From the time he was a small boy, public service was ingrained in Robert Randich as a way of life by his parents, Ted and Regina Randich. He campaigned for his Dad in each of his successful runs for the Newington Town Council from 1967 to 1973 as a young boy. After graduating from the Newington Public School system and the University of Connecticut summa cum laude with an Economics degree, Robert attended the University of Connecticut School of Law where he graduated with honors in 1986.

Robert began practicing as a lawyer with a Hartford law firm but it was not long before he began his own career in public service. He ran for and was elected to the Newington Town Council in 1987, beginning a 14 year career on the Newington Town Council which culminated with his service as the Mayor of Newington from 1995 to 2001. Among his achievements during his six year tenure as Mayor include the redevelopment of a major portion of Newington Center, completion of capital improvement projects at every school in town, construction of the twin hockey rinks and the skateboard park and responsible financial management of the town’s budget which resulted in the town’s bond rating being upgraded.

Robert decided to leave the office of Mayor to dedicate more of his time to be a father to his young sons, Ted and Evan. He was active in the boys’ scouting troops, serving as a Den Leader for his son Evan. He attended PTA meetings and chaired the 4th grade yearbook for his son Ted. He served as a religious education volunteer at St. Mary Church, where he has also served as a Lector since 1986. He served as the president of the Newington High School Cross Country Booster Club for six years while his sons were on the team. He also continued his service to the public, joining the Newington Student Assistance Fund Board of Directors in 2001, a charitable organization which makes no interest loans to Newington residents attending post-secondary educational institutions. Robert served as president of the board of directors for two years and was once again elected president of the board in November 2023. Robert joined the Newington Rotary Club in 2003 and served as its president in 2008 and continues his service as a Rotarian today. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his public service in 2016. Robert served for six years as a director of the Newington Historical Society and Trust, Inc. and as the chairman of the Joe Doyle Senior and Disabled Center Project Building Committee. Robert is a life long blood donor, donating 124 pints of blood to date.

When Judge Sheila Hennessy announced her retirement as the Judge of Probate for the district of Newington, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill in 2006, Robert re-entered the electoral process, seeking election to the office of judge of probate. He was elected with 65% of the vote and then was re-elected in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He is now one of the most senior probate judges in the state of Connecticut and has been asked on multiple occasions to serve on panels at seminars for continuing education programs for probate judges discussing best practices for probate judges to conduct contested hearings in estate and conservator matters. He also has made solo presentations to the probate judges of the state on different aspects of estate administration. Probate courts have jurisdiction over estate administration, conservatorships, guardianships and family matters including removal of parental guardian rights and termination of parental rights, among other matters. Robert has heard every type of matter that can be brought in a probate court. Robert’s leadership among the probate judges of the state was recognized by his election to the Executive Committee of the Probate Court Judges Assembly in 2013 and he was further elected as its treasurer in 2021. Robert has served on the Probate Court Rules of Procedure Revisions Committee in 2021 and 2023.

After a successful 32 year career as a lawyer, Robert retired in 2018 so that he could focus all his professional time on serving as a probate judge. This decision benefited the court’s users when the pandemic struck, closing down much of society. Robert was able to keep the court open as the court continued to process applications, hold hearings and conduct the people’s business in spite of all the restrictions occasioned by the pandemic. Robert married Kathleen Murphy, a retired probate judge who now is the Eligibility Director of the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, in October, 2021 and is now also father to two stepsons, George and Alex. In his spare time, Robert enjoys long distance swimming, hiking, and attending any sporting event in which the UConn Huskies are competing.