OBITUARIES

John Barry

FLORIDA - John Michael Barry, 83, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at Moffitt Cancer Center, after a brief period of illness, in the presence of his loving family.

John was born on June 4, 1942, in Winsted, Connecticut, and raised in Norfolk, Connecticut, where he developed the values of faith, service, hard work, and deep devotion to family that defined his life.

A lifelong Catholic, John’s faith was a constant source of strength and guidance. His final parish was St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood, Florida, where he remained spiritually grounded and closely connected to his faith community.

John proudly served in the United States Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, reflecting his leadership, discipline, and commitment to service. He dedicated 25 years of his career as a correctional officer with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, earning the respect of colleagues for his integrity and professionalism. Following his state service, John continued his career with The Hartford Insurance Company until his full retirement in 2009.

An avid saltwater fisherman, John found peace and joy by the ocean. He spent countless weekends and summers at Race Point Beach in Cape Cod, pursuing his passion for striped bass fishing—traditions and memories that became deeply cherished by family and friends. John also was avid fan and supporter of the Boston Red Sox and UCONN girls basketball teams.

John was actively involved in fraternal and service organizations throughout his life. He was a proud member of the Southington Elks Lodge, where he served as Past Exalted Ruler, and was also affiliated with the Lions Club, the Falcon Club, and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Norfolk CT volunteer fire as well as a charter member of Norfolk Ambulance.

Above all else, John’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Deborah Barry; his son, Sean Barry, and daughter-in-law, Carmen Barry, of Colebrook, CT; his daughter, Erin Barry, of New York, NY; his grandson, Edward; and his granddaughters, Lillian and Sarah, who were the pride and joy of his life. He is also survived by Lorraine McCafferty, the mother of his children, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.

John will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering devotion, deep faith, and the countless moments shared with family especially the time spent with Deborah, which he treasured above all else.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on May 16, 2026, at 10AM at The Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk, CT. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Norfolk.

In lieu of flowers the family ask donations be made to Moffit Cancer Institute in honor of John Barry.

Robert Leibrock

SHARON - Robert Edward Leibrock, age 69, of Sharon, CT passed away on May 1, 2026. He was the loving father of Robert W. Leibrock, Holly Leibrock, Heather Emberlin, & Cole Leibrock.

Bob was born August 12, 1956, the son of the late William and Virginia (Mead) Leibrock. He graduated from Greenwich High School and spent his career as an arborist with the Town of Greenwich. He also ran his own business, B&B Tree, and was continually involved in a variety of real estate endeavors. Family was central to

Bob’s life, and when his children were young, he made time to coach their sports teams and be a constant presence in their lives.

After moving from Greenwich to Sharon in 1999, Bob proudly established Cobblestone Farm, a family farm with cows, horses, goats, chickens, pigs, and various other animals. Known to his grandchildren as “Pa”, he found great joy in sharing farm life with them, including endless tractor rides.

Bob maintained a lifelong connection to northern Maine, where he began traveling as a child to the family’s hunting cabin, Camp Leibrock . Over the years, it became a place of comfort, tradition, and enduring friendships. He spent countless days there hunting, fishing, and enjoying time with family, and took pride in refurbishing an old dairy farm. Bob also loved introducing friends from Glenville to the area, sharing with them a place that meant so much to him.

He is survived by his sons Robert (Lorinn) and Cole (Carly), and daughters Holly (George) and Heather (Jason); nine grandchildren: Mackenzie and Hadley Casey; Weston Leibrock; Ella and Faye Emberlin; Emmerson, Beckett, Thatcher, and Kinley Leibrock; his brother Doug; nephew Martin; and son-in-law Ethan

Casey. He is also survived by his former wife, Shirley Hoffkins, with whom he shared many years raising their four children. He was predeceased by his brothers William and Martin and his sister Linda.

Calling hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on May 11, 2026 from 4pm-6pm.

A graveside service and burial will be held at Greenwood Union Cemetery at 215 North Street, Rye, NY 10580 on

May 12, 2026 at 11am. A celebration of life will immediately follow the burial ceremony at George Seafood &

Steakhouse, 2 S. Water St., Greenwich, CT 06830.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Corner Food Pantry, 80 Sharon Rd North East, Lakeville, CT 06039.

Huntington Williams

CORNWALL - Beloved and greatly respected Cornwall resident Huntington (“Hunt”) Williams, surrounded by family, died April 10, the result of an injury sustained from a fall. He was 95 years old and had lived in Cornwall, a town he loved deeply, for the last 45 years.

Born in 1930 in Hartford, Hunt was raised in rural Glastonbury, a town where his family had lived for several generations and where his great grandfather started a shaving soap business, the J.B. Williams Company. His father, Percy Williams, worked for the Aetna Life Insurance Company in Hartford, and his mother, Gertrude, was a homemaker. Hunt had one older sister, Sarah, who predeceased him.

Hunt attended Glastonbury public schools, and it was in high school that he developed an interest in and lifelong passion for farming. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1953 with a degree in animal husbandry. The Korean War was going on during his college years but Hunt was granted an educational deferment. After a summer working in Wyoming, he went on to California where he was drafted and sent to Korea. Fortunately, the cease fire went into effect in July, 1953; and his military service ended in October 1955.

His deep interest in agriculture and the environment was a constant through the jobs he held and communities he lived in, starting with work for a feed company in New York State, followed by seven years with the Cornell Cooperative Extension providing education in dairy farming in New York’s Herkimer and Essex counties, then on to Tenneco, a large conglomerate with an agricultural chemical branch, and a move to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality where, among other projects, he worked on regulations regarding the development rights for farms and farmland.

During this period, he married Nancy Lewis of West Hartford. They had three sons, Peter, David and Philip.

In 1976 Hunt and his family moved to Lakeville, Connecticut, where he began a job as an adult ed teacher in the vocational agricultural department at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, a position he held for ten years. It was during this time, that Hunt and Nancy divorced, and Hunt moved to a house on Cream Hill Road in Cornwall. He met and eventually married Rebecca (Becky) Gold West. They built a house on a portion of Cream Hill Farm – a peaceful tract of land with beautiful views – where they lived with their combined families, Becky’s two sons and Hunt’s three sons. Hunt’s last fulltime job was working for his brother-in-law Ralph Gold who had a John Deere business in Bantam.

After Becky’s death in 1994, Hunt joined the fire department as an EMT, a commitment he regarded as an opportunity to give back to Cornwall. He will long be remembered for his support of John Welles who, when he decided he was too sick to continue living, took his own life in June 2004. Hunt’s years of service in Cornwall include being on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 20 years and chairman for half that time. He was the Civil Preparedness Director of Cornwall for ten years. He served as a Cornwall Conservation Trust director, drove for FISH, and for five years was a “friendly visitor” to a retired teacher of Hotchkiss. He served on numerous committees, including the Agriculture Advisory Commission.

During these last 30 years Hunt also shared his life and house with another Cornwall neighbor, Honora (“Nora”) Horan, and first their Airedale Lulu and more recently their Welsh terrier Maggie. He thoroughly enjoyed his retirement: he joyfully cut and split countless cords of wood to heat the house; in late February he would tap 25 maple trees along Cream Hill Road, collect the sap bucket by bucket and carefully boil the sap until he had perfect maple syrup. He listened to opera while making apple pie or, later, baked apples. He traveled extensively: to New Zealand, Hawaii and the Adirondacks with his dear friend Denny Frost; and multiple trips to Europe with Nora, including one following the places in France where his father had fought in World War I. He reveled in having nearby family and watched with wonder and delight as granddaughters grew from newborns to young women. And through it all he continued to make improvements to his house, a never ending “work in progress.”

Hunt is survived by his three sons, Peter and his daughter Francesca (Colorado), David (Cornwall, Connecticut), and Philip and his wife Keirsten and their two daughters Amelia and Natalie (Colebrook, Connecticut); also by his two stepsons Phillip West, his wife Kathy and daughters Thea and Andra (Cornwall, Connecticut), and Charles, his wife Michele and sons Woody and Clark (Bozeman, Montana); by his niece Anne Krauss and her husband Stephen (Jefferson, Maine); by his loving and beloved significant other/partner Nora Horan and their terrier Maggie; and by the countless friends and neighbors who treasured their friendship with Hunt.

Donations in Hunt’s memory may be made to his favorite charity Heifer International (Heifer.org), or The Cornwall Fire Department (cornwallfire.org), the Cornwall Conservation Trust (cornwallconservationtrust.org) or the Connecticut Farmland Trust (ctfarmland.org).

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 31. Details to be announced.

Nora Grey

SALISBURY - Nora “Eileen” Grey, 91, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2026, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT.

Born in Ireland on August 15, 1934, in a farmhouse in Tourmakeady, County Mayo, 16-year-old Eileen Keane bravely moved to the United States in the early 1950s, according to daughter Bernadette Grey of Sharon, CT. She settled into a Brooklyn brownstone with her aunt, uncle, and 7 boisterous cousins, all of whom treated her like another one of the brood.

Nora married in her 20s, raising her family in Queens and then Suffolk County. She got her driver’s license in her mid-30s and blossomed in a later-in-life career as a teacher’s aide for intellectually disabled students at West Suffolk BOCES.

A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, Nora is survived by her daughters, Bernadette (Bob Schwartz) of Sharon, CT, and Barbara Grey of Carmel, NY; her granddaughter, Lili Gehorsam (Adnan Husain) of Seattle; and her grandson, Luke Gehorsam (Becca Endicott) of Chatham, NY. She was also the cherished "GiGi" to her great-grandchildren, Susannah and Raphael, the lights of her life.

Nora was predeceased by her son, Brian, as well as all of her siblings, sisters Bridget, Peggy, Kathleen, Sr. Mary Agatha, Nancy, and brothers Michael and Patrick. Nora enjoyed many trips “home” to Ireland over the years to visit her siblings, nieces, and nephews. Many of them made the journey to visit her in the States as well.

Nora spent her final four years living at the Payn Home, a not-for-profit independent retirement residence in Chatham, NY. She thrived in the warm, social, family-like atmosphere, especially enjoying the proximity to Luke, Becca, and her great-grandchildren.

A Carrom player, Nora spent countless hours at the board with her best friend, Joyce. They also enjoyed playing dominoes and bingo with the other residents. While deeply feeling the loss of Joyce this past summer, Nora continued to be surrounded by love. She looked forward to regular phone conversations with her cousin Peggy Flammer of New Jersey until two weeks before her passing.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Payn Home—particularly Jessica, Dina, and Mandy—who treated Nora like a cherished family member. We are also profoundly grateful to the nurses, CNAs, and staff at Noble Horizons for the tender care they provided in her final days.

Michael Carabine

SHARON – Michael Joseph Carabine, 81, of Sharon, Connecticut, passed away on the morning of Friday, April 3, 2026 at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was the beloved husband of the late Angela Derrico Carabine and loving father to Caitlin Carabine McLean.

Michael was born on April 23, 1944, in Bronx, NY. He was the son of the late Thomas and Kathleen Carabine of New York.

Michael was an alumnus of St. Jerome’s Catholic School (Bronx, NY) and later attended St. Joseph’s School (Barrytown, NY), where he studied briefly to become a Christian brother (which he ultimately decided was not his path in life). He served in the infantry branch of the Army of the United States during the Vietnam War from February 1968 to January 1970, where he earned a National Defense Service medal, a Vietnam Service medal, a Combat Infantry badge, a Vietnam Campaign medal, a Bronze Star medal and two (2) Overseas bars, as well as the title of M14 Expert.

He married Angela Derrico Carabine on September 9, 1978 and they welcomed their only child, Caitlin, on October 11, 1985.

Michael had a storied career in hospitality, acting as general manager for several of New York City’s private clubs. He later translated his love for hospitality into the corporate world, where he worked for Hess Corporation and the Episcopal Church.

In his youth, Michael was an impressive athlete, with a love for handball, softball and swimming. In his later years, he enjoyed reading and listening to music, with his loving (and furry) companion, Henry, and most enjoyed spending time with his beloved grandson, Will.

He is survived by his daughter, Caitlin; son-in-law, Andrew; and grandson, William, all of whom he loved deeply; as well as his sister, Catherine Turpin. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Catherine Carabine, and his brothers, Thomas and William Carabine.

A private service will be held at St. Bernard’s Church in Sharon, CT.

Memorial contributions may be made to: the Sharon Historical Society & Museum, the Sharon Fire Department Inc. & Sharon Ambulance, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Joan Tuncy

SALISBURY - Joan Tuncy, 92, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at Noble Horizons.

Born on October 27, 1933, in Sharon, Connecticut, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Vera Bejean.

Joan made her home on Indian Mountain Road for more than 40 years, where she found great joy in the natural beauty around her. She especially loved spending time outdoors and watching the wildlife that visited her backyard.

She worked for several years with a New York telephone company as a switch board opperator and later served as a house manager for a number of local homes. During that time, she adopted a beloved dog, Nippy, who became a cherished companion.

An avid reader, Joan had a deep love of books and took great pleasure in buying and selling them throughout her life. She also enjoyed photography, antique shopping, and writing.

She is survived by her cousins, Don Hosier and his wife, Melissa; and Gregg Hosier.

All services are private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Little Guild of St. Francis, 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796, or online at https://givebutter.com/littleguild-give.

Patricia Blakey

CORNWALL - A woman of great faith has passed. Patricia, "Pat", Benedict Blakey of Cornwall, CT, passed quietly at her home on March 12th, 2026. She was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Blakey; their daughter, Karen B. Fisher; her sister, Nancy B. Lawrence; and her parents, Lester and Jean Benedict.

She is survived by her son David Blakey of Cornwall Bridge, daughter Lori B. Welles and her husband David G. Welles of West Cornwall, granddaughter Melissa Root and great-granddaughter Devyn Root of Terryville, CT, and niece Pam B. Hart and husband Doug of Belencia, CA.

Pat was born in 1934 and spent her life in Cornwall with her family, in the community she loved. Pat graduated from HVRHS in 1952 and began working at Torrington Savings Bank as a teller and secretarial assistant. In 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Blakey. As a young couple, Pat and Jerry became members of the First Church of Christ, Cornwall, now UCC Cornwall, and quickly became active members in the church and

community. Pat was a Sunday school teacher, superintendent, and then, for thirty years, the church secretary. As a young mom, Pat worked as an assistant and teacher at a private day care in Lakeville and then in the Special Education Dept. at Kent Center School.

From 1977 to 1997, Pat worked at Marvelwood School in Cornwall and Kent; she became the head librarian in 1987. Pat loved to be around books, kids, and young adults, and they knew she would listen with a compassionate ear or offer a shoulder to cry on. Pat felt it was important to expose Cornwall’s young adults to the world outside the town. Trips to the Cloisters in NYC became an annual outing. She helped create a youth group in the 70s and

organized many get-togethers and events. Pat was one of the creators and organizers of the UCC’s Memorial Day Carnival.

She and Jerry would always volunteer for the famous Cornwall Rummage sale and ran the men’s department into her eighties. After the tornado of '89, Pat and Jerry opened their garage, and she organized meals for the workers and volunteers during the clean-up. If there was a need in the community, Pat wanted to fill it or figure out a way to get things done.

During the late 1970s, Pat and Jerry began the medical equipment loan program in Cornwall out of their house. The program continues to this day, now housed at the UCC in Cornwall. Fielding phone calls, getting directions, and then organizing inventory as the program grew, Pat made it happen. Pat, with Jerry, also volunteered for Operation Overflow in Torrington and spent many years volunteering at the Torrington soup kitchen.

In her free time, she traveled with Jerry, was an avid reader, loved flowers, and spending time with her family.

Pat received the Citizenship Award in Cornwall for community service. The UCC Living Waters Award, honoree of the HVRHS Alumni Hall of Honors, the Public Service award from the State of Connecticut, and many more recognitions and awards. She was a Girl Scout Leader, served on the Cornwall Library Building Committee, a member of the Cornwall Housing Corporation, and a member of the Cornwall School Board.

In Pat’s words, "We're just a volunteering couple of fools!” She will be missed, but her good work will live on.

A Celebration of Life will be on April 18th at 2:00, at the UCC Bolton Hill Rd. Cornwall CT.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, UCC CT, or to the Cornwall Food and Fuel fund.

George McGowan

NEWTOWN - George Laurence “Larry” McGowan, 82, died on February 28, 2026. A man of integrity and long-standing friendships, Larry leaves behind a legacy of professional achievement and a family who loved him dearly.

Born on November 27, 1943, in Brooklyn, NY to George Laurence and Grace Harding McGowan, Larry grew up with a foundation of faith and education.

He attended St. John’s Preparatory School (Brooklyn, NY) and Garden City (NY) High School before graduating from Niagara University.

After graduation, Larry completed his ROTC training and became a first lieutenant in the United States Army.

Following additional specialized training, he was stationed in Vilseck, Germany, on the Czech border, where he led a missile unit for most of his military service. He was immensely proud of his time spent in the military and spoke of it often.

Upon returning to civilian life, Larry dedicated his professional career to Real Estate Development and Construction. His work left a tangible mark across the Northeast, and he remained committed to it, actively engaging in projects until his courageous battle with pulmonary disease led him to retire two years ago. He was known by colleagues for his expertise and his commitment to the projects that shaped the local landscape.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Larry was a husband, loyal friend, and cherished family member. He is survived by his wife, Brigid Mary Hutchinson McGowan; his sister, Kathleen McGowan Metz of Longboat Key, FL and Sharon, CT; his nephews, James Thornton Metz (Victoria) and Robert Harding Metz (Robin); and his nieces, Alicia Harding Metz, Lauren Harding Simons, Kathryn Metz Helm (Lloyd), and Margaret Thornton Metz.

Larry was a proud great-uncle to nine grand-nieces and nephews, all of whom held a special place in his heart.

Larry also shared a close and affectionate bond with Aldina Vazão Kennedy and Ana Monica Vazão. He valued lifelong friendships, particularly those formed during his years at Garden City High School and found immense joy in nurturing those connections, especially through their annual golf outings he so enjoyed organizing and attending.

A Mass of Christian Burial with military honors will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on June 6, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, NY. The interment at Calvary Cemetery will be at a later date.

David Vickers

LAKEVILLE - David Munro Vickers, 80, passed away on February 22, 2026, after a brief illness. He was the loving partner of Diane Landucci, with whom he shared more than 20 years in Lakeville, Connecticut.

David was born on October 15, 1945, in Queens, New York, the son of John Marter Vickers and Ethlyn Marie Munro Vickers. He served in the United States Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

David later moved with his family to Lakeville, Connecticut, where he went on to hold positions at LeBonnes Market, Noble Horizons, Hotchkiss and Lime Rock Park.

One of David’s great passions was baking cookies and cakes for his many friends in the community. He also had a lifelong tenderness for wildlife and quietly enjoyed caring for the many creatures around him. With birdseed and other treats left outside for squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and the occasional turkey or deer, no visitor ever left his yard hungry.

He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the UConn Huskies.

In addition to Ms. Landucci, he is survived by his son, Grant Vickers of Lakeville; his nephews, Damon Vickers of Martha’s Vineyard and Jeremiah Brimlow Vickers of New York City.

David will be remembered for his quiet kindness, his generosity toward both people and animals, and the warmth he brought to those around him.

Lawrence Power

LAKEVILLE - Larry Power passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2026.

Larry was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in NYC in 1939.

He had a successful public relations firm for over 35 years in NYC.

After retiring, he chaired the Sharon Land Trust board for many years. He always said one of the most important things he ever did was saving the Twin Oaks Field from development.

He is survived by his husband Lea Davies of 44 years.

Donations in his memory can be sent to East Mountain House in Lakeville in honor of Keavy Bedell or the Sharon Hospital Primary Care Project in honor of Doctor Jonathan Joseph.

Carolyn McCarthy

LAKEVILLE - Carolyn G. McCarthy, 88, a long time resident of Indian Mountain Road, passed away peacefully at home on February 7, 2026.

She was born on September 8, 1937, in Hollis, NY. She was the youngest daughter of the late William James and Ruth Anderson Gedge of Indian Mountain Road.

Carolyn's first job out of high school was at the Time and Life building in Manhattan, NY. In 1956, she went on to work for Capital Airlines until they disbanded.

She began banking in White Plains, NY where she met her husband Edward James McCarthy. They started their family and relocated to Pleasant Valley, NY. She then returned to banking in Poughkeepsie, NY and later pursued real estate.

Carolyn was very creative and enjoyed home making, gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking and baking. Her Christmas cookies were always remarkable. She had a pioneer spirit and embraced the toil of yard chores. She was very independent and at 87 she still shoveled the driveway in the winter, mowed the grass, trimmed the bushes, raked the leaves and dragged the brush. She took pride in the manicure of the grounds where she resided.

Carolyn was a wonderful mother who had an enormous heart. She loved all animals, wild or tame. She will be dearly missed by her family and the people that knew her.

She is predeceased by her husband Edward McCarthy Sr. and her brother Dr. Stafford Gedge of MN.

She is survived by her son, Edward (Anne) McCarthy of Greenfield, MA and grandsons James and Theodore, son Sean McCarthy of Oak Hill, NY, sister Nancy Dougherty of SC, nieces Lynn Warner, Debra Phillips, Susan Nelson, Christine Richards and nephews William, James and Robert Gedge.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Tilden Southack Jr.

SHARON - Tilden W. Southack Jr. a longtime resident of Sharon, CT passed February 13th, 2026 peacefully, hand in hand with the person he cared about most, Karlee McGhee and a couple of his employees/friends.

He was born May 25th, 1950, the son of Jean (Bunny) Southack and Tilden Southack, and brother to Barbara (Bobby) Southack and Sally Southack.

Tilden graduated high school from Wooster School of Danbury and earned a college degree in business and economics from Colorado State University. Tilden told stories of being the manager of a varsity football team and hockey team during his time at Wooster.

After his immediate family had passed or moved on, Tilden continued to run his family farm, Whitetail Farm in Sharon. He poured his blood, sweat and tears into every last inch of soil there and cared for his Angus cattle and Percheron horses and a handful of cats with the help of Karlee McGhee, Wayne McGhee, Scott Garay, Charles Parmalee, and Prestyn Handlowich as well as some high school boys as Tilden called them.

Tilden also enjoyed anything that could go fast, whether that was a motorcycle or a corvette that he had fixed up to make 10x more horsepower than it did before. Just as much he loved to tell stories about it to the people he held close. He was like a muscle car, he might yell and scream at you, but he would've given you all he had. He wasn’t an easy person to read/understand, and he kept to himself about most things but if he allowed you to grow close to him and he said “Thank you” you were a lucky person.

He is survived by his chosen family Karlee McGhee and Wayne McGhee and three nephews Eric Muller, Bogart Muller, and James DiGanzi.

There will be calling hours on Saturday, February 21, from 10:00am until 12:00pm. Burial will be held in the spring at Sharon East Side Cemetery.

Lucille Nelson

SHARON- Lucille C. Nelson, 93, of Sharon Valley passed away February 1, 2026 at Sharon Hospital after a short illness. Her loving family was at her side. She was the wife of the late Edwin O. Nelson.

Lucille was born November 28, 1932, in Vergennes, Vermont, the daughter of the late Eldred Cunningham Sr. and Lilah LaRose Cunningham.

She graduated from Vergennes High School in 1950.

In 1953, Lucille married Eddie Nelson while he was home on medical leave from the United States Army where he was actively serving during the Korean Conflict. The young couple moved to Connecticut in 1960.

In 1970 they bought their home in Sharon where Lucille would reside for the next 55 years.

Lucille began her career at The Hotchkiss School in 1966. Over the years, she held many positions within the school, including work in the mailroom and serving as secretary to the Head Master. From 1987 until her retirement in 2006, she served as the Gifts Manager in the Alumni and Development Office, where she was responsible for processing gifts to the school. In recognition of her dedication and service, Lucille received the Independent School Support Staff Distinguished Service Award in 1992 from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) of Washington, D.C. She was deeply devoted to The Hotchkiss School and treasured her school “family.”

Outside of work, Lucille was an avid gardener with a true green thumb. She enjoyed crocheting and knitting, staying active through walking and exercise, and especially looked forward to her Monday night dinners with friends. Most of all, Lucille treasured time spent with her family, which brought her the greatest joy.

Lucille is survived by her children, Eric (Cindy) Nelson, Diane N.(Peter) Selino and Scott (Bianca) Nelson of Sharon and by her brother David Cunningham of Vergennes, VT. She has 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her children, Lynn, Michael and Jon Nelson; and her grandson Mark Selino; and her siblings, Eldred Cunningham Jr., Leonard Cunningham (her twin brother), Rosalene Casey, Beverly Peck, and Richard Cunningham.

A graveside service and burial will be held at Ellsworth Cemetery in Sharon on May 9th at 11:00AM, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.

Michael English

FALLS VILLAGE - Michael English passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026.

Michael was born in Queens, NY on October 19, 1961 to Anita and Thomas English. Michael was in a hurry and he arrived a bit early with his red hair, big bright blue eyes, and a bit of a temper. He was the 6th of 9 children.

Michael spent his life trying to see where he fit in and was very happy living in Falls Village, CT.

He had a big heart, an infectious laugh, and was happiest when cooking for others. He enjoyed working at Snack Shack and The Boathouse. He loved Thanksgiving and feeding all those who came together for community dinners at Pilgrim House.

He had two passions: the NY Yankees and playing golf. If he was watching Yankees baseball, he would block out everything and everyone and cheer them on. As far as golf goes, he probably wasn't as good as he told everyone he was. He had the gift of gab.

You would think he kissed the Blarney Stone. Michael liked to tell stories with and without his (fake) Irish Brogue.

Michael was predeceased by his parents Anita & Thomas, and his brothers Brian & Stephen.

He is survived by his siblings Kenneth, Maureen, Patricia Siantos (Apostolos), Donna Fanning (Mike), Christopher (Claudia), and Philip as well as 16 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in the Spring and Michael's final resting place will be at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.

Zane Moss

SHARON- Zane Moss, age 90, of Sharon, CT passed away peacefully as his home on January 27, 2026. He was the loving husband of Vicki Moss.

Zane was born November 5, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Albert Moss and Tillie Moss (Sinderman.)

He graduated from James Madison High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Upon returning home from his miliary service , Zane married Rochelle Leventhal and owned and operated a bakery in Brooklyn, NY. He later owned Broadway TV Center, an appliance and repair shop.

Zane married Vicki in 1986 and began the next chapter of his life opening and operating Zane Moss Antiques, where they travelled the country selling Old English antiques. It was a wildly successful venture which allowed Zane to tap into his creative talents.

Zane is survived by 3 children, Amy, Bari and Adam, 6 grandchildren, Eliza, Zoe, Sophie, Stella, Isaac and Rex, 2 great grandchildren Adeline and Annabelle, three step children, Jill, Stephanie and Michael and two step grandchildren Timothy and Alexandra.

James Cookingham

MILLERTON, NY - James (Jimmy) Cookingham, 51, a lifelong local resident, passed away on January 19, 2026.

James was born on April 17, 1972 in Sharon, CT, the son of Robert Cookingham and the late Joanne Cookingham.

He attended Webutuck Central School.

Jimmy was an avid farmer since a very young age at Daisi-Hill & eventually had joint ownership of Daisey Hill Farm in Millerton, NY with his wife Jessica. He took great pride in growing pumpkins and sweet corn.

He was very outdoorsy and besides farming, loved to ride four wheelers, fish, and deer hunt. He also loved to make a roaring bonfire.

He was a farmer, friend, husband, father, son & brother. He will be missed by many.

He is survived by father, Robert Cookingham, wife Jessica (Ball) Cookingham, daughters, Hailey Cookingham-Loiodice (Matt), Taylor Ellis-Tanner (Jimmy) and sister Brenda Valyou. As well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by mother, Joanne (Palmer) Cookingham.

His daughter, Hailey, will always keep his legacy alive by their father-daughter antics, such as their handshake, nicknames and making “quacking noises” at each other.

Services/Memorials will be held at a later date.

George Fischer

WINDHAM — George Martin Fischer, 70, of Windham, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026.

George was born in Velbert, Germany, to Elisabeth and Franz Fischer, and later grew up in New Jersey, the eldest of three brothers. He attended college in New York City before returning home to learn the mason’s craft under his father’s guidance. That early training became the foundation of a life defined by skill, integrity, and pride in building things that last. George went on to own his own masonry company before transitioning into corporate sales in the commercial brick industry. In that role, he worked closely with architects and builders, helping construct iconic buildings across cities throughout the Northeast—landmarks he would often point out during family travels.

On August 23, 1980, George married the love of his life, Gail Susanne Miner. Married for 45 years, they built a life rooted in devotion, hard work, and shared purpose. Together, they built their first home in Lakeville, CT, and later lovingly restored and fully remodeled two historic homes, one in Newport, NY—where they raised their daughters—and one in Windham, CT. Together, they brought new life to old spaces with the same care George brought to everything he touched.

Above all else, George was—by every meaning of the word—an extraordinary father. He was the proud and joyful father of his two daughters, and those who knew him best often said they had never seen a man express such pure, unwavering delight in his children. His pride was constant, his love unmistakable, and his devotion absolute. Over the years, George also became a second father to many, offering wisdom and steady guidance through stories, humor, and an ever-watchful presence that was calm and steady, but never judgmental.

George is survived by his beloved wife, Gail; his daughters, Stefanie (and her fiancé, Thomas Moulton) and Victoria; his brother, Robert; and his nephew, Nicholas. He was predeceased by his brother, William.

A memorial service will be held at Salisbury Congregational Church on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. Family and friends are invited afterward to a reception at The Interlaken from 2:00–5:00 p.m. to celebrate George’s life. If you are able to attend the reception, please R.S.V.P. to his daughter, Stefanie, at Stefanie.Dianna.Fischer@gmail.com by February 20. If you have stories you would like shared during the service (which his family warmly invites), or photos you would like included at the reception, please email Stefanie at the address above.

Although flowers are appreciated, donations in George’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.

Herbert Franson

SAILSBURY - Herbert Raymond Franson, 94, passed away on January 18, 2026. He was the loving husband of Evelyn Hansen Franson. Better known as Ray, within his family, and Herb elsewhere.

He was born on February 11, 1931 in Brooklyn, N.Y. When he was three years old, he emigrated to Sweden with his mother, Amy (Larson), father Carl Herbert and sister, Ruth. He was nurtured by members of his extended family. Being owners and managers of manufacturing plants in rural Sweden, they gave this curious “nuts and bolts kind of guy” access to machinery where he could satisfy his needs to repair and build parts for his kid-style projects. At 18 he returned to relatives in Marlborough, CT who encouraged him to continue high school. He met classmate Evelyn, his English tutor and future wife, at East Hampton High School and they graduated in the class of 1949.

He joined the US Navy and served in the Mediterranean aboard the USS Midway and, during the Korean conflict, aboard the USS Pine Island. Upon discharge he attended Porter School of Machine and Tool Design under the GI Bill. He then apprenticed as a tool and die maker for Pratt Whitney Aircraft, then worked for Stirling Engineering, culminating as a mold engineer with Becton Dickinson, Canaan, CT; much closer to his home on Twin Lakes. At B-D he was involved in molding technology and traveled to plants worldwide overseeing production of syringes used to deliver vaccines.

Along the way, he renovated and constructed three homes in Marlborough and Salisbury, CT and in Rangeley, ME.

Ray and Evelyn retired to Rangeley in 1992 after living at Twin Lakes for 25 years. He joined the Rangeley Congregational Church just in time to coordinate renovation of the church’s old barn into a community center. This led to the position of “clerk of the works” when the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association renovated and enlarged their clubhouse in Oquossoc. RRG&SA honored his dedication with a Lifetime Membership. He also volunteered driving the RRHAT van and coordinated meal deliveries for the Housing Development. He served on various boards of the church chairing Buildings and Grounds for many years. In his eighties, Ray turned to designing and building scratch built wood models including the Drottningholm (on which he had emigrated), the USS Midway and the steamship Rangeley to mention a few.

Ray leaves his wife of 72 years, Evelyn (Hansen), his sister, Astrid F. Harrison of Cromwell, CT, brother, Carl B. Franson of Lime Rock, CT, son Kenneth and wife Christine of Wolfeboro, NH and Rangeley, ME, daughter, Jean F. Bell and husband Rick of Salisbury, CT. Grandchildren Kayla J. (Bell) Johnson and husband Brett of Salisbury, CT and Cody J. Franson, wife Maria and great granddaughter Francesca Evelyn Franson of Rangeley, ME.

In lieu of flowers, monetary remembrances may be made to the Rangeley Congregational Church, PO Box 218, Rangeley, ME, 04970.

Alex North

CORNWALL - Alex North of Great Hill Road in Cornwall slipped away from his physical form on January 8th, 2026.

Alex was a wonderful man who lived his life with a tenacious spirit and a full heart. He was always willing to lend a hand to people in need and developed supportive relationships with several elders in the area whom he regularly helped with tasks that they could no longer perform on their own. A life-long learner, he developed a love of farming & machinery at an early age. He showed his studiousness and physical skills and achieved his Tang Soo Do Blackbelt degree. Though he was challenged from birth with a rare condition, he lived life to its fullest and embraced every challenge. An exceptional skier, he was a bit of a daredevil and pushed himself to the limit for the exhilaration. Everything he would attempt to do he would give it his all.

With the unwavering support of his devoted parents, he defied expectations time and time again. He spent countless hours working alongside his father, Mark, often helping him on emergency calls to Kent School. Alex enjoyed working with his Dad on their shared collection of antique cars and machinery. As a result he developed a mechanical talent that few could match. Together they brought old machines back to life—restoring a ’67 Chevy truck, reviving a 1929 Studebaker “Doodle Bug,” which he often displayed at the CT Antique Machinery’s Festivals where he was a lifetime member for all his work staffing the events. He kept his John Deere Gator running through all kinds of weather to care for the Gracey Family's herd of cows in Coltsfoot Valley. His greatest passion, though, was operating heavy equipment. He took pride in restoring a ’49 Ford 8N tractor, which he used for mowing and brush hogging the family’s North Kent pasture, and the maintenance of his Kubota backhoe which he relied on for landscaping work both in town and the surrounding areas.

Alex was a dedicated farmer who cared deeply for all animals. He raised several cows of his own in addition to lending a hand to many farmers in town. He bottle-fed his beloved “ Little Man”, and nursed back to health after a broken leg as a calf. Little Man grew into a 2,000‑pound “Ferdinand”, a testament to Alex’s patience and compassion.

Apprenticing with some of Cornwall’s finest: Debra Tyler, Chris Hopkins, Jonathan Kirschner, Dan Gracey and Ken Gladding. He loved lending a hand during the haying season, an intense time of hot weather and hard work. Another testament to his strength and work ethic. He had strong bonds with many of the young local farming talent including Jed & Angus of the Gracey family, Tommy Eucalitto, Patrick Beal and Jon Old —friends who shared his love of reviving the once thriving agricultural community in Cornwall. Together they built a tight-knit support system, one that meant the world to Alex. Despite the challenges he faced, he lived a rich and meaningful life surrounded by people who admired his strength, humor, and determination.

As he aged, Alex’s life was fraught with medical procedures and interventions. His health presented constant obstacles, yet he faced every one of them with remarkable courage, incredible tenacity and the best attitude he could muster.

Alex is survived by his loving parents, Mark and Alicia, his brother, Ben and wife Molly, his Uncle Chris and Aunt Lynn Harrington, cousins Colby & Chase; his Aunt Jen & Uncle Mike Sherman, cousins Kora, Marlie and Kassandra, as well as his Grandparents Skip & Susan North, Dianne Conboy and the rest of his ever-expanding clan across the globe will miss him beyond measure.

He was a gift to his family and to the entire community with his can-do spirit and friendly nature traits that we need in this world now more than ever!

A service in his honor will be held at the United Church of Christ in Cornwall, located at 8 Bolton Hill Road in Cornwall Village, on Saturday, January 17th at 2 p.m. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

All who loved Alex are welcome to gather to celebrate his extraordinary life.

Thomas Brod

SHARON - Thomas Brod passed away at home in the early hours of New Year’s day after enjoying a New Year’s dinner with his family.

Thomas was born in London, England, May 1, 1945.

His parents had left Germany in 1938 and arrived in England by way of Prague.

Thomas grew up in London and followed his father into the Brod Gallery, specializing in Dutch 17th century paintings and drawings.

When he was eighteen, his father sent him to the United States for the first time. His assignment was to travel the country visiting collectors and museums. This would be his first trip, but many would follow.

Thomas loved art, music, travel, skiing, woodworking, and everything that went up in the air (he was a private pilot and also enjoyed flying radio control model airplanes). But there was nothing he loved more than his family.

His four children, Alex, Jonathan, Julian and Amelia, their spouses, and his grandchildren.

Thomas had Parkinson’s disease for 36 years, which progressively hindered many of his usual activities. But time spent with his family, children, grandchildren and his wife, Brenda, always brought him joy and increased energy.

He always had a wry and surprising sense of humor, and laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, or a raised eyebrow, when someone made a joke.

Thomas, Brenda and family lived in Sharon for part of each year, beginning in 1983. In 2018, Thomas and Brenda moved permanently to Sharon. Thomas felt a strong kinship to this area from his first visit. It is where he, and his family, spent many of the happiest moments of their lives. We are glad that his last years were spent here.

Theodore Drumm

SHARON - Theodore Ned Drumm passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2026 after a long battle with heart failure.

Ted Drumm was born Nov. 26, 1932 in Sharon to the late Julia and Ned Drumm. He lived all his life in Sharon.

Ted was a loving father and husband. He was a member of the First Church of Christ Congregational and the Taghhannuck Grange No. 100 for more than 50 years. He served on the board of Deacons and was the first moderator of the church. He also served on the Sharon Board of Finance. He ran a paint contracting business for more than 35 years.

He is predeceased by his wife and son. There are no survivors.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 11:00AM at The First Church of Christ Congregational in Sharon.

Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257. People can also donate online here: https://berkshiretaconic.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1357

Jill Scott

SALISBURY - Jill Scott passed away peacefully on January 2nd after 93 years of a wide-ranging and well-travelled life.

She was born in Essex, England in 1932. She attended a girls’ boarding school, then went on to complete a year of college. Unfortunately, the need to educate two younger brothers and the second world war (during which she was evacuated to Oxford) interrupted her studies.

She briefly worked assorted jobs in the London area and attended her brother’s sporting events at the King’s School, Canterbury. It was at King’s that she met and married her husband Neil, a teacher. She was soon hired by King’s as a “house matron,” essentially taking on the household management and “mothering duties” for a large dormitory of teenaged boys.

Prior to starting a family, she and Neil went on a motorcycle camping trip to Scotland. Later, summers were spent camping with her growing family in nearby European countries.

Jill and Neil needed new horizons, so they moved with their three children to Quebec, Canada for a year, then down to the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut in 1970. Jill immediately became engaged in supporting all the activities of her family, and, once the children were old enough to be home alone, she started working part-time for the Lakeville Journal as a copy editor. Always a supporter of Hotchkiss, Jill frequently worked in the Hotchkiss School store.

A teaching exchange year in New Zealand provided additional adventure in 1986-1987, and Jill thoroughly enjoyed traveling throughout those islands with Neil and with visiting friends.

Upon Neil’s retirement in 1993 Jill continued her family support work, taking special joy in spending any time possible with each of her four grandchildren as they grew. Jill and Neil also traveled overseas and around the globe, visiting family and friends, and just enjoying new people and experiences.

Besides being family-centered, Jill was a lifelong learner. She read voraciously and thoroughly enjoyed discussing world events with anyone and everyone. She took a multitude of classes, from ceramics to world history, and always enjoyed learning something new. She also believed in community service and was a long-time member of

the Salisbury Garden club. Indeed, she was a passionate gardener and, as one friend put it, she could plant a broomstick in the ground and make it grow. She thoroughly enjoyed her time reading to younger students at Salisbury Central School and working with the Noble Horizons Auxiliary. She thrived being outdoors, whether camping, canoeing, skiing, sailing, playing golf, just going for walks, or, in her last years, riding the pathways at Noble Horizons in her electric chair.

Jill was very practical, and in a file designated for after her passing she left us all a note written long before:

“No pain, no senility. I am just in the next room. Laugh and enjoy every day”.

Jill is survived by her son David (Kari), daughter Carol, grandchildren Harry (Samantha), Alexandra, Philip, Spencer, and son-in-law Paul. She is predeceased by her husband Neil, daughter Kathryn, and brothers Jack and Robert. We all miss her greatly.

A celebration of life will be held in the dining room at Noble Horizons at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jill’s name to Noble Horizons Auxiliary, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.

Steven Willette

SHARON - Steven Michael “Bird” Willette, 76, of Silver Lake Shores, passed away on December 25, 2025 at Vassar Brother Medical Center, with his family at his side.

Steve was born in New York City to Dorman Willette and Ann (Sabol) Willette.

He grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, where he fell in love with doowop, a cappella, and all things music.

As a teen he spent summers in Sharon, where he and his family built a cabin near Mudge Pond; he relocated here permanently in the early 90s to raise his children amid the strong community and natural beauty.

Steve was a vocalist, a genuine classic car lover, and a silversmith; he operated a jewelry business with his wife for a number of years, after which he worked as a bus driver, safely driving children for CT Region 1 as well as the Webutuk school.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Maureen; his son, Ryan; and his daughter, Desirée.

The family has chosen to temporarily hold off on memorial services to allow more time for loved ones to join us. Details will be made public as they are decided on.

Gerald Blakey

CORNWALL - A good man has passed. Gerald “Jerry” Blakey, 89, of Cornwall, CT passed on December 20th, 2025.

He was predeceased by his parents Ernestine L. Blakey and Burt Blakey of West Cornwall, his brother Tom Blakey of Falls Village, and his daughter Karen B. Fisher of Cornwall.

He leaves his wife of 70 years, Patricia “Pat” Blakey of Cornwall, his son David M. Blakey of Cornwall Bridge, his daughter Lori B. Welles and her husband David Welles of West Cornwall, his granddaughter Melissa B. Root of Terryville, great granddaughter Devyn Root of Terryville, and his niece Pam B. Hart and her husband Doug of Belencia, CA. Brother James Blakey of Florida.

Jerry graduated from HVRHS in 1954. He started dating Patricia “Pat” Blakey in high school, and they were married on Sept. 3rd, 1955.

Their first challenge as newlyweds was hearing their new furniture had washed away in the flood of 55!

After high school, Jerry began working at Housatonic Valley Rug Shop in Cornwall Bridge.

In 1979 he bought HVRS with his partner Ed Kenniston. He retired in 2006.

Early on in his adult life he began getting involved in all things Cornwall. A member of the UCC in Cornwall, he served on numerous boards and committees there. Always ready to fix or fabricate, clean or repair whatever was needed. He served on the town's P&Z committee, building committees and more, he was elected tax collector. He was proud to serve in the Cornwall Fire Dept. Where there was a need he found solutions.

Pat and Jerry volunteered at the Soup Kitchen in Torrington and slept in the shelter for Operation Overflow also in Torrington. Together they started the medical equipment loan program out of the UCC. Volunteering 100s of hours and traveling 100s of miles delivering and picking up medical equipment for those in need.

Jerry and Pat opened their garage after the tornado of ‘89 and started the Blakey Family Restaurant to feed the town’s people and volunteers as the clean up continued. Jerry organized blood drives, built houses in Mexico through the La Casa Project, hosted tornado anniversary parties and so much more.

Jerry amassed numerous awards, citations and recognitions for all he did. Each was carefully put away, not to be displayed, because it never was about those. As one friend said, Jerry didn’t know he did extraordinary things, it’s just what you're supposed to do. He was talented, humble and generous. He loved the community and the people and always was there to help. He was a family man, caring for them up to the end.

Among the many awards he was particularly proud of his Public Service award from the State of CT in 2001, The Connecticut Conference, UCC Living Waters Award in 2015 and an honoree with Pat on The HVRHS Alumni Wall of Honors 2023.

Anyone who ever met Jerry would know that he was a man of many words and always a man of his word, he will be missed.

The family would like to thank his Smilow Cancer Hospital team in Torrington, CT.

Services will be held on January 10th, 2026 at 1:00PM, at the UCC, Bolton Hill Road, in Cornwall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cornwall Volunteer Fire Dept. and EMS, American Cancer Society, or the UCC Cornwall capital improvement fund.

Francis Schell

FALLS VILLAGE - Francis J. “Bosco” Schell of Falls Village passed away peacefully on December 20th at East Mountain House in Lakeville surrounded by members of his family.

Born in Kosice, Slovakia, in 1934 to a family of landowners in their ancestral home, he came to the United States in 1947 following the wreckage of the Second World War.

He gained full scholarships to the Montclair Academy in New Jersey and to Williams College in Massachusetts before serving in the US Army in Germany.

Soon after his return to New York City he began work at the Reader’s Digest where he would stay for his entire professional career, starting in Paris at the International Edition, and returning to the US to create Families, and then on to leading the non-US editions of the magazine, the International and global Condensed Books.

He married Natalia Gortchacow in 1962, who pre-deceased him in 1992, and Page Dickey in 2000. He was devoted to his family and children, and to the huge cohort of friends he kept, who shared his relentless joie de vivre, his love of gardens, music, parties, dancing and drama.

Bosco was deeply involved in charity work, becoming by family tradition a member of the Catholic Sovereign Order of Malta, where he reached the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion. He worked tirelessly to channel funds and medical equipment to his beloved Hungarians writhing under the Soviet yoke and then in aid of their successful quest for economic and political freedom. He headed the Hungarian Association of the Knights of Malta in Exile which led to the re-creation of the Hungarian Delegation in Hungary.

In his later years, he chaired the board of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village where he could be found raising funds by selling cuttings from his own greenhouse along with his legendary home-made jam.

Bosco’s two lifelong passions were gardening and music. Always an enthusiastic dabbler, retirement enabled him to attend the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where he earned his degree in horticulture in 1997 before settling down with Page in her published garden at Duck Hill in North Salem, NY. They eventually moved to Falls Village in 2015 where they established Church House and its garden. He took great pride in its opening to the public and last gave a virtual tour of his greenhouse in 2021 to benefit charity.

He is remembered by his loving wife Page, his two children Peter Schell and Marie-Elizabeth Offierski and their spouses Blandine and Stefan, his four step-children Keith Dickey, Kim Dickey Ambrose, Scott Dickey and Jean Dickey Quaintance and their spouses Ally, Kirk, Ilia and Don, by his eight grandchildren Irène, Valentine, Anastasia, Paul, Frederic, Conrad, Gregor, and Olga and his six step-grand-children Claire, Helen, Freddy, Charlie, Alex and Keala.

A funeral mass will take place at 11:00AM on January 5th, 2026 at St. Martin of Tours Church of St. Mary in Lakeville. Burial will follow at Sleep Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to East Mountain House in Lakeville.

Austin Barney

SHARON - Austin Howard Barney—known simply as “Barney” to many, of Sharon, CT, age 87, died on December 23rd after his heroic battle with the black breath, hanahaki disease, cooties, simian flu and feline leukemia finally came to an end.

Austin was born on July 26th, 1938, son of Sylvester and Iva Barney.

He leaves behind an overwhelming amount of junk—sorry, treasures. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a console TV roughly the size of a Buick, a soot-encrusted coffee pot that hasn’t been properly cleaned since the Reagan administration or creatively bent hangers that he had hanging in his living room windows to dry clothes on, give us a call. Please wait for the appropriate, respectful amount of time. Tomorrow should be fine.

Austin was frugal to the extreme; some may have called him “cheap,” but he preferred to think of himself as a pioneer in recycling—decades before it was cool. His kitchen was home to a vast collection of cool whip and country crock containers. The biggest challenge was finding actual cool whip or butter in his refrigerator with all the containers of leftovers that looked the same. “Open at your own risk” was our motto.

He leaves behind a wonderfully dysfunctional family—a group he tolerated, loved and occasionally avoided.

Austin was world-renowned for his lack of patience, grossly excessive extreme sarcasm, not holding back his opinion and knack for telling you exactly how wrong you were. One of his favorite quotes was, “I was only wrong once in my life. I thought I made a mistake.”

He always preferred his own cooking to anyone else’s—and to be fair, it was actually pretty good.

Austin served proudly with the 6th Marines in the United States Marine Corps from February 10, 1958, through February 9, 1962. Semper Fi!

He was also a volunteer fireman for several years, until he realized that sprinting in the opposite direction from fire was more aligned with his personal survival goals.

A natural mountain man, he ate things from the swamp that most people avoid and cooked on a wood stove for many years. He was an avid bird watcher and found joy in feeding all the animals that frequented his property.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Sylvester Barney, Louis Barney and his sister Shirley MacDougall.

He is survived by his daughters Darlene Hardzog, Margaret Gdovin (Mike); his son, Austin Barney Jr (Kate); his grandchildren, Savannah Hardzog, Jordan Gdovin, Violet Barney, Amethyst Barney and Austin Barney III; and his sister Anita Baird along with various other relatives. You know who you are. He will be greatly missed.

There will be no viewing, as his children refused to comply with his request to be taxidermied and propped in the corner with a beer or a glass of scotch in his hand so guests could admire him in his natural state.

Services are pending and details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross in his memory.

Austin Barney has approved this message. Approval notwithstanding, it would have read the same.

Bob Weber

SALISBURY – Bob Weber, age 84, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 14, 2025 in his favorite chair in the home he built and loved in Salisbury, CT. He was married to Jeanette Weber for 57 years.

Robert Allen Weber was born March 1, 1941 in New York City, the son of the late Harold and Theresa Zeitler Weber.

Bob graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and City College where he majored in Industrial Engineering.

An outstanding athlete, he played lacrosse and ran track, primarily on a record-setting mile relay team. For many years, going on long runs after work was his stress-reducer.

Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended the Harvard Business School Management Program. He was employed by Bulova Watch Company for 43 years as an Industrial Engineer and rose to Vice President. Since his retirement in 2007, he served as a consultant to Bulova on environmental sites until his death.

Bob and Jeanette were married on May 4, 1968. Their son, Eric, was born in 1970 and twin daughters, Laura and Christine, followed in 1972. Having three babies in two years was indeed a “fun but challenging experience” for two parents who were only children. Bob and Jeanette moved from New York City to Glen Rock, NJ in 1970 where they raised their family, made many friends, and became involved in the community.

After searching for a weekend home for several years, Jeanette urged Bob to follow his dream of designing and building a house. His specifications were: a gravel road, an open meadow setting, and a western view of the mountains. And they found such a site north of Salisbury. The house was completed in 1998, and they were weekenders until becoming full-time residents in 2014. Why Salisbury? When the children were young, the family often traveled from New Jersey to Vermont, driving through Salisbury and stopping at the White Hart Inn where Elyse Harney had a general store with penny candy. There the children got to select candy for the rest of the drive. Each time, Bob would say: “I would love to live in Salisbury some day…”

Bob had a wide range of interests: landscaping and gardening, sports, cooking and grilling, U.S. history, music, dinner parties, travel, cars, NY Times, good wines, long walks with his dog – and most of all, spending time with his family and friends. He attended all the children’s soccer games, wrestling matches, and other events. He served on the Glen Rock Sports Association, was treasurer of the Salisbury Congregational Church, and grilled hundreds of hot dogs for the Salisbury Fall Festival for many years.

He had long-time close friendships from his single days in New York City, his many years at Bulova, and raising his family in New Jersey.

He and Jeanette enjoyed wonderful trips together throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Some trips were by themselves and others with family or close friends. Bob was usually the designated driver and learned to negotiate roundabouts, drive on the left, wait for herds of sheep, end up in very narrow lanes, discover too late the sign indicating “pedestrians only,” and numerous other funny memories.

Bob was a devoted husband to Jeanette. He was a beloved father to his children. Having lost his own father at age 7, Bob always tried to be the father that he never had. And he so enjoyed each grandchild as he or she joined the family.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son Eric and wife Kristie of Brooklyn; daughter Laura and husband Timmy of El Cerrito, CA; Christine and husband Scott of Cromwell, CT; and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 22 to 1: Madison, Belle, Cooper, Ryan, Skyler, Theo, and Ethan. He was Robert, Bob, Dad, Papa, Weber, or Webs to those who knew him, loved him, and will miss him so very much.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in Salisbury in Spring 2026.

John Stallings

SHARON - John Gregory (Gregg) Stallings, 67, of Sharon, Connecticut passed away December 2nd, 2025, at his home.

John was born December 25th, 1957, St. Louis, Missouri and was preceded in death by his father Dr. Hugh A. Stallings, mother, Mary John Stallings McCormick and a brother Jeffrey Stallings.

He attended Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Indiana as well as the University of Miami. He graduated the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. While at Alabama, Gregg was both a cheerleader and President of Sigma Chi. He attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Advertising.

Gregg married John H. Broomfield in 2006 and they have maintained a residence in Sharon, CT for 19 years.

Gregg started his formal career as a Sales Manager at Whittle Communications. Afterward, he started his own company, The Design Crew in Washington, DC.

After a role as a Business Development Manager at the Image Bank in Los Angeles, he rose to the position of Director of the Americas - Corbis Corporation in Seattle, WA, a privately held company owned by Bill Gates. He was named Top Manager for two consecutive years. He presently owned the Found Art Co. + Gregory Marks Estate Sales in Sharon, CT.

Gregg came from a large family and is survived by his sisters Amy (Dan Glover), Darcy (Mike Winslow), Lesly (Pete Wagner), Betsy McAtee and brother Todd (Susan), stepfather Russell McCormick, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gregg was a warm caring, and generous man with an extensive and varied circle of friends. He will be missed greatly including by his beloved Weimaraner, Bill.

A local Celebration of Life in his honor will be held at The Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT on May 10, 2026. Time TBD.

Contributions in Gregg’s memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Lori Hoyt

SALISBURY - Lori Hoyt, 64, of Salisbury, Connecticut passed away peacefully surrounded by her friends and family on November 13, 2025.

Lori was a loving and caring mother, a devoted friend, and an exceptional daughter. Her presence, laughter, and joy will be deeply missed.

Lori was born on October 16th, 1961 in Hartford, Connecticut and spent her life among the charming beauty in the northwest corner of Connecticut.

Lori dedicated her life to her family, her friends, her work, and her passions. She often remarked that her greatest joy was raising her children Brianna and Christopher. Lori was recognized for her incredible skill as a hairstylist, as evidenced by her ever-growing list of lifelong clients who often ended up as close friends. Her
salon chair is remembered as a happy, cheerful, uplifting place, one where everyone’s beauty could be recognized.

Lori’s passion for travel, exploring, and nature was a testament to her love of life and shared moments of pleasure. Her life was lived to its very fullest, spent among the joys and happiness of her friends and the care and love of her family.

Lori is survived by her daughter Brianna Hoyt, son Christopher Hoyt, mother Carolyn Kieffer, brother Joseph Frenette III, sister Lisa Kulig and brother in law Martin, nieces Cordelia Capodiferro, Maya and Sophia Frenette, nephew Joseph Frenette IV , partner David Williams, mother-in-law Rosemary Hoyt and father-in-law Harold Hoyt, sister-in-law Maryann Hoyt-Mazurek, brother-in-law Todd Mazurek, and nephew Hudson Mazurek, cousins Tami Warren, Joseph Spirito and many more, cats Maurice and Cornelius, many friends, clients, and fellow Northwest corner community-members.

Respecting Lori’s wish, she will be cremated with a Celebration of Life service at Kenny Funeral Home on November 22, 2025 from 10-12pm.

Her family invites all who know and love her to attend and share their favorite stories and memories.

Allen Young

SHARON - Allen Young passed away on Saturday, November 8, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He would have turned 85 on November 14.

Academically, Allen was hard to match as he sailed through the Bronx School of Science, Yale University, and Harvard Law School. He returned to Yale in his retirement to earn a MA in history. Allen’s sport was reading history books, and he could probably tell you what Napoleon had for breakfast.

Allen spent 26 happy years at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was Deputy General Counsel. It was in that time that he developed a love for a perfect Manhattan straight up. This remained his cocktail time favorite.

Allen was active in Sharon town politics and served on the board of The Hotchkiss Library. He served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Democratic Town Committee. He was also on the board of Crescendo.

Allen is remembered by his family as being joyful and deeply kind. He is survived by his wife Lindley Young, his daughter Ridgley Sraka, his son Nate Young and stepdaughters Katherine Singer and Ann Volkwein. His grandchildren and step-grandchildren are Hazel Straka, Henry Straka, Alisa Young, Victor Young, Jackson Singer, Sloane Singer, and Maximus Saxton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Hotchkiss Library.

Elizabeth Potter

SALISBURY - Elizabeth Stone Potter passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025 due to complications of Parkinson's disease. She had recently celebrated her 94th birthday.

She was born in northern (then still rural) Westchester county to Ralph and Betty Stone.

"Pebble" (a nick name afforded her as the first child in a family of Stones) cherished all her communities, especially those in New York City and Norfolk, CT.

After a childhood education in a much storied one room schoolhouse in Waccabuc, she left home for northern Virginia and became a proud member of the Foxcroft School class of 1949.

Graduating from Foxcroft she went, with her big horse in tow, to Wellesley College. There (or at least nearby) she met the dashing Idahoan with a sports car who would become her husband for nearly 60 years.

She and Dave set up a home in New York City after some time at Marine Corps camps and in Cambridge, MA, where their first child was born.

Pebble raised two boys in the teeth of the complicated era that was the ’60 and ‘70s, and she did a really good job of it, perhaps helped along by her one nightly cigarette and vodka on the rocks.

Education was the love of her professional life. She taught for a little while at Spence School, but spent nearly 40 years teaching at Chapin School. She founded the audio-visual department at Chapin (even though she was perplexed by the family VCR machine), taught lower school science, led a home room for fourth graders, and generally left a positive imprint on generations of talented young women. She loved Chapin – its people and values, and all the girls she taught there over the years – and worked very hard at being the best teacher she could be. She no doubt sends a Green and Gold hug down to all her former colleagues and students and wishes the very best to every girl who ever walked in the doors on East End Avenue.

In the early ‘70s, Pebble’s friendship with Barbara Gridley led her to Norfolk, a then remote but highly civilized town in northwest Connecticut. The house on Mountain Road became home, a refuge but also a place of excitement and discovery. Norfolk was and is a place filled with what Pebble referred to as “all the best people” – she loved everyone and we know that she missed dearly her social life with the Isabellas and all the friends in town and at the Country Club.

Though too many of those friends have already left, there are many still there and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love you continued to show Pebble after she moved to Noble Horizons.

And her last community at Noble Horizons was a gift to us all. It would take too long to thank everyone there, but we are deeply grateful for the care and love and tenderness you showed Elizabeth (she finally lost that nick name when she got to Noble!). It is a wonderful, caring place.

Elizabeth was much beloved by her sons David and Nick, her daughters-in-law Ellen Bauerle and Lee Findlay Potter, her grandchildren Claire (Michael Schneider) and Natalie Potter and Arthur, Lila and Nina Potter, and most recently a great grandson Bennet Stone Potter-Schneider. We all will miss her dearly.

There is so much more to say – the pets and the sports, her resilience and humor, and the trips and the curiosity about nature and the environment. Elizabeth loved this earth and she made everything she could of her time here. We love her and miss her.

The family is planning a memory service in the Spring of 2026.

Joan Jardine

TORRINGTON – Joan Jardine, 90, of Mill Lane, passed away at home on October 23, 2025. She was the loving wife of David Jardine.

Joan was born August 9th, 1935, in Throop, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Joseph and Vera (Ezepchick) Zigmont.

Joan graduated from Harding High School.

She was a working artist for much of her adult life, starting her career studying plein air impressionist oil painting at the Cape Cod School of Art. Her work evolved to include a more representational style, and eventually a large body of abstract pieces. Her award-winning work has been shown in galleries and juried art shows throughout southern New England.

She is survived by her daughter Leslie and her husband George, brothers Joseph, Victor, and their families, nephews Gregory, Christopher, and their families, daughter in law Huong, and the extended Jardine family. She was predeceased by her son Douglas, and brother Michael.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints of America Orthodox Church, 313 Twin Lakes Road, Salisbury, Connecticut on Thursday, October 30, at 10:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the All Saints of America Orthodox Church, PO Box 45, Salisbury, CT 06068.

Shea Cassidy-Teti

SALISBURY - Shea Cassidy-Teti, passed way on October 11th, 2025 in a tragic automobile accident.

He is the beloved son and brother of parents Aidan Cassidy and Charles Teti and his twin Nash Cassidy-Teti.

Shea was born on June 29th, 2008 in Farmington, CT.

He attended the Fox Meadow Elementary school in Scarsdale, NY, Weston Middle School in Weston, CT and Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, CT. He was currently continuing his studies as a senior at The Kent School in Kent, CT.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Joseph's Chapel, The Kent School, 1 Macedonia Road, Kent, CT on Sunday, November 9th at 11:00AM.

All other services are private.

Memorial contributions may be made in the families honor to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, PO Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069 and Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.

Amanda Cannon

SALISBURY - Amanda Cannon, age 100, passed away October 15, 2025, at Noble Horizons. She was the wife of the late Jeremiah Cannon.

Amanda was born August 20, 1925 in Brooklyn, NY the daughter of the late Karl and Ella Husslein.

She was widowed at the age of 31 and worked as a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Company and other oil companies in NYC until she retired at age 72.

Amanda moved to Noble Horizons in 2013 to live near her daughter Diane and son-in-law (the late) Raymond Zelazny.

She enjoyed her time in the Northwest Corner and was an avid nature lover, albeit considered herself a native New Yorker as she was born and resided in NYC for 88 years.

She was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville and attended Mass regularly until the age of 99.

Amanda was the grandmother of (the late) Jesse Morse and is survived by her daughter Diane Zelazny, her grandsons Adam Morse, Raymond Morse and his wife Daron and their daughter and her great granddaughter Cecelia Morse.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00AM on Thursday, October 23, at St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville, CT.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church.

Shirley Perotti

SHARON - Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on October 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.

Shirley was born on August 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.

She was raised on her parents’ poultry farm (Odge’s Eggs, Inc.).

After graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, she worked at Litchfield County National Bank and Colonial Bank.

She married the love of her life, John, on August 16, 1969 and they lived on Sharon Mountain for more than 50 years.

Shirley enjoyed creating the annual family Christmas card, which was a coveted keepsake. She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with her best friends, Betty Kowalski, Kathy Ducillo, and Paula Weir.

In addition to John, she is survived by her three children and their families: Sarah Medeiros, her husband, Geoff, and their sons, Nick and Andrew, of Longmeadow, MA; Shelby Diorio, her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Addie, Lainey and Lyla, of East Canaan, CT; Jeffrey Perotti, his wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Annie, Lucy and Winnie, of East Canaan, CT. Shirley also leaves her two brothers, Edward Wilbur and his wife Joan, and David Wilbur; two nieces, three nephews, and several cousins.

At Shirley’s request, services will be private.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 283, Sharon, CT 06069.

William Royall

FLORIDA - William Daniel Royall, passed away on September 27, 2025 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Bill was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 22, 1940. He was the son of George Peyton Royall, Sr. and Catherine O'Leary Royall. Bill was the younger brother to George P. Royall and the older brother to Thomas J. Royall.

After graduating St. Michael's Diocesan High School in Brooklyn, NY, known as the school that would never die, with academic and athletic honors and a full scholarship offering to several colleges and universities across the country, Bill selected Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass.

Upon receiving his bachelor's degree, he began his 30 year career with IBM, during which time, he took a leave to serve as First Lieutenant with the United States Army.

Once retired from IBM, Bill established a 25 year run with Essex software, a small consulting firm in Westchester, NY, where he and his family lived for 46 years.

Keeping the passion for athletics in his life, Bill joined the Hudson Valley Orienteering Club, participating in orienteering events across the country.

Never giving up his love for track and field sports, Bill participated in the upstate Empire State Senior Games and the Long Island Senior Games annually.

Bill is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Wilma Royall, son Michael Peyton Royall, daughter Julie Catherine Royall, grandsons Orin Duffy Royall and Emmett Walden Royall.

There will be a small Military Service to honor Bill on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 1:30PM at The Kenny Funeral Homes, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT. Burial will then be held at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, NJ on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 11:30AM.

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Randall Osolin

SHARON - Randall "Randy" Osolin passed away on September 25th, 2025 at the age of 74.

He was born on February 6th, 1951 in Sharon, CT to the late Ramon (Sonny) and Barbara (Sandmeyer) Osolin.

He was a dedicated social worker, a natural athlete, a gentle friend of animals, an abiding parish verger, an inveterate reader, and an estimable friend and neighbor. He was a kind-hearted person whose greatest joy was in helping someone in need and sharing his time with his family and good friends.

He was the beloved husband of Karen LaChance Osolin; the loving brother of Bruce Osolin and the late Gail Osolin Leo; the devoted uncle of Kyle and Andrew Osolin and Taylor LaChance; the brother-in-law of Debra LaChance; and the cousin of Brenda Curran, Jay Pickering and Audra Salazar.

To honor Randy’s memory, do a good deed for another or send a donation to the Little Guild, 258 Sharon-Goshen Road, West Cornwall, CT 06796.

John Pond
LAKEVILLE - John Pond, 88, of Lakeville, CT passed away peacefully at the Sharon Health Care Center on September 26, 2025.

John was a long-time member of North East Baptist Church in Millerton and served as a Deacon.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 10AM at Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury, CT.

A full obituary to come at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a charity of your choosing.

Jeremy Dakin

AMESVILLE – Jeremy Dakin, 78, passed away August 31, 2025 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center after a long battle with COPD and other ailments. Jeremy was a dear friend to many, and a fixture of the Amesville community.

There will be a service in his memory at Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church on September 27th at 11 a.m.

Below is the obituary Jeremy himself wrote:

Born July 20, 1947, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

A resident of Salisbury, CT for over 75 years, he graduated from UVM in 1970, at which time he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a German translator (“It just seemed like a better idea than learning Vietnamese”), and served two years in West Berlin.

Returning to Vermont in 1973 he began a 16-year gig as a ski shop manager and a professional ski patroller, which led to a 30-year stint as an EMT.

A direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse (who was hanged as a witch in Salem in 1692), he is survived by a nephew, Robin Dakin, of Englewood, Ohio, his wife Amy, and a flock of grandnieces, all of whom seem to have inherited the family love of camping and canoeing.

The love of his life, Wren Smith, passed away in 2007 after a 10-year battle with breast cancer. By the time he was seventy, Jeremy’s physical activities were curtailed by COPD, due to a lifetime of smoking.

Rather than spend money on flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society and/or the American Lung Association. But, for Pete’s sake, don’t smoke.

Theodore (Ted) R. Kneeland

MILLERTON — The world lost an exceptional educator and all-around good guy when Theodore (Ted) R. Kneeland passed away at the Sharon Center for Health and Rehabilitation on September 5, 2025, following a three-decade-long battle with heart disease.

Born May 14, 1947, in Buffalo, N.Y., Ted always credited his parents, Eleanor Sengpiel Kneeland and Theodore R. Kneeland Sr., for sending him to Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine, where as a scholar-athlete he played all the classic sports, was a member of the 1965 New England championship debating team, and learned to love learning and ideas.

Inspired by football superstar Jim Brown, Ted attended Syracuse University where "across a crowded room" of some 2,000 freshmen, he first spotted the love of his life, partner in all things, and adoring wife, Carol.

Following graduation in 1969, they married in a candlelight ceremony. The romance continued for one day short of 56 years with flowers, candy, mutual respect, a loving family, and a conversation that never ended.

The teacher whom students nicknamed "Zeus" spent three years teaching at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, before beginning a 29-year career at Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, N.Y. There, frustrated by his inability to reach a few students whom he knew had potential, he followed the suggestion of Headmaster Philips Smith and Dean of Faculty John Lloyd Owen and began to search for answers to the problem.

The quest quickly resulted in his development of the innovative Language Retraining Program, designed to help bright dyslexic students reach their full potential as they learned to read, write, and think.

At a time when few believed those students could be taught, Ted followed his credo of "Just Take Care of the Kids," freely sharing the program throughout the country and with educators who came to the school from as far away as Hong Kong and the British Isles.

Early on, an IBM executive grateful for the help Ted had given to his son, arranged for the school to receive one of the first six Local Area Networks in the country. Ted was designated an IBM fellow, brainstorming monthly with developers on ways in which computers could facilitate education and aid in reading and writing.

Zeus was polyonymously known as “Boomer,” as his prowess on the faculty softball team was as impressive as in the classroom. He loved mentoring young colleagues and believed that every encounter on campus was a teachable opportunity.

Bridging the Town/Gown Divide, Ted retired as coach of his New England championship golf team to volunteer for his son's teams at Brewster's Melrose School and in Pawling. During his summers on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shoreham, VT, he volunteered for Hook Kids on Golf, providing instruction and handmade clubs for area youngsters.

In his early 50s Ted was diagnosed with potentially deadly heart problems. He was lucky enough to receive a newly developed treatment from Dr. Harvey Kramer of Southbury, CT, who was and continues to be a firm believer in the importance of keeping up with the latest advances in the field.

Despite his challenges, Ted continued to teach, returning in 2001 to his family's ancestral home in "hardscrabble Maine," where he spent 11 years at Fryeburg Academy as Dean of Faculty and Director of Studies with his brother in education, Headmaster Daniel Lee. They cut the dropout rate to "nearly nothing," raising the number of students who progressed to "the next level" to "nearly everyone," with many students becoming the first in their families to attend college — most on scholarship.

Ted coordinated with faculty at the middle school in order to better prepare students for The Academy’s challenging program, which he strengthened with the addition of multiple Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

Again "Taking Care of the Kids," this lifelong educator collaborated with Maine community colleges, actively promoted the idea of free tuition, and arranged for students to take courses and get a jumpstart on credits while still at The Academy.

His health declining, Ted was given a dire prognosis. But good fortune once again intervened, taking him to the Cleveland Clinic — the number one heart hospital in the world. There he was treated by top physicians Walid Saliba and Randall Starling. Coincidentally, Starling helped author the lifesaving paper that prompted Dr. Kramer's treatment many years earlier.

Against all odds, the cutting-edge treatments in Cleveland brought Ted two dozen more years as he courageously volunteered as a guinea pig for experimental procedures that have since helped others all over the world.

With all he did, Ted’s first priority was always his family. When Carol was incapacitated by a drunk driver, Ted expanded his Daddy Duties to include everything from gourmet PB and J's to puddle-jumping lessons, forming an unbreakable bond with their toddler son, Douglas. For the next four years, Ted helped Carol navigate the then non-handicap-accessible world, ensuring that she could freely enjoy life and that they could continue teaching as a team.

When the two retired from Maine in 2012, they moved to Millerton, N.Y., to be close to their expanding family. There, Ted wrote the column "Bleacher Views " for The Millerton News and cheered on Hotchkiss teams coached by his beloved son, best friend, golf buddy and Latin mentor, Doug.

He treasured time with his deeply cherished grandsons, Teddy and Henry Kneeland, who brought a bright light to his world as he listened to their adventures, ate their Playdoh spaghetti, and watched proudly as they developed into thoughtful and loving young men. Helping Teddy to design a first baseman's mitt as he moved into that legacy position and meeting the challenge of keeping up with Henry's chess prowess gave him immeasurable joy.

Ted also loved and is survived by his dear sister-in-law, Karen Carson of Medina, OH; his niece Leslie Putnam; his niece Holly and her husband Edward Tasz of Burgettstown, PA; and his nephews Eddie and Connor Tasz, also of Burgettstown.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, William Kneeland; and his brother-in-law and good friend, Curtis Carson.

Ted’s life will be among those celebrated at the Alumni Weekend Memorial Service on October 4 at Trinity Pawling.

In all, Ted was grateful for a life well lived and for all of those who enriched and enabled it. Should you choose to, he would be delighted to know that you would, in whatever way possible, be "Taking Care of the Kids."

Clyde Weed

CORNWALL - Clyde Perham Weed, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in West Cornwall, Connecticut on Sunday, August 17th.

Clyde was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Jeanne and Herbert Weed. He was the grandson and namesake of Clyde E. Weed, Chairman of the board of Anaconda Copper.

Clyde was a gifted scholar. He did his undergraduate work at Vassar College, his Master’s and PhD at Columbia University. He was a wonderful Professor of Political Science and taught at Colgate University, Baruch College and spent the last 20 years of his career as a Tenured Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University.

Clyde had remarkable energy and a vivacity that is hard to explain! Through his teaching, kindness and mentorship he touched so many lives.

He also wrote two important works on political realignment theory, The Nemesis of Reform: The Republican Party during the New deal, published by Columbia University Press; and The Transformation of the Republican Party 1912-1936 from Reform to Resistance. At the time of his death, he was completing a manuscript on the political thought of Walter Lippmann during the New Deal.

Clyde loved nature and all animals; He spent many happy years walking and loving the natural beauty in West Cornwall.

Clyde leaves behind his wife of 24 years Amy Weed, and brother Michael Weed of Los Altos, California, sister in law Patricia Hurley. Nieces, Emily and Maggie Weed, Brielle Cleary and nephews Jesse Weed, Daniel & Teagen Cleary. He also leaves behind his beloved Scottish Terrier “Hoover”.

Calling hours will be at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069 on Wednesday, August 27th from 5pm to 7pm.

In lieu of flowers please consider sending contributions to The Little Guild of St. Francis, an Animal Shelter, 285 Sharon Goshen Tpke, West Cornwall, CT 06796.

Clyde was much loved and will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Lewis Hamilton, M.D.

Lewis L. Hamilton, M.D. of Boca Grande, FL and Salisbury, CT died peacefully at home in Salisbury on July 20, 2025 surrounded by his loving family and his dog at his feet.

He was 85 and lived an extraordinary life, valuing his relationships with family and friends above all else while also quietly contributing many remarkable achievements to his communities especially as they related to medicine, education and conservation.

Lewis, or "Dewey" as he was known to family and life long friends, was born on August 4, 1939 to Dr. John Leckey Hamilton and Helen Wells Hamilton in the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg, PA where his father was a surgeon. Lewis was the third son of four and spent many of his formative years at Wells Farm in Brooke County, West Virginia, his mother's family's homestead which has been in the Wells family since the early 1770's. During his childhood, Lewis lived in Colliers, WV, Allison Park, PA and Grand Lake, MI (where he spent summers to avoid the polio epidemic raging through the country before the polio vaccine was available). As a child, Lewis developed a profound appreciation and love of Nature that remained with him throughout the course of life and inspired his commitment to conservation, education and medicine. He also developed a deep love of fly fishing (tying his own flies), shooting clays and quail, as well as golf and sports of many kinds.

Lewis skipped a few grades in elementary school and entered Shady Side Academy (SSA) as a young 8th grader. He quickly distinguished himself as an excellent student and was president of the Sargon Society (the school honor society) as well as a talented athlete having been chosen as MVP in football and as well as being captain and MVP of the baseball team. Lewis was chosen as the SSA representative for the American Field Service summer exchange program and lived in France which broadened his worldview greatly. After SSA, Lewis attended Yale with a class of 1,000, graduating in 1960 with a BS in Physics. Initially intending to go to graduate school physics, his educational direction changed, under some influence from his family towards medical school and thus enrolled in the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, aka "P&S" with a class of 100, where he received an MD degree in 1964.

Shortly after graduation, Lewis met Katharine "Kitty" Bramwell, on the porch of the Uplands, a dear friend's home, in Keene Valley, NY. It was love at first sight and that evening he reached his hand over to Kitty's and told her he would marry her; in June 1964, Lewis and Kitty were married in Princeton, N.J. just before his internship began at Bellevue in Manhattan. Lewis and Kitty were married for almost 30 years. Kitty was an accomplished writer, published poet and one time writer in residence at Yaddo. Tragically, in December of 1992, nine months after her diagnosis of malignant melanoma, Kitty died just after publishing her first book of poems.

Over the years from 1964-1976, Lewis and Kitty lived in many places for his post graduate training and military service, including Harlem and Augusta Georgia, Grover's Mill, NJ, London, UK, Paradise Valley, AZ. While in Georgia, Lewis was a Captain in the U.S. Army volunteering for service during the Vietnam War at Fort Gordon where he was "Chief of Hospital Clinics," and oversaw five divisions including emergency services which gave him valuable clinical, administrative and public health experiences. Lewis was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for meritorious service from 1966-1968 for his efforts. Shortly thereafter, he added "subspecialty boards" in EEG, EMG and clinical physiology to his education and practice. Additionally, Lewis became an examiner for the "American Board of Neurology" neurology boards, examining candidates for certification. Immediately after his neurology training, Lewis joined several successful physician groups in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ for his first private practice experience.

In 1974, Lewis and Kitty's only child was born, Heidi, and in 1976, they moved to Cooperstown, NY, where Lewis joined the senior staff of the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital ("Basset Hospital") and while also serving as an Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at Columbia P&S as well as an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Medicine (Neurology) at Dartmouth Medical School. Lewis was proud of being a doctor at Basset Hospital and noted that the combination of the Clark Foundation and Columbia University made possible what has been described as a successful "rural health prototype" with great academic credentials. Lewis had numerous publications in journals such as J.A.M.A. and the New England Journal of Medicine and greatly enjoyed teaching and practicing medicine. Before retiring from medicine in 1996, Lewis had over 10 distinguished appointments and certificates, was a member of four professional societies including being recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

In addition to his medical contributions, Lewis was very active and engaged in his community and held over 15 senior leadership roles and board positions in a broad range of organizations related to conservation and education including serving as President of of the Otsego County Conservation Association, President of the Hudson Mohawk Neurosciences Society and the local Board of Directors of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation while making many contributions to Yale over the years. Additionally, Lewis' love of the Adirondack mountains led him to become a member of the Ausable Club in St. Huberts, NY and his engagement in his local communities and his love of golf enabled him to enjoy the sport and friendships with fellow members of the Gasparilla Beach and Golf Club in Boca Grande, FL as well as the Cooperstown Country Club in Cooperstown, NY.

In 1993, Lewis married Lucy Battel Hager, known as "Bunny", who also lived in Cooperstown and was known for her humor, generosity and sense of adventure. Bunny was a generous philanthropist and patron of the Arts and was also a proud "angel" of the Dodger Production Group and on the board of Cole Kitchen, a London theatrical agency. Lewis and Bunny traveled the world over, celebrating almost 30 years of marriage until her death in 2023.

In 2024, Lewis met and proposed to the love of his life, Linda Low Wolcott of Boca Grande, FL and Salisbury, CT. Lewis' fiancée, Linda is an accomplished artist and graduated from Miss Porter's School and attended the Sorbonne, Paris, the Ecole Fleury Delaporte, Paris and has done additional study at the Parsons School of Design, New York and at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Connecticut. Linda has exhibited her paintings at galleries in Connecticut, Maine, New York, Palm Beach and Boca Grande, Florida. Linda was also a successful business woman and while in New York, was vice president of Jean Laporte L'Artisan Parfumeur while also designing and selling her jewelry through the Kruger Gallery, New York. Lewis and Linda shared many things: their love of travel and adventure, long walks in Boca Grande as well as the woods of Salisbury, CT, shooting clays, entertaining their many friends and family. Their home was full of laughter, love, fun, family and friends (and their beloved dog) coming and going effortlessly filling their days with joy. Theirs was a love affair unrivaled in its beauty and depth.

Lewis was a brilliant gentleman who dearly loved his family and friends. He took tremendous pride in being intellectually curious and honest, had a wicked and dry sense of humor, a profound sense of right and wrong, and was well known for his kindness, affability, and optimism. Lewis was unassuming, thoughtful, and had a tremendous impact on those he loved and met throughout the course of his life. He is dearly missed.

Lewis is survived by his fiancée, Linda L. Wolcott, his daughter, Heidi H. Kerko (David) as well as his beloved grandchildren: Katharine Kerko, Alexander Kerko and Nicholas Kerko. Lewis' brothers, John W. Hamilton (Debbie), Herbert H. Hamilton (Dian), and Richard G. Hamilton predeceased him. Lewis' family includes those he loved as if they were his own children: nephews, John B. Hamilton and his sons, Dr. Baker Hamilton (Emily), Capt. John Hamilton, USMC, (Lise); John S. Hamilton (Pamela); nieces, Nancy Hamilton (Chip) & her daughter, Ellie Styzkiel (Adam); Elizabeth Lavezzorio (Nicholas) her sons, William and Nicholas; niece Brooke Mullenix (Michael) and nephew Thomas Hamilton. Lewis also would like to remember his extended family including Heidi B. Humes (Bill), Helena VCB Humes, Julie F. Humes, Lucy Townsend, Shelley Graham (Tom), Lyman Townsend (Amy) and their families.

Two memorial services are being planned: one in Boca Grande, FL this fall and the second in Keene Valley, NY in the Spring, the details of which will be forthcoming as soon as they are finalized. Contributions in Lewis' honor, in lieu of flowers please, may be made to any of the organizations he appreciated supporting including ATIS (Adirondack Trail Improvement Society), Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, The Johann Fust Library Foundation, and the Buckley Institute at Yale University.

Mary McLaughlin

NEW YORK, NY - Mary R. McLaughlin nee Mary Irene Rittling died on July 26th at the age of 91.

She was born in Buffalo, N.Y. to Joseph B. Rittling and Irene H. Rittling née Meyer.

She had a long career in journalism, starting with The Buffalo Evening News, then Harper’s magazine and finally at McCalls magazine where she helped to found Working Mother magazine in 1979 and was the Executive Editor for 20 years.

She was loved by her many friends and family members, who she often entertained at her dining room table, feeding them and sharing laughter. She was a devout, but undogmatic Catholic.

She is survived by her longtime partner, Wilbur Kranz, her daughter Maud (“Rosie”) McLaughlin, her son-in-law Bruce Berky and his son Nathaniel Berky; her sister Catherine Crane; brothers William Rittling and J. Trumbull Rittling. Her son, Daniel McLaughlin died at age 18 in 1981. Her ex husband, Charles McLaughlin, died in 1996.

She will be remembered, mostly, for her generosity, her quick wit and her elegance.

Melinda Sweet
SHARON - Melinda Moore Sweet, 86, of Sharon, Connecticut, passed peacefully at her son’s home in Alpharetta, Georgia on July 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with cancer.

Melinda was born on January 31, 1939 in Akron, Ohio to Esther (Noonan) and James Howard Moore.

Melinda attended the Old Trail School in Akron followed by Sweet Briar College and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York with a degree in political science and government. She loved Sarah Lawrence and some of her favorite classes were taught by Joseph Campbell, the author of “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” Melinda went on to Hofstra University Law School, earning a JD in 1974, thereafter embarking on her long and distinguished legal career.

Melinda’s first marriage was to Howard Clinton Sweet Jr, a Brown University graduate, captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and University of Virginia law graduate. She had two children with him, Elizabeth and Howard Sweet. Melinda married her second husband, Barry T. Held, in 1980 and they were happily together for 34 years until Barry predeceased her in 2014.

Melinda built a successful legal career in New York City with early legal roles at the National Labor Relations Board, CBS and as the Assistant General Counsel at Macmillan Publishers. Her career culminated in an 18-year tenure at Lever Brothers (the US division of Unilever) where she was hired as Assistant General Counsel and promoted to General Counsel – the first female elected to serve in this position. In another first for a woman, Melinda was also appointed to serve as Director of Environmental Affairs for Lever Brothers. She reported directly to Lever Brothers President & CEO, contributing significantly to plastic bottle recycling and sustainability initiatives, reflecting her long-held passion for climate preservation.

In addition to her career achievements, Melinda made a significant impact on her communities of Sharon, Connecticut and Sheridan, Wyoming. Melinda and Barry bought a home in Sharon in 1978 and she was an active member of the Land Trust Board, SVNA Board, and, most recently, the Sharon Playhouse Board. Melinda was a founding Chairman of the Sharon Housing Trust and is remembered for preserving key pieces of land in this beautiful community. She was appointed as a Director on the board of the Yellowstone National Park Foundation and held that position for ten years. As a board member, Melinda was responsible for installing recycled plastic lumber around Old Faithful Geyser in the Park. Additionally, she is honored for her work to create a new visitor education center, raising millions of dollars for the project. Her time on the Yellowstone board cemented her love for the west and conservation of this beautiful part of the country which prompted Melinda and Barry to build a home in Sheridan, Wyoming in 2000.

Melinda will be remembered for her vivacious and passionate spirit – always the life of the party. A fierce political advocate, she will also be remembered for her lovable quirks; her devotion to self-help books, to singing, which she did every Sunday in the choir and her closet full of J. McLaughlin shirts. She and her late husband Barry were avid world travelers, spending time in France, Italy, Anguilla, Spain, Turkey, Croatia and even exploring Antarctica together. Long time residents of the upper east side, Melinda and Barry enjoyed spending time with family and friends, particularly at the University Club in New York and the Sharon Country Club.

Melinda was a devoted mother, stepmother, loving grandmother and loyal friend to many. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Sweet Dowling and her husband, Tim; her son Howard Sweet and wife Lisa; stepdaughter Patricia Grunebaum, and her husband, George; and eight grandchildren, Emily and Grace Dowling, Adam and Lila Sweet, Jackson, and Sebastian, Annabel and Charlotte Grunebaum.

Hours of visitation will be at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street in Sharon, CT on Monday, July 28, 2025 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.

A memorial service and celebration of life for Melinda will be held in the fall of 2025 at the Hotchkiss Chapel in Lakeville, CT followed by a reception at the Sharon Country Club.

Contributions may be made to the Sharon Land Trust or Yellowstone National Park Foundation in the name of Melinda Sweet.

Ruby Peterson

SHARON – Ruby (Crawford) Peterson passed away Wednesday, June 25th at Sharon Hospital.

Ruby was born in Ocie, Missouri in 1938 and moved to Connecticut when she married the late John (Pete) Peterson.

She loved her CT home and family but kept a special place in her heart for her Missouri homeplace, calling family and visiting as often as possible.

Ruby’s favorite pastime was gardening, and she spent many happy hours making them a place of beauty. She loved to quilt, sharing beautiful pieces we will treasure. We hope that the items shared from her flower beds will provide lasting memories to her friends.

Honestly, we just think Mom felt that being away from Dad for 11 months was simply enough. She was wrong, but as usual, there was no arguing with her.

Ruby is survived by her two daughters Lynn Kent and her husband David, Lesa Tennant and her husband Michael, her two grandchildren Laura and Jessica, and her three sisters Joanne, Deida and Linda.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ambulance Fund - Sharon Fire Department, PO Box 157, Sharon, CT 06069. The family would like to express their overwhelming gratitude to the Ambulance crew of the Sharon Fire Department for their support. Special gratitude and appreciation to Linda and Peter Blasini and the other members of our family who took special care of Mom, she loved you all.

All services are private.

Niels Pedersen Sr.

SHARON - Niels (Pete) Pedersen Sr. of Sharon, CT passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025 at the age of 94.

Born in Sharon, CT he possessed the ability to talk with anyone and make them feel at home.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend known for his storytelling and truck driving. In 1960 he and his brothers started the Pedersen Bros Bus Company. He later left Pedersen Bros to drive his tractor trailer truck hauling large farm equipment.

His greatest joy was being surrounded by his family especially at Sunday night dinners and enjoying his wife’s cooking. He also enjoyed driving his Peterbilt across the country and loved when his wife was able to accompany him.

He is survived and missed by his two sons Niels (Peter) Pedersen, Jr and wife Lori of Sharon, Dennis Pedersen and wife Bonnie of Winchester and his daughter Deborah Pedersen of Winsted. He will forever be remembered by his granddaughters Hollie Boyuk and husband Michael ,Sarah White and husband Michael, five great-grandsons, Dylan and wife Ashley, Brandon, Caleb, Christopher and Jacob and numerous other family members who will forever cherish his memory.

Pete is now reunited with his wife of almost 75 years, Marion Pedersen and his four siblings Hans, Edward, Anna and Betty.

Calling hours for both Niels and Marion will be held on Saturday, August 23 from 10AM - 12PM at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, CT. Burial will be private.

Keith Johnson

SHARON - Keith Raven Johnson, a long-time resident of Sharon CT, died on April 26, 2025, a month after his 90th birthday, at Geer Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care facility in Canaan, CT.

He was born on March 21, 1935 in Ithaca NY, the son of John Raven Johnson and Hope Anderson Johnson.

Keith was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Cornell University where he was editor in chief of the Cornell Daily Sun and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

After serving his active duty in the New York National Guard, he joined the New York Herald Tribune as a reporter in 1957. Four years later he moved to Time magazine where he served as a writer and editor in New York and as a correspondent based in Los Angeles, Washington, Paris and London, with temporary assignments in Africa, Germany, and Vietnam. He was executive editor of Money magazine and later of Discover magazine. He retired as a member of the board of Editors of Fortune magazine in 1993.

Before his retirement, Keith served on the vestry at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City where he was also chair of the Choir School. He later became a member of the Lime Rock Episcopal Church.

After retirement, Keith served on the executive committee of the Lakeville Journal where he also contributed a column called “Cars” -- reflecting a life-long interest in performance automobiles. He also served as a trustee and treasurer of the Hotchkiss Library in Sharon and was on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. He was a member of the Cornell University Council and at one time chaired the Advisory Council of the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell.

Keith is survived by his brother, Leonard Johnson and his wife, Patricia, his son, Stephen Main, his niece, Paige Johnson Roth, his nephew, Keith Ravn Johnson II, and his niece, Heide Novado Johnson. He was predeceased by his parents and his nephew, Eric Anderson Johnson.

Donations may be made in Keith’s memory to ACLU of Connecticut, 765 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06015, or Keith Johnson ’52 and Leonard Johnson ’56 Scholarship Fund, Phillips Exeter Academy, 20 Main Street, Exeter NH 03833.

A celebration of Keith’s life will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 11 am at the Lime Rock Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the parish hall.

James North

SHARON - James W. North of Sharon, CT passed away on June 4th, 2025 at the age of 91.

James was born on February 2, 1934 and grew up in Stratford, CT. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He made his career in advertising, working for many years as an advertising executive in New York City.

He was the husband of the late Joanne C. North. He was the father of Brian F. North and of the late Laurie (North) Fox.

James is survived by his son, Brian F. North.

Father Joseph Kurnath

LAKEVILLE - Rev. Joseph G. M. Kurnath, senior priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford, passed away peacefully at the age of 71 on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Father Joe was born on May 21, 1954 in Waterbury, CT. He attended kindergarten through high school in Bristol, CT.

After graduating in 1972 he moved to Hartford, CT and after working many temporary jobs, in 1977, he began employment as an office assistant at the law firm of Robinson and Cole. He remained there until 1984 when he began studies at Saint Mary Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD.

Father Joe was ordained on September 9, 1991 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford by Most. Rev. Peter Rosazza, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Hartford. Father Joe served as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary, Newington; St. Mathew, Forestville; Saints Peter and Paul, Wallingford; Chaplain St. Mary Hospital, Waterbury; Parochial Vicar at St. Anthony, Bristol; then finally as Administrator and then Pastor of St. Mary, Lakeville for 13 years.

Father Joe was always proud of his Slovak roots and enjoyed celebrating the Christmas Eve “Vilija” or vigil supper.

In addition to earning a B.A., S.T.B. and M.A. from Saint Mary’s Seminary, he also received a M.A. in scripture from the Hartford Seminary.

Preaching and doing pastor work were his favorite parts of ministry. Father Joe loved people, working with the youth and seeing each person at church, gathering together in imperfection in closeness with God as the Perfect Mystery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on July 15, 2025 at 4PM St. Mary’s Church, 76 Sharon Road in Lakeville, CT by the Most Rev. Christopher J. Coyne, Archbishop of Hartford.

He is survived by all his members of the Church in which he considered his family.

You are never alone – God is right beside you.

Richard Stone

FALLS VILLAGE - Richard Stone of Main Street passed away June 25, 2025 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.

Born February 12, 1942, in Ossining, New York, Richard was son of the late Howard Stone and Victoria (Smith) Stone.

He attended public schools in Ossining and then studied architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. After graduation he became a licensed architect.

Richard admired contemporary architecture by Corbusier, Philip Johnson, and Louis Kahn, but also many earlier and folk designs. His projects included re-erecting, at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, the 18th century Chinese house "Yin Yu Tang", and also restoration of the historic Delaware & Hudson office building in Albany, New York. Broad cultural interests led him to travel around the world, but especially in Caribbean lands and Latin America.

Long a resident of Falls Village, Richard had a concern for the built environment surrounding him. More importantly, he cherished neighbors, church, and friends near and far.

Richard is survived by his three brothers Thomas of Peabody, Massachusetts, William of Canaan, New Hampshire, and Kenneth of Medford, Massachusetts, their wives, and many nieces, nephews, and step siblings.

A service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 484 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, Connecticut, on Thursday, July 31, at 11:30 A.M.

James Fox

SHARON - James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, CT, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, NY, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, CT, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

James attended Millbrook School, Ripon College, and the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven, CT.

He proudly served in the Navy and his dedication to his craft led him to later own several restaurants, including the renowned Fox & Fox in Gaylordsville, CT, and most recently, Panini Cafe in Kent, CT. He went on to become a staple at the Cornwall Farmer’s Market, known for his delicious soups.

James lived in Sharon, CT, for 20 years, where he cherished the serenity tending to the gardens and property. Perpetually in motion, he filled his days with gardening, tending his property, and engaging in hobbies such as collecting model cars, woodworking, and perfecting his culinary creations. He never hesitated to take on a new project, no matter the scope. Not many 82-year-olds can say they fully remodeled a bathroom single handedly. After a full day of work, one of his greatest joys was relaxing at the end of the day in front the fireplace.

James is survived by his constant companion of 22 years, Kathie Dolan; his two sons, Adam Fox of Montpelier, VT and Emmett Fox of Bethlehem, PA; his brother, Tom Fox of Phoenix, AZ; his brother-in-law, Gary Sarachan of St. Louis; and several nieces, including Sydney Fox Sarachan of St. Louis, Carrie Fox of Phoenix, and Amanda Fox of Columbus, OH. He also leaves behind his grandson, Aidan Fox of NH, extended family Erin Dolan, Megan Mollica, Rory Dolan, his dog, Django, and his cat, William.

James will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His unique sense of humor and culinary excellence will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

All services are private.

Florence Murphy

STANFORDVILLE, NY - It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Olive Zutter Murphy who went home to be with the Lord on June 16, 2025 at the age of 99.

She was born in Sharon, Connecticut on November 20, 1925 and was a long time resident of the Duchess County area.

She was a devoted mother, loving wife to James Francis Murphy, who passed on October 11, 1971, and a dear friend to many.

Florence, who was also known as Flo, managed a dairy farm for many years on Carpenter Hill Road in Pine Plains, N.Y. She is remembered for her delicious home cooked meals.

After raising her children she became an avid square dancer, racketball and tennis player. She then discovered her love for bike riding. She enjoyed embarking on bike tours well into her mid 80's. When Flo wasn't out riding her bike she could be found taking care of her property. She loved gardening, clearing the woods and building rock walls one stone at a time.

Florence was an amazing woman of great integrity, strength and tenacity. She was adored, respected and greatly loved by her family and those who knew her.

Florence is survived by her seven children - Bonnie June Chase, James Albert Murphy, Donna Sue Strauss, Jackie Lynn Merwin Disher, Glenn William Murphy, Lori Lee Mora and Clint Evan Murphy as well as 16 grand children and 20 great grand children.

She will always be remembered and greatly missed.

Melanie Richardson

SHARON - Melanie Richardson of New York City passed peacefully on May 28th, 2025 at the age of 87.

Melanie grew up in both the Catskill mountains and New York City. She enjoyed skating and swimming and shared those activities with her daughters. She took her creativity and worked as a textile designer in New York while raising her family there.

She is survived by her daughters, Andrea and Karen Richardson.

Patrick Lynch

SHARON - On April 21, 2025, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend Patrick Lynch passed away in Sharon, Connecticut. He was 79 years old. Patrick was born on August 21, 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Joseph Lynch Jr. and Sarah Faherty. Joe had three children (Joseph III, Dottie and Kae) from a previous marriage; after being widowed, he married Sarah and had three more sons: Richard, Robert, and Patrick.

Patrick grew up in Dorchester, where he attended Boston Latin School. Perhaps inspired by his father’s occupation as a book printer, Patrick developed what would become a lifelong appreciation for a good story, collecting colorful tales of his life in South Boston that he would later take great pleasure in sharing, usually over an Irish whisky. He attended college at Brown University, where he majored in American Studies and immersed himself in theater.

After graduating from Brown in 1967, he served in the National Guard and then returned to his studies, this time pursuing a graduate degree at the Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University).

After leaving Yale, Patrick moved to New York and worked in market research at Elizabeth Arden. During this period spent observing product tests for baby shampoos and sniffing out perfume notes, he developed strong opinions about a wide variety of products and became a fervent brand loyalist — he was notoriously reluctant to deviate from his preferred daily uniform (teal work shirt, cargo pants), dessert order (a hot fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream), or soap (Dove). This loyalty also extended to his friends and family, many of whom reached out to him in times of crisis. He never let anyone down.

His encyclopedic knowledge was legendary: an avid crossword puzzler and tinkerer, he knew not only about the thing (whatever the thing was), but (if applicable) how it worked and how to fix it. He was drawn to interesting characters — artists, writers, smart alecs and cut-ups of all stripes — because although he was deeply principled and (mostly) a rule-follower, he preferred to accept people as they were, without judgment. Also he liked to steal their best stories to tell at future dinner parties.

His favorite story, however, was the one he shared with his wife Jane, the center of his world. They met in 1973 after being set up on a blind date at a hockey game. Moments after returning to their respective apartments, he rang her up on the phone to continue their conversation — a conversation that continued for 52 years. They married on May 31, 1975 and made a home in northwestern Connecticut. For many years they split their time between Connecticut and New York City pursuing their respective careers, during which time Patrick worked as a producer, notably on the anthology series American Playhouse, where he produced two episodes, 1985's "Displaced Person" (for which he won an Emmy award) and the 1987 episode "Suspicion."

In 1983, he and Jane had their daughter Tess. Patrick was a devoted father, holding down the fort — and cutting the crusts off countless tuna sandwiches — when Jane’s career required her to travel. In 1996, they moved to Los Angeles and spent five years in a magical house in Bel Air, but it was with no small measure of relief that he left the desert sun behind to return to Connecticut in 2001. He was a New Englander through and through, and a place without real apple cider donuts and crisp fall evenings was simply not home to Patrick. He would, however, return to Los Angeles many times over the years to visit his daughter and son-in-law, Peter, and to spoil his grandchildren absolutely rotten with gazillions of Hess trucks and hard-to-acquire stuffed animals.

Patrick was preceded in death by his mother Sarah Faherty, father Joseph F. Lynch, Jr., and siblings, Joseph Lynch, Kae O’Neill, Dottie Joyce and Richard Lynch.

Patrick is survived by his wife Jane Curtin, his daughter Tess Lynch and her husband Peter Cellini, and his three grand-children, Emmett Cellini, Lola Cellini and Finnegan Cellini.

He is also survived by his constant companion, Newie the dog, who is patiently waiting for him to come home and toss her a handful of popcorn.

Jo-Anne Meeker

KENT - Jo-Anne H. Meeker of Kent-Cornwall Road, passed away on May 24th, 2025 at home. She was the loving wife of the late Robert E. Boyden and the late John G. Meeker.

Jo-Anne was born May 15th, 1933 in Stamford, CT, the daughter of the late Henry and Genevieve Hoyt of Lempster, NH.

She graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1951. Jo-Anne worked as a secretary in several medical fields before retiring from the New Milford Hospital Pathology Department.

Jo-Anne is survived by her sister, Charlotte and her husband Charles Pike, her children, Robert Boyden and his wife Caron, grandson Cade, Christina Boyden, Nicholas Boyden and his wife Devin, grandchildren Birdie and Hoyt Boyden.

A graveside service was held May 31st, at Flanders Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, 28 Maple St., Kent, CT 06757 in Jo-Anne’s honor.

Angela Carabine

SHARON – Angela Derrico Carabine, 74, of Sharon, Connecticut, passed away in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. She was the beloved wife of Michael Joseph Carabine and ever-loving mother to Caitlin Carabine McLean.

Angela was born on April 27, 1951, in New York, NY. She was the daughter of the late Angelo and Mildred Derrico of New Rochelle, NY.

Angela was an alumna of The Ursiline School (New Rochelle, NY) and graduated from Barat College (Lake Forest, IL). She married Michael Carabine on September 9, 1978 and they welcomed their only child, Caitlin, on October 11, 1985.

Angela recently retired from her long-standing role as the grants manager at the J.M. Kaplan Fund, a job she held for nearly 29 years. She was a member of the Grants Managers Network, who honored her for several consecutive years with their volunteer certificate of appreciation, in recognition of her outstanding commitment and dedication not the GMN. While devoted to her career and caring for her husband, Angela always found time to bake, needlepoint, read and garden, with her furry companion, Henry, by her side. She cherished the Sharon community and was a member of the Sharon Women’s Club, the Sharon Historical Society and the Sharon Community Foundation.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; daughter, Caitlin; son-in-law, Andrew; and grandson, William, whom she adored; as well as her brothers, Joseph Derrico and Peter Derrico. She was predeceased by her parents, Angelo and Mildred, and her sister, Mary Ann (Mirro).

A service will be held at St. Bernard’s Church of Sharon, CT on Friday, June 6 at 11AM .

Memorial contributions may be made to: the Sharon Community Foundation, the Sharon Historical Society & Museum, the Sharon Green Preservation Association, and the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon.

Marion Pedersen

SHARON - Marion J. (Cookingham) Pedersen of Sharon, CT passed peacefully on May 20, 2025 at the age of 91.

Born in Pine Plains, NY, she lived a life of love and unwavering strength. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife known for her cooking skills.

Her greatest joy was taking care of and feeding her family. For over 50 years she knew most of the children in Sharon either by driving them to and from school on the bus or by feeding them lunch in the Sharon Center School cafeteria. She will be missed by so many.

She is survived and missed by her husband of 74 years Niels (Pete) Pedersen, her two sons Niels (Peter) Pedersen Jr and wife Lori of Sharon, Dennis Pedersen and wife Bonnie of Winchester and her daughter Deborah Pedersen of Winsted. She will forever be cherished and remembered by her granddaughters Hollie Boyuk and husband Michael, Sarah White and husband Michael, five great-grandsons, Dylan and wife Ashley, Brandon, Caleb, Christopher and Jacob and numerous other family members who will miss her dearly.

Marion was the youngest of 12 children and predeceased by her 11 siblings.

Calling hours for both Marion and Niels will be held on Saturday, August 23 from 10AM to 12PM at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, CT. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donors choice.

Denis LaFontan

SOUTH KENT - Denis Rene LaFontan, 81, a lifelong resident of South Kent, passed away peacefully at home on May 6, 2025, surrounded by family.

Born June 25, 1943 at Sharon Hospital, he was the son of the late Andre, Sr. and Elisabeth (Hosslin) LaFontan. He attended Kent Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

On January 14, 1966 he married Beverly Card, the love of his life. Denis and Beverly were married for 59 wonderful years and Beverly still resides at home.

Denis worked all over Connecticut as a Heavy Equipment Operator, was one of the operators of LaFontan’s Humus and ended his career as the owner/operator of South Kent Construction, LLC, retiring in 2005.

Denis was an avid woodsman who appreciated and understood Northwestern Connecticut’s forests and wildlife. He was a passionate hunter and fisherman, passing on his love and respect for the outdoors to his children and grandchildren.

Family meant everything to Denis. He loved his home and there was no place he’d rather be. He enjoyed walks on his nearby parents’ property also known as “the mountain.” Much of the wood harvested from the “mountain” was used in the wood stove in his basement that kept his family warm all winter. In his later years, Denis enjoyed good conversation out on his porch-especially about recent animals that he or others had seen, like “Boo” the neighborhood bear that Denis had fondly named after numerous sightings.

Denis is survived by two sons and daughter; Vincent and his wife Maria of Kent, and Lyle and his wife Elaine of Gaylordsville, and Rebecca and her husband Daniel of South Kent. His grandchildren; Olivia, Abigail, Madison, Morgan, Alexandra and Raphael; and two great-grandchildren; Rowan and Harrison.

The family is planning a private burial.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of Kent, 97 North Main St. Kent, CT 06757.

Joan Turnure

SALISBURY- Joan Anderson Turnure, 91, died after a long illness on May 3, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT. She was the loving widow of Michael DeBurbure Turnure.

Joan was born July 29, 1933, in Mexico City, Mexico, the daughter of the late Lawrence Anderson and Barbara (Ryan) Anderson. She grew up in Mexico and Maryland, later attending the Shipley School in Pennsylvania and earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from Vassar College.

Joan dedicated her life to her family. While the family was living in Venezuela in the 1960s, she taught high school English and founded a preschool. In their two years living in Paris, she took cooking lessons while shuttling four kids to schools and caring for her fifth baby. In 1971, she and Michael returned to the USA and purchased Community Service, the northwestern Connecticut lumber and building materials business where Joan worked alongside her husband.

In Salisbury, Joan was active as a bridge player, a book club member, and a member of the Millbrook Garden Club. Joan won the Garden Club of America Catherine Beattie Medal for horticulture. This medal is awarded for vibrancy, prime condition, and perfection of grooming of a single plant. This was the first time in over 100 years that a Millbrook Garden Club member had received it.

Joan represented the fifth generation of women in her family to be born in Mexico. Fluent in Spanish, she was well-known within the Hispanic community and often advocated for their rights.

A devoted dog lover, Joan always had a puppy or two throughout her life. Her last dog, a Chihuahua named Itsy-Bitsy, was, she said, her “best dog.”

She is survived by five children: Lili Bassett (John), John Turnure (Evie), Barbara Turnure, Virginia Morgan, and Richard Turnure (Bethany); twelve grandchildren: Eva, Eliza, Jack, and William Bassett; Nicholas and Henry Morgan; Nicole Halstead, Christine Turnure, David Turnure; Charlotte, Ryan, and Griffin Turnure; and six great-grandchildren: Adaleigh, Kinleigh, and Beckett Halstead; Westyn Turnure; and Christian and Savannah Boulier.

She was predeceased by her husband, Michael; her brother, Lawrence Anderson; and her son-in-law, Jeffery B. Morgan.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church in Salisbury on June 1, at 1:00PM, followed by a reception at The White Hart Inn.

Sally Pettus

SHARON - Sally Vagliano Pettus died peacefully at her home in Sharon, CT in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22nd. She was surrounded by her husband, Peter Pettus, and her three sons, Josh and Ian Findlay, and Justin Vagliano.

Raised in Gates Mills, OH, Sally attended Laurel School followed by Sarah Lawrence College. After graduating college, she became a quintessential New Yorker, ultimately dividing her time between the city and her beloved second home in Sharon, CT.

Sally was a creator. A massively prolific artist, she produced pieces large and small, bronze and oil, public and private. She has forest paintings hanging in some of the most influential offices in the world and imposing cast bronze leaf sculptures installed in public parks and private gardens. She also designed physical spaces. From her own artist’s loft in Soho, NY, and cherished garden in Sharon, CT, to her public-space designs that were considered for the 9/11 Memorial and a student center at the Indian Mountain School, her range was awe-inspiring.

Sally was a fantastic cook, very rarely using a recipe, and relying instead upon her constant, spontaneous imagination. A charismatic host, she loved having family and friends for dinner, normally around a table that she had envisioned and realized.

Sally leaves behind her devoted husband, Peter; her sons, Josh, Ian and Justin; her stepchildren, Charlton and Cybele Pettus; and eight grandchildren, Nathaniel and Grayson Findlay, Will and Caroline Findlay, Andrew and Alec Vagliano, and Georgica and Harry Pettus. Her legacy of creativity and inspiration will endure in all who knew her. A bright fire has gone out, and it will be dearly missed.

The family plans to hold a private service in the upcoming months.

In lieu of flowers, they have asked that any memorial donations be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County (vnhlc.org) and to The Little Guild Animal Shelter (littleguild.org).

Eleanor Sternlof

LIME ROCK — Eleanor Anne Sternlof (née de Guise) of White Hollow Road passed away on April 25, 2025 at Geer Village in North Canaan, Connecticut. She was 94 and the loving wife of the late Paul William Sternlof, who died on August 12, 2005.

Eleanor was born July 14, 1930 in Lowell, Massachusetts as the eldest child of the late George and Vera (née Gale) de Guise. Eleanor graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1948 and from Clark University in 1954. She met Paul as a fellow student at Clark and they married in May 1954.

Eleanor worked for Mohawk Airlines while Paul earned his MBA in Hospital Administration at Yale University. In 1958 they moved to Baltimore, Maryland and started a family while Paul worked as Assistant Administrator at Baltimore General Hospital.

Their first two children, Karl and Kurt, were born in Baltimore. They moved to Sharon in 1962 when Paul became President of Sharon Hospital. Two more children followed, Mark and Erika, and the family settled on White Hollow Road in 1965.

Eleanor and Paul were together avid beekeepers, vegetable gardeners, brewers of mead and motorcycle enthusiasts. She was a skilled seamstress, doll maker, canner and general DIYer who learned carpentry taking adult-ed classes at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. In 1977, while her two middle boys were students there, Eleanor took a job in the Superintendent’s Office and quickly became notorious for riding her motorcycle to work. She retired in 1992.

In 1995, Eleanor and Paul bought a winter home on Fripp Island in South Carolina and made many new friends. She volunteered for years there as a teaching aide in the public schools and sang alto in the island choir. Eleanor moved back to White Hollow full time in June 2020 and finally to Geer Village in October 2021.

After Paul passed, Eleanor focused on fulfilling her lifelong dreams of world travel by visiting Peru, Cuba, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Albania, Russia and more with a close-knit band of fellow adventurers. She delighted in telling stories of her travels, such as her tangle with a decrepit rope bridge in the Amazon and caravanning by camel in Egypt.

Eleanor is survived by her children, Karl Sternlof (Kerin Woods) of New London, Connecticut, Kurt Sternlof of Newton, Massachusetts, Mark Sternlof of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Erika Sternlof of Bath, Maine; her grandchildren, Emma Sternlof (Michael Conlin) of Durham, North Carolina, Nora Sternlof of Chicago, Illinois and Erik Sternlof of Newton, Massachusetts; her great grandchild Brian Conlin and her sister Evelyn Webber of Rochester, New York.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, May 31, from 11am to 1pm at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT.

David Wilburn

FALLS VILLAGE — David Charles Wilburn, 75, of Falls Village, died peacefully surrounded by his family on March 23, 2025, at Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY.

David was born on August 5, 1949, in Asheville, NC. He grew up with his older brother, Randall Wilburn, and was raised by his father, Harold Charles Wilburn, and his mother, Marcene Hicks Wilburn.

He was educated at Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, MD, The University of Notre Dame du Lac in South Bend, Ind., and St. John's University School of Law in New York City, NY.

He began his career as an attorney at The Tennessee Valley Authority, where he met his wife, Sally Scott Wilburn. The two were married at First United Methodist Church in Jackson, Tenn., on November 29, 1980. It was shortly after that David and Sally, two lifelong Southerners, both with families with the deepest of Southern roots extending back to the English and Scottish Colonies of the 1600s, made a lifelong change — they became permanent East Coasters. They moved to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where David had a career in corporate and municipal finance, as Vice President at Kidder Peabody and UBS (then United Bank of Switzerland), and later as Managing Director at Paine Webber.

With plans for a family, in 1987 David and Sally bought a Queen Anne-style brownstone on Strong Place in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, which became the childhood home for their two sons, Alexander and Clayton, and their daughter, Katherine. Their three children were all born at New York University Hospital in Manhattan and christened at Grace Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. In 1998, David and his family moved full time to the second home where they had enjoyed so many summers and Christmases, a Colonial Revival house listed in the Register of Historic Homes of Sharon, CT.

In the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, David was an active and eager community member, especially when it came to athletics. His efforts shaped Salisbury Youth Hockey into the program it is today, including naming the team the Redhawks and designing the original logo with his son, Alexander. He spent many frigid, early winter mornings with a hot coffee in hand, shuttling his two hockey players, Clayton and Katherine, to play in weekend games across New England through their grade school and high school years.

Beyond team sports, David was enthusiastic about giving his children a rich cultural education, whether through old films, photography and art exhibits, productions of Shakespeare and New York’s American Ballet Company — and of course, classic sci-fi, including “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.” He instilled a love of the outdoors in his children as well, and in fatherhood enjoyed downhill skiing, fishing, doubles tennis and scuba diving in the Caribbean. He loved to golf, a passion he inherited from his own father, and spent many early summer mornings on Hilton Head Island, S.C., golfing with son, Clayton, his father-in-law, the late Dr. Barnett Scott, his brother-in-law, David Scott, and his nephew, Andrew Scott.

In 2007 David embarked on an unexpected venture and brought his love of the culinary arts to the public when he opened the New American-style restaurant Chives in Lakeville, Conn. Favorably reviewed in the New York Times in 2008, Patricia Brooks wrote, “The crisp, neat, fresh-looking little place is enlivened by water glasses in electric Giverny blue” and later complemented the “seared yellowfin tuna and soba noodles, baked Westfield goat cheese salad; asparagus risotto, crispy-skin Loch Duart salmon, pan-seared Maine diver scallops and house-made ice creams.” The tough-as-nails Lakeville Journal food critic Marsden Epworth even complimented the restaurant’s “magazine-cool presentation.”

David and Sally shared a love for home restoration, and the pair could be seen over the years working together as a team on interior renovations and decorating (they were both great fans of the late Mario Buatta), as well as spending their warmer days out among the many pastel peonies, dahlias and roses in their garden.

In the couple’s later years, they bought their shingle-style home in The Historic District of Main Street in Falls Village, Conn. David served as treasurer of the Falls Village Community Development Corp., and was elected to two terms on the Falls Village Board of Finance. Especially in his later life, David was a passionate progressive, who believed in economic, racial and housing equity, and that it was the role of the community to look out for those in need.

David is predeceased by his parents, Harold and Marcene Wilburn, his older brother, Randall Wilburn, as well as his departed buddy, the Wilburns’ chocolate Labrador retriever, Jasper, named after the artist Jasper Johns.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Scott Wilburn, and his three children, Charles Alexander Wilburn, Clayton Scott Wilburn, and Katherine Wilburn Lasacco. David was in attendance (and is remembered for his excellent speeches) as Clayton married Elizabeth Teitzel Wilburn in Nashville, TN, in 2018, and his daughter Katherine wed Jeremy Lassaco in Ocean Grove, NJ, in 2021. David became a grandfather for the first time upon the birth of Jeremy and Katherine’s baby girl, Scarlett Joan Lassaco, on April 19, 2023, and again on October 1, 2024, upon the birth of Clayton and Elizabeth’s daughter, Sophie Madison Wilburn.

A private family service is planned for the spring.

In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to David’s cherished local library, the David M. Hunt Library, 63 Main St., Falls Village, CT 06031.

Allyn "Buddy" Hurlburt III

CORNWALL - It is with great sadness that I share that I lost my husband, Buddy, my best friend and soulmate in a matter of minutes with no warning, at home on March 31, 2025. Our wonderful children are a testament to who he was and what we are as a family.

Buddy was born Allyn H. Hurlburt III, but went by Buddy because his father and grandfather were both Allyns too.

During school, he excelled in public speaking and was the FFA President in 1972-1973, which earned him a sharp blue jacket with gold letters that he recently wore with the buttons proudly closed up! He grew up with his siblings working on the farm and ended up being the one who purchased the farm from his parents. Anyone who has ever worked a farm knows that the work is constant, hard and sometimes not profitable though always rewarding and a great way to raise children.

In 1997, life changed for both of us and we were lucky enough to “save each other” as we liked to refer to it, and we combined forces and families and made a go! What an adventure we had,
more kids, more cows, more chickens and more fun. We even made time for a couple of big trips to Florida so Buddy could visit some of the country. With the help of our kids, we milked
cows, planted corn, sold eggs and eventually even diversified into pasteurizing and selling our own cheese and milk in glass bottles. Delivered fresh weekly to 27 different stores all over
Connecticut.

Alas, economics won out and we struggled until we decided that our quality of life would improve with two full time jobs and part time farming. Buddy worked for the Town of Cornwall until he retired. These last few years have been busy for him despite “retiring”, he had odd jobs mostly at home, helped anyone that asked, kept tabs on the kids and what they needed, fed the animals we still have and of course tended to his beloved bird family outside, which we will continue faithfully.

He mostly enjoyed his family, his children meant the most to him, gave him so much pride and joy and love. He would sing their praises ad nauseum to anyone who would listen or look at
high school basketball footage or listen to stories of their accomplishments. He loved going to a field hockey game for Brooke and then watching Mason swim at the lake.

Buddy loved people, meeting people, talking to people, helping people, learning from people, everywhere he went.
He was funny, kind, generous to a fault, and deeply loved me and our family. He was in a happy place in his life, with so many things that he was planning and looking forward to which makes
his passing even more heartbreaking to us.

Buddy is survived by his loving wife Irene of 28 years, daughters, Ciara (John) Orchard, Caroline (Matthew) Murray, sons, Brian (Chloe) Fossati, Carl Fossati, Jonathan (Regina) Hurlburt, grandsons Mason Hurlburt, granddaughter Charlotte Hurlburt, daughter-in-law Erin Reilly (Jason) and granddaughters Rita Dziedzic and Brooke Hurlburt, daughter Brittany (Benjamin) Palinkas and granddaughters Hadley and Kasey, son Christopher Hurlburt and grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother Anita Hurlburt, siblings, Patricia (Ross) Huntington, (John in Heaven), Richard Hurlburt, William (Becky) Hurlburt, David (Valerie) Hurlburt, James Hurlburt, Nancy (Rob) Hohlfelder and Jennifer (Joseph) Markow. Also many nieces, nephews, (Timmy in Heaven), grand nieces and grand nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 1pm, at the United Church of Christ, Congregational, in Cornwall Village, CT. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, PO BOX 180, West Cornwall, CT 06796.

Phillip Larkin

SHARON – Phillip R. Larkin, 72, of 84 Upper Main Street, passed away on March 21, 2025 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.

Phil was born July 20, 1952 in Sharon, the son of the late Herbert Nelson Larkin and Alice Lilian O’Neill Larkin.

Phil graduated from Housatonic Regional High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1974. Once returning he was a skilled carpenter, working on many of the homes in Sharon and the surrounding towns.

He is survived by two sisters, Linda Larkin of Clinton, CT, Laurie Harding of Center Sandwich, NH and brother, David Larkin of Chelternham, England, and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother Michael Larkin, and sisters Elaine Angele Larkin and Kathleen Ann Larkin.

Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on April 25 from 5PM to 7PM, with reception to follow at Sharon Firehouse. All other services are private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.

Michael Tyler

ASHLEY FALLS, MA - It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Tyler, 67, at his home in Ashley Falls, MA on March 6th, 2025. Michael sadly lost his battle with severe depression and anxiety. We will remember him with love and compassion, hoping to raise awareness for mental health support.

Michael was born on March 5th, 1958 to Douglas William Tyler and Mary Colli Tyler of Canaan, CT where he grew up and attended Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He graduated in 1976 and briefly worked in the family business, Tyler Carpet, before going on to become a highly skilled carpenter and tile setter who was always known for his perfectionism, integrity, and the high quality of his work.

In his earlier years he built up quite a reputation for being one the best pool players in many circles and was an avid Nascar fan. He passionately shared many hobbies with his son, Josh, including archery, ping pong, model rockets and remote control airplanes among others. Always a motorcycle enthusiast, Mike was especially proud of his Honda V65 Magna which he bought off the showroom floor in 1983 and lovingly maintained ever since; the fastest motorcycle in production at the time. His first long road trip among many was riding it across the country to California and back to the East coast making many friends along the way.

Michael met Ellen Morando in 1996, and the two were married in 1999, sharing many wonderful years together. With him, Michael brought into her life an extraordinary son, Joshua Tyler, his younger sister Courtney Schutz, who Mike lovingly embraced as his daughter, and their mother, Tina Schutz, who has always been and remains part of this loving family.

Mike and Ellen built a life together in Ashley Falls full of love and support from their family and friends. Their most enjoyable times were spent relaxing on the deck with their beloved dogs and enjoying the beauty of their surroundings, namely the perennial gardens Ellen created over many years.

Michael was predeceased by his parents, Douglas and Mary Tyler, and his brothers Anthony Tyler and Larry Tyler.

Michael is survived by his wife, Ellen, his son, Joshua and his wife Amanda and their beautiful baby girl, Amelia Rose who will have many pictures and stories of how dearly her Grandpa loved her, his daughter Courtney Parker and her husband Shane, a brother Stephen Tyler and many nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts.

He also leaves behind his very dear friend of over 50 years, Walter Allen, who has been with Mike throughout all of his good times and bad times over the years with his love and support. Also Cynthia, Walter's wife, who came into Mike and Ellen's lives with the same love and support which continues to this day and beyond.

The family will have a private service in the future.

In lieu of flowers, his wife Ellen has asked that any memorial donations be made to Mike's granddaughter Amelia Rose Tyler's 529 college savings plan. He can no longer be part of her present but in this way he can be part of her future. To donate please go to ugift529.com, enter code W39-X1Y, where 100% of any donation will go directly to the account or make checks payable to Joshua Tyler to be deposited into the plan, care of Kenny Funeral Home, PO BOX 12, Sharon, CT 06069.

Ilene Tetenbaum

SALISBURY - Ilene Tetenbaum, 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Salisbury, Connecticut, on March 14th, 2025. Ilene will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her large family and her elegance.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ilene was the daughter of Samuel Abrams and Blanche Brave Abrams.

She studied at the University of Maryland. While in Baltimore, Ilene met her future husband, Stanley, on a blind date. They married in 1948 and raised three sons, Stefan, Robert, and David.

Ilene loved to read and immerse herself in Jewish traditions and gardening. She was active in her synagogue and owned a florist shop called the House of Flowers.

Ilene and Stanley moved to New York City in 1978 and relished their vacation house on the Twin Lakes in Salisbury, which ultimately became their permanent home. Ilene volunteered at the Scoville Library and was involved in numerous writing workshops and book groups. Ilene loved being in the Berkshires where she created beautiful gardens that were enjoyed by her family and friends.

After 47 wonderful years together, Stanley passed away in 1995. Sometime later, Ilene met Irwin Leff, her future partner, who passed in 2017.

Ilene is predeceased by her dear brother, Paul Abrams. She is survived by her three children, Stefan (Stella), Robert (Roxana) and David (Anne); and eight grandchildren Olympia (Marshall), Roland (Jackie), Max (Jin), Lauren (David), Adam (Lowell), Michele (Brandon), Paul and Claire, and eight great grandchildren.

A celebration of Ilene’s life will be held this spring in Salisbury, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, CT. https://www.scovillelibrary.org/about-us/support/

Sibyl Jane Bryce Lipton

CANAAN - Sibyl Jane Bryce Lipton, age 95, passed away March 5, 2025, at Geer Village, Canaan, CT.

Jane was born on January 23, 1930, in Washington, D.C., and she was the daughter of the late James Robert Bryce and Daisy Nan Hedges.

Jane graduated from St. Margaret’s High School in Tappahannock, VA. She attended Mt. Holyoke College and Catholic University.

Jane lived in Sharon for more than 30 years, before moving to Geer Village in 2019.

Jane is survived by a son, James, two daughters, Margaret and Katherine, five grandchildren: Robert, Leda, Ariel, Jacob, Naomi and Sophie, and three great-grandchildren, Theresa, Delilah and Callum. She was predeceased by a brother, James Robert Bryce, Jr.

A memorial service will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Lime Rock, CT on Saturday, April 5, at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.

Donations may be made in memory of Jane Bryce Lipton to (1) Geer Foundation, at 77 South Canaan Road, Canaan, CT 06018, or through their website: https://www.geercares.org/donate; or (2) Trinity Episcopal Church at 484 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville, CT 06039, or through their website: https://www.trinitylimerock.org.

Grace Golden

SHARON - Grace Golden, 78, of Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully March 5th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Born August 29th, 1946, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Ethel Jennings, adoptive daughter of the late Floyd Jennings. She attended Webutuck Central School and received her GED later in life.

She spent years working in the health care industry and many manufacturing jobs in the area. Grace ultimately dedicated her life to being a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, tirelessly nurturing and caring for her family with selflessness and unconditional love.

She is predeceased by her mother, adoptive father, brothers Richie and Jimmy Jennings, her first granddaughter, Karlene, a son George Golden, and her first and only love, Karl B. Golden Sr.

Grace is survived by her beautiful children Karl Golden Jr. and wife Marla of Torrington, Alton E. Golden of Sharon, Patricia Zinke and husband Kevin of Canaan, Evelyn Tatro and husband Paul of Canaan, and Eric L. Golden and wife Melissa of Sharon; her brothers and sisters, Tony Wellentine, Jeffrey Jennings, Tracey Jennings and Carol Miller; and her grandchildren Victoria, Lauren, Parker, Alyssa, Alanna, Eric (Little Man), Marissa, and Emma and great grandson Colton, and a large, loving extended family and many friends.

Calling hours will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 9th, at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, CT 06069. The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, March 10th, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 76 Sharon Road, Lakeville, CT 06039. A private burial will be held at the Salisbury Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Ambulance and Fire Department, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.

Barbara Bartram

SHARON - Barbara Benedict Bartram, 95, of Sharon, CT, died March 3, 2025, at home.

She was born in Sharon on April 30, 1929, the daughter of Maynard and Nina (Juckett) Bartram, and was a lifelong resident.

She was employed by Southern New England Telephone Company for 34 years, in Sharon until dial service began in 1953, then in Canaan and Torrington.

Barbara was a former historian, deacon, and clerk of Sharon Congregational Church, and a member since 1939. She was a Past Master of Taghhannuck Grange; Past Matron of Rose Chapter #14, Order of the Eastern Star, and a former O.E.S. grand officer and grand representative; member of Sharon Historical Society, Telephone Pioneers, and Backyard Beekeepers.

She is survived by her nieces Carey Meltzer (Harland) and Amy Bartram; nephew Peter Bartram; Jon Noyes, husband of her late niece Sarah; many great- and great-great nephews and nieces; cousins John Bartram (Anne), Laura Bartram, and Carolyn Bushey, and extended family. She was predeceased by her brother Maynard Bartram, his wife Jeannette, and niece Sarah Noyes.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Sharon Congregational Church. Private interment.

Memorial donations may be made to Sharon Congregational Church, PO Box 6, Sharon, CT 06069.

Michael Tesoro, MD

SHARON - Michael Richard Tesoro MD, FACOG, FACS, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, in Sharon, CT. He was 83 years old. Michael will be remembered for his love of and unwavering devotion to his family and his honorable and steadfast work as a medical doctor delivering over 3,000 healthy babies and women’s healthcare.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on May 20, 1941, Michael was the son of Nicholas Daniel Tesoro and Lillie Della Vecchia Tesoro, whose parents emigrated from Southern Italy in the early 1900’s.

Michael attended elementary school at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church and School in Brooklyn, NY where his future wife, Maureen Lennon, also attended, and where they were later married in 1964. Michael graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, NY in 1958. He received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology and Chemistry from St. John’s University in 1962. He then attended New York Medical College in New York, NY, performed his Medical Internship at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, CT (1967-1968) and received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1968. Michael performed his post-graduate Residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York, NY (1968-1972).

From 1972-1974, Michael served in the United States Air Force, Major, Chief of OB-GYN Services at USAF Hospital, Dover Air Force Base, Dover, DE.

He became a member of The National Board of Medical Examiners in 1968; a Fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 1971, a board-certified Fellow of The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FACOG) in 1974, and a board-certified Fellow of The American College of Surgeons (FACS) in 1975.

In 1974, Michael moved his family to Sharon, CT, a place he would call home for the next 50 years. Michael opened a private medical practice on The Green and later established satellite offices in Canaan and New Preston, CT, and Dover Plains, NY. He became an Active Attending Staff at Sharon Hospital (1974), Chief of the OB-GYN Department (1980-1991), Chief of the Medical Staff (1988-1990), and he remained on the Consulting Staff of Sharon Hospital through 2001.

In 1991, Michael became an Associate Attending Staff in the OB-GYN Department at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. He served as the Assistant Departmental Director (1991-1995), Associate Departmental Director (1995-2000), and Assistant Director of Gynecological Ultrasound from (1991-2000). He was also the Associate Director of The Residency Program for OB-GYN (1994-2000). He later served as a consultant to the CEOs of Westerly Hospital in Westerly, RI (2001-2002), Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, MA (2003-2004), Nashoba Hospital in Ayer, MA (2004-2005).

He held various positions of leadership with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Connecticut, Vice Chair (1991-1994) and Chair (1994-1997) and ACOG District I (Quebec, the Canadian Atlantic Provinces, all New England states, and Chile) among them, Vice Chair (2000-2003), Chair (2003-2006). He helped ACOG efforts to pass Connecticut’s mandate that health insurance plans allow patients direct access to their OB-GYN and actively involved with the team that helped shepherd national “The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996”.

Michael loved to travel with his wife of 60 years, Maureen Lennon Tesoro. They travelled extensively and visited every continent but Antarctica. In 1983, they travelled to The People’s Republic of China (PRC), on one of the first medical missions from the U.S., less than 5 years after PRC began Reform and Opening efforts.

Michael was a member of Saint Bernard Roman Catholic church in Sharon, CT. In 1986, Michael was Chair, Archbishop Annual Appeal, of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Michael was also a member of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He led two medical missions to provide women’s health services to remote villages in the Dominican Republic in 2000 and 2002. He volunteered at Malta House of Care, a mobile medical clinic in Waterbury, CT that provides free quality health care to uninsured and those living below the poverty line (2010-2018).

He is survived by his wife, Maureen Lennon Tesoro, and passed away one day short of their 60th wedding anniversary. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Tesoro Finegan of Little Silver, NJ, and his sister-in-law, Eileen Lennon of Nyack, NY, and his three children Michael Richard Tesoro Jr. (Robin Herrick Tesoro) of Windsor, MA, Jennifer Tesoro Reese (Michael J. Reese) of Larkspur, CA, and Todd Lennon Tesoro of Salisbury, CT, and 5 grandchildren Aidan Reese, Eloise Reese, Lily Reese, Francesca Tesoro, and Nicholas Tesoro.

A memorial service will be held on May 17, 2025 at 11:30AM at the Trinity Lime Rock Church in Lakeville, CT.

Arthur Frigault
SHARON - Arthur Joseph Frigault, 79, passed away February 26, 2025 at Baystate Medical Center after a brave attempt to live with multiple myeloma cancer. He was surrounded by his devoted wife, loving family and friends.

Arthur was born July 7, 1945 in Waltham, Massachusetts, the son of the late Arthur and Delina Frigault. His parents migrated from New Brunswick, Canada to Waltham in 1945. Arthur attended french-speaking St. Joseph Church's elementary school in Waltham, Waltham High School and Northeastern University in Boston for engineering. He served in the US Army.

Arthur worked as engineer inspector in the aerospace industry at Itek Measurement Systems in Newton, MA and in the medical quality industry at Johnson and Johnson in Raynham, MA. His colorful life included work as a freelance photographer, picture framer, soap maker and restaurateur. Arthur was owner of Beebo's Restaurant in New Orleans, LA with his wife, Karen.

Arthur is survived by his wife and soulmate, Karen Heacox; his brother and sister-in-law, Max and Jean Frigault of Pismo Beach, CA; his nephew, Eric Frigault of Fountain Hills, AZ; and several cousins in Canada and the United States. He will be dearly missed by the entire Heacox family. This loss will go out in concentric circles and be felt in the world, Arthur touched many peoples' lives that they always felt better having spent time with him.

A memorial service will be held at the Sharon Congregational Church on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 11:00 am.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, PO Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.

Kathleen Hulser
CORNWALL - It is with deep sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of Kathleen Hulser, 71, of Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut, on Sunday, October 27, 2024. A cherished mom, loyal friend, beloved confidante, and spirited soul, Kathleen's larger-than-life personality and boundless energy touched countless lives in Cornwall Bridge, New York City, and around the world.

Kathleen was born on February 5, 1953, in Maine, the daughter of the late Warren and Adele (Costello) Hulser.

She attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, where she laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for history. Kathleen continued her education at NYU, earning a master's degree in American History. In the late 90s to early 2000s, she began her career as a public historian at the New-York Historical Society, while also working as a professor of American History at Pace University.

Over the years, Kathleen held numerous curator, educator, and consulting roles, sharing her vast knowledge of history at institutions like the Museum of the American Gangster and the New York Transit Museum. At the time of her death, she was leading guided walking tours around New York City, serving as the executive director and chief curator of MSeum, and working as a public historian for the Incorrigibles project in Brooklyn, NY.

Kathleen was a public historian, curator, activist, feminist, poet, mother, educator, badass and friend—titles that only begin to capture the essence of who she was. Her intelligence and wisdom were matched only by her warmth and generosity, creating an inviting presence that drew people in from all walks of life. Kathleen’s wit, infectious laugh, and deep knowledge on countless topics made her unforgettable to anyone lucky enough to meet her. She had a remarkable ability to make any conversation feel effortless, never shying away from humor even in the most serious of situations. An excellent writer and poet, Kathleen’s creative talents shone just as brightly as her intellectual ones, adding another layer to the many ways she touched the lives of those around her. She left a lasting impression wherever she went, always able to engage with others in a way that felt both meaningful and genuine.

Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut, was the final place Kathleen called home, where she swam, hiked, entertained guests and lived life to the fullest. An avid animal lover, she found peace in nature after years spent in the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

The trees, the wind, and the rushing water will forever remind us of Kathleen, as she will be remembered in these serene elements, at peace in the place where she was happiest.

She is survived by her daughter, Kira Baird, her dog Shakespear and by scores of loving friends and family.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date that has yet to be determined. If interested in attending please email Kira.bairdd@gmail.com / text (917)355-6409.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kathleen Hulser Go Fund Me, https://gofund.me/6bc8e29a

Donna Peterson

SHARON- Donna Lee (O’Dell) Peterson, age 63, of Sharon Valley, passed away on February 18th, 2025.

Donna was born on February 6th, 1962 in Sharon, the daughter of Edward and Donna O’Dell.

Donna was a cherished wife, mother, daughter, sister and grandmother. Donna's heart was as boundless as her passions for nature, animals and literature. Her laugh was infectious, and her spirit, gentle yet strong, was a beacon of light to all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Peter and three sons; Lance, Chad and Jake, Mother, Donna, Sister, Rebecca, and Brother, Eric.

She was predeceased by her father, Edward, brothers; Edward and Micheal, and Niece Brittany.

Donna is survived by many other family members and friends who will remember her for her warmth, and the way she always made everyone feel special. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home on Saturday, March 1st, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. All other services are private.

William Manasse

SHARON - William Jeffrey Manasse, 74, of Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully at his home on February 18, surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born to Edward Lincoln Manasse and Audrey Olsen Manasse Prindle, Step-son of Stuart E. Prindle, William (aka “Bill”) was a devoted son, brother, husband, uncle, and friend.

Bill was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School (Class of 1968) and the University of Connecticut (Class of 1976), and a graduate of the Western New England School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree (Class of 1980). He was admitted to the Federal District Court Bar in 1983. He was a highly respected attorney with the Manasse, Slaiby, and Leard Law Firm in Kent and Torrington and member of the Litchfield County Bar Association. Bill had a keen legal mind, especially regarding property matters.

His commitment to public service was evident in his twenty four years of service on Sharon’s Planning and Zoning Committee. He also served as Vice President of Sharon Housing Authority and President of the Ellsworth Burial Ground Association. In all things, Bill dedicated his life to serving others.

William was passionate about American history. He was zealous about, and was devoted to his closely knit family and he also served as the family historian, exploring family genealogies in both Norway and the US. He and Debbie loved traveling together, especially to the Amish country of Pennsylvania and to the United Kingdom. Treasured journeys were to Norway, the homeland of his Olsen ancestors, and to Outer Mongolia with his brother Edward.

A public servant, and a dedicated family man, William will be remembered for his kindness, integrity, and unwavering commitment to those he loved.

He is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Manasse of Sharon; his brothers, Edward Walter (aka “Butch”) Manasse of Parrish, FL and Warren Prindle of Sharon, CT, brother- and sister-in-law David and Jean Lichtel of Lakeland, FL, sister-in-law Amy Lichtel of Berkley, MI, and brother-in-law Patrick Lichtel of Dalton, MA, and his cherished nieces and nephews, Christine Manasse, Edward Alvin Manasse, Stuart Prindle, Tahlia Prindle, and Ethan William Prindle.

Calling hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, on Friday, February 28 from 5-7PM. A private burial for the family will take place at the Ellsworth Burial Ground.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

For more information, please contact Warren at (860) 364-0535.

Norman Reich

SALISBURY - Norman Reich, age 93, passed away on February 10, 2025 at his beloved home on Twin Lakes in Salisbury. He was the loving husband of Beverly Reich for 62 years, and she remained by his side, fiercely guarding his comfort and dignity, until the end.

Born July 25, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, Norman was the son of Elsie and Harry Reich. He was deeply proud of having been Sports Editor of the Tulane University Hullabaloo and having served as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy after attending New York University Dental School. He often expressed his gratitude for those who protected our country in battle, and he knew that he was lucky to have seen only angry seas instead of war.

Norman married Beverly after a courtship in New York, where he would practice dentistry for 40 years, and at his family’s Berkshire Hills Camp (BHC) in Salisbury, CT. The young couple (with 3 children in tow) took over running the camp in 1971. BHC was a revered institution, and former campers continue to visit its lakeside property where the Reichs made their home in its restored gymnasium.

Prior to their move to Northwest CT, the Reichs raised their children in Scarsdale, NY. There, Norman took up his most revered pastime: running. “Stormin Norman” completed 6 marathons in New York, Boston, and Washington DC, rounding off his merits by walking the New York Marathon for his 80th birthday as a fundraiser for Team for Kids.

A board member of the Northwest Center for Family Services and the 21st Century Fund for Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Norman believed in serving his community and in giving back.

He was generous and kind, and his genuine smile, animated stories, and goofy sense of humor lit up a room. Norman was never happier than when surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by Beverly and their three children, Randall, Joseph, and Donald; three children-in-law, Peter, Erica, and Frankie; three grandchildren, Paulina, Fia, and Dylan; and his younger sister, Joan. He was predeceased by his older sister, Barbara. He is also remembered by countless family members and friends who he touched through his shining amiable spirit.

The family will hold an intimate celebration of Norman’s life in the spring when a tree will be planted in his honor and a bugle will blow taps, a nod to both the military and BHC. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in hopes that a cure will come soon for this heartbreaking illness which impacted Norman.

Allan Walker

GOSHEN – Allan Dudley Walker, 91, of Allyn Road, died Friday morning, January 31, 2025.

Born February 16, 1933, he was the son of Clifford R. and Irene M. (Wilson) Walker of Granby, CT.

Allan was a 1951 graduate of Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, CT, earned a B.S. in Geography at Dartmouth College in 1955, and a Doctorate degree in Education from The University of Connecticut.

After serving 2 years in the Navy as 2nd Lieutenant, he settled in Woodstock in 1957, where he dedicated his life to educating young people by teaching for 3 years, and then as Headmaster at Woodstock Academy for 20 years (1960-1980). He was a long-time prominent figure in the leadership of the Connecticut Association of Schools starting in 1961 until his retirement. During this time, he was also active in the National Association of Secondary School Principals, serving as President from 1975-1976.

On February 13, 1982, he and Joan Angelo were married and moved to Goshen, CT, where they lovingly restored a 1780 Colonial and he continued his dedication to nurturing young minds as Principal of Litchfield High School (1980-1988), and subsequently Superintendent of Schools for the region (1988-1992).

Allan was an active community leader throughout his life. He was a member and officer of the Freemason Society and served in both the Muddy Brook Fire Department and the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association as an officer and EMT. After he moved to Goshen, he served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Junior Republic. He was also a member of the Goshen Board of Finance from 2002 to 2025, serving as Chairman the last 21 years.

Allan loved the outdoors. He was most at home as a gentleman farmer tending his herd of Hereford beef animals, whom he treated as pets. He also enjoyed the solace and adventure of being off the grid in the northern Maine woods (T15-R9), having vacationed there since the 1960's and made many more visits there with his children and extended family. With his 2000 Porsche Boxster, he and Joan enjoyed events and tours as members of the CT Valley Region Porsche Club.

Allan is survived by his beloved wife Joan, his children, Patricia Walker of Newport, VT, Allan (Carrie) Walker, Jr. of Woodstock, CT, Suzanne (Ronald) Szymanski of Naples, FL, Mary (Paul) Gallerani of Woodstock, CT, Melissa (Chris) Cornell of Harrisburg, PA, his stepdaughter, Cassandra Angelo (Holly) of Glastonbury, CT, his first wife, Lois Swenson and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald N. Walker.

The family would like to share their gratitude for the care, kindness and dedication provided by his primary VNA caregiver, Robin Gallagher, Chris Seymour, Shantal Harvey, Goshen/Cornwall Senior Bus, Goshen Fire Company and Goshen Community Care.

There are no calling hours. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Junior Republic, 550 Goshen Road, Litchfield, CT 06759, The Goshen Good Neighbor Fund, Inc., PO Box 492, Goshen, CT 06756-0492, or the Woodstock Academy, 57 Academy Road, Woodstock, CT 06281.

Martha Nesbitt

LAKEVILLE - Martha Nesbitt of Lakeville, Connecticut and New York City passed away on January 26, 2025.

Martha, the daughter of Ruth & Henry Wendt, was born March 14, 1942 in New York City. She grew up in Sands Point and Tuxedo Park, New York.

As a child, she attended the Tuxedo Park Country Day school, and The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Later she studied the classics at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and at New York University.

In New York City, she worked for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and later in computer program design at
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA).

Although she met her husband Michael in 1960 they were not married until 1972, each of them having a prior marriage. After her retirement, she and her husband of 52 years spent most of their time in Lakeville, Connecticut.

She was an active member of the Colonial Dames, the Cosmopolitan Club, the Millbrook Garden Club, the Berkshire Choral International, a mahjong group, and the Crescendo choral group. She was practicing for a Crescendo concert at the time she fell ill.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as the most sweet, kind, loving and thoughtful wife, to Michael, mother to Ian, Christopher and Seth Nesbitt, sister to Nancy Evans, grandmother to Caelan, Cosmo, Esperanza, Harper, and Zephyr, and friend to all. She was especially close to her brother Henry Wendt and sister Lindsay Serrell, both of whom predeceased her.

A celebration of Martha’s life will be held on February 22nd at 11 AM at the Trinity Church in Lime Rock, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crescendo choral at: www.crescendomusic.org. Remembrances and photographs are welcomed at: marthawendtnesbitt@gmail.com

Robert Grandell

CANAAN - Robert G. Grandell, 81, of Canaan, CT passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025.

Robert was born in Waterbury, CT on August 29, 1943, the son of Isabella (Brickett) and Art Perkins. He married Janet (Van Deusen) on June 27, 1964.

Bob worked at various factories throughout his career, retiring from Electric Motion Co, Winsted, CT in 2005. He enjoyed coaching Little League baseball and junior bowling. He also liked to watch the UConn Women's Basketball team and the Green Bay Packers.

He and Janet liked to go on bus trips and vacation in Lake George, NY.

Bob is survived by two sons; Gary and his wife Laurie of Canaan, Dennis and his wife Carolyn of New Hartford, one sister; Anna Mae MacNeil of Arizona, one brother; Bill Perkins and his wife Candace of Torrington, and six grandchildren.

Bob is predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Joan Parsons and Eleanor Gurney.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 2nd from 1pm - 3pm at The Kenny Funeral Home, Sharon, CT. All other services are private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Canaan Ambulance, 15 East Main St., Canaan, CT 06018 or to the North Canaan Volunteer Fire Department, 4 East Main St., Canaan, CT 06018.

Carl Allen

CORNWALL - Carl Patrick Allen, 50, passed away peacefully at home on January 20, 2025.

Carl was born on August 30, 1974, in Torrington, CT.

Baptized in an incubator at 4 hours old, and not expected to survive the night, Carl proved time and time again to be a medical miracle. A paraplegic from birth, due to open spina bifida, he endured countless hospital stays and surgeries throughout his life. None of that ever dampened his spirit. Each hospital stay was met with excitement by him as nurses doted on him and brought him his favorite treat, Jello. Carl warmed the heart of everyone he met with his infectious spirit and laughter.

Carl is now reunited with his mother, Carolann Tyler (Maule) of West Cornwall. He is survived by his stepfathers, Earle Tyler of West Cornwall, and Jim Allen of Torrington; his siblings Marc (wife Sue) Allen of Norfolk, Heather Tyler of Harwinton, Mandy Allen-Fischer (husband Michael) of Thomaston, and Jason Allen of Torrington; and several loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial and burial services will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, 289 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796.

Trinidad Proffitt

SALISBURY— We mourn the great loss of Trinidad Proffitt, 88, who passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, January 16, 2025. She was a beloved mother, sister, grandmother, friend, and member of our local community.

Trina was born on August 10, 1936, in Vega Baja, PR, to the late Carmen Martínez Padrón y Sandín and Lino Padrón Rivera, who co-authored the Puerto Rican Constitution. While studying Pharmacy at the University of Puerto Rico, she met the love of her life Burton Proffitt who was serving in the Marine Corps.
Together, they raised their family of three children in Puerto Rico and Long Island.

Trina was a woman ahead of her time in many ways. Early in her career, she created scents for perfumes and products like Tone Soap at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). She also invented a method for suspending chemicals at very high concentrations, which allowed the company to expand significantly. She continued making radical scientific and organizational contributions at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island where she eventually became the Director of Outpatient Pharmacy. After retiring from Pharmacy, she moved to Los Angeles and became a docent, teaching art history to young children. She brought her love for teaching to Salisbury for the after-school program SOAR.

In her later years, she became an avid reader, likely consuming the entire collection at Scoville Memorial Library. She was well-known and loved by everyone. Tough and resilient, she rarely let anything slip by her. With a twinkle in her eye and a wry smile, she could make us laugh until we were in tears. She loved her children and grandchildren passionately.

She is survived by her sisters Carmen and Bruni, her children Robert, Craig, and Pilar, and her grandchildren Isabel, Carmen, Grace, Ellis, Sam, Amelia, and Pablo.

A memorial service will be held at the Salisbury Congregational Church on Sunday, January 19, at 1:00 pm. All other services are private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT.

Luigina Dzenutis

CANTON - Luigina A. Dzenutis, 91, of Canton, CT, died peacefully on January 16, 2025, in her home. She was the wife of the late Peter A. Dzenutis Sr.

Luigina was born in Bronx, New York on May 17, 1933, the daughter of the late Jack and Medie (Tonelli) Grecco.

Luigina’s life was full of family, friends and celebrations. She enjoyed her last Christmas season surrounded by everyone she loves, singing and dancing her way thru December.

Luigina is survived her seven sons; Peter Jr., John, Ralph, David, Stanley, Thomas and Rah; and four daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Ann and Luiginia. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren: Jolene, Sherri, Cassie, Michael, Britney, Nicholas, Gabriela, Sydney, Page, Terry, Kaitlyn, Zachary, Jacob, Maximilliam, Gabriel and Luigina along with thirteen great-grandchildren; Payton, Aubrey, Aman Jr., Carmela, Landon, Hailey, Hayden, Jayden, Grayson, Malia, Bennett, Rowen and Landon Jr.

Besides her husband Peter, of 69 years she was pre-deceased by a son Michael and grandson Aman.

Luigina leaves behind a legacy of stories and memories to be told by her 11 remaining children and a multitude of grand and great-grand children, nieces and nephews.

Members of her community, and friends of the family, may pay their respects at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT, January 22 from 4PM-6PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, NY on Thursday, January 23 at 11AM. Burial will follow at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery.