Old Saybrook remembers blast victim Raymond Dobratz

Old Saybrook - Whether it was installing a playground slide at one of the local beaches or helping hang spider webs as decoration for the town's annual Halloween party, people knew they could count on Raymond Dobratz for help.

A member of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the 1980s and '90s, Dobratz remained a big supporter of the town's recreation department even after he moved on to serve on the town's Police Commission in 1998, said Vicki Duffy, director of Old Saybrook's Parks and Recreation Department.

"If you needed help, he had a truck and he had tools, and he had muscle," said Duffy, who joined the department in the mid-1970s.

A pipefitter supervisor, Dobratz, 58, was one of five people killed Sunday in the explosion at Kleen Energy Systems in Middletown.

In Old Saybrook, many remembered the father of three and grandfather of five as a family man who coached football, baseball and soccer and helped start the Old Saybrook Youth Football Activities League in the 1980s.

"He was a big, imposing guy, but a real gentle guy," said Al Rice, another Old Saybrook resident who was also instrumental in starting the Youth Football League. "He just had a great way with all kids."

Roger Goodnow, the town's probate judge and former first selectman who served as Parks and Recreation director between 1977 and 1989, said Dobratz was the type of person "who was just willing to do just about anything to help out."

Dobratz understood his role as a coach was "to help to develop kids' interest and skill level, but also not to be so competitive that they sent the wrong message," Goodnow said.

Duffy said Monday that the Parks and Recreation Department plans to name the town's annual fishing derby at the Town Park for Dobratz, who, with his son, Matt, helped start the derby in 2003.

A wake will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Road. The funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at First Church of Christ at 366 Main St. in Saybrook.

Dobratz most recently served on the Police Commission but chose not to run for re-election last fall, said Adam Stillman, chairman of the Old Saybrook Democratic Town Committee.

Dobratz's family has said that Dobratz, who had been working 12-hour shifts seven days a week, had planned to retire soon.

"We made a good team on the Police Commission because he was real easygoing and I was sort of aggressive," said Richard Metsack, a fellow Democrat on the commission. "And Ray could meet and talk with people that really were afraid to meet and talk with me. So we made a good team."