master’s degree in counseling from Catholic University of America. During this time, Sy met and started dating his future wife, Anne.

After marrying and graduating, Sy’s first sales job was selling computers to the federal government. Sy and Anne lived and worked in DC for 10 years and in 1982, Sy and Anne moved to Chicago and he continued his sales career. In 1984 they moved to Boston. Work took Sy away from home for weeks at a time, while Anne “held down the fort” with their three children, Brian, Mary and Kevin. During these years, Sy traveled internationally visiting countries all over the world.

In 1990, Sy went to work for Anne’s family HVAC business and moved their family to Avon. Anne was born and raised in West Hartford. The Yurch Children all attended the Avon Public Schools.  The Yurch’s all embraced their new home and quickly became very active in the community.

Sy helped to start a boys High School Ice Hockey Team in Avon. Both Brian and Kevin played Ice Hockey and Mary was an accomplished High School.