Obituaries
Patricia Habacker
SALISBURY - Patricia “Patti” Marie Habacker, 58 of 4 Hemlock Lane, Salisbury, CT passed away peacefully March 17, 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital with her soulmate James Habacker by her side. Patti and Jim have been together since February 14, 1981 and married on June 6, 1987 at their family estate in Salisbury, CT. Patti and her bridal party arrived on a horse drawn carriage.
Patti was born in Bronx, N.Y. on March 15, 1965. She was the daughter of Michael and Sadie (Harden) Kelliher. Patti graduated from Baldwin Senior High School in 1983.
Patti moved to Salisbury in 1993 where she enjoyed a wonderful fulfilled life near a beautiful lake where she and Jim raised 3 sons; Jimmy, Jonny and Joey. All three went on to attend Housatonic Valley Regional High School and were the captains of multiple sports teams.
For many years she assisted with the day to day operations of the Habacker family business. Her positive demeanor coupled with her work ethic was the perfect combination for a prosperous work environment.
Patti was a dedicated mother first and foremost, devoted wife, lover of animals especially her three fur babies Snoopy, Dudley and Jamie. She especially loved her role as grandmother and god mother to her very first grandbaby Rose “Rosie.” Her vivacious smile would light up any room and will forever be missed.
Patricia Marie’s natural beauty was only surpassed by her kind heart and spirit. Her love for her family and friends will be forever remembered.
Patti is survived by her loving husband James and their two loving sons Jonathan and Joseph Habacker, their spouses Nicole Lord and Katelyn Habacker and one granddaughter Rose Elizabeth Habacker. Patti is also survived by her mother Sadie Kelliher, sister Karen Kelliher, brother Michael Kelliher, nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply. She is predeceased by her son James Habacker and father Michael Kelliher.
Calling hours will be held Friday March 24th from 4pm-6pm at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon CT. A funeral service will be celebrated Saturday, March 25th at 10am at the Salisbury Congregational Church with a burial to follow at Salisbury Cemetery.
In Lieu of donations a GoFundMe https://gofund.me/c0e52674 has been set up in memory of Patti Habacker.
SALISBURY - Patricia “Patti” Marie Habacker, 58 of 4 Hemlock Lane, Salisbury, CT passed away peacefully March 17, 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital with her soulmate James Habacker by her side. Patti and Jim have been together since February 14, 1981 and married on June 6, 1987 at their family estate in Salisbury, CT. Patti and her bridal party arrived on a horse drawn carriage.
Patti was born in Bronx, N.Y. on March 15, 1965. She was the daughter of Michael and Sadie (Harden) Kelliher. Patti graduated from Baldwin Senior High School in 1983.
Patti moved to Salisbury in 1993 where she enjoyed a wonderful fulfilled life near a beautiful lake where she and Jim raised 3 sons; Jimmy, Jonny and Joey. All three went on to attend Housatonic Valley Regional High School and were the captains of multiple sports teams.
For many years she assisted with the day to day operations of the Habacker family business. Her positive demeanor coupled with her work ethic was the perfect combination for a prosperous work environment.
Patti was a dedicated mother first and foremost, devoted wife, lover of animals especially her three fur babies Snoopy, Dudley and Jamie. She especially loved her role as grandmother and god mother to her very first grandbaby Rose “Rosie.” Her vivacious smile would light up any room and will forever be missed.
Patricia Marie’s natural beauty was only surpassed by her kind heart and spirit. Her love for her family and friends will be forever remembered.
Patti is survived by her loving husband James and their two loving sons Jonathan and Joseph Habacker, their spouses Nicole Lord and Katelyn Habacker and one granddaughter Rose Elizabeth Habacker. Patti is also survived by her mother Sadie Kelliher, sister Karen Kelliher, brother Michael Kelliher, nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply. She is predeceased by her son James Habacker and father Michael Kelliher.
Calling hours will be held Friday March 24th from 4pm-6pm at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon CT. A funeral service will be celebrated Saturday, March 25th at 10am at the Salisbury Congregational Church with a burial to follow at Salisbury Cemetery.
In Lieu of donations a GoFundMe https://gofund.me/c0e52674 has been set up in memory of Patti Habacker.
Stephany Haines
SALISBURY - Stephany Warick Haines, age 83, passed away on March 4, 2023, at her home in Salisbury, CT after a long illness. She was the loving wife of the late Thomas D. Haines (known to many as Tom). In her final days, she was surrounded by her sons and others who cared deeply for her.
Stephany was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1940, the only child of the late Stephan S. Warick and Jadwiga A. Sieradzki. She grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ, and attended Vassar College where she majored in English. She and Tom married in 1963 and moved to New York City. Stephany pursued her passion for art and worked at the Institute of Fine Arts for nearly a decade. She and Tom raised their two sons in Brooklyn Heights and lived there for almost four decades. For many years, she and her family spent much of their summers in Norfolk, CT, where Stephany honed her watercolor skills and presented several exhibits of her paintings at the Norfolk Library.
In the early 2000s, she and Tom moved to Salisbury where they enjoyed the more relaxed rhythms of country life and the views from their house on Bunker Hill Road. Throughout their years together, they found great joy in hosting or joining dinner parties that lasted later into the night with groups of close friends.
Stephany’s other great loves, aside from her husband and children, were her Jack Russell Terriers. She had four of the energetic canines over the years and endowed them all with somewhat unconventional names to match their feisty personalities. Although few dared to call her on it, Stephany was a bit of an Anglophile. She believed tea was the only morning beverage fit for human consumption, was a regular reader of Country Life magazine, and cherished the annual trips that she and Tom took to London for many years after he retired. Stephany was known for her dry wit, which remained with her until her final days, as well as her lifelong love of animals, especially dogs, horses and birds. Her intuitive eye for spotting antiques of value remains a source of family lore.
She is survived by her two sons, Samuel and Thomas Jr., their wives (Monamie and Caroline) and her four grandchildren (Sophie, Eliza, Kailash and Urmila). A memorial service will be planned for later this year. Memorial contributions may be made to Russell Rescue Inc. (www.russellrescue.com).
SALISBURY - Stephany Warick Haines, age 83, passed away on March 4, 2023, at her home in Salisbury, CT after a long illness. She was the loving wife of the late Thomas D. Haines (known to many as Tom). In her final days, she was surrounded by her sons and others who cared deeply for her.
Stephany was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1940, the only child of the late Stephan S. Warick and Jadwiga A. Sieradzki. She grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ, and attended Vassar College where she majored in English. She and Tom married in 1963 and moved to New York City. Stephany pursued her passion for art and worked at the Institute of Fine Arts for nearly a decade. She and Tom raised their two sons in Brooklyn Heights and lived there for almost four decades. For many years, she and her family spent much of their summers in Norfolk, CT, where Stephany honed her watercolor skills and presented several exhibits of her paintings at the Norfolk Library.
In the early 2000s, she and Tom moved to Salisbury where they enjoyed the more relaxed rhythms of country life and the views from their house on Bunker Hill Road. Throughout their years together, they found great joy in hosting or joining dinner parties that lasted later into the night with groups of close friends.
Stephany’s other great loves, aside from her husband and children, were her Jack Russell Terriers. She had four of the energetic canines over the years and endowed them all with somewhat unconventional names to match their feisty personalities. Although few dared to call her on it, Stephany was a bit of an Anglophile. She believed tea was the only morning beverage fit for human consumption, was a regular reader of Country Life magazine, and cherished the annual trips that she and Tom took to London for many years after he retired. Stephany was known for her dry wit, which remained with her until her final days, as well as her lifelong love of animals, especially dogs, horses and birds. Her intuitive eye for spotting antiques of value remains a source of family lore.
She is survived by her two sons, Samuel and Thomas Jr., their wives (Monamie and Caroline) and her four grandchildren (Sophie, Eliza, Kailash and Urmila). A memorial service will be planned for later this year. Memorial contributions may be made to Russell Rescue Inc. (www.russellrescue.com).
Donald Simmons III
SHARON - Donald Simmons III died in New Heaven, CT. He was the loving father to his daughter.
Donald was born on April 24, 1988 in Sharon, CT to Donald Simmons Jr. and Mary (Johnson) Smotherman. He attended Housatonic Valley Regional Highschool.
He is survived by both parents Donald Simmons Jr of Torrington, CT, Mary (Vic) Smotherman of Malinta, OH. Siblings Mary Chausse and Lynn Quigley of Napoleon, OH, Katie Brazee of FL, and Mark Brazee Jr. of Malinta, OH. There are more loved ones.
He is predeceased in death by both paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother and many other loved ones.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date with family.
SHARON - Donald Simmons III died in New Heaven, CT. He was the loving father to his daughter.
Donald was born on April 24, 1988 in Sharon, CT to Donald Simmons Jr. and Mary (Johnson) Smotherman. He attended Housatonic Valley Regional Highschool.
He is survived by both parents Donald Simmons Jr of Torrington, CT, Mary (Vic) Smotherman of Malinta, OH. Siblings Mary Chausse and Lynn Quigley of Napoleon, OH, Katie Brazee of FL, and Mark Brazee Jr. of Malinta, OH. There are more loved ones.
He is predeceased in death by both paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother and many other loved ones.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date with family.
Sally Swanson
SALISBURY - It is with great sadness that we have to inform you, our little Mom, Sally Swanson, passed away on February 14, 2023. She was 85yrs old (nearly 86 (May 19th)).
Mom was the most giving, loving and toughest lady who, with her strong relationship with God, always conquered the significant medical challenges that she endured for many, many years.
Mom welcomed everyone into her beautiful home. The home that she and Dad worked tirelessly to make it what it is today. The home so many of our childhood friends love coming back to, cherishing fond memories.
Mom was so positive, happy and was always smiling. Most of all, Mom loved her family, her home and appreciated the many friendships she developed through her years.
Mom is survived by her children: Ram, Kim, Patricia and John, as well as her Granddaughter, Madisyn for whom she was so very proud of. Mom is survived by two siblings: Judy Loucks and
Leah Procopio.
Mom was predeceased by her loving husband, Charlie Swanson, as well as three siblings: Gene Stahovec, Faye Blakey and Carl Stahovec.
We will be having a private burial and a gathering at some point so that we can all celebrate Mom.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance or Sharon Methodist Church.
Please take a moment to remember Mom as you knew her.
SALISBURY - It is with great sadness that we have to inform you, our little Mom, Sally Swanson, passed away on February 14, 2023. She was 85yrs old (nearly 86 (May 19th)).
Mom was the most giving, loving and toughest lady who, with her strong relationship with God, always conquered the significant medical challenges that she endured for many, many years.
Mom welcomed everyone into her beautiful home. The home that she and Dad worked tirelessly to make it what it is today. The home so many of our childhood friends love coming back to, cherishing fond memories.
Mom was so positive, happy and was always smiling. Most of all, Mom loved her family, her home and appreciated the many friendships she developed through her years.
Mom is survived by her children: Ram, Kim, Patricia and John, as well as her Granddaughter, Madisyn for whom she was so very proud of. Mom is survived by two siblings: Judy Loucks and
Leah Procopio.
Mom was predeceased by her loving husband, Charlie Swanson, as well as three siblings: Gene Stahovec, Faye Blakey and Carl Stahovec.
We will be having a private burial and a gathering at some point so that we can all celebrate Mom.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance or Sharon Methodist Church.
Please take a moment to remember Mom as you knew her.
Eva Aitcheson
DOVER, NY - Eva (Cruz) Aitcheson passed away surrounded by her four children on February 14, 2023 at the age of 49.
She was born in New York City on January 19, 1974.
She was a fun, loving, and proud mother and grandmother, who loved nothing more than spending time with those closest to her. Eva also enjoyed cooking for her family, watching movies, and just hanging out. She had a loud, easy to love laugh that made you smile. She helped and supported others in a way that was non-judgmental and clearly came from a heart of love. Her children, siblings, mother, and other loved ones will always hold Eva in their hearts.
The family also wants to thank the fantastic medical team in the ICU at Vassar Brothers Medical Center for making this journey less difficult and making Eva’s final few days comfortable and as peaceful as possible.
She is survived by her children Justin (Rose) Prause, Jason Prause, Joshua Prause, and Ashley (Jeremy) Prause; three grandchildren; mother Judy Lamay; brothers Richie Cruz and Alex Cruz; sister Nyasia Nesmith; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Charlie.
Kenny funeral home in Sharon, CT is handling arrangements for calling hours on Friday February 24, 2023, 4:00pm-6:00pm.
DOVER, NY - Eva (Cruz) Aitcheson passed away surrounded by her four children on February 14, 2023 at the age of 49.
She was born in New York City on January 19, 1974.
She was a fun, loving, and proud mother and grandmother, who loved nothing more than spending time with those closest to her. Eva also enjoyed cooking for her family, watching movies, and just hanging out. She had a loud, easy to love laugh that made you smile. She helped and supported others in a way that was non-judgmental and clearly came from a heart of love. Her children, siblings, mother, and other loved ones will always hold Eva in their hearts.
The family also wants to thank the fantastic medical team in the ICU at Vassar Brothers Medical Center for making this journey less difficult and making Eva’s final few days comfortable and as peaceful as possible.
She is survived by her children Justin (Rose) Prause, Jason Prause, Joshua Prause, and Ashley (Jeremy) Prause; three grandchildren; mother Judy Lamay; brothers Richie Cruz and Alex Cruz; sister Nyasia Nesmith; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Charlie.
Kenny funeral home in Sharon, CT is handling arrangements for calling hours on Friday February 24, 2023, 4:00pm-6:00pm.
Peter Douglas
LAKEVILLE - Peter R. Douglas, 72, a retired attorney who practiced corporate law in New York City, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack at his home in Lakeville, CT, on Feb. 9, 2023.
A graduate of Deerfield Academy, Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Peter became one of the youngest partners at Davis Polk & Wardwell, a Wall Street law firm. He was widely admired for his intellect, humor and charm. His law practice focused mainly on mergers and acquisitions for both domestic and international clients, and among many other accomplishments he was the inventor of the “Pac-Man” defense against hostile corporate takeovers and numerous novel transaction structures and held a patent for a pricing formula in exchange offers. He retired from the law firm in 2012.
Peter was born on June 3, 1950, in Northampton, MA and grew up in Chevy Chase, MD. He was the son of John W. Douglas, who headed the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Division under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Mary St. John Douglas, a medical researcher and first woman trustee of Princeton University. His grandfather, Paul H. Douglas, served as three term U.S. senator from Illinois from 1949 to 1967.
Peter had a special fondness for fast cars and for a brief time held a track record at the now defunct Bridgehampton race course. During his retirement, he focused his energies on woodworking, nature photography and automobiles.
Peter and his wife established a part time home in Lakeville, CT in 2004 and relocated to Lakeville full time in 2012 following Peter’s retirement.
Peter is survived by his wife, Ulrika Ekman, and his three children, Matthew of Miami Beach, FL, Alexander of San Francisco, CA and Anna, a junior at Georgetown University, by his sister, Kate Douglas Torrey of Chapel Hill, NC, and by many Douglas and St. John cousins.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
LAKEVILLE - Peter R. Douglas, 72, a retired attorney who practiced corporate law in New York City, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack at his home in Lakeville, CT, on Feb. 9, 2023.
A graduate of Deerfield Academy, Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Peter became one of the youngest partners at Davis Polk & Wardwell, a Wall Street law firm. He was widely admired for his intellect, humor and charm. His law practice focused mainly on mergers and acquisitions for both domestic and international clients, and among many other accomplishments he was the inventor of the “Pac-Man” defense against hostile corporate takeovers and numerous novel transaction structures and held a patent for a pricing formula in exchange offers. He retired from the law firm in 2012.
Peter was born on June 3, 1950, in Northampton, MA and grew up in Chevy Chase, MD. He was the son of John W. Douglas, who headed the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Division under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Mary St. John Douglas, a medical researcher and first woman trustee of Princeton University. His grandfather, Paul H. Douglas, served as three term U.S. senator from Illinois from 1949 to 1967.
Peter had a special fondness for fast cars and for a brief time held a track record at the now defunct Bridgehampton race course. During his retirement, he focused his energies on woodworking, nature photography and automobiles.
Peter and his wife established a part time home in Lakeville, CT in 2004 and relocated to Lakeville full time in 2012 following Peter’s retirement.
Peter is survived by his wife, Ulrika Ekman, and his three children, Matthew of Miami Beach, FL, Alexander of San Francisco, CA and Anna, a junior at Georgetown University, by his sister, Kate Douglas Torrey of Chapel Hill, NC, and by many Douglas and St. John cousins.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
Anna Curtis
AMENIA, NY - Anna Moore Gilfillan Curtis, 87, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Sharon Hospital, surrounded by her family at her side. She was the loving wife of Arnold Curtis.
Anna was born January 5, 1936, in Brownington, Vermont, to parents Nye and Marion (Moore) Gillfillan, who preceded her in death. Anna graduated from Orleans High School, married, and moved to New York in 1958. She was a den mother for the cub scouts and a homemaker for many years before attending Dutchess Community College and acquiring her Registered Nursing License in 1977.
Anna was employed as an RN at Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic, NY, for many years before retiring in 1991. Anna loved to travel and spent many summers in their Vermont camp on Brown’s pond in Westmore, VT, these past 30 years. She was an avid card player and stamp collector and loved gardening in her younger years.
Anna is survived by her husband of 64 years, Arnold Curtis, Amenia, NY; her son Whaden Curtis and wife, Barbara, of Brookfield, CT; her daughter Laurie Wilcox and husband, Brian, of Sharon, CT; her granddaughter Morgan Underwood and her husband, Kerry, of Valley Falls, NY; and grandson Alex Curtis of Grand Rapids, MI; brothers, Eric Gilfillan of Derby, VT, and Willis and wife Betty Gilfillan of Island Pond, VT; sister-in-law Marlene Gilfillan of Holland, VT; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Anna was preceded in death by her brothers Gilbert Gilfillan, Raymond Gilfillan, and nephew John Gilfillan.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023, or online at https://diabetes.org
Services will be at a later date at the convenience of the family at Lakeview Cemetery, Westmore, VT.
Online condolences can be made at Legacy.com by searching Anna’s name and scrolling past this obituary.
AMENIA, NY - Anna Moore Gilfillan Curtis, 87, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Sharon Hospital, surrounded by her family at her side. She was the loving wife of Arnold Curtis.
Anna was born January 5, 1936, in Brownington, Vermont, to parents Nye and Marion (Moore) Gillfillan, who preceded her in death. Anna graduated from Orleans High School, married, and moved to New York in 1958. She was a den mother for the cub scouts and a homemaker for many years before attending Dutchess Community College and acquiring her Registered Nursing License in 1977.
Anna was employed as an RN at Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic, NY, for many years before retiring in 1991. Anna loved to travel and spent many summers in their Vermont camp on Brown’s pond in Westmore, VT, these past 30 years. She was an avid card player and stamp collector and loved gardening in her younger years.
Anna is survived by her husband of 64 years, Arnold Curtis, Amenia, NY; her son Whaden Curtis and wife, Barbara, of Brookfield, CT; her daughter Laurie Wilcox and husband, Brian, of Sharon, CT; her granddaughter Morgan Underwood and her husband, Kerry, of Valley Falls, NY; and grandson Alex Curtis of Grand Rapids, MI; brothers, Eric Gilfillan of Derby, VT, and Willis and wife Betty Gilfillan of Island Pond, VT; sister-in-law Marlene Gilfillan of Holland, VT; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Anna was preceded in death by her brothers Gilbert Gilfillan, Raymond Gilfillan, and nephew John Gilfillan.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023, or online at https://diabetes.org
Services will be at a later date at the convenience of the family at Lakeview Cemetery, Westmore, VT.
Online condolences can be made at Legacy.com by searching Anna’s name and scrolling past this obituary.
Stephen Gradowski
SHARON - Stephen John Gradowski, age 78, of Cornwall Bridge Road, passed away February 3, 2023 at home. He was the loving partner of Eileen Tedesco.
Stephen was born on December 25, 1944 in Torrington, the son of the late Joseph and Catherine Gradowski. Stephen graduated from Torrington High School and the University of Connecticut with a degree in geography.
He retired as Vice President of WHYCHO Chromium, Thomaston, CT.
He led an impressive life which included a love of dogs, especially his Border Terriers, and UCONN basketball, and was author of several patents.
In addition to his partner, he leaves brothers Joseph, Ed and wife Carol, nephew Michael Gradowski, nieces Katie Jankowski, JoEllen Sessa, Karen Lewis, and Karla Todd. He was predeceased by his brother Alex and sister Barbara Jankowski .
A grave-side service will be held at the new Saint Francis Cemetery in Torrington, February 10 at 11:00am.
Memorial contributions may be made to the The Sharon Fire Department Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
SHARON - Stephen John Gradowski, age 78, of Cornwall Bridge Road, passed away February 3, 2023 at home. He was the loving partner of Eileen Tedesco.
Stephen was born on December 25, 1944 in Torrington, the son of the late Joseph and Catherine Gradowski. Stephen graduated from Torrington High School and the University of Connecticut with a degree in geography.
He retired as Vice President of WHYCHO Chromium, Thomaston, CT.
He led an impressive life which included a love of dogs, especially his Border Terriers, and UCONN basketball, and was author of several patents.
In addition to his partner, he leaves brothers Joseph, Ed and wife Carol, nephew Michael Gradowski, nieces Katie Jankowski, JoEllen Sessa, Karen Lewis, and Karla Todd. He was predeceased by his brother Alex and sister Barbara Jankowski .
A grave-side service will be held at the new Saint Francis Cemetery in Torrington, February 10 at 11:00am.
Memorial contributions may be made to the The Sharon Fire Department Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
Jessica Snyder
PHILMONT, NY – Jessica Lee Snyder, 42, of Philmont, NY formerly of Sharon, CT, passed away at Albany Medical Center on January 23, 2023.
Jessica was born on December 12, 1980 in Sharon, the daughter of Shirley and George Martin and Kim Snyder.
She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She worked as a waitress for the White Heart Inn in Salisbury and later worked for Four Brothers in Hillsdale, NY.
She is survived by her parents and her children Mark Spucches Jr., Brynn Spucches and Max Spucches. She is also survived by a brother Jason Snyder and sisters Jennifer Snyder and Carisa Gaetano. As well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 10 from 4pm to 6pm at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT. All other services are private.
PHILMONT, NY – Jessica Lee Snyder, 42, of Philmont, NY formerly of Sharon, CT, passed away at Albany Medical Center on January 23, 2023.
Jessica was born on December 12, 1980 in Sharon, the daughter of Shirley and George Martin and Kim Snyder.
She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She worked as a waitress for the White Heart Inn in Salisbury and later worked for Four Brothers in Hillsdale, NY.
She is survived by her parents and her children Mark Spucches Jr., Brynn Spucches and Max Spucches. She is also survived by a brother Jason Snyder and sisters Jennifer Snyder and Carisa Gaetano. As well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 10 from 4pm to 6pm at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT. All other services are private.
Edward O'Dell Jr.
SHARON - Edward William O'Dell Jr., 58, a lifelong resident of Sharon, CT passed away on January 29, 2023, at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Canaan, CT, with his wife Cindy and daughter Ariel by his side. He had been battling an illness for the last six years and his body could no longer fight. The last few months had been a struggle.
Ed was born at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT, to Edward and Donna O'Dell on August 1, 1964. He was one of five children. On November 20, 1993 he married the love of his life Cindy (Propiescus) O’Dell. They have been together 35 years and married 29.
He is predeceased by a brother Michael O’Dell.
Ed is survived by his parents Ed and Donna, wife Cindy, daughter Ariel O’Dell (Kyle), and grandson Bearrett. He is also survived by his siblings Donna Peterson (Pete), Eric O’Dell (Tammy) and Rebecca Osuch, as well as his nieces, nephews and many close friends.
Ed had the biggest heart and found joy in helping friends and loved ones. An adoring husband, he treated his wife like a newlywed every day and loved her with his whole heart. Ed also loved the outdoors. He was happy hunting, fishing and camping, but his greatest joy was spending time with his wife, daughter and grandson. Ed is greatly missed but not forgotten.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Geer Nursing and Rehab for their care and kindness during this difficult time.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT on Saturday, February 4 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
SHARON - Edward William O'Dell Jr., 58, a lifelong resident of Sharon, CT passed away on January 29, 2023, at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Canaan, CT, with his wife Cindy and daughter Ariel by his side. He had been battling an illness for the last six years and his body could no longer fight. The last few months had been a struggle.
Ed was born at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT, to Edward and Donna O'Dell on August 1, 1964. He was one of five children. On November 20, 1993 he married the love of his life Cindy (Propiescus) O’Dell. They have been together 35 years and married 29.
He is predeceased by a brother Michael O’Dell.
Ed is survived by his parents Ed and Donna, wife Cindy, daughter Ariel O’Dell (Kyle), and grandson Bearrett. He is also survived by his siblings Donna Peterson (Pete), Eric O’Dell (Tammy) and Rebecca Osuch, as well as his nieces, nephews and many close friends.
Ed had the biggest heart and found joy in helping friends and loved ones. An adoring husband, he treated his wife like a newlywed every day and loved her with his whole heart. Ed also loved the outdoors. He was happy hunting, fishing and camping, but his greatest joy was spending time with his wife, daughter and grandson. Ed is greatly missed but not forgotten.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Geer Nursing and Rehab for their care and kindness during this difficult time.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT on Saturday, February 4 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
Isabelle Osborne
WEST CORNWALL - Isabelle Crocker Osborne died peacefully January 3, 2023 at her home in West Cornwall, CT amongst family and friends and her devoted caregivers. Ms. Osborne inspired those close to her with her perseverance against illness and family tragedy. She was predeceased by both her children and her husband, Charlie. She also coped for many years with emphysema, although she quit smoking in the 1960s. Despite such personal burdens, she took great joy in her horses and equestrian pursuits, and set an example for inner strength and a zest for living.
Known to family and friends as Philla, Ms. Osborne was born February 28, 1929 in Fitchburg, MA, the daughter of the late Douglas and Isabelle Crocker.
She graduated from Smith College magna cum laude in 1951 where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1956.
In her youth she was a hiker and mountaineer, making trips to Geneva, Switzerland, where she had studied during her junior year abroad. She was friends with noted Swiss climber, Raymond Lambert, who in 1952 narrowly missed being the first to summit Mount Everest with famed sherpa, Tenzing Norgay. Weather stopped them a few hundred meters short. Norgay successfully summited with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Ms. Osborne reminisced recently with family that she helped Lambert provision other Himalayan expeditions, and was a secretary to Norgay when he was hiding from the paparazzi at his friend Lambert’s home in Switzerland.
Her first job out of college was working for the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington. Of the CIA, all she would say was that “my bosses were only interested in me spying on my colleagues down the hall.” She married Charles Cabot Osborne in 1959, a reporter for Life magazine, whose assignments moved them from New York City to Atlanta and Chicago. They returned to New York City in 1961 for good, where Ms. Osborne raised their two children, Caroline and Tom and worked as a freelance researcher.
At least two of her research employers were prominent critics of the military industrial complex. In the early 1980s, Ms. Osborne was secretary and researcher for Seymour Melman, a Columbia University economist known for his work on measuring negative impacts of the military economy and advocating for conversion of military spending to civilian purposes. Ms. Osborne also conducted research for Ruth Leger Sivard, an economist known for her annual publication of “World Military and Social Expenditures,” chronicling and analyzing military spending versus social spending in countries around the world. Sivard’s statistics illuminated “what she regarded as ‘grotesque’ excesses in defense spending,” according to a Washington Postremembrance. Ms. Osborne worked on and off for Sivard from the mid 1970s until the early 1990s.
In her later years, she and Charlie moved to their long-time country home in West Cornwall, CT.
They both became avid horse enthusiasts, keeping horses at Once Again Farm, in Meriden, CT and participating in dressage and jumping. In one reunion report for Smith College, Ms. Osborne wrote that she had made “a full time occupation of horseback riding, which is extremely time consuming and mentally and physically humbling.” Friend and dressage coach, Vicki Hammers-O’Neil, said “Philla and Charlie were generous volunteers at all Connecticut Dressage Association activities and horse shows, and eventually an annual volunteer award was named in their honor: ‘The Philla and Charlie Osborne Volunteer Award.’ Their generosity with their horses allowed me to show both Theo and Blackjack successfully, winning many awards.”
Aside from riding, Ms. Osborne and her husband contributed to the Cornwall Chronicle, a monthly newspaper produced by local citizens. She and Charlie were writers and editors for the Chronicle throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Osborne in 2005, a daughter, Caroline Osborne in 1979, and a son, Dr. Thomas Osborne in 2019.
She is survived by two nieces, Katharine C. Brengle of New York, NY, and Nancy O. Almquist of Belmont, MA; and five nephews, Dr. Douglas C. Brengle of Cincinnati, OH; William C. Brengle, Jr. of Camden, ME; Andrew C. Brengle of Ipswich, MA; Dr. Richard Osborne of Saratoga Springs, NY; and Theodore Osborne of Washington, D.C.
A memorial service for Philla and Tom will be held this spring in West Cornwall at a date to be determined.
WEST CORNWALL - Isabelle Crocker Osborne died peacefully January 3, 2023 at her home in West Cornwall, CT amongst family and friends and her devoted caregivers. Ms. Osborne inspired those close to her with her perseverance against illness and family tragedy. She was predeceased by both her children and her husband, Charlie. She also coped for many years with emphysema, although she quit smoking in the 1960s. Despite such personal burdens, she took great joy in her horses and equestrian pursuits, and set an example for inner strength and a zest for living.
Known to family and friends as Philla, Ms. Osborne was born February 28, 1929 in Fitchburg, MA, the daughter of the late Douglas and Isabelle Crocker.
She graduated from Smith College magna cum laude in 1951 where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1956.
In her youth she was a hiker and mountaineer, making trips to Geneva, Switzerland, where she had studied during her junior year abroad. She was friends with noted Swiss climber, Raymond Lambert, who in 1952 narrowly missed being the first to summit Mount Everest with famed sherpa, Tenzing Norgay. Weather stopped them a few hundred meters short. Norgay successfully summited with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Ms. Osborne reminisced recently with family that she helped Lambert provision other Himalayan expeditions, and was a secretary to Norgay when he was hiding from the paparazzi at his friend Lambert’s home in Switzerland.
Her first job out of college was working for the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington. Of the CIA, all she would say was that “my bosses were only interested in me spying on my colleagues down the hall.” She married Charles Cabot Osborne in 1959, a reporter for Life magazine, whose assignments moved them from New York City to Atlanta and Chicago. They returned to New York City in 1961 for good, where Ms. Osborne raised their two children, Caroline and Tom and worked as a freelance researcher.
At least two of her research employers were prominent critics of the military industrial complex. In the early 1980s, Ms. Osborne was secretary and researcher for Seymour Melman, a Columbia University economist known for his work on measuring negative impacts of the military economy and advocating for conversion of military spending to civilian purposes. Ms. Osborne also conducted research for Ruth Leger Sivard, an economist known for her annual publication of “World Military and Social Expenditures,” chronicling and analyzing military spending versus social spending in countries around the world. Sivard’s statistics illuminated “what she regarded as ‘grotesque’ excesses in defense spending,” according to a Washington Postremembrance. Ms. Osborne worked on and off for Sivard from the mid 1970s until the early 1990s.
In her later years, she and Charlie moved to their long-time country home in West Cornwall, CT.
They both became avid horse enthusiasts, keeping horses at Once Again Farm, in Meriden, CT and participating in dressage and jumping. In one reunion report for Smith College, Ms. Osborne wrote that she had made “a full time occupation of horseback riding, which is extremely time consuming and mentally and physically humbling.” Friend and dressage coach, Vicki Hammers-O’Neil, said “Philla and Charlie were generous volunteers at all Connecticut Dressage Association activities and horse shows, and eventually an annual volunteer award was named in their honor: ‘The Philla and Charlie Osborne Volunteer Award.’ Their generosity with their horses allowed me to show both Theo and Blackjack successfully, winning many awards.”
Aside from riding, Ms. Osborne and her husband contributed to the Cornwall Chronicle, a monthly newspaper produced by local citizens. She and Charlie were writers and editors for the Chronicle throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Osborne in 2005, a daughter, Caroline Osborne in 1979, and a son, Dr. Thomas Osborne in 2019.
She is survived by two nieces, Katharine C. Brengle of New York, NY, and Nancy O. Almquist of Belmont, MA; and five nephews, Dr. Douglas C. Brengle of Cincinnati, OH; William C. Brengle, Jr. of Camden, ME; Andrew C. Brengle of Ipswich, MA; Dr. Richard Osborne of Saratoga Springs, NY; and Theodore Osborne of Washington, D.C.
A memorial service for Philla and Tom will be held this spring in West Cornwall at a date to be determined.
Edward Tyburski
SALISBURY - Edward Tyburski passed away peacefully at his home in Salisbury, CT on January 21st at the age of 89 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on November 7, 1933 in Derby, CT. He was the only child of Mary and Cyrus Tyburski who had emigrated from Poland.
Ed attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Ansonia High School. He graduated from New Haven State Teachers School with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Physical Education. He earned his Master’s degree at the University of Maryland where he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Physical Education Department.
Ed’s parents could not understand Ed’s intense love of sports, especially football where he would often come home aching or in bandages. At Ansonia High School as a defensive end and tight end, he learned how the game was played as a member of the famed Chargers football team. He played football all through college and afterwards with the Connecticut Giants which was a farm team and practice squad for the New York Giants.
Ed also lettered in basketball in high school and college. After college he also enjoyed playing in the highly competitive Connecticut industrial basketball league and played with the likes of future NBA Hall of Famers Connie Hawkins and Wilt Chamberlain in exhibition games.
Ed first met his future wife, Elizabeth Sopneski, when he was 11 and she was 7. They met again as young adults and immediately felt a strong mutual attraction and married in 1957. Ed was 23 years old and she was 20. The marriage was a happy one that lasted 65 years. In 1961, they brought their family from Ansonia to the beautiful small town of Falls Village, CT where Ed began his coaching and athletic director career at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS). The small town atmosphere of the northwestern corner of CT and the strong sense of community was a perfect match.
At HVRHS, his passion for sports flourished. Over his 37 year career he coached football, boys basketball, golf, gymnastics and girls softball and became the schools longtime athletic director. He was the only Housatonic coach to be head coach of five sports.
Ed worked tirelessly to expand physical education and athletic programs to enable a wider range of sports to be more accessible to students, and to increase overall participation. This included his active support of Title IX in 1972, a law passed prohibiting discrimination of offering educational and athletics opportunities based on sex. He was an early leader for women’s participation in sports, and his efforts resulted in HVRHS receiving substantial federal financial assistance which allowed a rapid expansion of women’s sports at HVRHS. Under his leadership, the athletic program increased from six sports and 11 teams to 21 sports and 34 teams and the creation of intramural sports programs. To ensure this expansion was successful for the students, he worked continuously to expand and improve facilities, created innovative and inspirational coaching handbooks, and published a beginner coaching fundamentals manual.
In the culmination of his tireless efforts as athletic director, HVRHS was named first place in the state of Connecticut in 1989 for excellence in high school athletic programs, receiving the prestigious Michaels Cup. Through his foundational work, HVRHS won the Michaels cup for an unprecedented second time in 1991 under the leadership of David Bayersdorfer, who succeeded Ed as the HVRHS Athletic Director.
Ed was also active in the promotion and evolution of high school athletics at the State level. He was one of the founding members and President (1986-1987) of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD). The primary goal of CAAD is to support, assist, innovate, and inspire excellence in athletic program development for high schools in Connecticut. In 2017, he was formally inducted into the CAAD Hall of Fame in recognition of his years of leadership in promoting athletics across the State of Connecticut.
Most importantly, Ed was a tireless and very dedicated servant to his students, coaches and the HVRHS community. He went out of his way to make sure students and coaches had support and resources to be successful in sports and most importantly, in life. He was known for his focused yet fair and patient approach, and his memorable sense of timely humor. For the annual HVRHS athletic banquet, he made sure every athlete in the school was captured and recognized in his multimedia presentation of photos and music. He also managed to recruit many prominent former pro athletes and coaches to speak at the annual banquet, including a particularly inspiring speech from Lou Carnesecca, legendary head basketball coach for St. John’s University. His passion for sports at HVRHS lives on through the Tyburski Award that is presented annually to a freshman athlete in each sport who best exemplifies skill, sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork. The combined support and leadership of the coaches, faculty, staff and community were integral to the overall success of the HVRHS athletic programs. True teamwork in action.
Ed was also active as a leader in his community. He served on the Falls Village Board of Selectman from 1971 to 1977. Additionally, he served as the Scout Master for the local Cub Scout troop. He also participated in a number of other public and community volunteer organizations. Ed was devoted to the support of his community through all aspects of his life.
Ed also served in the United States Army Reserve 326th Intelligence Unit from 1954 to 1962 with an Honorable Discharge.
Most significantly, Ed was a devoted husband and father. He always included his sons in practices and games and everyday life at HVRHS, and taught them the importance of community service, dedication, and devotion through action. His wife Elizabeth was truly the wind beneath his wings, infusing untiring wisdom, energy and support while successfully raising 3 energetic kids. He always appreciated the fact that he could never have done it without her.
Ed is survived by his wife Elizabeth Tyburski, sons Edward (Lisa), Michael (Julie), Jeff (Rosalind), grandchildren, Stacey (Robert), Kelly (Otto), Michael (Ariel), Alex, Erin, Daniel, Max, Elise, Kyra, Andie and Zoe and great grandson Jackson. The Tyburski’s are very grateful for the outstanding support they have received from the HVRHS community and friends.
A service will be held at St. Joseph church - St. Martin of Tours Parish, located at 4 Main Street, Canaan, CT, on February 18, 2023 at 11am immediately followed by a celebration of life and community ceremony with remarks and luncheon reception at the HVRHS cafeteria.
In lieu of flowers, the Tyburski’s would like to respectfully request donations to HVRHS to further promote, enhance and preserve athletic programs for students. Checks can be made payable to the Housatonic Athletics fund and mailed care of HVRHS, 246 Warren Turnpike Rd, Falls Village, CT 06031 or dropped off at the reception.
SALISBURY - Edward Tyburski passed away peacefully at his home in Salisbury, CT on January 21st at the age of 89 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on November 7, 1933 in Derby, CT. He was the only child of Mary and Cyrus Tyburski who had emigrated from Poland.
Ed attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Ansonia High School. He graduated from New Haven State Teachers School with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Physical Education. He earned his Master’s degree at the University of Maryland where he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Physical Education Department.
Ed’s parents could not understand Ed’s intense love of sports, especially football where he would often come home aching or in bandages. At Ansonia High School as a defensive end and tight end, he learned how the game was played as a member of the famed Chargers football team. He played football all through college and afterwards with the Connecticut Giants which was a farm team and practice squad for the New York Giants.
Ed also lettered in basketball in high school and college. After college he also enjoyed playing in the highly competitive Connecticut industrial basketball league and played with the likes of future NBA Hall of Famers Connie Hawkins and Wilt Chamberlain in exhibition games.
Ed first met his future wife, Elizabeth Sopneski, when he was 11 and she was 7. They met again as young adults and immediately felt a strong mutual attraction and married in 1957. Ed was 23 years old and she was 20. The marriage was a happy one that lasted 65 years. In 1961, they brought their family from Ansonia to the beautiful small town of Falls Village, CT where Ed began his coaching and athletic director career at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS). The small town atmosphere of the northwestern corner of CT and the strong sense of community was a perfect match.
At HVRHS, his passion for sports flourished. Over his 37 year career he coached football, boys basketball, golf, gymnastics and girls softball and became the schools longtime athletic director. He was the only Housatonic coach to be head coach of five sports.
Ed worked tirelessly to expand physical education and athletic programs to enable a wider range of sports to be more accessible to students, and to increase overall participation. This included his active support of Title IX in 1972, a law passed prohibiting discrimination of offering educational and athletics opportunities based on sex. He was an early leader for women’s participation in sports, and his efforts resulted in HVRHS receiving substantial federal financial assistance which allowed a rapid expansion of women’s sports at HVRHS. Under his leadership, the athletic program increased from six sports and 11 teams to 21 sports and 34 teams and the creation of intramural sports programs. To ensure this expansion was successful for the students, he worked continuously to expand and improve facilities, created innovative and inspirational coaching handbooks, and published a beginner coaching fundamentals manual.
In the culmination of his tireless efforts as athletic director, HVRHS was named first place in the state of Connecticut in 1989 for excellence in high school athletic programs, receiving the prestigious Michaels Cup. Through his foundational work, HVRHS won the Michaels cup for an unprecedented second time in 1991 under the leadership of David Bayersdorfer, who succeeded Ed as the HVRHS Athletic Director.
Ed was also active in the promotion and evolution of high school athletics at the State level. He was one of the founding members and President (1986-1987) of the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD). The primary goal of CAAD is to support, assist, innovate, and inspire excellence in athletic program development for high schools in Connecticut. In 2017, he was formally inducted into the CAAD Hall of Fame in recognition of his years of leadership in promoting athletics across the State of Connecticut.
Most importantly, Ed was a tireless and very dedicated servant to his students, coaches and the HVRHS community. He went out of his way to make sure students and coaches had support and resources to be successful in sports and most importantly, in life. He was known for his focused yet fair and patient approach, and his memorable sense of timely humor. For the annual HVRHS athletic banquet, he made sure every athlete in the school was captured and recognized in his multimedia presentation of photos and music. He also managed to recruit many prominent former pro athletes and coaches to speak at the annual banquet, including a particularly inspiring speech from Lou Carnesecca, legendary head basketball coach for St. John’s University. His passion for sports at HVRHS lives on through the Tyburski Award that is presented annually to a freshman athlete in each sport who best exemplifies skill, sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork. The combined support and leadership of the coaches, faculty, staff and community were integral to the overall success of the HVRHS athletic programs. True teamwork in action.
Ed was also active as a leader in his community. He served on the Falls Village Board of Selectman from 1971 to 1977. Additionally, he served as the Scout Master for the local Cub Scout troop. He also participated in a number of other public and community volunteer organizations. Ed was devoted to the support of his community through all aspects of his life.
Ed also served in the United States Army Reserve 326th Intelligence Unit from 1954 to 1962 with an Honorable Discharge.
Most significantly, Ed was a devoted husband and father. He always included his sons in practices and games and everyday life at HVRHS, and taught them the importance of community service, dedication, and devotion through action. His wife Elizabeth was truly the wind beneath his wings, infusing untiring wisdom, energy and support while successfully raising 3 energetic kids. He always appreciated the fact that he could never have done it without her.
Ed is survived by his wife Elizabeth Tyburski, sons Edward (Lisa), Michael (Julie), Jeff (Rosalind), grandchildren, Stacey (Robert), Kelly (Otto), Michael (Ariel), Alex, Erin, Daniel, Max, Elise, Kyra, Andie and Zoe and great grandson Jackson. The Tyburski’s are very grateful for the outstanding support they have received from the HVRHS community and friends.
A service will be held at St. Joseph church - St. Martin of Tours Parish, located at 4 Main Street, Canaan, CT, on February 18, 2023 at 11am immediately followed by a celebration of life and community ceremony with remarks and luncheon reception at the HVRHS cafeteria.
In lieu of flowers, the Tyburski’s would like to respectfully request donations to HVRHS to further promote, enhance and preserve athletic programs for students. Checks can be made payable to the Housatonic Athletics fund and mailed care of HVRHS, 246 Warren Turnpike Rd, Falls Village, CT 06031 or dropped off at the reception.
Doris Martin
GLASTONBURY - Doris (Grey) Martin, 76, formally of Norfolk passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2023, in Farmington, CT following a long illness.
She was born in Great Barrington, MA, and raised in New York and Massachusetts, near the northwest corner of Connecticut.
In 1964, she married her best friend and the love of her life, Jimmy Martin. Together Doris and Jimmy worked hard, raised a devoted family, made a loving home for many dogs and some cats, and tended to their abundant and immaculate gardens in Winsted, CT, Norfolk, CT and Valdosta, GA.
Doris was the proprietor of her own business, Reflections Hair Salon, for several years, and was a volunteer attendant for Winsted Ambulance. She enjoyed working in her garden, and spending time at the beach.
She will be remembered by her family and friends for her beautiful smile, contagious laugh, and love of all animals.
Doris is survived by her husband, James, son Jason and his wife Jacqui, as well as her brother Art and his wife Irene, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Scott.
The family would like to thank the staff of the memory care units of Addison Place in Glastonbury and Arden Courts in Farmington, for their kindness and care during Doris’s last years.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, January 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Battell Chapel in Norfolk, CT, with burial to follow in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Winsted Area Ambulance Association, 655 Main St, Winsted, CT 06098.
GLASTONBURY - Doris (Grey) Martin, 76, formally of Norfolk passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2023, in Farmington, CT following a long illness.
She was born in Great Barrington, MA, and raised in New York and Massachusetts, near the northwest corner of Connecticut.
In 1964, she married her best friend and the love of her life, Jimmy Martin. Together Doris and Jimmy worked hard, raised a devoted family, made a loving home for many dogs and some cats, and tended to their abundant and immaculate gardens in Winsted, CT, Norfolk, CT and Valdosta, GA.
Doris was the proprietor of her own business, Reflections Hair Salon, for several years, and was a volunteer attendant for Winsted Ambulance. She enjoyed working in her garden, and spending time at the beach.
She will be remembered by her family and friends for her beautiful smile, contagious laugh, and love of all animals.
Doris is survived by her husband, James, son Jason and his wife Jacqui, as well as her brother Art and his wife Irene, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved son, Scott.
The family would like to thank the staff of the memory care units of Addison Place in Glastonbury and Arden Courts in Farmington, for their kindness and care during Doris’s last years.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, January 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Battell Chapel in Norfolk, CT, with burial to follow in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Winsted Area Ambulance Association, 655 Main St, Winsted, CT 06098.
Stephen Lango
LAKEVILLE - Stephen Michael Lango, 65, of Lakeville, Connecticut passed away January 17, 2023, at his home.
Stephen was born September 4, 1957, in Sharon, Connecticut to Joseph Jr and Mary (Carberry) Lango.
He attended Auburndale High School in Auburndale, Florida. He enjoyed woodworking and was an expert craftsman. He was a self employed contractor in the Sharon, Connecticut community making others dreams a reality in home construction and improvements.
Stephen enjoyed traveling, motorcycling, golfing, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking. He loved cooking and getting together with friends and family, with his dog Pepper at his side.
Stephen is survived by his brother Paul and (Lynn) Lango of Easley, South Carolina, sister MaryJo and (Terry) Baker of Auburndale, Florida, sister Karen Lango of Winter Haven, Florida, brother Thomas and (Lou Ann) Lango of Walling, Tennessee and sister Patricia and (Mark) Hilborn of San Antonio, Tx. Stephen also is survived by four nieces, four nephews, three grand nieces and four grand nephews.
Stephen was predeceased by his father Joseph, mother Mary and older brother Joseph Lango III.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
LAKEVILLE - Stephen Michael Lango, 65, of Lakeville, Connecticut passed away January 17, 2023, at his home.
Stephen was born September 4, 1957, in Sharon, Connecticut to Joseph Jr and Mary (Carberry) Lango.
He attended Auburndale High School in Auburndale, Florida. He enjoyed woodworking and was an expert craftsman. He was a self employed contractor in the Sharon, Connecticut community making others dreams a reality in home construction and improvements.
Stephen enjoyed traveling, motorcycling, golfing, fishing, boating, kayaking and hiking. He loved cooking and getting together with friends and family, with his dog Pepper at his side.
Stephen is survived by his brother Paul and (Lynn) Lango of Easley, South Carolina, sister MaryJo and (Terry) Baker of Auburndale, Florida, sister Karen Lango of Winter Haven, Florida, brother Thomas and (Lou Ann) Lango of Walling, Tennessee and sister Patricia and (Mark) Hilborn of San Antonio, Tx. Stephen also is survived by four nieces, four nephews, three grand nieces and four grand nephews.
Stephen was predeceased by his father Joseph, mother Mary and older brother Joseph Lango III.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Judith Belter
LAS VEGAS, NV - Judith Emma Belter passed away on October 6, 2022 while residing in Las Vegas, NV. She was born in Sharon, CT in November of 1950. She was the daughter of the late Garwood H. Belter, Jr and the late Emma Belter.
Judith grew up in Lime Rock on the family farm and attended Salisbury Central School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She was known for her school spirit and always helping and encouraging others. Her yearbook honors her as “most school spirit”. She was a jovial, people loving gal.
Leaving Connecticut to California in the mid-1970’s, Judith held a variety of work positions before deciding to further her education. During the years while completing a Certification in Web Design and Development at Santa Rosa Junior College she was employed with Apple Computer and MCI Electronics Data Services in Napa, California. After graduating in 2002 she moved to Las Vegas, NV. While finishing a BS degree in information Technology at the University of Phoenix, she continued her business career with Miles Kimball and Mower Communications. After receiving her IT degree in 2005 her focus was on systems analysis and support for customer service then as a specialist and the management of high- profile clients for Williams-Sonoma. In 2010 a desired position opened for her at Zappos where she remained until they were purchased by Amazon. Her retirement in 2021 concluded over a decade of in- depth experience with the combined Zappos/Amazon in their Customer Loyalty Teams where she was known to be an accomplished expert at troubleshooting and problem solving. She enjoyed helping people and finding solutions.
She is survived by her sisters; Sylvia Cooley (husband Skip Cooley), Jeanne Bond (husband Vincent) and Garma Waldron and her niece Lindsay Waldron and grandniece Lily Dolan. She was pre-deceased by her brother-in-law David Waldron and her nephew Gared Waldron.
She will be missed by many friends and family.
LAS VEGAS, NV - Judith Emma Belter passed away on October 6, 2022 while residing in Las Vegas, NV. She was born in Sharon, CT in November of 1950. She was the daughter of the late Garwood H. Belter, Jr and the late Emma Belter.
Judith grew up in Lime Rock on the family farm and attended Salisbury Central School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She was known for her school spirit and always helping and encouraging others. Her yearbook honors her as “most school spirit”. She was a jovial, people loving gal.
Leaving Connecticut to California in the mid-1970’s, Judith held a variety of work positions before deciding to further her education. During the years while completing a Certification in Web Design and Development at Santa Rosa Junior College she was employed with Apple Computer and MCI Electronics Data Services in Napa, California. After graduating in 2002 she moved to Las Vegas, NV. While finishing a BS degree in information Technology at the University of Phoenix, she continued her business career with Miles Kimball and Mower Communications. After receiving her IT degree in 2005 her focus was on systems analysis and support for customer service then as a specialist and the management of high- profile clients for Williams-Sonoma. In 2010 a desired position opened for her at Zappos where she remained until they were purchased by Amazon. Her retirement in 2021 concluded over a decade of in- depth experience with the combined Zappos/Amazon in their Customer Loyalty Teams where she was known to be an accomplished expert at troubleshooting and problem solving. She enjoyed helping people and finding solutions.
She is survived by her sisters; Sylvia Cooley (husband Skip Cooley), Jeanne Bond (husband Vincent) and Garma Waldron and her niece Lindsay Waldron and grandniece Lily Dolan. She was pre-deceased by her brother-in-law David Waldron and her nephew Gared Waldron.
She will be missed by many friends and family.
Constance Geisenderfer
SHARON - Constance (Connie) Elaine Geisenderfer, age 90, of Sharon, CT, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023.
Connie was a longtime resident of the MS Gulf Coast. She was a graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA and of St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Class of 1952 where she was president of her graduating class and crowned Ms. St. Luke’s.
Connie worked as a registered nurse for 50 years in various specialties including the ER, Med Surg, OR, Cardiology, Home Health, and was Director of Nursing at Hotel Reed and Driftwood Nursing Centers for many years. She was an active member of her community and church wherever she resided including Maryland, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Our mother was gifted with a beautiful lyric soprano voice. Along with being a frequent soloist in various church choirs, she was a founding member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chorale. They traveled to Europe to compete at an international music festival in Vienna and performed in various other venues in Austria, and Hungary, as well as at Carnegie Hall in NYC.
She spent many years as a girl scout leader, she volunteered as a Hospice grief counselor, was a volunteer for the Advent Moravian Church’s homeless shelter program, and taught Sunday school at Advent Moravian church for several years. She formed her own book clubs, bible study groups, and generally enjoyed socializing and singing with her friends.
Always “the nurse,” Mom never failed to help someone in need. She loved her family and was proud to be a part of the nursing profession and made a positive impact on the communities where she lived.
Connie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Davis Geisenderfer, her parents, Velma and William Ferenczy and siblings, William Ferecnzy Jr., and Edward Ferenczy.
Survivors include her loving children, Kristine Balena (Kenneth), Karen Fitzgerald (Samuel), Kathy Marshall (Randy) and Kim Jenkins (Joseph); 9 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and siblings Jane Ferenczy (Bethlehem, PA) and Thomas Fina (Alexandria, VA).
Services will be held at Long Beach Presbyterian Church on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 12:00pm. Friends may visit beginning at 10:30am. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your local hospice, senior center, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind or Meals on Wheels in Connie’s name.
Thank you to VNA Hospice services of Northwestern CT. Thank you to our mother’s angels on earth at Nobel Horizon’s in Salisbury, CT (you know who you are). We are eternally grateful to you.
View and sign online tribute at www.bokfh.com
SHARON - Constance (Connie) Elaine Geisenderfer, age 90, of Sharon, CT, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023.
Connie was a longtime resident of the MS Gulf Coast. She was a graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA and of St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Class of 1952 where she was president of her graduating class and crowned Ms. St. Luke’s.
Connie worked as a registered nurse for 50 years in various specialties including the ER, Med Surg, OR, Cardiology, Home Health, and was Director of Nursing at Hotel Reed and Driftwood Nursing Centers for many years. She was an active member of her community and church wherever she resided including Maryland, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
Our mother was gifted with a beautiful lyric soprano voice. Along with being a frequent soloist in various church choirs, she was a founding member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chorale. They traveled to Europe to compete at an international music festival in Vienna and performed in various other venues in Austria, and Hungary, as well as at Carnegie Hall in NYC.
She spent many years as a girl scout leader, she volunteered as a Hospice grief counselor, was a volunteer for the Advent Moravian Church’s homeless shelter program, and taught Sunday school at Advent Moravian church for several years. She formed her own book clubs, bible study groups, and generally enjoyed socializing and singing with her friends.
Always “the nurse,” Mom never failed to help someone in need. She loved her family and was proud to be a part of the nursing profession and made a positive impact on the communities where she lived.
Connie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Davis Geisenderfer, her parents, Velma and William Ferenczy and siblings, William Ferecnzy Jr., and Edward Ferenczy.
Survivors include her loving children, Kristine Balena (Kenneth), Karen Fitzgerald (Samuel), Kathy Marshall (Randy) and Kim Jenkins (Joseph); 9 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and siblings Jane Ferenczy (Bethlehem, PA) and Thomas Fina (Alexandria, VA).
Services will be held at Long Beach Presbyterian Church on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 12:00pm. Friends may visit beginning at 10:30am. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your local hospice, senior center, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind or Meals on Wheels in Connie’s name.
Thank you to VNA Hospice services of Northwestern CT. Thank you to our mother’s angels on earth at Nobel Horizon’s in Salisbury, CT (you know who you are). We are eternally grateful to you.
View and sign online tribute at www.bokfh.com
Laurie (Dolores) DuBois
SALISBURY - Laurie (Dolores) Jean DuBois, 94, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Noble Horizons with her daughters by her side.
Laurie was born August 30,1928 to the late Ray LaVene and Leah Travaglio. She spent most of her childhood in the Los Angeles area, later attending John Marshall High School and UCLA where she received a BA in English. After graduation Laurie remained in Los Angeles working for The Haynes Foundation and later for the Boy Scouts of America where she met her husband, the late Frank DuBois.
Laurie and Frank moved east and settled in Millbrook, NY where they raised their four daughters: Susan Kozlowski of Falls Village CT, Sharie Schwaikert of Salisbury CT, Jessica Toscano of Drums PA, and the late Kate Barnes of Summerville SC.
Laurie was a homemaker for many years with a talent for sewing and knitting. Her mother would send beautiful fabrics from which she made dresses for her daughters, and dresses for their dolls too. She also took great pleasure in making sweaters and afghans for her daughters and later for her granddaughters. She volunteered at the Millbrook Library and was the assistant librarian at the former Bennett College.
Laurie and her husband shared a love of classical music, often attending operas in NYC. They also shared a love of Cape Cod where the family vacationed each summer. Laurie and Frank retired to Southern Pines, NC in 1989 where Laurie was an active member of her neighborhood serving as treasurer for the James Creek Association. She enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, and writing classes.
After her husband’s death in 2009, Laurie relocated to Noble Horizons in Salisbury CT to be near her daughters. She was a volunteer in The Country Store, a regular in the fitness center, a member of the Book Club, and was often found singing at socials in the Community Room. Laurie was known for her apple pies which she made not only for special occasions, but for those who were special to her. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing Scrabble with her daughters up until her passing.
In addition to her daughters, she is survived by five grandchildren: Tasha Richardson, Joshua Smith, Leah Schwaikert, Hayley Kozlowski, and Lauren Toscano. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donation checks can be sent to The Noble Horizons Auxiliary Library Fund, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.
SALISBURY - Laurie (Dolores) Jean DuBois, 94, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Noble Horizons with her daughters by her side.
Laurie was born August 30,1928 to the late Ray LaVene and Leah Travaglio. She spent most of her childhood in the Los Angeles area, later attending John Marshall High School and UCLA where she received a BA in English. After graduation Laurie remained in Los Angeles working for The Haynes Foundation and later for the Boy Scouts of America where she met her husband, the late Frank DuBois.
Laurie and Frank moved east and settled in Millbrook, NY where they raised their four daughters: Susan Kozlowski of Falls Village CT, Sharie Schwaikert of Salisbury CT, Jessica Toscano of Drums PA, and the late Kate Barnes of Summerville SC.
Laurie was a homemaker for many years with a talent for sewing and knitting. Her mother would send beautiful fabrics from which she made dresses for her daughters, and dresses for their dolls too. She also took great pleasure in making sweaters and afghans for her daughters and later for her granddaughters. She volunteered at the Millbrook Library and was the assistant librarian at the former Bennett College.
Laurie and her husband shared a love of classical music, often attending operas in NYC. They also shared a love of Cape Cod where the family vacationed each summer. Laurie and Frank retired to Southern Pines, NC in 1989 where Laurie was an active member of her neighborhood serving as treasurer for the James Creek Association. She enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, and writing classes.
After her husband’s death in 2009, Laurie relocated to Noble Horizons in Salisbury CT to be near her daughters. She was a volunteer in The Country Store, a regular in the fitness center, a member of the Book Club, and was often found singing at socials in the Community Room. Laurie was known for her apple pies which she made not only for special occasions, but for those who were special to her. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing Scrabble with her daughters up until her passing.
In addition to her daughters, she is survived by five grandchildren: Tasha Richardson, Joshua Smith, Leah Schwaikert, Hayley Kozlowski, and Lauren Toscano. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donation checks can be sent to The Noble Horizons Auxiliary Library Fund, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.
Babette Barrett
NORFOLK - Babette H. Barrett, 98, passed away January 8, 2023 in Salisbury, CT. She was the loving wife of her high school sweetheart, the late Robert E. Barrett.
Babs was born in 1925 in Winsted, CT, the daughter of Helen and Arthur Herman. She graduated from the Gilbert School, and with Bob raised a family of four boys.
For eleven years she worked as the Assistant Director of the Hitchcock Chair Museum, and was an active member of several organizations and clubs in Norfolk including the Isabella Eldridge Club and the Norfolk Library Associates.
Babs was an avid and highly regarded maker of hooked rugs, and enjoyed teaching the craft to others for many years. She was known for her impeccable taste and style, her fastidious housekeeping, and her excellent cooking and baking skills.
She is survived by her sister, Sandra Iacino, and three sons: Timothy, Thomas (Julie Bloch), and David (Gina Hyams). She was predeceased by her eldest son, Peter. She adored her three grandchildren, Spenser, Peter, and Annalena.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk, CT at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norfolk Public Library, 9 Greenwoods Rd. E. Norfolk, CT 06058.
NORFOLK - Babette H. Barrett, 98, passed away January 8, 2023 in Salisbury, CT. She was the loving wife of her high school sweetheart, the late Robert E. Barrett.
Babs was born in 1925 in Winsted, CT, the daughter of Helen and Arthur Herman. She graduated from the Gilbert School, and with Bob raised a family of four boys.
For eleven years she worked as the Assistant Director of the Hitchcock Chair Museum, and was an active member of several organizations and clubs in Norfolk including the Isabella Eldridge Club and the Norfolk Library Associates.
Babs was an avid and highly regarded maker of hooked rugs, and enjoyed teaching the craft to others for many years. She was known for her impeccable taste and style, her fastidious housekeeping, and her excellent cooking and baking skills.
She is survived by her sister, Sandra Iacino, and three sons: Timothy, Thomas (Julie Bloch), and David (Gina Hyams). She was predeceased by her eldest son, Peter. She adored her three grandchildren, Spenser, Peter, and Annalena.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk, CT at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norfolk Public Library, 9 Greenwoods Rd. E. Norfolk, CT 06058.
Terez Terdik
MILLBROOK, NY - Terez “Pinczes” Terdik, 86, died peacefully at home on Jan. 7th,2023.
She was the wife of the late Janos “John” Terdik.
Born on Feb.26 1936 in Hungary, she was the daughter of the late Jozsef and Erszebet Pinczes.
She married her soul mate, Janos “John” Terdik on Dec. 20th 1954.
She worked as an attendant with patients at the Wassaic Development Center and retired in 1998.
She is survived by her daughter, Veronica Stark and her husband, Kevin of Millbrook; two grandsons, John Stark of Maybrook and Peter Stark of Saugerties; two great grandsons, Avery and Maverick Stark of Maybrook; a brother, Bela Pinczes and his wife, Rosie of Fishkill; a sister-in-law, Theresa Pinczes of Stanfordville; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband; she was predeceased by a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Gabby Farkas; her brothers, Thomas Pinczes, Joe Pinczes Matt Pinczes; and a nephew, Joe Pinczes Jr.
Calling hours are held at the Kenny Funeral Home 41 Main Street in Sharon, CT. on Tue Jan. 10thfrom 5 to 7pm.
Church services are held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, on Wed. Jan. 11th at 10am. Burial will follow at the Amenia Island Cemetery.
MILLBROOK, NY - Terez “Pinczes” Terdik, 86, died peacefully at home on Jan. 7th,2023.
She was the wife of the late Janos “John” Terdik.
Born on Feb.26 1936 in Hungary, she was the daughter of the late Jozsef and Erszebet Pinczes.
She married her soul mate, Janos “John” Terdik on Dec. 20th 1954.
She worked as an attendant with patients at the Wassaic Development Center and retired in 1998.
She is survived by her daughter, Veronica Stark and her husband, Kevin of Millbrook; two grandsons, John Stark of Maybrook and Peter Stark of Saugerties; two great grandsons, Avery and Maverick Stark of Maybrook; a brother, Bela Pinczes and his wife, Rosie of Fishkill; a sister-in-law, Theresa Pinczes of Stanfordville; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband; she was predeceased by a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Gabby Farkas; her brothers, Thomas Pinczes, Joe Pinczes Matt Pinczes; and a nephew, Joe Pinczes Jr.
Calling hours are held at the Kenny Funeral Home 41 Main Street in Sharon, CT. on Tue Jan. 10thfrom 5 to 7pm.
Church services are held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia, on Wed. Jan. 11th at 10am. Burial will follow at the Amenia Island Cemetery.
2022 Obituaries
William Fisher
SHARON - William Seeley Fisher, 74, died on Dec. 25, 2022, at the Amsterdam Nursing Home, New York, New York, after an extended illness.
He was born Dec. 27, 1947, in New York City, the son of Dr. Robert L. and Ruth Seeley Fisher of Sharon, Connecticut.
William graduated from The Gunnery (now the Frederick Gunn school) in 1966 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1970, with a degree in English.
Following service in the Pennsylvania National Guard, he took a job as Wire Editor for the Waterbury Republican-American, and subsequently held various positions at the Fort Meyers News Press, Mexico City News, and the Arizona Republic. After a stint as Copy Editor at the New Haven Journal-Courier, William worked at Outbrainz Technologies, LLC, before accepting a job as Rim Editor at the New York Daily News.
Surviving in addition to his long-time companion and partner of 26 years, Linda Sparber, of New York, New York, are his three brothers, Robert Fisher, Jr. of Goshen, Jonathan Fisher of Red Hook, New York, and Gordon Fisher of Cornwall, as well as two sisters, Phoebe Fisher of New Braunfels, Texas, and Nancy Eklund of Pine Plains, New York.
William is remembered as a loving brother with a quick wit. He enjoyed “Farside” cartoons, reading all kinds of novels, writing essays, and rowing (which he learned at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 70’s.)
A service of remembrance will be held in late Spring, 2023. Details will be released at a later time.
SHARON - William Seeley Fisher, 74, died on Dec. 25, 2022, at the Amsterdam Nursing Home, New York, New York, after an extended illness.
He was born Dec. 27, 1947, in New York City, the son of Dr. Robert L. and Ruth Seeley Fisher of Sharon, Connecticut.
William graduated from The Gunnery (now the Frederick Gunn school) in 1966 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1970, with a degree in English.
Following service in the Pennsylvania National Guard, he took a job as Wire Editor for the Waterbury Republican-American, and subsequently held various positions at the Fort Meyers News Press, Mexico City News, and the Arizona Republic. After a stint as Copy Editor at the New Haven Journal-Courier, William worked at Outbrainz Technologies, LLC, before accepting a job as Rim Editor at the New York Daily News.
Surviving in addition to his long-time companion and partner of 26 years, Linda Sparber, of New York, New York, are his three brothers, Robert Fisher, Jr. of Goshen, Jonathan Fisher of Red Hook, New York, and Gordon Fisher of Cornwall, as well as two sisters, Phoebe Fisher of New Braunfels, Texas, and Nancy Eklund of Pine Plains, New York.
William is remembered as a loving brother with a quick wit. He enjoyed “Farside” cartoons, reading all kinds of novels, writing essays, and rowing (which he learned at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 70’s.)
A service of remembrance will be held in late Spring, 2023. Details will be released at a later time.
Mary Wilkens
AMENIA, NY - Mary A. Wilkens, age 90, of Powderhouse Road in Amenia, NY, passed away suddenly on December 20, 2022, in Sharon, CT. She was the loving wife of the late George F. Wilkens, to whom she was married for 69 years.
Mary was born on September 23, 1932 in Queens, NY, where she and George lived for more than a decade before moving their family to Bedford, NY. Mary enrolled at Pace University, and while raising three children, attended school full time, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Mary proceeded to work for IBM as the Executive Secretary to IBM founder Tom Watson, in Armonk NY, then as an editor, and finally manager, working there until her retirement.
Mary was a dedicated volunteer for many years at the Amenia Library, serving on the Board of Trustees. She organized book sales, purchased books for the library and spearheaded the fundraising for the new addition. The expression that when a person dies, a library burns down, was so true for Mary. Her wealth of knowledge, her ability to quote any poem to its finish, her incredible intellect, her continuous questioning, analyzing and creative mind are a loss to all who had the good fortune to know her.
Mary was a loving and generous person, which extended beyond her family and friends. She was passionate about many causes, donated to numerous charities, and always offered a hand to someone in need.
She is survived by a daughter Kate Franklin (married to Douglas Schone) a son Matt (married to Amanda), and Brett (married to Joan), five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Cecilia, and her son in law Christopher Franklin, in addition to her husband.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be planned and posted on her Facebook page and on her children’s Facebook pages, as well as in the local newspaper. Memorial contributions may be made to the Amenia Free Library, 3303 NY-343, Armenia NY, 12501.
AMENIA, NY - Mary A. Wilkens, age 90, of Powderhouse Road in Amenia, NY, passed away suddenly on December 20, 2022, in Sharon, CT. She was the loving wife of the late George F. Wilkens, to whom she was married for 69 years.
Mary was born on September 23, 1932 in Queens, NY, where she and George lived for more than a decade before moving their family to Bedford, NY. Mary enrolled at Pace University, and while raising three children, attended school full time, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Mary proceeded to work for IBM as the Executive Secretary to IBM founder Tom Watson, in Armonk NY, then as an editor, and finally manager, working there until her retirement.
Mary was a dedicated volunteer for many years at the Amenia Library, serving on the Board of Trustees. She organized book sales, purchased books for the library and spearheaded the fundraising for the new addition. The expression that when a person dies, a library burns down, was so true for Mary. Her wealth of knowledge, her ability to quote any poem to its finish, her incredible intellect, her continuous questioning, analyzing and creative mind are a loss to all who had the good fortune to know her.
Mary was a loving and generous person, which extended beyond her family and friends. She was passionate about many causes, donated to numerous charities, and always offered a hand to someone in need.
She is survived by a daughter Kate Franklin (married to Douglas Schone) a son Matt (married to Amanda), and Brett (married to Joan), five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Cecilia, and her son in law Christopher Franklin, in addition to her husband.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be planned and posted on her Facebook page and on her children’s Facebook pages, as well as in the local newspaper. Memorial contributions may be made to the Amenia Free Library, 3303 NY-343, Armenia NY, 12501.
Robert Salerno
FAIRFIELD - The Family of Robert Louis Salerno (often referred to as Soxy) of Fairfield, Connecticut, is saddened to announce his passing away at the age of 75 on December 27, 2022.
He is survived by his sister, Roberta Salerno Diaz; his niece and nephew, Alexis & David Diaz. He was predeceased by his Father and Mother, Louis Salerno and Irene Hyland Salerno, also his brother, Louis Salerno Jr.
Robert graduated from Warren Harding High School In Bridgeport, CT. in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 during the Vietnam War era. He worked for many years at Stop & Shop in Fairfield and Westport, CT.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family asks for any donations to be made to the Connecticut State Department of Veteran Affairs.
FAIRFIELD - The Family of Robert Louis Salerno (often referred to as Soxy) of Fairfield, Connecticut, is saddened to announce his passing away at the age of 75 on December 27, 2022.
He is survived by his sister, Roberta Salerno Diaz; his niece and nephew, Alexis & David Diaz. He was predeceased by his Father and Mother, Louis Salerno and Irene Hyland Salerno, also his brother, Louis Salerno Jr.
Robert graduated from Warren Harding High School In Bridgeport, CT. in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 during the Vietnam War era. He worked for many years at Stop & Shop in Fairfield and Westport, CT.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family asks for any donations to be made to the Connecticut State Department of Veteran Affairs.
Carolann Tyler
WEST CORNWALL - Carolann Tyler (Maule), 67, of West Cornwall, passed away peacefully at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital on the Eqinox of the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2022. She was the loving wife of Earle Tyler.
Carol was born January 19, 1955, in Torrington, CT, the daughter of the late Almerico Ronald Maule and Harriet Ann Maule (Armogida). She attended Lewis Mills High School.
She is survived by her brother and his wife, Ronald and Rhonda Maule of Springfield, TN; her sons, Carl Allen of West Cornwall, CT; Marc (wife Sue) Allen of Norfolk, CT; Jason Allen of Canaan, CT; Sean Tyler of West Cornwall, CT, and her daughters, Heather Tyler of Harwinton, CT; and Mandy Allen-Fischer (husband Michael) of Thomaston, CT, six grandsons and two granddaughters. She was predeceased by her brother Gary Maule of Bristol.
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.
WEST CORNWALL - Carolann Tyler (Maule), 67, of West Cornwall, passed away peacefully at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital on the Eqinox of the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2022. She was the loving wife of Earle Tyler.
Carol was born January 19, 1955, in Torrington, CT, the daughter of the late Almerico Ronald Maule and Harriet Ann Maule (Armogida). She attended Lewis Mills High School.
She is survived by her brother and his wife, Ronald and Rhonda Maule of Springfield, TN; her sons, Carl Allen of West Cornwall, CT; Marc (wife Sue) Allen of Norfolk, CT; Jason Allen of Canaan, CT; Sean Tyler of West Cornwall, CT, and her daughters, Heather Tyler of Harwinton, CT; and Mandy Allen-Fischer (husband Michael) of Thomaston, CT, six grandsons and two granddaughters. She was predeceased by her brother Gary Maule of Bristol.
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.
Emma Carberry Paley
SHARON - Emma Carberry Paley, 95, of Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
Emma was born on September 12, 1927, the daughter of Lena (Clum) and Joseph V. Carberry. She attended Sharon Center School and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1945. Emma attended nursing school in Albany, NY and became an LPN. Following graduation, she worked in the maternity department of Sharon Hospital. She married Morris Paley in 1948 and they shared 62 years of marriage until he predeceased her in September 2010.
Emma will be remembered for her kindness and her sense of humor. She was a good listener and usually one of the first people to show up when a family experienced a loss. She had particular compassion for families that lost young children. Among her belongings, were letters of thanks from strangers that she had reached out to over the years when they lost a child.
Emma’s childhood home had no running water and no electricity. At six years old, her family moved to a “modern” house across the valley, right next door to the man she would someday marry. As one of 13 children during the depression, she had many household responsibilities especially when her mother was sick with cancer. One of her jobs was to bake a cake for her family every day. Because of that, Emma could whip up a cake in no time!
Emma and Morris’ home was a lively, welcoming place. As the mother of eight children and a farmer’s wife, every day was full of the unexpected. In addition to caring for her children, feeding the hired men and running errands for the farm, she still found time to be part of the Sharon Beach Committee, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Sharon Center School Nurses’ Association. In later years, Emma and Morris traveled around the country to attend antique car meets where they had many adventures and made lifelong friends. Morris and Emma also hosted several antique car events and many still remember the apple pie she served on the front porch of the farmhouse. When the youngest child finally left for college, Emma and Morris began spending their winters in Florida where they made many new friends. After Morris’ passing, Emma joined a small group of widows for Monday night dinners at the Sharon Hospital cafeteria. The small group grew to a tribe of more than 20 women that still gather as often as possible. One of Emma’s last outings was a celebration of a dear friend’s 90th birthday.
Emma was predeceased by her brothers; Vincent (Idella), Robert (Doris), Joseph (Sophie), Paul (Frances), Donald (Beth), Francis (Dorothy), and Thomas (Mary), by her sisters; Virginia Kendall (Frank), Dorothy Frasier (Thomas), Helen Passante (Julius) and Mary Lango (Joe), her sisters in law, Lila Zlotoff and Mae Benson and by her sons, George (Judy) and Douglas, and her grandson, Ben.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Barbara McEnroe (Joseph) and her sisters-in law, Dorothy Carberry and Gladys Paley. She is also survived by her children Will (Elaine), Susan Kent (David), Roberta, Elizabeth Tong (David), Charlie, and Sarah Coon (Chris).
Emma adored her 12 grandchildren and had a special relationship with each one of them: Dalton, Austin, Max, Amanda, Jack, Katie, Emily, Ben, Sam, Nathan, Ashley and Anna. She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Easton, Asa, Tyler, Georgia, Emma, Lila, Maren, and June. She loved her many nieces and nephews, as well.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ben Paley Scholarship, c/o Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.
(Please write Ben Paley Scholarship in the memo.) Donations can also be made onlinehttps://berkshiretaconic.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1855
The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Emma’s many caregivers over the past several years, especially her niece, Donna Carberry DiMartino, Joanne Lunning and Hazmik Hovhannisyan.
We will miss you, Mom. You will live on in our hearts forever.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Bernard’s Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
SHARON - Emma Carberry Paley, 95, of Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
Emma was born on September 12, 1927, the daughter of Lena (Clum) and Joseph V. Carberry. She attended Sharon Center School and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1945. Emma attended nursing school in Albany, NY and became an LPN. Following graduation, she worked in the maternity department of Sharon Hospital. She married Morris Paley in 1948 and they shared 62 years of marriage until he predeceased her in September 2010.
Emma will be remembered for her kindness and her sense of humor. She was a good listener and usually one of the first people to show up when a family experienced a loss. She had particular compassion for families that lost young children. Among her belongings, were letters of thanks from strangers that she had reached out to over the years when they lost a child.
Emma’s childhood home had no running water and no electricity. At six years old, her family moved to a “modern” house across the valley, right next door to the man she would someday marry. As one of 13 children during the depression, she had many household responsibilities especially when her mother was sick with cancer. One of her jobs was to bake a cake for her family every day. Because of that, Emma could whip up a cake in no time!
Emma and Morris’ home was a lively, welcoming place. As the mother of eight children and a farmer’s wife, every day was full of the unexpected. In addition to caring for her children, feeding the hired men and running errands for the farm, she still found time to be part of the Sharon Beach Committee, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Sharon Center School Nurses’ Association. In later years, Emma and Morris traveled around the country to attend antique car meets where they had many adventures and made lifelong friends. Morris and Emma also hosted several antique car events and many still remember the apple pie she served on the front porch of the farmhouse. When the youngest child finally left for college, Emma and Morris began spending their winters in Florida where they made many new friends. After Morris’ passing, Emma joined a small group of widows for Monday night dinners at the Sharon Hospital cafeteria. The small group grew to a tribe of more than 20 women that still gather as often as possible. One of Emma’s last outings was a celebration of a dear friend’s 90th birthday.
Emma was predeceased by her brothers; Vincent (Idella), Robert (Doris), Joseph (Sophie), Paul (Frances), Donald (Beth), Francis (Dorothy), and Thomas (Mary), by her sisters; Virginia Kendall (Frank), Dorothy Frasier (Thomas), Helen Passante (Julius) and Mary Lango (Joe), her sisters in law, Lila Zlotoff and Mae Benson and by her sons, George (Judy) and Douglas, and her grandson, Ben.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Barbara McEnroe (Joseph) and her sisters-in law, Dorothy Carberry and Gladys Paley. She is also survived by her children Will (Elaine), Susan Kent (David), Roberta, Elizabeth Tong (David), Charlie, and Sarah Coon (Chris).
Emma adored her 12 grandchildren and had a special relationship with each one of them: Dalton, Austin, Max, Amanda, Jack, Katie, Emily, Ben, Sam, Nathan, Ashley and Anna. She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Easton, Asa, Tyler, Georgia, Emma, Lila, Maren, and June. She loved her many nieces and nephews, as well.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ben Paley Scholarship, c/o Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.
(Please write Ben Paley Scholarship in the memo.) Donations can also be made onlinehttps://berkshiretaconic.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1855
The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Emma’s many caregivers over the past several years, especially her niece, Donna Carberry DiMartino, Joanne Lunning and Hazmik Hovhannisyan.
We will miss you, Mom. You will live on in our hearts forever.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Bernard’s Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
Betty Hohl
POTTSTOWN, PA - Betty Mae Wanner Hohl Betty Mae Wanner Hohl, born in Pottstown, PA, left us gently on December 18 at her daughter's home in CT.
Born January 28, 1924, daughter of Leon Wanner & Dorothy Reifsnyder Wanner, she was big sister to twins Donald & Ronald and sister Mary Lou. Wife of Walter "Frank" Hohl, she was the mother of musician Daryl Hall and daughter Kathleen Hohl Phillips.
Being blessed with a beautiful soprano voice she used it as a teenager in the Cedarville Methodist Church choir (where she later served as choir directress for 25 years) and sang with The Triads, Melody Maids & Pottstown Band. She kept her voice in shape singing with the choir into her 90s. Music, music, music! The Hohl house was filled with it. She passed on her great gift of music to her naturally talented son Daryl who she taught & encouraged and was deliriously rewarded when he became her "star". One of her greatest pleasures was going to every Hall & Oates concert in the area. "I'm over 80 years old and still going to rock concerts!" She embraced all of the arts taking her children to Philadelphia to expose them to cultural activities and encouraging them to explore. The natural teacher in her let to her participation in "Art Goes To School" and was honored in 2007 with an OJR Community Service Award given to a community member "who has made an extraordinary contribution" to which she observed "They gave me this award for living my life. It just came naturally to me to involve myself with music and young people". Her daughter, Kathleen took to the art side and became a graphic designer, again with the support and encouragement of her enthusiastic mother.
Of course the other passion in her life was her family. Family meant everything to her and she was the loved "Aunt Betty" along with "Uncle Frank" to all the young cousins. She cherished her siblings Mary Lou, Donald, Ronald and their spouses. Frank's brother Gene was especially close to her heart. She and Frank lived in the house he built for most of their full lives and their children, tho' out in the world, visited often. When Frank passed on and covid struck it was time for Betty to stay in Kathy's world in CT where she enjoyed the company of Kathy's husband Jeremy, dog Daisy, her cat Willie, her fabulous helpers Heather & Claudia and visits from Daryl. It was a very special time.
She lived a long, rich full and loving life holding all her family members close to her heart. So many people were touched by her. They will tell great stories and smile at the memories. That will please her. A celebration of her extraordinary life is being planned for the Spring.
POTTSTOWN, PA - Betty Mae Wanner Hohl Betty Mae Wanner Hohl, born in Pottstown, PA, left us gently on December 18 at her daughter's home in CT.
Born January 28, 1924, daughter of Leon Wanner & Dorothy Reifsnyder Wanner, she was big sister to twins Donald & Ronald and sister Mary Lou. Wife of Walter "Frank" Hohl, she was the mother of musician Daryl Hall and daughter Kathleen Hohl Phillips.
Being blessed with a beautiful soprano voice she used it as a teenager in the Cedarville Methodist Church choir (where she later served as choir directress for 25 years) and sang with The Triads, Melody Maids & Pottstown Band. She kept her voice in shape singing with the choir into her 90s. Music, music, music! The Hohl house was filled with it. She passed on her great gift of music to her naturally talented son Daryl who she taught & encouraged and was deliriously rewarded when he became her "star". One of her greatest pleasures was going to every Hall & Oates concert in the area. "I'm over 80 years old and still going to rock concerts!" She embraced all of the arts taking her children to Philadelphia to expose them to cultural activities and encouraging them to explore. The natural teacher in her let to her participation in "Art Goes To School" and was honored in 2007 with an OJR Community Service Award given to a community member "who has made an extraordinary contribution" to which she observed "They gave me this award for living my life. It just came naturally to me to involve myself with music and young people". Her daughter, Kathleen took to the art side and became a graphic designer, again with the support and encouragement of her enthusiastic mother.
Of course the other passion in her life was her family. Family meant everything to her and she was the loved "Aunt Betty" along with "Uncle Frank" to all the young cousins. She cherished her siblings Mary Lou, Donald, Ronald and their spouses. Frank's brother Gene was especially close to her heart. She and Frank lived in the house he built for most of their full lives and their children, tho' out in the world, visited often. When Frank passed on and covid struck it was time for Betty to stay in Kathy's world in CT where she enjoyed the company of Kathy's husband Jeremy, dog Daisy, her cat Willie, her fabulous helpers Heather & Claudia and visits from Daryl. It was a very special time.
She lived a long, rich full and loving life holding all her family members close to her heart. So many people were touched by her. They will tell great stories and smile at the memories. That will please her. A celebration of her extraordinary life is being planned for the Spring.
Thérèse Pressley
FALLS VILLAGE - Thérèse Keenen Pressley, 70, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022, at Hartford Hospital.
Thérèse and her husband of 36 years, Steven Pressley, lived in Sharon for 30 years and were currently residing together in Falls Village.
Thérèse was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1952 in Elizabeth, NJ, the 4th daughter of the late George E. and Lucille “Mia” Keenen and the 5th of 8 children overall.
Thérèse graduated from Union Catholic HS and was the 1st music major and one of the first female graduates of Fairfield University in 1974.
She settled in Connecticut permanently after graduating. Her lifelong passion for music started at the piano when she was less than 4 years old. She had perfect pitch and was a talented guitarist having also studied classical guitar. She shared her gifts throughout her life, playing coffee houses and festivals in the area in the 1970s, as a music therapist for elderly patients from the ’80 into the 2000’s, and singing at many family weddings and funerals. She also worked for Sharon Healthcare, Noble Horizons and Geer Village over the years.
In addition to her husband, Steve, she is survived by sisters, Kathleen Donohue, Priscilla Egan, Christine Kealy, Elizabeth Keenen, and Mary Jo Hurwitz and her brother John Keenen. Her brother, George “Gek” Keenen III passed in 2021. She was the aunt to 21 nieces and nephews and great-aunt to so many more.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at a date to be determined.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.
FALLS VILLAGE - Thérèse Keenen Pressley, 70, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022, at Hartford Hospital.
Thérèse and her husband of 36 years, Steven Pressley, lived in Sharon for 30 years and were currently residing together in Falls Village.
Thérèse was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1952 in Elizabeth, NJ, the 4th daughter of the late George E. and Lucille “Mia” Keenen and the 5th of 8 children overall.
Thérèse graduated from Union Catholic HS and was the 1st music major and one of the first female graduates of Fairfield University in 1974.
She settled in Connecticut permanently after graduating. Her lifelong passion for music started at the piano when she was less than 4 years old. She had perfect pitch and was a talented guitarist having also studied classical guitar. She shared her gifts throughout her life, playing coffee houses and festivals in the area in the 1970s, as a music therapist for elderly patients from the ’80 into the 2000’s, and singing at many family weddings and funerals. She also worked for Sharon Healthcare, Noble Horizons and Geer Village over the years.
In addition to her husband, Steve, she is survived by sisters, Kathleen Donohue, Priscilla Egan, Christine Kealy, Elizabeth Keenen, and Mary Jo Hurwitz and her brother John Keenen. Her brother, George “Gek” Keenen III passed in 2021. She was the aunt to 21 nieces and nephews and great-aunt to so many more.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at a date to be determined.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.
Jack Feder
LAKEVILLE - Jack Feder, PhD, 94, of Lakeville, CT passed away on December 1st, 2022.
Jack was born in NYC, achieved his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the City College of New York, and a doctoral degree at New York University.
He then spent his whole professional life in Greenwich Village as a clinical psychologist in private practice. Unfortunately, a stroke intervened in 2004, leaving him unable to practice. Fortunately, he and his wife, Ingrid Freidenbergs, had a house in Lakeville where there is a robust community for art, theater, dance, and music.
They moved to Lakeville from New York City permanently in 2008, and while there he was able to pursue his other passion - photography. He spent hours going over his old slides, many from his numerous world travels, and then mastering the art of digital transformation. His work has been featured in Life magazine, Popular Photography, The Village Voice and many other publications. He has shown in many galleries including the Marlborough Gallery, The Museum of Natural History and the New York Public Library. John Russell (former art critic of the New York Times) stated in a review “…Feder’s summations of life in Paris, Mexico and New York are there to be read, not gaped at, and they impress by a certain laconic penetration.” That is the same penetration, though hardly laconic, he used for his patients who were greatly saddened by his inability to continue his work. In Lakeville, another passion was being catcher in the local Sunday softball game. One can still hear him yelling- “Strike!!!”
But Jack’s single greatest passion was being a father to Paul Feder, then delight at his son’s choice of a wonderful wife, Morgan J. Feder. And when Paul and Morgan had children he became an exuberantly doting grandfather. One day his grandson, having learned the definition of “antique”, said to a passing stranger while pushing him down the street in a wheelchair, “My grandfather is an antique!!!” Jack was a precious antique indeed.
Jack is survived by his wife Ingrid Freidenbergs, son Paul Feder, daughter-in-law Morgan J. Feder, grandson Sebastian, and granddaughter Corinna. He was also a loving uncle to Katia Feder, her husband Bertrand Dubus, their son Alex, his nephew Ivan Feder, his wife Joanna Feder, and their daughter Aria. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Chris Welles Feder, and so, so, many friends who all loved him dearly.
In a recent conversation with his son, Jack said that he wanted a big birthday celebration when he turned 95. So a celebration for Jack will be held around his 95th birthday in the spring of 2023. Any contributions can be made in Jack’s name and sent to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
LAKEVILLE - Jack Feder, PhD, 94, of Lakeville, CT passed away on December 1st, 2022.
Jack was born in NYC, achieved his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the City College of New York, and a doctoral degree at New York University.
He then spent his whole professional life in Greenwich Village as a clinical psychologist in private practice. Unfortunately, a stroke intervened in 2004, leaving him unable to practice. Fortunately, he and his wife, Ingrid Freidenbergs, had a house in Lakeville where there is a robust community for art, theater, dance, and music.
They moved to Lakeville from New York City permanently in 2008, and while there he was able to pursue his other passion - photography. He spent hours going over his old slides, many from his numerous world travels, and then mastering the art of digital transformation. His work has been featured in Life magazine, Popular Photography, The Village Voice and many other publications. He has shown in many galleries including the Marlborough Gallery, The Museum of Natural History and the New York Public Library. John Russell (former art critic of the New York Times) stated in a review “…Feder’s summations of life in Paris, Mexico and New York are there to be read, not gaped at, and they impress by a certain laconic penetration.” That is the same penetration, though hardly laconic, he used for his patients who were greatly saddened by his inability to continue his work. In Lakeville, another passion was being catcher in the local Sunday softball game. One can still hear him yelling- “Strike!!!”
But Jack’s single greatest passion was being a father to Paul Feder, then delight at his son’s choice of a wonderful wife, Morgan J. Feder. And when Paul and Morgan had children he became an exuberantly doting grandfather. One day his grandson, having learned the definition of “antique”, said to a passing stranger while pushing him down the street in a wheelchair, “My grandfather is an antique!!!” Jack was a precious antique indeed.
Jack is survived by his wife Ingrid Freidenbergs, son Paul Feder, daughter-in-law Morgan J. Feder, grandson Sebastian, and granddaughter Corinna. He was also a loving uncle to Katia Feder, her husband Bertrand Dubus, their son Alex, his nephew Ivan Feder, his wife Joanna Feder, and their daughter Aria. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Chris Welles Feder, and so, so, many friends who all loved him dearly.
In a recent conversation with his son, Jack said that he wanted a big birthday celebration when he turned 95. So a celebration for Jack will be held around his 95th birthday in the spring of 2023. Any contributions can be made in Jack’s name and sent to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
Elizabeth Howie
FALLS VILLAGE - Elizabeth “Betsy” Howie, of Falls Village Connecticut, passed away on November 25, 2022, with her beloved daughter, Calpurnia “Callie” Carter, at her side. She was 60 years old. A cherished member of the Falls Village community known for her wit, warmth and outspokenness, Betsy was also a longtime resident of New York City where she worked with aplomb in the theater and publishing worlds.
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June 6, 1962, to Mary Lou Howie and Charles R. Howie, Betsy grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her older brothers, Tim and Randy Howie. Betsy attended Northview High School where she swam competitively. As a teenager participating in community theater, she discovered her life’s joy and passion, and made some of her closest, lifelong friends.
After graduating from high school, Betsy moved to New York City where she attended New York University and studied acting at the renowned Stella Adler Studio. As a young woman, Betsy’s friends, habits, and jobs all revolved around her number one priority: theater. She worked as part of many repertory theaters. Her passion for theater paired with a gift for writing. She wrote the book for “Cowgirls,” a musical that she also performed in, which was staged across the country. When “Cowgirls” opened Off Broadway, in 1996, The New York Times reviewer called it a “joyous slapstick hoedown.” In 1987, Betsy produced and performed in Caryl Churchill’s “Top Girls” with fellow staff members from Phebe’s bar on the Bowery, at the nearby New Theater. Betsy worked at Phebe’s—which was an East Village staple serving cops, actors, and what Betsy called “all the usual suspects”—as a bartender and waitress on roller skates.
Betsy was a prolific writer. During her life, she wrote numerous books, including a humorous memoir, “Callie’s Tally: An Accounting of Baby’s First Year (Or, What My Daughter Owes Me)”, and the novel “Snow. She also wrote many children’s books under the pen name, Howie Dewin.
As a young adult in New York City, Betsy lived in the East Village and in various neighborhoods in Brooklyn. In addition to waitressing and acting, she took on a wide range of odd jobs: a nanny for the Mayor of New York City, an assistant to Stella Adler, an organizer of the re-opening of Ellis Island, and a one-time speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. She also worked for environmental causes which were another one of her lifelong passions.
Beginning in college, Betsy loved to ride her bike around New York City. In 2015, when she and Calpurnia got an apartment in the Bronx, Betsy would commute by bicycle to her job at Scholastic Book Clubs in Manhattan. Betsy began working as a freelancer at Scholastic in 1994 and became a full time staff member in 1999.
Betsy gave birth in 2001 to her only daughter, Calpurnia, whose father is the playwright and longtime Falls Village resident Lonnie Carter. Betsy raised Calpurnia in Falls Village, Connecticut, and, when Calpurnia was 14, they began dividing their time between Falls Village and the Bronx, commuting back and forth every week for years. They made both places their home.
Betsy moved to Falls Village on a whim, surprising her co-workers one Monday morning when she announced that she had bought a farmhouse in a small town in rural northwestern Connecticut. Betsy is thought of by her friends and family as being “fearless,” and the move out of the city was a move out of her comfort zone—but one that was well worth it. Betsy became an active and loving member of the Falls Village community, working on the Board of Education, Recreation Commission, and performing as the long-time live-auction host at the David M. Hunt Library. She also contributed her theater talents as the acting coach at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Betsy founded and operated for about a year the Falls Village Marshmallow Company, which was a testament to her love of marshmallows. Falls Village became one of Betsy’s greatest comforts, especially in the last three years, after she was diagnosed with cancer. The community became her family.
Betsy loved building things. She constructed sheds for both herself and her late mother, and a playhouse for Calpurnia. She was known for her love of simple food, reminding her friends who cooked for her that she was Lutheran, and therefore had “white-bread taste”.
Betsy took great pride in her extensive work constructing a very detailed family tree, using Ancestory.com. Her focus on this project allowed her to combine her incredible creativity with her intense intelligence.
She also had a deep love for Frankfort, Michigan, where her family owned a summer home that her grandfather built. The house was a staple of her childhood, and her daughter’s. Her affection for Lake Michigan remained strong in her heart throughout her life.
Betsy had great respect for animals. She was known to have cats walk up to her house, or jump in her car, and immediately become a part of her family. She had many cats throughout her life, in addition to a rabbit and a few dogs.
Betsy had many, many friends. She had a beautiful way of gathering people from all walks of life and holding them close over long periods of time. She was absolutely loveable, and completely full of empathy and kindness. She was nurturing, smart, creative, selfless, happy, and hilarious.
Betsy’s greatest accomplishment and love was Calpurnia. They were two peas in a pod, and Betsy’s last few years of life were spent in complete peace with Calpurnia by her side.
What wasn’t Betsy? She wasn’t dishonest, selfish, and she wasn’t disloyal. Witness the outpouring of love and affection from all corners of the land - a testament to her brilliance, kindness, and amazing good humor.
Betsy is survived by her daughter, Calpurnia, her brothers Randy and Tim Howie, her sister Sarah Howie, her step-mother Wendy, her daughter’s father/true friend Lonnie Carter, her future daughter-in-law Dee Dee Davis, her cats Isa and Bo, and her grand-dog Darla.
A memorial service will be held on December 10, at 11 AM, at Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church. The service will be live streamed on the church’s website at trinitylimerock.org. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department at PO Box 1, Falls Village CT, 06031.
FALLS VILLAGE - Elizabeth “Betsy” Howie, of Falls Village Connecticut, passed away on November 25, 2022, with her beloved daughter, Calpurnia “Callie” Carter, at her side. She was 60 years old. A cherished member of the Falls Village community known for her wit, warmth and outspokenness, Betsy was also a longtime resident of New York City where she worked with aplomb in the theater and publishing worlds.
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June 6, 1962, to Mary Lou Howie and Charles R. Howie, Betsy grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her older brothers, Tim and Randy Howie. Betsy attended Northview High School where she swam competitively. As a teenager participating in community theater, she discovered her life’s joy and passion, and made some of her closest, lifelong friends.
After graduating from high school, Betsy moved to New York City where she attended New York University and studied acting at the renowned Stella Adler Studio. As a young woman, Betsy’s friends, habits, and jobs all revolved around her number one priority: theater. She worked as part of many repertory theaters. Her passion for theater paired with a gift for writing. She wrote the book for “Cowgirls,” a musical that she also performed in, which was staged across the country. When “Cowgirls” opened Off Broadway, in 1996, The New York Times reviewer called it a “joyous slapstick hoedown.” In 1987, Betsy produced and performed in Caryl Churchill’s “Top Girls” with fellow staff members from Phebe’s bar on the Bowery, at the nearby New Theater. Betsy worked at Phebe’s—which was an East Village staple serving cops, actors, and what Betsy called “all the usual suspects”—as a bartender and waitress on roller skates.
Betsy was a prolific writer. During her life, she wrote numerous books, including a humorous memoir, “Callie’s Tally: An Accounting of Baby’s First Year (Or, What My Daughter Owes Me)”, and the novel “Snow. She also wrote many children’s books under the pen name, Howie Dewin.
As a young adult in New York City, Betsy lived in the East Village and in various neighborhoods in Brooklyn. In addition to waitressing and acting, she took on a wide range of odd jobs: a nanny for the Mayor of New York City, an assistant to Stella Adler, an organizer of the re-opening of Ellis Island, and a one-time speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. She also worked for environmental causes which were another one of her lifelong passions.
Beginning in college, Betsy loved to ride her bike around New York City. In 2015, when she and Calpurnia got an apartment in the Bronx, Betsy would commute by bicycle to her job at Scholastic Book Clubs in Manhattan. Betsy began working as a freelancer at Scholastic in 1994 and became a full time staff member in 1999.
Betsy gave birth in 2001 to her only daughter, Calpurnia, whose father is the playwright and longtime Falls Village resident Lonnie Carter. Betsy raised Calpurnia in Falls Village, Connecticut, and, when Calpurnia was 14, they began dividing their time between Falls Village and the Bronx, commuting back and forth every week for years. They made both places their home.
Betsy moved to Falls Village on a whim, surprising her co-workers one Monday morning when she announced that she had bought a farmhouse in a small town in rural northwestern Connecticut. Betsy is thought of by her friends and family as being “fearless,” and the move out of the city was a move out of her comfort zone—but one that was well worth it. Betsy became an active and loving member of the Falls Village community, working on the Board of Education, Recreation Commission, and performing as the long-time live-auction host at the David M. Hunt Library. She also contributed her theater talents as the acting coach at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Betsy founded and operated for about a year the Falls Village Marshmallow Company, which was a testament to her love of marshmallows. Falls Village became one of Betsy’s greatest comforts, especially in the last three years, after she was diagnosed with cancer. The community became her family.
Betsy loved building things. She constructed sheds for both herself and her late mother, and a playhouse for Calpurnia. She was known for her love of simple food, reminding her friends who cooked for her that she was Lutheran, and therefore had “white-bread taste”.
Betsy took great pride in her extensive work constructing a very detailed family tree, using Ancestory.com. Her focus on this project allowed her to combine her incredible creativity with her intense intelligence.
She also had a deep love for Frankfort, Michigan, where her family owned a summer home that her grandfather built. The house was a staple of her childhood, and her daughter’s. Her affection for Lake Michigan remained strong in her heart throughout her life.
Betsy had great respect for animals. She was known to have cats walk up to her house, or jump in her car, and immediately become a part of her family. She had many cats throughout her life, in addition to a rabbit and a few dogs.
Betsy had many, many friends. She had a beautiful way of gathering people from all walks of life and holding them close over long periods of time. She was absolutely loveable, and completely full of empathy and kindness. She was nurturing, smart, creative, selfless, happy, and hilarious.
Betsy’s greatest accomplishment and love was Calpurnia. They were two peas in a pod, and Betsy’s last few years of life were spent in complete peace with Calpurnia by her side.
What wasn’t Betsy? She wasn’t dishonest, selfish, and she wasn’t disloyal. Witness the outpouring of love and affection from all corners of the land - a testament to her brilliance, kindness, and amazing good humor.
Betsy is survived by her daughter, Calpurnia, her brothers Randy and Tim Howie, her sister Sarah Howie, her step-mother Wendy, her daughter’s father/true friend Lonnie Carter, her future daughter-in-law Dee Dee Davis, her cats Isa and Bo, and her grand-dog Darla.
A memorial service will be held on December 10, at 11 AM, at Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church. The service will be live streamed on the church’s website at trinitylimerock.org. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department at PO Box 1, Falls Village CT, 06031.
Katherine Gannett
WEST CORNWALL - Katherine Emily Gannett, “Katie,” as she was known to all, passed away in the afternoon of November 17, 2022, in her home in West Cornwall.
Katie was born in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from De Pauw University in 1952 with a degree in Education and Counseling. She went on to earn her Masters’ Degree from Columbia University in 1961.
Katie first worked as an Assistant Dean at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She joined the staff of Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1964, first as a Health and Physical Education teacher and then as a Guidance Counselor. At Housatonic, Katie counselled hundreds of students in her over twenty years in the Guidance Department and volunteered with many organizations and activities, such as the American Field Service (AFS) and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapters. Upon her retirement, Katie also served on the Cornwall and Region One School Boards, serving as Chair of each for at least one term.
Katie was devoted to Housatonic’s AFS Chapter, which is the oldest continuously operating chapter in the United States. For over fifty years, she was dedicated to its mission of providing young people with intercultural experiences. Through this work, Katie ensured hundreds of exchange students were hosted with Northwest Corner families and that Housatonic students were hosted in countries around the world. She kept alumni together by hosting annual reunions, fundraisers, and other gatherings. Katie also volunteered regularly at the national AFS headquarters in New York City.
Another of Katie’s great loves was the Future Farmer’s Association Alumni Association. For thirty-four years, Katie served as secretary for the organization, uniting its members through annual gatherings and fundraisers. Katie herself maintained a legendary garden, which she shared with her friends and visitors. She and Michael Gannett, her late husband, generously provided an endless supply of flowers to Housatonic and other local organizations. In 2006, her garden was archived by the Smithsonian Institution.
Katie’s passion for the outdoors and her commitment to nurturing young people included her work with the John Austen Cheley Foundation. Katie had worked as an assistant director and director at Cheley Camps in the 1950’s. More recently, Katie served as a trustee of the Foundation from 1995-2003 and as a member of the Campership Committee for years following. Over the years of her involvement, Katie sponsored over 30 students to attend the Cheley Camps on scholarship. Many of her sponsored students went on to become counselors with the various Cheley Camps.
Katie also loved her dogs, including the dog who adopted her, L.D. and then four lovely Airdales, Daisy, Daisy II, Sarge and Dyna. Sarge and Dyna were adopted from New England Airedale Rescue. Katie hosted over fifty members of the Rescue family in her lovely garden in support of the organization’s efforts.
For her over fifty years of outstanding service and dedication to the young people of Region One, Katie was honored in 2017 with the Community Award of Merit by the Regional School Board at the annual HVRHS graduation ceremony. In 2016, Katie was named Volunteer of the Year by the John Austen Cheley Foundation for her years of service and support of the Foundation and its campers.
Katie lived a full, beautiful life, actively involved with her passions of nurturing young people, promoting global understanding through youth exchange, and cultivating the great outdoors and its future leaders through gardening at home and farming in NW Connecticut. She adored her husband, Michael Gannett, and together they hosted countless events, including weddings and fundraisers, in their lovely home and gardens. Her wit and strong personality were known to all and she was well-loved and cherished because of them.
WEST CORNWALL - Katherine Emily Gannett, “Katie,” as she was known to all, passed away in the afternoon of November 17, 2022, in her home in West Cornwall.
Katie was born in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from De Pauw University in 1952 with a degree in Education and Counseling. She went on to earn her Masters’ Degree from Columbia University in 1961.
Katie first worked as an Assistant Dean at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She joined the staff of Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1964, first as a Health and Physical Education teacher and then as a Guidance Counselor. At Housatonic, Katie counselled hundreds of students in her over twenty years in the Guidance Department and volunteered with many organizations and activities, such as the American Field Service (AFS) and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapters. Upon her retirement, Katie also served on the Cornwall and Region One School Boards, serving as Chair of each for at least one term.
Katie was devoted to Housatonic’s AFS Chapter, which is the oldest continuously operating chapter in the United States. For over fifty years, she was dedicated to its mission of providing young people with intercultural experiences. Through this work, Katie ensured hundreds of exchange students were hosted with Northwest Corner families and that Housatonic students were hosted in countries around the world. She kept alumni together by hosting annual reunions, fundraisers, and other gatherings. Katie also volunteered regularly at the national AFS headquarters in New York City.
Another of Katie’s great loves was the Future Farmer’s Association Alumni Association. For thirty-four years, Katie served as secretary for the organization, uniting its members through annual gatherings and fundraisers. Katie herself maintained a legendary garden, which she shared with her friends and visitors. She and Michael Gannett, her late husband, generously provided an endless supply of flowers to Housatonic and other local organizations. In 2006, her garden was archived by the Smithsonian Institution.
Katie’s passion for the outdoors and her commitment to nurturing young people included her work with the John Austen Cheley Foundation. Katie had worked as an assistant director and director at Cheley Camps in the 1950’s. More recently, Katie served as a trustee of the Foundation from 1995-2003 and as a member of the Campership Committee for years following. Over the years of her involvement, Katie sponsored over 30 students to attend the Cheley Camps on scholarship. Many of her sponsored students went on to become counselors with the various Cheley Camps.
Katie also loved her dogs, including the dog who adopted her, L.D. and then four lovely Airdales, Daisy, Daisy II, Sarge and Dyna. Sarge and Dyna were adopted from New England Airedale Rescue. Katie hosted over fifty members of the Rescue family in her lovely garden in support of the organization’s efforts.
For her over fifty years of outstanding service and dedication to the young people of Region One, Katie was honored in 2017 with the Community Award of Merit by the Regional School Board at the annual HVRHS graduation ceremony. In 2016, Katie was named Volunteer of the Year by the John Austen Cheley Foundation for her years of service and support of the Foundation and its campers.
Katie lived a full, beautiful life, actively involved with her passions of nurturing young people, promoting global understanding through youth exchange, and cultivating the great outdoors and its future leaders through gardening at home and farming in NW Connecticut. She adored her husband, Michael Gannett, and together they hosted countless events, including weddings and fundraisers, in their lovely home and gardens. Her wit and strong personality were known to all and she was well-loved and cherished because of them.
Dennis Rand
SHARON - Dennis Rand, 69, of 27 Hospital Hill Rd., Sharon, CT passed away peacefully November 15, 2022 with his sister Denise Rand and his first wife Kris Katsonis by his side.
Dennis was born December 8, 1952 in Dover, New Hampshire, son of the late Carlton and Ellen Rand.
Dennis graduated from Dover High School class of 1971, and Thompson School at UNH. He served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam Era war.
Dennis moved to Milwaukee and was very active in the rugby club at the Up and Under Pub in late 1979. He began his Rugby career in Dover, NH. The Milwaukee club went on to win the US national championship in 1985. After playing first class rugby, he accomplished his dream of becoming a Forester.
Dennis had a big heart and a love of people, rugby, St. Patty’s day, hunting, fishing, the outdoors and most of all his two sons Neon (Iain) and Caleb.
Dennis is survived by his most precious accomplishment in this life his two sons Neon (Iain) and Caleb Rand. He’s also survived by his sister Denise Rand (Kip) his brother Thomas Rand (Lisa) and family and friends.
Dennis will be missed by all who knew him. The room without Dennis will be a bit less fun, a great deal quieter, and with fewer hugs.
Thank you to the staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital 5th floor and Sharon Healthcare Center .
Celebration of life in Milwaukee, WI and Dover, NH will be announced at a later date.
A fund will be set up for his boys. For more information please contact his sister.
SHARON - Dennis Rand, 69, of 27 Hospital Hill Rd., Sharon, CT passed away peacefully November 15, 2022 with his sister Denise Rand and his first wife Kris Katsonis by his side.
Dennis was born December 8, 1952 in Dover, New Hampshire, son of the late Carlton and Ellen Rand.
Dennis graduated from Dover High School class of 1971, and Thompson School at UNH. He served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam Era war.
Dennis moved to Milwaukee and was very active in the rugby club at the Up and Under Pub in late 1979. He began his Rugby career in Dover, NH. The Milwaukee club went on to win the US national championship in 1985. After playing first class rugby, he accomplished his dream of becoming a Forester.
Dennis had a big heart and a love of people, rugby, St. Patty’s day, hunting, fishing, the outdoors and most of all his two sons Neon (Iain) and Caleb.
Dennis is survived by his most precious accomplishment in this life his two sons Neon (Iain) and Caleb Rand. He’s also survived by his sister Denise Rand (Kip) his brother Thomas Rand (Lisa) and family and friends.
Dennis will be missed by all who knew him. The room without Dennis will be a bit less fun, a great deal quieter, and with fewer hugs.
Thank you to the staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital 5th floor and Sharon Healthcare Center .
Celebration of life in Milwaukee, WI and Dover, NH will be announced at a later date.
A fund will be set up for his boys. For more information please contact his sister.
Dorinda Truax
SHARON – Dorinda Marie Truax (Pedersen), 56, of Michael Koury Terrace, Torrington, CT, passed away on October 23, 2022 at Hartford Hospital after a long illness.
Dorinda was born August 5, 1966 at Sharon Hospital, the daughter of the late Edward and Claire (Johnson) Pedersen. Dorinda grew up in Sharon, CT and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1984. She held several jobs after high school before working as a Night Shift Supervisor at Taconic DDSO for a little over ten years. In 2000, she left Taconic DDSO to pursue an Associates Degree in Nursing, which she obtained in 2004 from Berkshire Community College. She made the National Deans List in 2002, 2003, and 2004. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was a registered nurse and worked as a nurse until 2016 when she had to take a step back due to several health issues.
Dorinda was an animal lover and especially loved German Shepherds. She had several German Shepherds over the years and loved every one of them. During the past few years, she enjoyed being an aunt to her only nephew. She would brag about her nephew to anyone she met.
She is survived by her brother, Brian Pedersen of Sharon, CT, his wife Lisa, and their son Hans.
A public memorial service will be held at the Sharon United Methodist Church on Saturday November 5, at 11:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest at the Ellsworth Hill Cemetery next to her parents. The burial service will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the The Little Guild (Animal Shelter), 285 Sharon-Goshen Road, West Cornwall, CT, 06796 or www.littleguild.org.
SHARON – Dorinda Marie Truax (Pedersen), 56, of Michael Koury Terrace, Torrington, CT, passed away on October 23, 2022 at Hartford Hospital after a long illness.
Dorinda was born August 5, 1966 at Sharon Hospital, the daughter of the late Edward and Claire (Johnson) Pedersen. Dorinda grew up in Sharon, CT and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1984. She held several jobs after high school before working as a Night Shift Supervisor at Taconic DDSO for a little over ten years. In 2000, she left Taconic DDSO to pursue an Associates Degree in Nursing, which she obtained in 2004 from Berkshire Community College. She made the National Deans List in 2002, 2003, and 2004. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was a registered nurse and worked as a nurse until 2016 when she had to take a step back due to several health issues.
Dorinda was an animal lover and especially loved German Shepherds. She had several German Shepherds over the years and loved every one of them. During the past few years, she enjoyed being an aunt to her only nephew. She would brag about her nephew to anyone she met.
She is survived by her brother, Brian Pedersen of Sharon, CT, his wife Lisa, and their son Hans.
A public memorial service will be held at the Sharon United Methodist Church on Saturday November 5, at 11:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest at the Ellsworth Hill Cemetery next to her parents. The burial service will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the The Little Guild (Animal Shelter), 285 Sharon-Goshen Road, West Cornwall, CT, 06796 or www.littleguild.org.
Françoise Friedlaender
SHARON - Françoise Rubinsztein Friedlaender, an early woman pioneer in business and science, died suddenly on October 10, 2022 in Sharon Hospital. She was 76 years old. Throughout her life, and against considerable adversity, she identified her own path to independence and fulfillment, with remarkable rationality and calmness.
Born in the slums of Paris (Cité Lesage-Bullourde) just after the conclusion of World War II, where her parents and siblings had been subjected to the terror of the Nazis and the collaborationist Vichy police, she was an obviously intelligent but sickly child. Called “microbe,” she and her siblings had serious health problems due to the marginal nutrition and poor hygiene. Because of these health concerns, her parents sent her to live with a Polish farming family in the tiny village of Villers-Vermont in Picardy at age 6. It had a one room schoolhouse (the teacher was also the mayor), and one phone, at the bar. When she was 9, her mother committed suicide, likely because she had terminal cancer, a fact never revealed to Françoise – a major blow. However, Françoise persevered as a solitary child and skipped 2 grades of school. After her grammar school years, her father expected her to enter the family tailoring business in Paris as a seamstress, but her teachers strongly recommended she continue her education. She finished high school (Lycée Claude Monet), and, again against her father’s inclination, she went to a technical college, the Ecole nationale de physique, chemie et biologie de Paris. She graduated in 2 years and began a job assaying the amount of water in pills. Thoroughly bored, she quit after a month, to her father’s horror, but found another more suitable research-oriented position. However, she yearned to continue her education and leave her father and France.
Now age 20, she set her sights on Saint Louis, where a cousin found her a job as a medical technician at Washington University. Once there, she quickly realized she was more qualified than her peers with American bachelor’s degrees who were earning twice her salary, so she applied to the graduate school’s program in Theoretical Chemistry (she discovered it was the fastest way to a Ph.D. in the sciences). She finished in 3 ½ years, a breath-takingly short time (the title of her thesis is “Frequency dependence of the higher susceptibilities of the hydrogen molecule”). After a post-doctoral interval at the University of Pennsylvania, she was hired by the DuPont Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware in 1972 - the sole woman scientist among 20 hires that year. She stayed there until 2003, applying her skills in computer modeling and statistics in different areas, but left to become an independent financial analyst with Market Edge Inc., where she was nicknamed the “Excel Ninja.” Meanwhile, she became an accomplished skier, motorcyclist, and scuba diver.
In 2000, she used Match.com, then a new online innovation, to meet her third husband, Jonathan Friedlaender, a biological anthropologist (he had also been married twice before). One day, when she realized he was stymied analyzing all the biological data he’d collected, she suggested she might possibly be able to help (she did!). Thereafter she became fascinated with the developing field of bioinformatics, which had not existed when she was in graduate school. She became an author on over forty research papers in childhood growth and development, human population genetics, and Neanderthal genomics, particularly concerning people in the Southwest Pacific and East Asia – another remarkable achievement. Her analytic skills and artistic illustrations clarified the often complex and cumbersome results of her colleagues. These papers in genetics and anthropology revealed that people in this region have connections to especially ancient human migrations from other parts of the world no one had imagined, going back 30 and 40 thousand years.
Françoise and Jonathan moved to Sharon in 2007 and delighted in the natural beauty and outdoor activities of Litchfield County while they continued their work online. She never missed an opportunity to speak French, whether with new acquaintances or the local French club. Their relationship blossomed and their partnership carried them until her untimely and sudden death with much love and fulfillment, even when facing serious health challenges to them both. To her last days they remained as devoted to each other as newlyweds. Her friends will remember and love her particularly for her generosity, bravery of spirit, and kindness.
She often said she had lived the American Dream.
While Françoise had no children, she delighted in becoming a grandmother to Jonathan’s granddaughter. She is survived by her half-brothers Daniel Delmont, Jean-Michel Salzensteijn, Louis Salzensteijn, her beloved husband Jonathan Friedlaender, son Benjamin and daughter Mira Friedlaender, Colin Wright and granddaughter Artemis Wright.
SHARON - Françoise Rubinsztein Friedlaender, an early woman pioneer in business and science, died suddenly on October 10, 2022 in Sharon Hospital. She was 76 years old. Throughout her life, and against considerable adversity, she identified her own path to independence and fulfillment, with remarkable rationality and calmness.
Born in the slums of Paris (Cité Lesage-Bullourde) just after the conclusion of World War II, where her parents and siblings had been subjected to the terror of the Nazis and the collaborationist Vichy police, she was an obviously intelligent but sickly child. Called “microbe,” she and her siblings had serious health problems due to the marginal nutrition and poor hygiene. Because of these health concerns, her parents sent her to live with a Polish farming family in the tiny village of Villers-Vermont in Picardy at age 6. It had a one room schoolhouse (the teacher was also the mayor), and one phone, at the bar. When she was 9, her mother committed suicide, likely because she had terminal cancer, a fact never revealed to Françoise – a major blow. However, Françoise persevered as a solitary child and skipped 2 grades of school. After her grammar school years, her father expected her to enter the family tailoring business in Paris as a seamstress, but her teachers strongly recommended she continue her education. She finished high school (Lycée Claude Monet), and, again against her father’s inclination, she went to a technical college, the Ecole nationale de physique, chemie et biologie de Paris. She graduated in 2 years and began a job assaying the amount of water in pills. Thoroughly bored, she quit after a month, to her father’s horror, but found another more suitable research-oriented position. However, she yearned to continue her education and leave her father and France.
Now age 20, she set her sights on Saint Louis, where a cousin found her a job as a medical technician at Washington University. Once there, she quickly realized she was more qualified than her peers with American bachelor’s degrees who were earning twice her salary, so she applied to the graduate school’s program in Theoretical Chemistry (she discovered it was the fastest way to a Ph.D. in the sciences). She finished in 3 ½ years, a breath-takingly short time (the title of her thesis is “Frequency dependence of the higher susceptibilities of the hydrogen molecule”). After a post-doctoral interval at the University of Pennsylvania, she was hired by the DuPont Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware in 1972 - the sole woman scientist among 20 hires that year. She stayed there until 2003, applying her skills in computer modeling and statistics in different areas, but left to become an independent financial analyst with Market Edge Inc., where she was nicknamed the “Excel Ninja.” Meanwhile, she became an accomplished skier, motorcyclist, and scuba diver.
In 2000, she used Match.com, then a new online innovation, to meet her third husband, Jonathan Friedlaender, a biological anthropologist (he had also been married twice before). One day, when she realized he was stymied analyzing all the biological data he’d collected, she suggested she might possibly be able to help (she did!). Thereafter she became fascinated with the developing field of bioinformatics, which had not existed when she was in graduate school. She became an author on over forty research papers in childhood growth and development, human population genetics, and Neanderthal genomics, particularly concerning people in the Southwest Pacific and East Asia – another remarkable achievement. Her analytic skills and artistic illustrations clarified the often complex and cumbersome results of her colleagues. These papers in genetics and anthropology revealed that people in this region have connections to especially ancient human migrations from other parts of the world no one had imagined, going back 30 and 40 thousand years.
Françoise and Jonathan moved to Sharon in 2007 and delighted in the natural beauty and outdoor activities of Litchfield County while they continued their work online. She never missed an opportunity to speak French, whether with new acquaintances or the local French club. Their relationship blossomed and their partnership carried them until her untimely and sudden death with much love and fulfillment, even when facing serious health challenges to them both. To her last days they remained as devoted to each other as newlyweds. Her friends will remember and love her particularly for her generosity, bravery of spirit, and kindness.
She often said she had lived the American Dream.
While Françoise had no children, she delighted in becoming a grandmother to Jonathan’s granddaughter. She is survived by her half-brothers Daniel Delmont, Jean-Michel Salzensteijn, Louis Salzensteijn, her beloved husband Jonathan Friedlaender, son Benjamin and daughter Mira Friedlaender, Colin Wright and granddaughter Artemis Wright.
Neil Scott
LAKEVILLE - Ever the quiet force, Neil Scott passed away peacefully at Sharon Hospital on October 12th after 94 years of a remarkable life. Born in Bolton, Great Britain, in 1928, Neil spent an active youth sailing, rowing, fishing, and hiking around the Isle of Man, a small island between England and Ireland. He attended King William’s College on the island through his high school years, then was conscripted into the Royal Air Force. Always a man of wry, understated humor, asked what he did in the RAF, his reply was “played six-a-side hockey in the hangars.”
Following the RAF, Neil attended Keble College at Oxford University from 1950 to 1952 where he studied chemistry and won numerous rowing cups for Keble. He then taught chemistry and coached rowing at The King’s School, Canterbury from 1953 to 1969. At King’s Neil met and married his wife Jill. Seeking new adventures, Neil moved with his young family to Quebec in 1969 to teach at Stanstead. A year later, Neil was recruited by the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville to teach chemistry. While at Hotchkiss Neil also started the sailing program, and later coached girls’ varsity field hockey, both teams winning championships in short order.
Neil arranged a year-long teaching exchange in New Zealand in 1986, where he and Jill enjoyed camping, playing golf, and traveling around the islands as much as the teaching. He retired from Hotchkiss in 1993 and happily spent more time based in Lakeville, but out on the water whenever possible with his wife, children and grandchildren. Neil was a longtime volunteer for Reading for the Blind, and used his science expertise while on the Salisbury Town Sewer Commission. As a 50-year member, Neil firmly believed in the mission of the Rotary club, to provide service to others. His special interest was serving on Rotary’s Scholarship Committee, following his lifelong love of working with students.
Neil is survived by his wife Jill, son David (Kari MacKay), daughter Carol, grandchildren Harry, Alex, Philip and Spencer, and his brother Ian. He is predeceased by his daughter Kathryn and brother Geoff. We all miss him greatly.
A memorial service will be held in the Hotchkiss School Chapel at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 30th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Neil’s name to the Salisbury Rotary Club Foundation Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 287 Salisbury, CT 06068.
LAKEVILLE - Ever the quiet force, Neil Scott passed away peacefully at Sharon Hospital on October 12th after 94 years of a remarkable life. Born in Bolton, Great Britain, in 1928, Neil spent an active youth sailing, rowing, fishing, and hiking around the Isle of Man, a small island between England and Ireland. He attended King William’s College on the island through his high school years, then was conscripted into the Royal Air Force. Always a man of wry, understated humor, asked what he did in the RAF, his reply was “played six-a-side hockey in the hangars.”
Following the RAF, Neil attended Keble College at Oxford University from 1950 to 1952 where he studied chemistry and won numerous rowing cups for Keble. He then taught chemistry and coached rowing at The King’s School, Canterbury from 1953 to 1969. At King’s Neil met and married his wife Jill. Seeking new adventures, Neil moved with his young family to Quebec in 1969 to teach at Stanstead. A year later, Neil was recruited by the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville to teach chemistry. While at Hotchkiss Neil also started the sailing program, and later coached girls’ varsity field hockey, both teams winning championships in short order.
Neil arranged a year-long teaching exchange in New Zealand in 1986, where he and Jill enjoyed camping, playing golf, and traveling around the islands as much as the teaching. He retired from Hotchkiss in 1993 and happily spent more time based in Lakeville, but out on the water whenever possible with his wife, children and grandchildren. Neil was a longtime volunteer for Reading for the Blind, and used his science expertise while on the Salisbury Town Sewer Commission. As a 50-year member, Neil firmly believed in the mission of the Rotary club, to provide service to others. His special interest was serving on Rotary’s Scholarship Committee, following his lifelong love of working with students.
Neil is survived by his wife Jill, son David (Kari MacKay), daughter Carol, grandchildren Harry, Alex, Philip and Spencer, and his brother Ian. He is predeceased by his daughter Kathryn and brother Geoff. We all miss him greatly.
A memorial service will be held in the Hotchkiss School Chapel at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 30th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Neil’s name to the Salisbury Rotary Club Foundation Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 287 Salisbury, CT 06068.
Kathleen Dance
SHARON - Kathleen Ann “Kathy” Dance, 69, of Sharon, passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 14, 2022 in her home. She was the loving wife of the late Thomas Dance.
Kathleen was born January 14, 1953 in Port Chester, NY, the daughter of the late Joseph and Veronica Dzaluk Grandison. Kathleen was a graduate of Greenwich High School.
She began her career at Fawcett Publications in Greenwich. After moving to Sharon in 1984, Kathy worked for several local businesses including the Kenny Funeral Home. At the time of her death she was a customer service representative for Superior Plus Energy Services, where she worked for 22 years.
She is survived by her daughters, Carrie-Ann Dance of Sharon, and Jamie Kennedy and her husband Thomas of Harwinton. She was the beloved Nana of Autumn, Thomas, and Sophia Beeman, and Kayden and Kolton Kennedy. Also surviving are her sister Tina Spinelli and her husband Ludwig and their sons, Matt, Geoff, and Justin. She was predeceased by her son Woodrow Dance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 19, at St. Bernard’s Church, New Street, Sharon. Calling hours will be at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 18.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
SHARON - Kathleen Ann “Kathy” Dance, 69, of Sharon, passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 14, 2022 in her home. She was the loving wife of the late Thomas Dance.
Kathleen was born January 14, 1953 in Port Chester, NY, the daughter of the late Joseph and Veronica Dzaluk Grandison. Kathleen was a graduate of Greenwich High School.
She began her career at Fawcett Publications in Greenwich. After moving to Sharon in 1984, Kathy worked for several local businesses including the Kenny Funeral Home. At the time of her death she was a customer service representative for Superior Plus Energy Services, where she worked for 22 years.
She is survived by her daughters, Carrie-Ann Dance of Sharon, and Jamie Kennedy and her husband Thomas of Harwinton. She was the beloved Nana of Autumn, Thomas, and Sophia Beeman, and Kayden and Kolton Kennedy. Also surviving are her sister Tina Spinelli and her husband Ludwig and their sons, Matt, Geoff, and Justin. She was predeceased by her son Woodrow Dance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 19, at St. Bernard’s Church, New Street, Sharon. Calling hours will be at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 18.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
Erika Carroll
CORNWALL BRIDGE - Erika Carroll, age 91, passed away October 1, 2022 at Sharon Hospital after a brief illness.
Erika Barbara Johanna Weipotner Carroll was born October 30, 1930 in Deuringen, Bavaria Germany. She was the daughter of the late Bernhard and Elisabeth (Nitzschner) Weipotner.
Erika and John Carroll met in Germany and were married there in 1953. They lived for many years in Southington, CT where Erika was employed as an office worker. They built their dream retirement home in Cornwall Bridge often referring to the area as “God’s Country”. After the passing of her beloved husband of 58 years, Erika continued to live in her home for the next eleven years. She enjoyed cross stitch and knitting creating many beautiful pieces of her hand work. She was an avid nature lover. She looked after the woodland creatures and birds that were frequent visitors to her feeders and property even when the bears would tear down the bird feeder or the deer would feast on her ornamental plants and shrubs.
She is survived by her niece Sonia (Schaller) Kunz, her husband Jurgen and nephew Thomas Schaller of Stadtbergen, Germany. Locally she is survived by nieces Amy Woodworth and Cathy (Carroll) Rourke and nephews Peter, Kevin, Michael, and Tim Carroll. In addition she is survived by her dear friends Drew Ohmen and Rosaria Rummens.
Erika is predeceased by her sister Isolde (Weipotner) Schaller of Stadtbergen, Germany and nephew Sean Carroll of Meriden.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Bridget Church on Thursday, October 20 at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at St. Bridget Cemetery.
Donations in Erika’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
CORNWALL BRIDGE - Erika Carroll, age 91, passed away October 1, 2022 at Sharon Hospital after a brief illness.
Erika Barbara Johanna Weipotner Carroll was born October 30, 1930 in Deuringen, Bavaria Germany. She was the daughter of the late Bernhard and Elisabeth (Nitzschner) Weipotner.
Erika and John Carroll met in Germany and were married there in 1953. They lived for many years in Southington, CT where Erika was employed as an office worker. They built their dream retirement home in Cornwall Bridge often referring to the area as “God’s Country”. After the passing of her beloved husband of 58 years, Erika continued to live in her home for the next eleven years. She enjoyed cross stitch and knitting creating many beautiful pieces of her hand work. She was an avid nature lover. She looked after the woodland creatures and birds that were frequent visitors to her feeders and property even when the bears would tear down the bird feeder or the deer would feast on her ornamental plants and shrubs.
She is survived by her niece Sonia (Schaller) Kunz, her husband Jurgen and nephew Thomas Schaller of Stadtbergen, Germany. Locally she is survived by nieces Amy Woodworth and Cathy (Carroll) Rourke and nephews Peter, Kevin, Michael, and Tim Carroll. In addition she is survived by her dear friends Drew Ohmen and Rosaria Rummens.
Erika is predeceased by her sister Isolde (Weipotner) Schaller of Stadtbergen, Germany and nephew Sean Carroll of Meriden.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Bridget Church on Thursday, October 20 at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at St. Bridget Cemetery.
Donations in Erika’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Lauren M. Welsh
WASSAIC, NY - Lauren M. Welsh, age 76 of Wassaic, NY passed away at Sharon Hospital. She was the loving wife of the late Robert J. Welsh.
Lauren was born April 26th,1946 in Winsted, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Lawrence and Lucy (McAvoy) MacNeil. Lauren graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School and later Dutchess Community College. She worked at Kimberly Clark for a period, then became a Social Worker at the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center where she worked for over 20 years. When the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center ended services, she transferred to The Center For Change and became an Instructor for another 18 years. Lauren retired from the State of New York with over 38 years of service and was then hired by Dutchess County at The Office for the Aging where she devoted another 11 years to community seniors. Lauren was a faithful and vital member of Christ Church in Sharon for many years. She served on the vestry and managed flower donations as well as altar guild duties. Mostly, Lauren will be remembered as the Fellowship guru as she prepared coffee and a feast every single Sunday and welcomed everyone!
She is survived by son Roderick and daughter Rebecca, three grandchildren: McKenzie, Kaylyn and Garrett.
A memorial service will be held at the Christ Church Episcopal in Sharon, CT, on Saturday October 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Audubon Center.
WASSAIC, NY - Lauren M. Welsh, age 76 of Wassaic, NY passed away at Sharon Hospital. She was the loving wife of the late Robert J. Welsh.
Lauren was born April 26th,1946 in Winsted, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Lawrence and Lucy (McAvoy) MacNeil. Lauren graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School and later Dutchess Community College. She worked at Kimberly Clark for a period, then became a Social Worker at the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center where she worked for over 20 years. When the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center ended services, she transferred to The Center For Change and became an Instructor for another 18 years. Lauren retired from the State of New York with over 38 years of service and was then hired by Dutchess County at The Office for the Aging where she devoted another 11 years to community seniors. Lauren was a faithful and vital member of Christ Church in Sharon for many years. She served on the vestry and managed flower donations as well as altar guild duties. Mostly, Lauren will be remembered as the Fellowship guru as she prepared coffee and a feast every single Sunday and welcomed everyone!
She is survived by son Roderick and daughter Rebecca, three grandchildren: McKenzie, Kaylyn and Garrett.
A memorial service will be held at the Christ Church Episcopal in Sharon, CT, on Saturday October 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Audubon Center.
Thomas R. Reardon
February 2, 1934 - October 9, 2022
SHARON - “When is your father going to act his age?” was the question Tom Reardon’s father would ask of his grandchildren.
This question stumped the kids as they watched their dad racing sports cars at Lime Rock until he was 30. At that point, he traded his racing suit for a business suit and purchased Studley Press, a printing company in the Berkshires. There, over the next 30 years, he would develop new printing techniques and win national industry awards for his work.
A lifelong lover of all things music, he performed Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto before a one-thousand person audience at age 18. The sounds of the bassoon, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder and piano emanated from Tom’s practice rooms throughout his life.
Retiring at 60, he returned to college to study theatre and puppetry. As with everything, he jumped in with both feet. Collaborating with classmates a third of his age, he wrote and directed numerous plays throughout the Berkshires.
At 70, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by buying a junk rig sailboat and took to the seas, living full-time on the USV Junket with his wife, Arden. Together, they explored harbors along the East coast and fully embraced boat life, finding many friends along the way.
We are thankful to never have seen the day he acted his age. He died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 88 years young, while charting his next adventure.
- - -
Thomas Richard Reardon was born February 2, 1934 to Thomas J. Reardon and Agnes (Detloff) Reardon in Brooklyn, NY. He married his high school sweetheart, Arden Simmons, on February 22, 1952.
He joins Arden and their beloved Bichon Frisé, Jasper. He leaves his 4 children, Laurie, Karen, Jeffrey, and Matthew and their spouses, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren to continue his legacy of never acting your age.
In addition, he leaves his sister, Georgina Colombie and special friend Mary Anne Carley. He was predeceased by his brother Robert.
Per Tom’s request, a private family graveside memorial will be held at Hillside Cemetery in Connecticut.
February 2, 1934 - October 9, 2022
SHARON - “When is your father going to act his age?” was the question Tom Reardon’s father would ask of his grandchildren.
This question stumped the kids as they watched their dad racing sports cars at Lime Rock until he was 30. At that point, he traded his racing suit for a business suit and purchased Studley Press, a printing company in the Berkshires. There, over the next 30 years, he would develop new printing techniques and win national industry awards for his work.
A lifelong lover of all things music, he performed Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto before a one-thousand person audience at age 18. The sounds of the bassoon, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder and piano emanated from Tom’s practice rooms throughout his life.
Retiring at 60, he returned to college to study theatre and puppetry. As with everything, he jumped in with both feet. Collaborating with classmates a third of his age, he wrote and directed numerous plays throughout the Berkshires.
At 70, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by buying a junk rig sailboat and took to the seas, living full-time on the USV Junket with his wife, Arden. Together, they explored harbors along the East coast and fully embraced boat life, finding many friends along the way.
We are thankful to never have seen the day he acted his age. He died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 88 years young, while charting his next adventure.
- - -
Thomas Richard Reardon was born February 2, 1934 to Thomas J. Reardon and Agnes (Detloff) Reardon in Brooklyn, NY. He married his high school sweetheart, Arden Simmons, on February 22, 1952.
He joins Arden and their beloved Bichon Frisé, Jasper. He leaves his 4 children, Laurie, Karen, Jeffrey, and Matthew and their spouses, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren to continue his legacy of never acting your age.
In addition, he leaves his sister, Georgina Colombie and special friend Mary Anne Carley. He was predeceased by his brother Robert.
Per Tom’s request, a private family graveside memorial will be held at Hillside Cemetery in Connecticut.
Gerard Martin
MILLERTON, NY - Gerard P. Martin Sr., 68, of Millerton, NY, passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2022.
Gerard was born on November 1, 1953 to George and Dorothy Martin in Bronx, NY, the youngest of four children. Gerard was a graduate of Lakeland High School, class of 1973. He married Suzanne Martin in 1980, and was a proud father to Gerard Jr., Michael, Jana, and Brittany.
Gerard was a passionate guitar and bass player who loved music, especially the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Tower of Power and Elvis Presley. He loved motorcycles, specifically Harley Davidsons, and rode often. He was a talented writer with a love of martial arts. A creative man who will always be remembered by his children for imitating Elvis Presley, building swimming pools in the bed of his pick up truck, and countless good times.
Gerard leaves behind his sister Dorothy (Dottie) and brother Gerry, his four children, and eight grandchildren, Keiana, Austin, Carson, Kalia, Ezekiel, Gunnar, Luca and Julian. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy Martin, and his sister Patricia. In addition to a loving father and grandfather, he was an amazing uncle to many nieces and nephews.
A private memorial ceremony will be held with close family members and friends.
Flowers and cards can be sent to: Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, PO Box 12, Sharon, CT 06069
MILLERTON, NY - Gerard P. Martin Sr., 68, of Millerton, NY, passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2022.
Gerard was born on November 1, 1953 to George and Dorothy Martin in Bronx, NY, the youngest of four children. Gerard was a graduate of Lakeland High School, class of 1973. He married Suzanne Martin in 1980, and was a proud father to Gerard Jr., Michael, Jana, and Brittany.
Gerard was a passionate guitar and bass player who loved music, especially the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Tower of Power and Elvis Presley. He loved motorcycles, specifically Harley Davidsons, and rode often. He was a talented writer with a love of martial arts. A creative man who will always be remembered by his children for imitating Elvis Presley, building swimming pools in the bed of his pick up truck, and countless good times.
Gerard leaves behind his sister Dorothy (Dottie) and brother Gerry, his four children, and eight grandchildren, Keiana, Austin, Carson, Kalia, Ezekiel, Gunnar, Luca and Julian. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy Martin, and his sister Patricia. In addition to a loving father and grandfather, he was an amazing uncle to many nieces and nephews.
A private memorial ceremony will be held with close family members and friends.
Flowers and cards can be sent to: Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, PO Box 12, Sharon, CT 06069
Cosimo Gerardi
SHARON - Cosimo Gerardi (Jim), 90, of Sharon, CT and Fort Pierce, FL passed away October 9, 2022 at Sharon Hospital. He was the loving husband of Josita.
Cosimo was born January 18, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY. The son of the late Joseph and Josephine Gerardi.
After graduating from high school, he went to vacation to Florida and stayed a year working in the hotel business until he was drafted into the Army and served in Korea as a Forward Observer from 1951-1952. After the Army he worked on the railroad, Longshoreman, finally his life work as a painter. He started his own painting business. He was very proud of his work and eventually his three sons, James, Peter and Daniel joined him in the business and expanded it to commercial painting. Peter continues the long time Gerardi Painting with his son now.
Cosimo served as President of the Long Island Chapter of Painting and Decorating Association.
He is survived by 7 children, 14 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by 5 brothers Veto, Frank, Joe, Jack, Sardi and one sister Lena.
Recently Cosimo was honored by the Southeast Florida Honor Flight.
Mass will be held on Friday October 14, 2022 at 11am at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT 06069. Military services to follow at the church. Cremation and burial services at National Cemetery in Calverton, L.I. on October 21, 2022.
SHARON - Cosimo Gerardi (Jim), 90, of Sharon, CT and Fort Pierce, FL passed away October 9, 2022 at Sharon Hospital. He was the loving husband of Josita.
Cosimo was born January 18, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY. The son of the late Joseph and Josephine Gerardi.
After graduating from high school, he went to vacation to Florida and stayed a year working in the hotel business until he was drafted into the Army and served in Korea as a Forward Observer from 1951-1952. After the Army he worked on the railroad, Longshoreman, finally his life work as a painter. He started his own painting business. He was very proud of his work and eventually his three sons, James, Peter and Daniel joined him in the business and expanded it to commercial painting. Peter continues the long time Gerardi Painting with his son now.
Cosimo served as President of the Long Island Chapter of Painting and Decorating Association.
He is survived by 7 children, 14 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by 5 brothers Veto, Frank, Joe, Jack, Sardi and one sister Lena.
Recently Cosimo was honored by the Southeast Florida Honor Flight.
Mass will be held on Friday October 14, 2022 at 11am at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT 06069. Military services to follow at the church. Cremation and burial services at National Cemetery in Calverton, L.I. on October 21, 2022.
Mary Kirby
SHARON - Mary Tobin Kirby, 93 of Sharon, CT died unexpectedly at her home on Sunday morning, October 2nd. Mary had a long and meaningful life.
Born on November 10, 1928, a Kent native, she attended Kent Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She graduated from Danbury State Teachers College (Western Connecticut) where she became a teacher and lettered in basketball, which she loved. She became a lifelong sports fan especially of the UCONN women’s team. In addition to what she called a rich full life, Mary was married for 68 years to Edward Kirby who predeceased her in February 2021.
She was devoted to all that she called family. A woman who in high school became a trained air spotter in World War II, was clearly positioned for her many other roles in life. Third Grade teacher, CCD teacher, Girl Scout leader, Sharon Center School Board of Education, Sharon Finance Committee, Finance Board of Appeals, and Board of Advisors Salisbury Bank & Trust. Mary also belonged to the Sharon Woman’s Club and the Sharon Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a Patient advocate at Sharon Hospital. Mary became a real estate agent, a job she loved for forty-five years and only recently retired in April after a long and successful career.
Life with her family of five children, seven grandchildren, beloved great-grandchildren and many adored nieces and nephews was never dull. She was the daughter of Irene White Tobin and William R. Tobin, Sr.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Kathleen (Peter) Marcon, and Irene (John) Toffey and brother William R. Tobin, Jr.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph G. Tobin (Gail). She was the mother of Anne (Fred Kantrowitz), Kevin (Lynne), Maureen (Patrick Dore), Kaki (Charles Caulkins) and Edward Kirby, Jr. (Laurie Potter). She was devoted to her grandchildren, Gregory (Katie Van Syckle), Kevin (Jessica Zuiker), William (Brittanny Bradley), Jonathan (Samantha Tan) , Kathleen (Roberto Jimenez), Thomas (Bailey Kay) and Emily (Keith Howard). She was a delighted great-grandmother to Jack and Ava Kantrowitz, Kai Bonet and Theo Kirby Tan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sharon Historical Society, Sharon Fire Department, The Edward M. Kirby Scholarship Fund c/o Salisbury Bank & Trust or Sharon Audubon Center Bird Rehabilitation Program.
Visiting hours will be on Thursday, October 6th from 4pm to 7pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bernard’s Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT on Friday morning at 10am. Burial following the service will be private.
SHARON - Mary Tobin Kirby, 93 of Sharon, CT died unexpectedly at her home on Sunday morning, October 2nd. Mary had a long and meaningful life.
Born on November 10, 1928, a Kent native, she attended Kent Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She graduated from Danbury State Teachers College (Western Connecticut) where she became a teacher and lettered in basketball, which she loved. She became a lifelong sports fan especially of the UCONN women’s team. In addition to what she called a rich full life, Mary was married for 68 years to Edward Kirby who predeceased her in February 2021.
She was devoted to all that she called family. A woman who in high school became a trained air spotter in World War II, was clearly positioned for her many other roles in life. Third Grade teacher, CCD teacher, Girl Scout leader, Sharon Center School Board of Education, Sharon Finance Committee, Finance Board of Appeals, and Board of Advisors Salisbury Bank & Trust. Mary also belonged to the Sharon Woman’s Club and the Sharon Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a Patient advocate at Sharon Hospital. Mary became a real estate agent, a job she loved for forty-five years and only recently retired in April after a long and successful career.
Life with her family of five children, seven grandchildren, beloved great-grandchildren and many adored nieces and nephews was never dull. She was the daughter of Irene White Tobin and William R. Tobin, Sr.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Kathleen (Peter) Marcon, and Irene (John) Toffey and brother William R. Tobin, Jr.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph G. Tobin (Gail). She was the mother of Anne (Fred Kantrowitz), Kevin (Lynne), Maureen (Patrick Dore), Kaki (Charles Caulkins) and Edward Kirby, Jr. (Laurie Potter). She was devoted to her grandchildren, Gregory (Katie Van Syckle), Kevin (Jessica Zuiker), William (Brittanny Bradley), Jonathan (Samantha Tan) , Kathleen (Roberto Jimenez), Thomas (Bailey Kay) and Emily (Keith Howard). She was a delighted great-grandmother to Jack and Ava Kantrowitz, Kai Bonet and Theo Kirby Tan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sharon Historical Society, Sharon Fire Department, The Edward M. Kirby Scholarship Fund c/o Salisbury Bank & Trust or Sharon Audubon Center Bird Rehabilitation Program.
Visiting hours will be on Thursday, October 6th from 4pm to 7pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bernard’s Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT on Friday morning at 10am. Burial following the service will be private.
Belle Becker
SHARON - Belle (Betty) Becker, age 86, passed away on October 1, 2022 at the Sharon Health
Care Center in Sharon, CT. She was the loving wife of the late Alan R. Becker of Sharon.
Belle was born March 27, 1936 in Greenport, Long Island, daughter of Harry and
Carrie (Aakjar) Johnson. She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
Belle and Alan were long time residents of Sharon, Connecticut. During her working
career, Belle served as Tax Collector and Treasurer for the Town of Sharon. She was
also a volunteer for the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
Belle and Alan loved camping in the "backwoods" of Maine and enjoyed the Boothbay
Harbor area of Maine every spring and fall. She enjoyed her trips to Alaska, Panama
and the Caribbean islands. With her knowledge of gardening, native wild flowers and
describing farmer's wisdom on forecasting the weather - she could have written a
book! She loved her dogs and photography.
Belle is survived by her children, Linda and Tim Paviol of Falls Village, Gary and
Marjorie Becker of Wyoming, five grandchildren Alyssa and Jonathan King, Zachary and
Jacob Paviol, Sarah and Jesse Becker, two great grandchildren Bailey and Cole King. She was predeceased by her sisters Arleen Blass and Claire Pedersen.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department on October 14, 2022 at 2pm. All other services are private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department or Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 1, Falls Village, CT 06031.
SHARON - Belle (Betty) Becker, age 86, passed away on October 1, 2022 at the Sharon Health
Care Center in Sharon, CT. She was the loving wife of the late Alan R. Becker of Sharon.
Belle was born March 27, 1936 in Greenport, Long Island, daughter of Harry and
Carrie (Aakjar) Johnson. She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
Belle and Alan were long time residents of Sharon, Connecticut. During her working
career, Belle served as Tax Collector and Treasurer for the Town of Sharon. She was
also a volunteer for the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
Belle and Alan loved camping in the "backwoods" of Maine and enjoyed the Boothbay
Harbor area of Maine every spring and fall. She enjoyed her trips to Alaska, Panama
and the Caribbean islands. With her knowledge of gardening, native wild flowers and
describing farmer's wisdom on forecasting the weather - she could have written a
book! She loved her dogs and photography.
Belle is survived by her children, Linda and Tim Paviol of Falls Village, Gary and
Marjorie Becker of Wyoming, five grandchildren Alyssa and Jonathan King, Zachary and
Jacob Paviol, Sarah and Jesse Becker, two great grandchildren Bailey and Cole King. She was predeceased by her sisters Arleen Blass and Claire Pedersen.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department on October 14, 2022 at 2pm. All other services are private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department or Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 1, Falls Village, CT 06031.
Dorothy Felske
SHARON - Dorothy Bertha Felske, 94, passed peacefully September 3, 2022, in Sharon, CT surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born February 10, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the daughter of August William and Emma Louise Hardt. Dorothy grew up a “city kid” roller skating, roasting potatoes curbside, playing with metal soldiers, listening to the radio, developing a love of books and gathering for meals with her numerous aunts and uncles.
In 1939 her family moved to North Lynbrook, NY. She graduated from Pratt Institute in 1948, majoring in advertising design. At Pratt she met her future husband, industrial design student Arthur Max Felske, marrying him in 1950. In 1953 they moved to Westport, CT, purchasing their first fixer upper a small gardener’s cottage and raising three children. She loved motherhood and felt settled and contented. She planted iris, peonies, orange red oriental poppies, and gathered with family and friends for barbecues and late Sunday brunch picnics at the town beaches. She felt as if she “had died and gone to heaven” living in this coastal town. Starting in 1966 she convinced her family to “cross the pond” making it to Venice and Florence before the flood. This would be the first of many crossings. Dorothy spent years as an active volunteer in the Greens Farms Congregational Church, the Westport Democratic Party, the Women’s Club, the League of Women’s Voters, and Save Westport Now. She studied government with other local women and in 1960 stood with her three kids at the tarmac edge at Bridgeport Airport waiting to greet the young presidential candidate John Kennedy. She raised dachshunds, worked in interior design and briefly as a real estate broker.
In 1986 she and Arthur moved to Sharon, CT, purchasing a early 1900’s fixer upper that was originally a creamery and later an Advent Christian Church. With a lot of patience and some serious hands on the place became a home. Ten years later in Sharon they would repeat this labor of love process with great success moving to a more sunny and open location. Dorothy continued her love of reading, participating in library book groups and enrolling in various lecture and discussion groups. She possessed an unceasing desire to engage with people, entertaining often with a wonderful flair. Dorothy loved libraries and created the first fundraising auction for the Sharon Hotchkiss Library.
Dorothy had an innate fashion sense. She created strikingly beautiful vignettes at home for every conceivable holiday. Her four square garden was a visual feast. As a mother and grandmother she listened and encouraged and inspired. She never lost her desire to travel, landing in many wonderful far away places. She was spirited and loving and will be deeply missed.
Dorothy is survived by:
Her daughter Karin Felske Wexler and her son- in law James Wexler of Sharon, CT
Her son Peter Felske and daughter- in -law Titi Halle of Sharon, CT
Her daughter Lisa Felske Klein of Litchfield, CT, Grandchildren, Anna Wexler, Kristine Klein and Katherine Klein, granddaughter-law Kadeja Wexler, great grandchildren August and Leo Wexler, and multiple nieces and nephews.
Her husband Arthur Max Felske, grandson Jamie Wexler and son –in- law John Klein, predeceased Dorothy.
A small, private gathering to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held in the coming weeks. Donations in her name may be sent to The Sharon Hotchkiss Library, Homecare and Hospice of Litchfield County and The Sharon Land Trust.
SHARON - Dorothy Bertha Felske, 94, passed peacefully September 3, 2022, in Sharon, CT surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born February 10, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the daughter of August William and Emma Louise Hardt. Dorothy grew up a “city kid” roller skating, roasting potatoes curbside, playing with metal soldiers, listening to the radio, developing a love of books and gathering for meals with her numerous aunts and uncles.
In 1939 her family moved to North Lynbrook, NY. She graduated from Pratt Institute in 1948, majoring in advertising design. At Pratt she met her future husband, industrial design student Arthur Max Felske, marrying him in 1950. In 1953 they moved to Westport, CT, purchasing their first fixer upper a small gardener’s cottage and raising three children. She loved motherhood and felt settled and contented. She planted iris, peonies, orange red oriental poppies, and gathered with family and friends for barbecues and late Sunday brunch picnics at the town beaches. She felt as if she “had died and gone to heaven” living in this coastal town. Starting in 1966 she convinced her family to “cross the pond” making it to Venice and Florence before the flood. This would be the first of many crossings. Dorothy spent years as an active volunteer in the Greens Farms Congregational Church, the Westport Democratic Party, the Women’s Club, the League of Women’s Voters, and Save Westport Now. She studied government with other local women and in 1960 stood with her three kids at the tarmac edge at Bridgeport Airport waiting to greet the young presidential candidate John Kennedy. She raised dachshunds, worked in interior design and briefly as a real estate broker.
In 1986 she and Arthur moved to Sharon, CT, purchasing a early 1900’s fixer upper that was originally a creamery and later an Advent Christian Church. With a lot of patience and some serious hands on the place became a home. Ten years later in Sharon they would repeat this labor of love process with great success moving to a more sunny and open location. Dorothy continued her love of reading, participating in library book groups and enrolling in various lecture and discussion groups. She possessed an unceasing desire to engage with people, entertaining often with a wonderful flair. Dorothy loved libraries and created the first fundraising auction for the Sharon Hotchkiss Library.
Dorothy had an innate fashion sense. She created strikingly beautiful vignettes at home for every conceivable holiday. Her four square garden was a visual feast. As a mother and grandmother she listened and encouraged and inspired. She never lost her desire to travel, landing in many wonderful far away places. She was spirited and loving and will be deeply missed.
Dorothy is survived by:
Her daughter Karin Felske Wexler and her son- in law James Wexler of Sharon, CT
Her son Peter Felske and daughter- in -law Titi Halle of Sharon, CT
Her daughter Lisa Felske Klein of Litchfield, CT, Grandchildren, Anna Wexler, Kristine Klein and Katherine Klein, granddaughter-law Kadeja Wexler, great grandchildren August and Leo Wexler, and multiple nieces and nephews.
Her husband Arthur Max Felske, grandson Jamie Wexler and son –in- law John Klein, predeceased Dorothy.
A small, private gathering to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held in the coming weeks. Donations in her name may be sent to The Sharon Hotchkiss Library, Homecare and Hospice of Litchfield County and The Sharon Land Trust.
Paul Satre
NORTH CANAAN - Paul Ottar Satre Jr., 84 of North Canaan died December 20, 2021 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center. He was the son of the late Paul and Astrid (Erickson) Satre.
He is survived by a son Erik Satre of Olathe, Kansas.
A grave side service will be celebrated on Thursday, September 15 at 3:00PM at the Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury CT.
NORTH CANAAN - Paul Ottar Satre Jr., 84 of North Canaan died December 20, 2021 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center. He was the son of the late Paul and Astrid (Erickson) Satre.
He is survived by a son Erik Satre of Olathe, Kansas.
A grave side service will be celebrated on Thursday, September 15 at 3:00PM at the Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury CT.
Anne Garrels
NORFOLK - Anne Garrels, 71, passed away peacefully Sept. 7, 2022, at her home in Norfolk, CT. She was the loving wife to the late James Vinton Lawrence.
Anne was born on July 2, 1951 in Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of the late John Garrels, Jr. and Valerie (Smith) Garrels. When she was about 8, the family moved to London for her father’s work. She attended St. Catherine’s School in Bramley and later enrolled at Middlebury College in Vermont in 1968. She later became an international correspondent for NPR who reported from the front lines of major conflicts around the world.
Anne started her journalism career in television at ABC News but it was at NPR, where she worked for more than two decades, that she made her name covering strife and bloodshed across the globe. She became known for conveying how momentous events, like wars, affected the people who lived through them. Her backdrops included the Soviet Union, Tiananmen Square, Bosnia, Chechnya, The Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan. She covered both Chechen wars despite a Russian ban on outside journalists. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 she traveled to Afghanistan to report from the front lines of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. During that trip, when journalists in a convoy were ambushed and killed, Anne decided that she would be safer traveling alone and embarked by herself on a two day bus ride to Kabul. Along the way, she collected the stories of the people around her for reports.
Her most acclaimed reporting came during the 2003 Iraq war. More than 500 journalists, including more than 100 Americans, covered the run up to the war. Once the United States began the all-out bombing campaign known as “shock and awe,” she was one of 16 American correspondents not embedded with U.S. troops who stayed - and for a time was the only U.S. network reporter to continue broadcasting from the heart of Baghdad.
In 2003 she received a George Polk Award “for enduring bombings, blackouts, thirst and intimidation to report from besieged Iraqi Capital of Baghdad.”
Long retired from NPR, Anne wanted to cover the war in Ukraine that began in February but because of her health concerns and treatment for cancer, the Network declined her request. Instead she helped found a nonprofit relief organization, assist–ukraine.org, which raised money to send supplies to Ukrainians.
Anne is survived by her brother, John Garrels, her sister, Molly Brendel and her step daughters, Rebecca Lawrence and Gabriella Strand.
You may read her full obituary in the New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/07/business/media/anne-garrels-dead.html
All funeral services are private.
NORFOLK - Anne Garrels, 71, passed away peacefully Sept. 7, 2022, at her home in Norfolk, CT. She was the loving wife to the late James Vinton Lawrence.
Anne was born on July 2, 1951 in Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of the late John Garrels, Jr. and Valerie (Smith) Garrels. When she was about 8, the family moved to London for her father’s work. She attended St. Catherine’s School in Bramley and later enrolled at Middlebury College in Vermont in 1968. She later became an international correspondent for NPR who reported from the front lines of major conflicts around the world.
Anne started her journalism career in television at ABC News but it was at NPR, where she worked for more than two decades, that she made her name covering strife and bloodshed across the globe. She became known for conveying how momentous events, like wars, affected the people who lived through them. Her backdrops included the Soviet Union, Tiananmen Square, Bosnia, Chechnya, The Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan. She covered both Chechen wars despite a Russian ban on outside journalists. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 she traveled to Afghanistan to report from the front lines of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. During that trip, when journalists in a convoy were ambushed and killed, Anne decided that she would be safer traveling alone and embarked by herself on a two day bus ride to Kabul. Along the way, she collected the stories of the people around her for reports.
Her most acclaimed reporting came during the 2003 Iraq war. More than 500 journalists, including more than 100 Americans, covered the run up to the war. Once the United States began the all-out bombing campaign known as “shock and awe,” she was one of 16 American correspondents not embedded with U.S. troops who stayed - and for a time was the only U.S. network reporter to continue broadcasting from the heart of Baghdad.
In 2003 she received a George Polk Award “for enduring bombings, blackouts, thirst and intimidation to report from besieged Iraqi Capital of Baghdad.”
Long retired from NPR, Anne wanted to cover the war in Ukraine that began in February but because of her health concerns and treatment for cancer, the Network declined her request. Instead she helped found a nonprofit relief organization, assist–ukraine.org, which raised money to send supplies to Ukrainians.
Anne is survived by her brother, John Garrels, her sister, Molly Brendel and her step daughters, Rebecca Lawrence and Gabriella Strand.
You may read her full obituary in the New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/07/business/media/anne-garrels-dead.html
All funeral services are private.
Mary Sager
CORNWALL BRIDGE - Mary Sager, 82, passed away September 6, 2022 at Sharon Healthcare Center.
Mary was born January 16, 1940, the daughter of Richard and Agnes (Traver) Wilson.
She was employed by H. Maimin Co. in Kent, CT as a machinist, also working in the parts department for 20+ years.
She is survived by her sons Donald Sager, of Torrington, Paul Sager of Winsted, James Sager of Keene, NH, Mark Sager of Torrington and daughter Donna Sitter of Torrington.
Siblings Marcia Audia of Beverly Hills, FL, Dorothy Therrien of Citrus Springs, FL, Linda Cavanaugh of Cornwall Bridge and Charles Wilson of Torrington, and also life-long companion of 43 years, Ken Cheney of Cornwall Bridge.
She was predeceased by brothers John, Randy, Billy and Donald Wilson and daughter Christine Sager.
Calling hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, Friday, Sept. 16 from 5pm-7pm. A graveside service will be held at Irondale Cemetery, Millerton, NY, Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11am.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org
CORNWALL BRIDGE - Mary Sager, 82, passed away September 6, 2022 at Sharon Healthcare Center.
Mary was born January 16, 1940, the daughter of Richard and Agnes (Traver) Wilson.
She was employed by H. Maimin Co. in Kent, CT as a machinist, also working in the parts department for 20+ years.
She is survived by her sons Donald Sager, of Torrington, Paul Sager of Winsted, James Sager of Keene, NH, Mark Sager of Torrington and daughter Donna Sitter of Torrington.
Siblings Marcia Audia of Beverly Hills, FL, Dorothy Therrien of Citrus Springs, FL, Linda Cavanaugh of Cornwall Bridge and Charles Wilson of Torrington, and also life-long companion of 43 years, Ken Cheney of Cornwall Bridge.
She was predeceased by brothers John, Randy, Billy and Donald Wilson and daughter Christine Sager.
Calling hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St., Sharon, Friday, Sept. 16 from 5pm-7pm. A graveside service will be held at Irondale Cemetery, Millerton, NY, Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11am.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org
Mildred Massey
SHARON - Mildred (Millie) Obeda Massey, 92, of Sharon, CT, passed away on September 5, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation. She was born in Danbury, CT on February 9, 1930 to the late John and Anna (Krch) Obeda and was raised in Brookfield.
She married the late John Massey in 1953 and moved to Warren where they raised their family. She later lived in Goshen for many years, moving to Torrington and eventually Sharon in retirement. John and Millie were married 54 years before his passing in 2007.
Left with cherished memories are her children – son Leslie and his wife Mary of Warren, daughter Eileen and her husband Mike of Jackson, WY, and son Bryant and his wife Gail of Sharon. She is also survived by her grandchildren – Steven and his wife Lindsey of Sheffield, MA, Paula of Warren, Ben of Vermont, Brenda and her husband Dave of Harwinton and Kevin and his partner Lacey of Canaan as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her brother, Edward Obeda, five half-brothers – John Obeda, Paul Obeda, Stephen Obeda, Martin Russ and Paul Russ, and five half-sisters – Anna Obeda Locascio, Susan Obeda Sollas, Elizabeth Obeda Rucker, Susan Russ Quissenberry and Anna Russ Cavalarano.
Millie was dedicated to her family. She was a woman of strength who loved family gatherings, gardening, watching baseball, playing Yahtzee and being ‘Grandma’. She will be missed by all who were in her life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Warren Congregation Church, 4 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754.
SHARON - Mildred (Millie) Obeda Massey, 92, of Sharon, CT, passed away on September 5, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation. She was born in Danbury, CT on February 9, 1930 to the late John and Anna (Krch) Obeda and was raised in Brookfield.
She married the late John Massey in 1953 and moved to Warren where they raised their family. She later lived in Goshen for many years, moving to Torrington and eventually Sharon in retirement. John and Millie were married 54 years before his passing in 2007.
Left with cherished memories are her children – son Leslie and his wife Mary of Warren, daughter Eileen and her husband Mike of Jackson, WY, and son Bryant and his wife Gail of Sharon. She is also survived by her grandchildren – Steven and his wife Lindsey of Sheffield, MA, Paula of Warren, Ben of Vermont, Brenda and her husband Dave of Harwinton and Kevin and his partner Lacey of Canaan as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her brother, Edward Obeda, five half-brothers – John Obeda, Paul Obeda, Stephen Obeda, Martin Russ and Paul Russ, and five half-sisters – Anna Obeda Locascio, Susan Obeda Sollas, Elizabeth Obeda Rucker, Susan Russ Quissenberry and Anna Russ Cavalarano.
Millie was dedicated to her family. She was a woman of strength who loved family gatherings, gardening, watching baseball, playing Yahtzee and being ‘Grandma’. She will be missed by all who were in her life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Warren Congregation Church, 4 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754.
William Farnham
WEST CORNWALL - William Farnham, 83, of West Cornwall, passed away August 13, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehab. He was a life long partner to Lucille Tyler for 36 years.
William was born February 5, 1939 in Burlington, VT. The son of the late Earl and Sarah (Blackmore) Farnham, he was the oldest of 7 children. While in Vermont, William worked in a talc mine and was a farmer. He later became a mechanic and worked for Brewer Brothers in Canaan, CT for 29 years.
Beside his life partner Lucille, he is survived by his son William Farnham of Vermont, his two brothers Fred Farnham of Maine and Edward Farnham of Vermont, and several grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is predeceased by his two sons Randall and Mitchell Farnham, his daughter Linda, his brother Earl Farnham, and his three sisters Patty, Shirley, and Marie.
All services are private. In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Little Guild, 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796.
WEST CORNWALL - William Farnham, 83, of West Cornwall, passed away August 13, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehab. He was a life long partner to Lucille Tyler for 36 years.
William was born February 5, 1939 in Burlington, VT. The son of the late Earl and Sarah (Blackmore) Farnham, he was the oldest of 7 children. While in Vermont, William worked in a talc mine and was a farmer. He later became a mechanic and worked for Brewer Brothers in Canaan, CT for 29 years.
Beside his life partner Lucille, he is survived by his son William Farnham of Vermont, his two brothers Fred Farnham of Maine and Edward Farnham of Vermont, and several grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is predeceased by his two sons Randall and Mitchell Farnham, his daughter Linda, his brother Earl Farnham, and his three sisters Patty, Shirley, and Marie.
All services are private. In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Little Guild, 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796.
Ronald Solan
LAKEVILLE - Ronald Martin Solan, 86, of Porter Street, passed away August 9, 2022 at his home. He had been dealing with both Covid and cancer. He was a beloved, lifelong member of the community and loving uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He was dearly loved by his family and his intrepid spirit will always be an inspiration.
Ron was born April 5, 1936, in Lakeville, the son of the late Martin and Mary Rocknack Solan. Ron graduated from Salisbury School in 1954 and later graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Ron was a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces serving as a Green Beret. He served in Vietnam and many places throughout the world. He reached the rank of Master Sergeant during his military career. Upon his retirement, Ron returned to the Northwest Corner where he lived as an artist and skilled craftsman.
He was a morning fixture for years at On the Run Coffee Shop, and an avid reader with a love of history that made him a valued teammate at trivia later in the day.
He is survived by his nephews John and Stephen Lubianetsky, his cousin Richard Solan, and many great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Agnes Solan, Rose Blass, and Lorraine Lubianetsky.
Ron was also the longtime partner of the late Sally Ongley Northrop of Salisbury and an important part of the lives of her two sons, Matthew and Michael. Michael’s 2015 book Tombquest: Valley of Kings was dedicated to Ron. It read, “For Ronald Martin Solan: Artist, Soldier, and Porter Street Irregular.”
A wake will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon on Friday, August 19 from 4-7 pm. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary Church in Lakeville on Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 a.m., followed by the burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salisbury with full military honors.
Memorial donations can be sent either to the Lakeville VFW at 19 Brook St. Lakeville, CT 06039 or to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service at PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.
LAKEVILLE - Ronald Martin Solan, 86, of Porter Street, passed away August 9, 2022 at his home. He had been dealing with both Covid and cancer. He was a beloved, lifelong member of the community and loving uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He was dearly loved by his family and his intrepid spirit will always be an inspiration.
Ron was born April 5, 1936, in Lakeville, the son of the late Martin and Mary Rocknack Solan. Ron graduated from Salisbury School in 1954 and later graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Ron was a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces serving as a Green Beret. He served in Vietnam and many places throughout the world. He reached the rank of Master Sergeant during his military career. Upon his retirement, Ron returned to the Northwest Corner where he lived as an artist and skilled craftsman.
He was a morning fixture for years at On the Run Coffee Shop, and an avid reader with a love of history that made him a valued teammate at trivia later in the day.
He is survived by his nephews John and Stephen Lubianetsky, his cousin Richard Solan, and many great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Agnes Solan, Rose Blass, and Lorraine Lubianetsky.
Ron was also the longtime partner of the late Sally Ongley Northrop of Salisbury and an important part of the lives of her two sons, Matthew and Michael. Michael’s 2015 book Tombquest: Valley of Kings was dedicated to Ron. It read, “For Ronald Martin Solan: Artist, Soldier, and Porter Street Irregular.”
A wake will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon on Friday, August 19 from 4-7 pm. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary Church in Lakeville on Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 a.m., followed by the burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salisbury with full military honors.
Memorial donations can be sent either to the Lakeville VFW at 19 Brook St. Lakeville, CT 06039 or to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service at PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.
William Suter
CANAAN - William P. Suter, 85, passed peacefully July 1, 2022 with his family at his side. Bill was often described as a “character” and lived life to its fullest. He will be forever missed. He loved spending time with family and found success within both Wall Street and the theater world.
Bill was the son of Catherine and Joseph, and brother to Albert and Mary, born in Newark, NJ, 1937. He was raised in South Orange, NJ. Bill enjoyed playing basketball and summers at the Jersey Shore, primarily in Manasquan and Sea Girt.
After attending Brown University and Harvard Business School he led a successful career in finance. He was a numbers guy, passionate about theater, New York City, summers in the Hamptons, tennis and paddle tennis.
After a 28 year career working on Wall Street, including being named youngest partner at Jesup and Lamont, awarded #1 on Institutional Investor’s All American All Star team multiple times, and working 15 years at Merrill Lynch, Bill transitioned into a second career as a Broadway producer. He applied his financial skills to raise money while having fun enmeshed within the creative theater community. He loved working with actors, directors and playwrights to mold and shape stories, bringing them to life on stage where they would shine. He was so proud to be part of many productions, including Almost an Eagle, (1982), Lady and the Clarinet (1983), Pulitzer prize-winning, Tony nominated ‘night, Mother (1983), Hurlyburly (1984), MaRainey’s Black Bottom (1984), The River (1988), Redwood Curtain (1993), and ART (1998). He was also proud to be a multi-year Tony Voter.
After he settled into Northwest Connecticut he brought his theater skills to his new community as a founding member of TriState Center for the Arts (TriArts), now known as The Sharon Playhouse, once again molding productions and warmly greeting guests and friends at almost every show.
Bill is survived by his children, Steve, Cindy, and Wendy, his six grandchildren, Katie, Nick, Emma, Anna, Gracie, and Murphy and all those who affectionately call him ‘Uncle Bill’.
The family will be celebrating Bill’s life on October 22, 2022 at the Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Rd, Sharon, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to Sharon Playhouse, a special place to Bill Suter.
CANAAN - William P. Suter, 85, passed peacefully July 1, 2022 with his family at his side. Bill was often described as a “character” and lived life to its fullest. He will be forever missed. He loved spending time with family and found success within both Wall Street and the theater world.
Bill was the son of Catherine and Joseph, and brother to Albert and Mary, born in Newark, NJ, 1937. He was raised in South Orange, NJ. Bill enjoyed playing basketball and summers at the Jersey Shore, primarily in Manasquan and Sea Girt.
After attending Brown University and Harvard Business School he led a successful career in finance. He was a numbers guy, passionate about theater, New York City, summers in the Hamptons, tennis and paddle tennis.
After a 28 year career working on Wall Street, including being named youngest partner at Jesup and Lamont, awarded #1 on Institutional Investor’s All American All Star team multiple times, and working 15 years at Merrill Lynch, Bill transitioned into a second career as a Broadway producer. He applied his financial skills to raise money while having fun enmeshed within the creative theater community. He loved working with actors, directors and playwrights to mold and shape stories, bringing them to life on stage where they would shine. He was so proud to be part of many productions, including Almost an Eagle, (1982), Lady and the Clarinet (1983), Pulitzer prize-winning, Tony nominated ‘night, Mother (1983), Hurlyburly (1984), MaRainey’s Black Bottom (1984), The River (1988), Redwood Curtain (1993), and ART (1998). He was also proud to be a multi-year Tony Voter.
After he settled into Northwest Connecticut he brought his theater skills to his new community as a founding member of TriState Center for the Arts (TriArts), now known as The Sharon Playhouse, once again molding productions and warmly greeting guests and friends at almost every show.
Bill is survived by his children, Steve, Cindy, and Wendy, his six grandchildren, Katie, Nick, Emma, Anna, Gracie, and Murphy and all those who affectionately call him ‘Uncle Bill’.
The family will be celebrating Bill’s life on October 22, 2022 at the Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Rd, Sharon, CT.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to Sharon Playhouse, a special place to Bill Suter.
William S. Blass Jr.
FALLS VILLAGE - On July 16, Falls Village’s Oldest Teenager retired.
Known to some as Bill, Willy, or Fish-Fish, he was known to most as Uncle Bill. To his kids he was Superman.
Fish Wrangler, Cannon Master, Lord of the Wood, Finder of Mushrooms, River Whisperer, The Helper of All, The Builder, The Crafter, The Artist. Anyone who needed a hand from him, got one. If there was anyone who needed a place to stay, he had one. When anyone spent enough time with him, they found themselves with a set of new skills, bad jokes and fun ways to cause mischief. He was chairman of the 4 o’clock club, He was connoisseur of convertible Pontiacs, and a Doo-Wop fan straight from the 1950s.
Born in Canaan in 1938, he was one of seven siblings: Larry, Robert, John, Elanor, Pricilla and Judy, born to William and Luella (Cudney) Blass.
While he was in his twenties, he started his lifelong career at the Falls Village hydro station with Hartford Electric Light Co. He retired after 30 years of fishing there.
He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Mary Ella (Fitch), and three children: Sonja Zinke and husband Eric, of North Canaan, Heather Vansvik and husband Viktor, of Bovallstrand, Sweden, and William Blass, of Falls Village.
Words can not express how much of Falls Village this man represents -- a man bigger than the shoes he stood in, and the red socks that filled them.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department, where he volunteered for many years.
P.O. Box 1, Falls Village, CT 06031
Services will be held Thursday, July 21, at 11 a.m., at the Falls Village Congregational Church in Falls Village. A reception will follow at the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department.
FALLS VILLAGE - On July 16, Falls Village’s Oldest Teenager retired.
Known to some as Bill, Willy, or Fish-Fish, he was known to most as Uncle Bill. To his kids he was Superman.
Fish Wrangler, Cannon Master, Lord of the Wood, Finder of Mushrooms, River Whisperer, The Helper of All, The Builder, The Crafter, The Artist. Anyone who needed a hand from him, got one. If there was anyone who needed a place to stay, he had one. When anyone spent enough time with him, they found themselves with a set of new skills, bad jokes and fun ways to cause mischief. He was chairman of the 4 o’clock club, He was connoisseur of convertible Pontiacs, and a Doo-Wop fan straight from the 1950s.
Born in Canaan in 1938, he was one of seven siblings: Larry, Robert, John, Elanor, Pricilla and Judy, born to William and Luella (Cudney) Blass.
While he was in his twenties, he started his lifelong career at the Falls Village hydro station with Hartford Electric Light Co. He retired after 30 years of fishing there.
He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Mary Ella (Fitch), and three children: Sonja Zinke and husband Eric, of North Canaan, Heather Vansvik and husband Viktor, of Bovallstrand, Sweden, and William Blass, of Falls Village.
Words can not express how much of Falls Village this man represents -- a man bigger than the shoes he stood in, and the red socks that filled them.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department, where he volunteered for many years.
P.O. Box 1, Falls Village, CT 06031
Services will be held Thursday, July 21, at 11 a.m., at the Falls Village Congregational Church in Falls Village. A reception will follow at the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department.
Patricia Conlin
TACONIC - Patricia Peters Conlin, age 78, formerly of Beaver Dam Road, Taconic, CT died July 2, 2022 at Brandywine Living in Litchfield, CT.
Patricia was born September 17, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. She is the daughter of the late John and Dorothy (Tydeman) Peters. She is survived by her sister, Susan Hazzard, and her brother, Jon Peters.
Pat graduated from St. Francis Academy outside of Pittsburgh, PA. She did her undergraduate studies at Cornell University and her post-graduate studies at Stanford University. She entered the banking industry where she became both the first female VP and SVP for JP Morgan.
Pat was an ovarian cancer survivor. After her treatment, she retired in her 40s to live in the Salisbury area. She frequently counseled other women who faced this deadly disease about survival and maintaining a positive attitude.
Patricia loved her house, her gardens, her two cats, and her many friends. Pat travelled the world but she especially enjoyed vacationing in Palm Springs, CA and Florida. Pat also enjoyed performing in local community theater. She contributed to many organizations in her locale.
There will be a private family service in Seattle, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.
TACONIC - Patricia Peters Conlin, age 78, formerly of Beaver Dam Road, Taconic, CT died July 2, 2022 at Brandywine Living in Litchfield, CT.
Patricia was born September 17, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. She is the daughter of the late John and Dorothy (Tydeman) Peters. She is survived by her sister, Susan Hazzard, and her brother, Jon Peters.
Pat graduated from St. Francis Academy outside of Pittsburgh, PA. She did her undergraduate studies at Cornell University and her post-graduate studies at Stanford University. She entered the banking industry where she became both the first female VP and SVP for JP Morgan.
Pat was an ovarian cancer survivor. After her treatment, she retired in her 40s to live in the Salisbury area. She frequently counseled other women who faced this deadly disease about survival and maintaining a positive attitude.
Patricia loved her house, her gardens, her two cats, and her many friends. Pat travelled the world but she especially enjoyed vacationing in Palm Springs, CA and Florida. Pat also enjoyed performing in local community theater. She contributed to many organizations in her locale.
There will be a private family service in Seattle, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Queenie McCaffrey
HUDSON, NY - Queenie Alice (Anderson) McCaffrey, 62, of Albany, NY passed away Tuesday, July 5th in Hudson, New York after a brief illness. She was the loving daughter of Queenie Luther Anderson and the late Gerald J. Anderson Sr.
Queenie was born April 14, 1960 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Queenie graduated from Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie, NY and attended Marist College.
Queenie is survived by her husband, John McCaffrey Sr., son, John McCaffrey Jr. and her daughter, Elizabeth McCaffrey. Her family included her siblings: Bernadette Anderson, Brigetta D’Olivio, Ellen Osika, Gerald Anderson Jr., Timothy Anderson, Michael Anderson, Matthew Anderson and Luther Anderson. She will be missed by all her nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in Sharon, CT with a burial immediately following at the Amenia Island Cemetery, Amenia, NY. All services are private.
HUDSON, NY - Queenie Alice (Anderson) McCaffrey, 62, of Albany, NY passed away Tuesday, July 5th in Hudson, New York after a brief illness. She was the loving daughter of Queenie Luther Anderson and the late Gerald J. Anderson Sr.
Queenie was born April 14, 1960 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Queenie graduated from Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie, NY and attended Marist College.
Queenie is survived by her husband, John McCaffrey Sr., son, John McCaffrey Jr. and her daughter, Elizabeth McCaffrey. Her family included her siblings: Bernadette Anderson, Brigetta D’Olivio, Ellen Osika, Gerald Anderson Jr., Timothy Anderson, Michael Anderson, Matthew Anderson and Luther Anderson. She will be missed by all her nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held in Sharon, CT with a burial immediately following at the Amenia Island Cemetery, Amenia, NY. All services are private.
John Sciepura
SHARON - John Bolelaus Sciepura, 59, of Hospital Hill Rd. passed away on Saturday June 25, 2022. His loving wife and siblings were at his side. How ironic that John only recently learned that his middle name means “Warrior”, and that is exactly how he fought his battle with cancer.
John was born in Yonkers, N.Y. at St. John’s Hospital on April 17, 1963, the youngest son of Michael and Joyce (Franchek) Sciepura. He grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. and at age 10, his family settled in Sharon, CT. John graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, attended Boulder College, studied business administration and graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in jewelry design. He worked for a time in the fashion industry, taught jewelry design and was employed as a skilled carpenter.
John had a passion for learning and had many interests. In his youth, John studied the flute and piano, and enjoyed acting. He enjoyed poetry and writing. He loved cooking, foraging for wild edible plants, coin collecting and exploring solar energy. An avid outdoorsman, he could often be found working in his yard and garden, always generously sharing his vegetables. John enjoyed vacationing and fishing in Point Judith, RI with his wife and dogs, and was an avid bicyclist. He loved spending time with his family.
John is survived by his loving wife, Margaret (Ayres), and his dogs, Molly and Chase; his sisters Victoria Morse, Christina Riley and her husband, Bill, and brother Michael A. Sciepura, jr.; His nephew, Flynn Nixon and family of Dandridge, Tennessee, his nieces Grace Morse and Hope Morse of Sharon, CT and a large extended family.
John had a commanding presence at 6’5” and was very friendly with an amazing sense of humor. He loved engaging with people and having conversations about a wide variety of topics. John was a devoted, loving and loyal husband, and adored the many dogs he and his wife rescued over the years. He was kind, thoughtful, intelligent, interesting, hard-working and creative. John was loved by everyone and will be sorely missed.
Calling hours are at The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on Friday July 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be a mass at St. Bernard’s Church in Sharon on July 9 at 11:00 a.m. Donations in memory of John may be made to The Little Guild of St. Francis, West Cornwall, CT.
SHARON - John Bolelaus Sciepura, 59, of Hospital Hill Rd. passed away on Saturday June 25, 2022. His loving wife and siblings were at his side. How ironic that John only recently learned that his middle name means “Warrior”, and that is exactly how he fought his battle with cancer.
John was born in Yonkers, N.Y. at St. John’s Hospital on April 17, 1963, the youngest son of Michael and Joyce (Franchek) Sciepura. He grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. and at age 10, his family settled in Sharon, CT. John graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, attended Boulder College, studied business administration and graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in jewelry design. He worked for a time in the fashion industry, taught jewelry design and was employed as a skilled carpenter.
John had a passion for learning and had many interests. In his youth, John studied the flute and piano, and enjoyed acting. He enjoyed poetry and writing. He loved cooking, foraging for wild edible plants, coin collecting and exploring solar energy. An avid outdoorsman, he could often be found working in his yard and garden, always generously sharing his vegetables. John enjoyed vacationing and fishing in Point Judith, RI with his wife and dogs, and was an avid bicyclist. He loved spending time with his family.
John is survived by his loving wife, Margaret (Ayres), and his dogs, Molly and Chase; his sisters Victoria Morse, Christina Riley and her husband, Bill, and brother Michael A. Sciepura, jr.; His nephew, Flynn Nixon and family of Dandridge, Tennessee, his nieces Grace Morse and Hope Morse of Sharon, CT and a large extended family.
John had a commanding presence at 6’5” and was very friendly with an amazing sense of humor. He loved engaging with people and having conversations about a wide variety of topics. John was a devoted, loving and loyal husband, and adored the many dogs he and his wife rescued over the years. He was kind, thoughtful, intelligent, interesting, hard-working and creative. John was loved by everyone and will be sorely missed.
Calling hours are at The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on Friday July 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be a mass at St. Bernard’s Church in Sharon on July 9 at 11:00 a.m. Donations in memory of John may be made to The Little Guild of St. Francis, West Cornwall, CT.
Katherine Hochswender
LAKEVILLE — Katharine Lynn Miyajima Hochswender, 28, took her own life after many years of suffering and pain, on the day before her 29th birthday. She died June 27, 2022.
Kate was born June 28, 1993, in New York City and lived in Manhattan for the first few years of her life. Shortly after she was born, the family purchased a house on the Sharon Green, where she spent weekends and vacations until she was old enough to attend school.
Kate was born with a magnificent brain, an enormously loving and kind heart and great beauty and yet, somehow, from the day she was born she suffered from endless physical ailments as well as severe panic, anxiety and depression. It was as though the many gifts that had been bestowed on her had to be balanced out by a body that wouldn’t allow her to find peace and happiness; or as she would sometimes say, she wasn’t quite built for this planet, like Superman on “Smallville,” a television series she loved.
For those who were fortunate enough to know her, Kate was the most wildly glittering jewel, the funniest, smartest, most beautiful little creature. Even during the worst of her suffering she was kind and generous, and was able to see the humor in almost every situation. I know that for her, the hardest part of leaving this world was knowing how hard it would be for me to lose her and to live on without her.
Those who knew her will also know that our lives had become an endless series of doctor visits and cluster headaches and fear of what the future would hold. She felt that her illnesses would never abate for long enough to let her live a normal independent life, with a job and friends and travel. With joy and freedom.
After kindergarten in Manhattan, we moved to Sharon full-time and Kate attended Sharon Center School, the Marvelwood School in Kent and then Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson. So many wonderful teachers and administrators helped her through the difficulty of her anxiety-laden school years, and we thank you all.
We thank Theresa Terry from Region One Pupil Services for sending her to the Archbridge School in Bethlehem, Conn., which helped her find peace for several years.
Thanks also to Dan Gates, Marietta Whittlesey, Bruce Janelli and David Ott, who helped coax her along and comfort her through some of her most difficult periods.
For every job that Kate took on after college, she gave 100% — always to the point where it made her physically ill and she would have to quit. We especially thank Anne Day, Carol Sadlon, David and Shelley Maffucci and Amy Reiss for trying so hard to make it possible for her to keep going.
Kate’s hobbies and interests were legion, too many to list. For someone who suffered from agoraphobia and rarely left the house, she knew about wonderful things and taught me about the world and other people in ways that no one else will ever be able to equal.
For the last weeks of her life, we began every day by playing The New York Times puzzles and then Bananagram, wonderful hours together that I’m glad I could spend with her.
She is survived by me, her mother, Cynthia Hochswender; and her uncle, aunt and cousin, Jerome, Makiko and Daniel Lehrman of Irvine, Calif.
She was predeceased by her father, William “Woody” Hochswender; her paternal grandparents, Lyn and William Hochswender; and her maternal grandparents, Nat and Kaz Lehrman.
Kate asked that we hold a funeral for her. It will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, at our home, 14 Lakeview Ave., Lakeville. If you choose to join us, please think of a story to share about Kate, something funny she said or a wild outfit she wore. You can email me at cindyinsharon@gmail.com with questions, or if you would like to send something for me to read.
Thank you to the State Police and the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance for their kindness.
Memorial donations may be sent to Friends of Firefighters at www.friendsoffirefighters.org, a charity supported by her favorite actor, Steve Buscemi; or to Rabbit Island in Japan, which she dreamed of visiting, www.rabbit-island.info/en.
She loved rabbits and she was and will always be my little bunny. I loved her so very, very much.
LAKEVILLE — Katharine Lynn Miyajima Hochswender, 28, took her own life after many years of suffering and pain, on the day before her 29th birthday. She died June 27, 2022.
Kate was born June 28, 1993, in New York City and lived in Manhattan for the first few years of her life. Shortly after she was born, the family purchased a house on the Sharon Green, where she spent weekends and vacations until she was old enough to attend school.
Kate was born with a magnificent brain, an enormously loving and kind heart and great beauty and yet, somehow, from the day she was born she suffered from endless physical ailments as well as severe panic, anxiety and depression. It was as though the many gifts that had been bestowed on her had to be balanced out by a body that wouldn’t allow her to find peace and happiness; or as she would sometimes say, she wasn’t quite built for this planet, like Superman on “Smallville,” a television series she loved.
For those who were fortunate enough to know her, Kate was the most wildly glittering jewel, the funniest, smartest, most beautiful little creature. Even during the worst of her suffering she was kind and generous, and was able to see the humor in almost every situation. I know that for her, the hardest part of leaving this world was knowing how hard it would be for me to lose her and to live on without her.
Those who knew her will also know that our lives had become an endless series of doctor visits and cluster headaches and fear of what the future would hold. She felt that her illnesses would never abate for long enough to let her live a normal independent life, with a job and friends and travel. With joy and freedom.
After kindergarten in Manhattan, we moved to Sharon full-time and Kate attended Sharon Center School, the Marvelwood School in Kent and then Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson. So many wonderful teachers and administrators helped her through the difficulty of her anxiety-laden school years, and we thank you all.
We thank Theresa Terry from Region One Pupil Services for sending her to the Archbridge School in Bethlehem, Conn., which helped her find peace for several years.
Thanks also to Dan Gates, Marietta Whittlesey, Bruce Janelli and David Ott, who helped coax her along and comfort her through some of her most difficult periods.
For every job that Kate took on after college, she gave 100% — always to the point where it made her physically ill and she would have to quit. We especially thank Anne Day, Carol Sadlon, David and Shelley Maffucci and Amy Reiss for trying so hard to make it possible for her to keep going.
Kate’s hobbies and interests were legion, too many to list. For someone who suffered from agoraphobia and rarely left the house, she knew about wonderful things and taught me about the world and other people in ways that no one else will ever be able to equal.
For the last weeks of her life, we began every day by playing The New York Times puzzles and then Bananagram, wonderful hours together that I’m glad I could spend with her.
She is survived by me, her mother, Cynthia Hochswender; and her uncle, aunt and cousin, Jerome, Makiko and Daniel Lehrman of Irvine, Calif.
She was predeceased by her father, William “Woody” Hochswender; her paternal grandparents, Lyn and William Hochswender; and her maternal grandparents, Nat and Kaz Lehrman.
Kate asked that we hold a funeral for her. It will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, at our home, 14 Lakeview Ave., Lakeville. If you choose to join us, please think of a story to share about Kate, something funny she said or a wild outfit she wore. You can email me at cindyinsharon@gmail.com with questions, or if you would like to send something for me to read.
Thank you to the State Police and the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance for their kindness.
Memorial donations may be sent to Friends of Firefighters at www.friendsoffirefighters.org, a charity supported by her favorite actor, Steve Buscemi; or to Rabbit Island in Japan, which she dreamed of visiting, www.rabbit-island.info/en.
She loved rabbits and she was and will always be my little bunny. I loved her so very, very much.
Juliet Lydia Johnson
NEW MILFORD - Juliet Johnson, age 94, of Old Farms Lane, New Milford, CT, died May 28, 2022 at Candlewood Nursing Home after a long illness with Dementia, Alzheimers.
Juliet was born February 11, 1928 in Sharon, CT. The daughter of the late Michael and Anna Johnson. She graduated from Sharon Center School, Housatonic Valley Regional High School, and Hartford School of Nursing. She went on to be the head nurse at Hartford Hospital for 20 years. She worked for Dr. Dwight Wood for 40 years and Hartford General Insurance for 10 years. She retired with over 60 years in the nursing industry as an RN Nurse.
Juliet was an avid traveler with her best friend Hyacinth whom she worked with for over 20 years in nursing. They were both inseparable in everything they did.
Juliet was an avid photographer and one of her life long dreams was to become a professional figure skater. She loved people and doing things for them. She donated a lot of her spare time to her favorite charities. She loved flowers, cooking and sewing, which she learned in 4-H and Home Eck at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
In her leisure time she enjoyed her favorite music which was classical, country western and big band. She also enjoyed going to the Opry and live concerts with her family and friends, especially her niece and nephew to Radio City Hall in New York City to see The Nutcracker. She also enjoyed going to Lebanon Valley Speedway to watch her brother Ron race his stock car.
She is survived by her brother Ronald Johnson, Greg & Jeannie Johnson of Southington, their children Donovan & Eva Marie; Michael & Thelma Johnson, their daughter Dorothy of New Milford; William & Diane Palmer of Falls Village, their daughter Nicky; Robert & Cheryl Johnson of N.C. and their children Heather & Jenna; Matthew & Jenna Bodnar, Edward & Melisa Tyburski of Newington, Todd Tyburski of N.C., Lynn Tyburski of Newington, Chris & Heather Johnson of Amenia, NY, their children Dereck & Chris. Her close friends Harry Buda of Bloomfield, Mary Ann Murphy of Bloomfield, Katherine Carlson of Newington, Ralph Dunbar of Sharon, John Boadle of Pine Plains, NY, George Popp of Wappingers, NY, Pete Pederson of Sharon, Barbara Bartrum of Sharon.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. All other services are private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance or Sharon Fire Department, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
NEW MILFORD - Juliet Johnson, age 94, of Old Farms Lane, New Milford, CT, died May 28, 2022 at Candlewood Nursing Home after a long illness with Dementia, Alzheimers.
Juliet was born February 11, 1928 in Sharon, CT. The daughter of the late Michael and Anna Johnson. She graduated from Sharon Center School, Housatonic Valley Regional High School, and Hartford School of Nursing. She went on to be the head nurse at Hartford Hospital for 20 years. She worked for Dr. Dwight Wood for 40 years and Hartford General Insurance for 10 years. She retired with over 60 years in the nursing industry as an RN Nurse.
Juliet was an avid traveler with her best friend Hyacinth whom she worked with for over 20 years in nursing. They were both inseparable in everything they did.
Juliet was an avid photographer and one of her life long dreams was to become a professional figure skater. She loved people and doing things for them. She donated a lot of her spare time to her favorite charities. She loved flowers, cooking and sewing, which she learned in 4-H and Home Eck at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
In her leisure time she enjoyed her favorite music which was classical, country western and big band. She also enjoyed going to the Opry and live concerts with her family and friends, especially her niece and nephew to Radio City Hall in New York City to see The Nutcracker. She also enjoyed going to Lebanon Valley Speedway to watch her brother Ron race his stock car.
She is survived by her brother Ronald Johnson, Greg & Jeannie Johnson of Southington, their children Donovan & Eva Marie; Michael & Thelma Johnson, their daughter Dorothy of New Milford; William & Diane Palmer of Falls Village, their daughter Nicky; Robert & Cheryl Johnson of N.C. and their children Heather & Jenna; Matthew & Jenna Bodnar, Edward & Melisa Tyburski of Newington, Todd Tyburski of N.C., Lynn Tyburski of Newington, Chris & Heather Johnson of Amenia, NY, their children Dereck & Chris. Her close friends Harry Buda of Bloomfield, Mary Ann Murphy of Bloomfield, Katherine Carlson of Newington, Ralph Dunbar of Sharon, John Boadle of Pine Plains, NY, George Popp of Wappingers, NY, Pete Pederson of Sharon, Barbara Bartrum of Sharon.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. All other services are private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance or Sharon Fire Department, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
Pierre-Alexander deWindt Low
NORFOLK - Pierre-Alexander deWindt Low, age 27, of Greenwich, CT, died June 6, 2022 at his family’s farm in Norfolk, CT. He was the son of David N. Low and Dominique G. Lahaussois.
Pierre-Alexander was born April 3, 1995 in Greenwich, CT. Pierre-Alexander graduated from Amherst College in 2017. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer, thymic carcinoma, in January 2020. Pierre-Alexander faced his disease with fortitude and grace, continuing to travel to favorite places, including San Francisco and Corsica (France), and to spend time with his many friends. Easter Weekend, 2022, he was able to enjoy a special weekend skiing Alta with a close friend.
He is survived by his grandfather, parents, uncles, aunts and cousins including his extended family in France, and his many friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ, Congregational in Norfolk, CT on Friday, June 24, at 12:00 noon. All other services are private. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
NORFOLK - Pierre-Alexander deWindt Low, age 27, of Greenwich, CT, died June 6, 2022 at his family’s farm in Norfolk, CT. He was the son of David N. Low and Dominique G. Lahaussois.
Pierre-Alexander was born April 3, 1995 in Greenwich, CT. Pierre-Alexander graduated from Amherst College in 2017. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer, thymic carcinoma, in January 2020. Pierre-Alexander faced his disease with fortitude and grace, continuing to travel to favorite places, including San Francisco and Corsica (France), and to spend time with his many friends. Easter Weekend, 2022, he was able to enjoy a special weekend skiing Alta with a close friend.
He is survived by his grandfather, parents, uncles, aunts and cousins including his extended family in France, and his many friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ, Congregational in Norfolk, CT on Friday, June 24, at 12:00 noon. All other services are private. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Elizabeth Stevens
WASHINGTON DEPOT - Elizabeth “Lilly” Stevens, 98, passed away peacefully at home in Washington Depot, CT on June 5th, with her children by her side. She joins her adored husband of 68 years, David F. Stevens, her infant daughter Diane, her parents John and Catherine O’Keefe, and five sisters and a brother.
Lil leaves with love her seven children: David Stevens (Cindy); Diane Stevens; Doug Stevens; Denise Arturi (Peter); Dawn Stevens (William); Dona Yasser (Ed) and Deborah Stevens, 16 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Greenwich, CT native, Lil was a 1942 graduate of Greenwich High School. During WWII she made airplane parts at the Old Greenwich Electrolux factory, moved on to accounting positions and later had a successful career in real estate.
Yet her most rewarding job was “CEO” of her large family. She recognized the unique qualities in each of her children, encouraging their strengths and guiding them to find their own paths. She taught that equal love for each child, never picking a favorite, and making sure they loved each other built a strong family. As a testament, her children have raised their children with the same beliefs.
Lil’s innate understanding and appreciation of individuals drew people to her. The door was always open to anyone who needed nurturing and counseling, and many found warmth in her words.
Lil drew strength from her Catholic faith, in particular Mother Mary “because she was a mother.” Lil would like everyone to remember that the most important thing in life is love and our job is to embrace it, show it and share it. In her memory, say a kind word today and donate to the charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank RVNA Hospice for their support and care. A private service is planned.
WASHINGTON DEPOT - Elizabeth “Lilly” Stevens, 98, passed away peacefully at home in Washington Depot, CT on June 5th, with her children by her side. She joins her adored husband of 68 years, David F. Stevens, her infant daughter Diane, her parents John and Catherine O’Keefe, and five sisters and a brother.
Lil leaves with love her seven children: David Stevens (Cindy); Diane Stevens; Doug Stevens; Denise Arturi (Peter); Dawn Stevens (William); Dona Yasser (Ed) and Deborah Stevens, 16 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Greenwich, CT native, Lil was a 1942 graduate of Greenwich High School. During WWII she made airplane parts at the Old Greenwich Electrolux factory, moved on to accounting positions and later had a successful career in real estate.
Yet her most rewarding job was “CEO” of her large family. She recognized the unique qualities in each of her children, encouraging their strengths and guiding them to find their own paths. She taught that equal love for each child, never picking a favorite, and making sure they loved each other built a strong family. As a testament, her children have raised their children with the same beliefs.
Lil’s innate understanding and appreciation of individuals drew people to her. The door was always open to anyone who needed nurturing and counseling, and many found warmth in her words.
Lil drew strength from her Catholic faith, in particular Mother Mary “because she was a mother.” Lil would like everyone to remember that the most important thing in life is love and our job is to embrace it, show it and share it. In her memory, say a kind word today and donate to the charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank RVNA Hospice for their support and care. A private service is planned.
William Saster
SHARON - William (Billy) Saster passed away unexpectedly on May 25th at the Sharon Hospital.
He was 85 years old and leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Emily, his daughter Cynthia,
son-in-law Donald, grandchildren Nathan and Gwyneth, and his brother Jeffrey.
Billy was a graduate of Music and Arts High School and New York University.
After 10 years as a teacher he found his true calling as an interior designer in
South Florida doing work in Europe as well as South America.
Retiring to historic Sharon, CT, he volunteered at the Hotchkiss Library and the
Sharon Historical Society. Bridge became a meaningful social part of his life.
Billy was a man of exceptional personality with a gift of bringing joy to those around him.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hotchkiss Library and the Sharon Historical Society.
SHARON - William (Billy) Saster passed away unexpectedly on May 25th at the Sharon Hospital.
He was 85 years old and leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Emily, his daughter Cynthia,
son-in-law Donald, grandchildren Nathan and Gwyneth, and his brother Jeffrey.
Billy was a graduate of Music and Arts High School and New York University.
After 10 years as a teacher he found his true calling as an interior designer in
South Florida doing work in Europe as well as South America.
Retiring to historic Sharon, CT, he volunteered at the Hotchkiss Library and the
Sharon Historical Society. Bridge became a meaningful social part of his life.
Billy was a man of exceptional personality with a gift of bringing joy to those around him.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hotchkiss Library and the Sharon Historical Society.
Johan Winsser
WEST CORNWALL - Johan Winsser, 74, of West Cornwall passed quietly at home after a brief illness. He was a loving and devoted, husband, father, brother, and friend.
He was born in 1948 in the Netherlands, the youngest son of Johan Winsser and Marie Louise van Temmen. He earned a B.A. from Earlham College, an M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School, and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After college he held positions in community counseling, before changing careers to teach high school, college, and graduate school. For more than thirty years he worked in technology and telecommunications, for a while running his own business, and retired as a senior network planner for Verizon.
He was a competitive runner, enjoyed gardening and stewardship of conservation lands, was self-reliant, and designed and helped build the house he and his family lived in. He was a scholar of early New England history, publishing several academic articles and then a biography of Mary Dyer, the Quaker martyr, who was hanged in 1660 for civil disobedience. He felt strongly about fairness and justice, had a sharp eye and ear for nonsense, and enjoyed challenging convention.
Johan is survived by his beloved wife, Ann, son Nicholas, daughter Katharine (Katya), and brother Fred of Ipswich, Massachusetts.
There will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
WEST CORNWALL - Johan Winsser, 74, of West Cornwall passed quietly at home after a brief illness. He was a loving and devoted, husband, father, brother, and friend.
He was born in 1948 in the Netherlands, the youngest son of Johan Winsser and Marie Louise van Temmen. He earned a B.A. from Earlham College, an M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School, and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After college he held positions in community counseling, before changing careers to teach high school, college, and graduate school. For more than thirty years he worked in technology and telecommunications, for a while running his own business, and retired as a senior network planner for Verizon.
He was a competitive runner, enjoyed gardening and stewardship of conservation lands, was self-reliant, and designed and helped build the house he and his family lived in. He was a scholar of early New England history, publishing several academic articles and then a biography of Mary Dyer, the Quaker martyr, who was hanged in 1660 for civil disobedience. He felt strongly about fairness and justice, had a sharp eye and ear for nonsense, and enjoyed challenging convention.
Johan is survived by his beloved wife, Ann, son Nicholas, daughter Katharine (Katya), and brother Fred of Ipswich, Massachusetts.
There will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Marian Schwaikert
SALISBURY - Marian Schwaikert passed away unexpectedly May 21, 2022.
Edna Marian Manter was born April 10, 1926, the youngest of six children to the late George Edward Manter and Edna Collamer Manter. She spent her childhood in Buffalo, NY where she attended public schools and graduated from William Smith College in Geneva, NY with a Bachelor of Science degree. Marian pursued a career in microbiology with the pharmaceutical industry until becoming a fulltime mother and homemaker. She married her college sweetheart, the late Ralph Schwaikert, with whom she had three sons. With the leadership and entrepreneurial talent of Ralph, the family renovated the Pocketknife Square buildings in Lakeville and located several family businesses there including a gift shop and restaurant.
Marian was a devoted volunteer in every community she lived. In Salisbury, she was the secretary of the Salisbury Cemetery Board for many years and served as a board member of the Salisbury Visiting Nurses Association. She was a volunteer at the Sharon Hospital and led the hospital Gift Shop for a period of time. Marian was a devoted member of St. John’s Episcopal church where she served as clerk of the Vestry and later as Senior Warden. She helped establish the Country Store at Noble Horizons and volunteered there for over 25 years. Marian supported many local and national charities, lending a helping hand wherever needed.
Marian was predeceased by her siblings and former husband. She is survived by her three sons, Allan (Anne), William (Sharie) and John (Martha), grandchildren Peter (Anne), Mathew (Erin), Leah, Emma, John and great granddaughters Mia, Eva and Abby.
Marian was also predeceased by her companion, well known musician Zoltan “Zip” Zantay. She referred to their relationship as a “twenty year bonus of love and companionship”.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church in Salisbury, CT at 1:00pm on Saturday, July 2nd. Those unable to attend may view the service online at St. John's Episcopal Church - 24/7
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. John’s Church Memorial Fund, Noble Horizons Auxiliary and Visiting Nurses Association of Salisbury.
SALISBURY - Marian Schwaikert passed away unexpectedly May 21, 2022.
Edna Marian Manter was born April 10, 1926, the youngest of six children to the late George Edward Manter and Edna Collamer Manter. She spent her childhood in Buffalo, NY where she attended public schools and graduated from William Smith College in Geneva, NY with a Bachelor of Science degree. Marian pursued a career in microbiology with the pharmaceutical industry until becoming a fulltime mother and homemaker. She married her college sweetheart, the late Ralph Schwaikert, with whom she had three sons. With the leadership and entrepreneurial talent of Ralph, the family renovated the Pocketknife Square buildings in Lakeville and located several family businesses there including a gift shop and restaurant.
Marian was a devoted volunteer in every community she lived. In Salisbury, she was the secretary of the Salisbury Cemetery Board for many years and served as a board member of the Salisbury Visiting Nurses Association. She was a volunteer at the Sharon Hospital and led the hospital Gift Shop for a period of time. Marian was a devoted member of St. John’s Episcopal church where she served as clerk of the Vestry and later as Senior Warden. She helped establish the Country Store at Noble Horizons and volunteered there for over 25 years. Marian supported many local and national charities, lending a helping hand wherever needed.
Marian was predeceased by her siblings and former husband. She is survived by her three sons, Allan (Anne), William (Sharie) and John (Martha), grandchildren Peter (Anne), Mathew (Erin), Leah, Emma, John and great granddaughters Mia, Eva and Abby.
Marian was also predeceased by her companion, well known musician Zoltan “Zip” Zantay. She referred to their relationship as a “twenty year bonus of love and companionship”.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church in Salisbury, CT at 1:00pm on Saturday, July 2nd. Those unable to attend may view the service online at St. John's Episcopal Church - 24/7
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. John’s Church Memorial Fund, Noble Horizons Auxiliary and Visiting Nurses Association of Salisbury.
Mary Robertson
LAKEVILLE – Mary Stuart Robertson, 85, of Moore Road, died on May 13, 2022 in her beloved home. She was the loving wife of Douglas Robertson to whom she was married for thirty-five years.
Mary Stuart was born on May 10, 1937 in Pittsfield, MA. She was the daughter of the late Mervin and Victorine Hall Whitbeck of Mount Washington, MA. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Mount Washington until its closing and later graduated from Roe Jan High School in Hillsdale, NY. She was also a graduate of Vermont Junior College.
Following college, Mary Stuart resided in Lakeville with her first husband where she raised her children, and where she went on to spend the rest of her life. She was well known within the community, spending many years as an excellent caregiver through the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association and later, with private clients. Upon retiring, she continued her kind and caring service as a volunteer at Noble Horizons and with Hospice.
Vibrant, warm, fun, and very social, Mary Stuart enjoyed a large circle of people in her life, from family to close friends to many acquaintances. Specifically, she considered Marion Romeo, also of Lakeville, and her sister, Betsy Garrett of Mount Washington, MA to be two of her dearest friends.
Her many interests included cooking, decorating, knitting, rug hooking, and all things related to nature including tending to her plants and flowers. She was a perfectionist in all that she did.
In addition to her husband, Douglas Roberton, she is survived by her three children – James B. Moore III of Vinalhaven, ME, Ashley DeMazza of South Royalton, VT, and Mary Bryan Moore and her husband, Stephen Brooks of New York City and Stanfordville, NY, as well as her granddaughters, Kate and Emily DeMazza, both of the Boston, MA area. She is also survived by her sister, Betsy Garrett and husband, Harry Garrett of Mount Washington, MA and their three children, as well as her sister-in-law, Margaret “Peggy” Whitbeck and three children; her stepsons, David Robertson and his wife, Tracy and two daughters of Yulee, FL, and Douglas Robertson Jr. and his wife, Jaime and their son and daughter, of Omaha, NE. She was predeceased by her parents, Mervin and Vicki Whitbeck of Mount Washington and by her brother, Jim Whitbeck, also of Mount Washington.
Mary Stuart will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
A small, private gathering to celebrate Mary Stuart’s life will be held in the coming weeks. If you would like to make a donation in her name, please do so with either the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association or Hospice.
LAKEVILLE – Mary Stuart Robertson, 85, of Moore Road, died on May 13, 2022 in her beloved home. She was the loving wife of Douglas Robertson to whom she was married for thirty-five years.
Mary Stuart was born on May 10, 1937 in Pittsfield, MA. She was the daughter of the late Mervin and Victorine Hall Whitbeck of Mount Washington, MA. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Mount Washington until its closing and later graduated from Roe Jan High School in Hillsdale, NY. She was also a graduate of Vermont Junior College.
Following college, Mary Stuart resided in Lakeville with her first husband where she raised her children, and where she went on to spend the rest of her life. She was well known within the community, spending many years as an excellent caregiver through the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association and later, with private clients. Upon retiring, she continued her kind and caring service as a volunteer at Noble Horizons and with Hospice.
Vibrant, warm, fun, and very social, Mary Stuart enjoyed a large circle of people in her life, from family to close friends to many acquaintances. Specifically, she considered Marion Romeo, also of Lakeville, and her sister, Betsy Garrett of Mount Washington, MA to be two of her dearest friends.
Her many interests included cooking, decorating, knitting, rug hooking, and all things related to nature including tending to her plants and flowers. She was a perfectionist in all that she did.
In addition to her husband, Douglas Roberton, she is survived by her three children – James B. Moore III of Vinalhaven, ME, Ashley DeMazza of South Royalton, VT, and Mary Bryan Moore and her husband, Stephen Brooks of New York City and Stanfordville, NY, as well as her granddaughters, Kate and Emily DeMazza, both of the Boston, MA area. She is also survived by her sister, Betsy Garrett and husband, Harry Garrett of Mount Washington, MA and their three children, as well as her sister-in-law, Margaret “Peggy” Whitbeck and three children; her stepsons, David Robertson and his wife, Tracy and two daughters of Yulee, FL, and Douglas Robertson Jr. and his wife, Jaime and their son and daughter, of Omaha, NE. She was predeceased by her parents, Mervin and Vicki Whitbeck of Mount Washington and by her brother, Jim Whitbeck, also of Mount Washington.
Mary Stuart will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
A small, private gathering to celebrate Mary Stuart’s life will be held in the coming weeks. If you would like to make a donation in her name, please do so with either the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association or Hospice.
James Leonard Stewart
SALISBURY - James Leonard Stewart, 80, passed away peacefully and in the company of family on May 11, 2021. Len joins his Partner of more than 55 years who passed in 2016.
Len was born July 25, 1940 in Laurel, Delaware. After graduating from William Penn High School in New Castle, Len worked for Dupont in Wilmington then moved to live and work in Cambridge, England. Shortly after arriving, Len was drafted into the U.S. Army as an Engineer and served primarily in South Korea. After his military service, Len returned to Cambridge where he lived and worked for 20 years before moving back to the United States and settling in Salisbury in 1979. Len was very active in the community as a volunteer at Noble Horizons for more than 30 years, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the Town of Salisbury for over 20 years, and a familiar face at many fundraisers, town meetings, events, parades and around town during his 42 years in Salisbury.
Len is survived by his sister Marianne of Iowa Falls, Iowa and brother Robert of Silver Springs, Maryland. Services for Len will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Visiting Nurses Association, Noble Horizons, and the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
SALISBURY - James Leonard Stewart, 80, passed away peacefully and in the company of family on May 11, 2021. Len joins his Partner of more than 55 years who passed in 2016.
Len was born July 25, 1940 in Laurel, Delaware. After graduating from William Penn High School in New Castle, Len worked for Dupont in Wilmington then moved to live and work in Cambridge, England. Shortly after arriving, Len was drafted into the U.S. Army as an Engineer and served primarily in South Korea. After his military service, Len returned to Cambridge where he lived and worked for 20 years before moving back to the United States and settling in Salisbury in 1979. Len was very active in the community as a volunteer at Noble Horizons for more than 30 years, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the Town of Salisbury for over 20 years, and a familiar face at many fundraisers, town meetings, events, parades and around town during his 42 years in Salisbury.
Len is survived by his sister Marianne of Iowa Falls, Iowa and brother Robert of Silver Springs, Maryland. Services for Len will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Visiting Nurses Association, Noble Horizons, and the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Harry DeLonge
SHARON - Harry C. DeLonge, 90, of Amenia, NY, died May 19, 2022, at Sharon Health Care Center, Sharon, CT. He was the loving husband of the late Carol M. DeLonge.
Harry was born July 22, 1931, in Manhattan, NY, the son of the late Harry and Mary DeLonge (Howley). Harry served in the U.S. Marine Corps during The Korean War. He specialized in water treatment.
He is survived by a son, Marc DeLonge, daughters, Roxanne DeLonge and Rowena Haviland, grandchildren, Melany DeLonge, Megan DeLonge, Laurel See, Austin DeLonge, Anthony Scala, Eric Scala, Brittany Williamson, Heather Price, Carol Haviland, Michelle Haviland, and many great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Carol M. DeLonge and son Chet M. DeLonge.
SHARON - Harry C. DeLonge, 90, of Amenia, NY, died May 19, 2022, at Sharon Health Care Center, Sharon, CT. He was the loving husband of the late Carol M. DeLonge.
Harry was born July 22, 1931, in Manhattan, NY, the son of the late Harry and Mary DeLonge (Howley). Harry served in the U.S. Marine Corps during The Korean War. He specialized in water treatment.
He is survived by a son, Marc DeLonge, daughters, Roxanne DeLonge and Rowena Haviland, grandchildren, Melany DeLonge, Megan DeLonge, Laurel See, Austin DeLonge, Anthony Scala, Eric Scala, Brittany Williamson, Heather Price, Carol Haviland, Michelle Haviland, and many great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Carol M. DeLonge and son Chet M. DeLonge.
Donald Ross
LAKEVILLE - Donald Kemp Ross, 78, of Lakeville, CT died on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Noble Horizons after several weeks in hospitals to diagnose a rare form of lymphoma. He was an active member of the Salisbury community since 2012, when he and his wife Helen Klein Ross bought and restored an old governor’s mansion on Millerton Road. He has served locally as vice-president of Lake Wononscopomuc Association, president of the Salisbury Forum and president of the Salisbury Association, as well as on national boards including as board chair of Greenpeace USA.
Donald was born in the Bronx on June 29, 1943 and spent most of his life working to make the world a better place. After graduating from Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham College (where he brought football back to campus), he joined Peace Corps and spent two years teaching in Nigeria. After graduating from NYU Law School in 1970, he went to Washington DC to work for Ralph Nader, becoming one of the original “Nader’s Raiders.” In 1971, he traveled to the UK for Public Citizen on a campaign to expose the dangers of Thalidomide. He spent years travelling this country creating Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), student-run organizations of activists advocating for the public interest. He came back to his home state to run NYPIRG and built it into New York’s largest citizen group.
In May 1979, in only three weeks, he organized a No Nukes March on Washington that drew 100,000 people from all over the country. Four months later, he coordinated the No Nukes Rally in New York, one of the largest political gatherings in the 1970s, drawing 250,000 protesters.
In 1984, he formed a lobbying firm in Albany with Arthur Malkin, a former student organizer for NYPIRG. Today, Malkin & Ross is one of the most respected firms in New York, advocating for clients in social services, education, consumer rights, civil justice, criminal justice, healthcare, energy, and the environment.
From 1985 to 1999, he directed the Rockefeller Family Fund, making grants in areas including government accountability, economic justice for women and environmental protection.
With Arthur Malkin, he co-founded M & R Strategic Services in 1991, a campaign firm in Washington DC which is today a national leader in mobilizing millions to fight for issues including marriage equality, reproductive rights, immigration and housing. From 2009 to 2013, he led the MacArthur Foundation’s National Campaign to Reform Juvenile Justice, which helped enact more than 200 reform laws in the US, changing practices, and transforming the perception of youth in contact with juvenile justice systems.
For over thirty years, he managed the Tortuga Foundation that supported projects in areas he cared most about, including protecting open spaces and fragile lands of Alaska.
He has co-authored several books on consumer activism with Ralph Nader.
In addition to Helen, his wife of 37 years, Donald leaves two daughters, Katherine and Margaret Ross, a son, Mike Ross, from his previous marriage to Susan Deller Ross, and longtime friends he considered family. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Ellen Ross.
A memorial will be held outdoors at his beloved home Holleywood on Sunday, May 22 at 11 AM. Parking at the Town Grove. A tribute service will be held later in New York City. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.Memorial contributions may be made to The Salisbury Association, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) or to Hands in Outreach empowering girls in Nepal where he led several treks.
LAKEVILLE - Donald Kemp Ross, 78, of Lakeville, CT died on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Noble Horizons after several weeks in hospitals to diagnose a rare form of lymphoma. He was an active member of the Salisbury community since 2012, when he and his wife Helen Klein Ross bought and restored an old governor’s mansion on Millerton Road. He has served locally as vice-president of Lake Wononscopomuc Association, president of the Salisbury Forum and president of the Salisbury Association, as well as on national boards including as board chair of Greenpeace USA.
Donald was born in the Bronx on June 29, 1943 and spent most of his life working to make the world a better place. After graduating from Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham College (where he brought football back to campus), he joined Peace Corps and spent two years teaching in Nigeria. After graduating from NYU Law School in 1970, he went to Washington DC to work for Ralph Nader, becoming one of the original “Nader’s Raiders.” In 1971, he traveled to the UK for Public Citizen on a campaign to expose the dangers of Thalidomide. He spent years travelling this country creating Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), student-run organizations of activists advocating for the public interest. He came back to his home state to run NYPIRG and built it into New York’s largest citizen group.
In May 1979, in only three weeks, he organized a No Nukes March on Washington that drew 100,000 people from all over the country. Four months later, he coordinated the No Nukes Rally in New York, one of the largest political gatherings in the 1970s, drawing 250,000 protesters.
In 1984, he formed a lobbying firm in Albany with Arthur Malkin, a former student organizer for NYPIRG. Today, Malkin & Ross is one of the most respected firms in New York, advocating for clients in social services, education, consumer rights, civil justice, criminal justice, healthcare, energy, and the environment.
From 1985 to 1999, he directed the Rockefeller Family Fund, making grants in areas including government accountability, economic justice for women and environmental protection.
With Arthur Malkin, he co-founded M & R Strategic Services in 1991, a campaign firm in Washington DC which is today a national leader in mobilizing millions to fight for issues including marriage equality, reproductive rights, immigration and housing. From 2009 to 2013, he led the MacArthur Foundation’s National Campaign to Reform Juvenile Justice, which helped enact more than 200 reform laws in the US, changing practices, and transforming the perception of youth in contact with juvenile justice systems.
For over thirty years, he managed the Tortuga Foundation that supported projects in areas he cared most about, including protecting open spaces and fragile lands of Alaska.
He has co-authored several books on consumer activism with Ralph Nader.
In addition to Helen, his wife of 37 years, Donald leaves two daughters, Katherine and Margaret Ross, a son, Mike Ross, from his previous marriage to Susan Deller Ross, and longtime friends he considered family. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Ellen Ross.
A memorial will be held outdoors at his beloved home Holleywood on Sunday, May 22 at 11 AM. Parking at the Town Grove. A tribute service will be held later in New York City. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.Memorial contributions may be made to The Salisbury Association, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) or to Hands in Outreach empowering girls in Nepal where he led several treks.
Bettie Snyder
SHARON – Bettie Louise Snyder died at Sharon Hospital on May 12, 2022.
The only child of Louise (Walker) Snyder and Herbert Parker Snyder, Bettie was born
in rural western Pennsylvania on August 21, 1931. During her life, she preferred small town living, so naturally fell in love with Connecticut’s Northwest Corner at first sight.
She moved to Sharon in 1959 to become office manager at Magnamusic Distributors, and then in 1961 joined the staff of The Sharon Clinic. In 1974, she became the first Program Director at Noble Horizons for several years, and next served as assistant to the president of an international financial planning company, Hamilton Gregg & Company, at the home office in Falls Village.
Always interested in the arts, Bettie worked for 15 years at various radio stations in Connecticut and New York as producer, on air personality, and reviewer of plays and concerts. She was the first Arts & Entertainment Editor when WKZE opened in Sharon, then continued writing art reviews for Hudson Valley newspapers for many years.
Her love of theatre began in Pennsylvania, and took hold when she joined The Oblong Valley Players, finding camaraderie with the Northwest Corner’s talent. She also wrote and performed monologues throughout the Northeast, and toured with several theatre companies, including the Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theatre of West Cornwall.
Clowns fascinated Bettie. She studied with a Ringling Brothers professional, and began this remarkable part of her life visiting hospital patients on a weekly basis, and performing at fairs and parties for all ages. The warden of an upstate New York prison saw a video of her work and invited her to teach values clarification to inmates. Using the power of humor as the foundation, she found these classes amazing and humbling.
In 1989, the possible collapse of the Sharon Creative Arts Foundation was an unacceptable option to many area theatre buffs. Bettie was voted President of SCAF.
She hired local theatre companies to produce a season that wound up in the black, allowing The Sharon Playhouse to keep open its doors. She invited a group from Pine Plains High School to perform The Music Man to end the season. That group became Tri Arts.
During the summer residency of The Berkshire String Quartet, Bettie served on the Music Mountain Board of Directors for eleven years.
Referring to herself as a saloon player, she loved the role of “fly on the wall,” and for two decades, played cocktail party piano standards in local inns and at private parties, while eavesdropping on the intriguing conversations swirling around her.
After retiring from the business world, Bettie wrote and published dozens of essays for local and national magazines and newspapers. Additionally, she penned three books: Veedor the Condor about the only free flying, yet captive, Andean condor in the world; Quickies from Romeos & Other Lovers, a collection of recipes from 101 men with unique vocations from across the United States; and The Kingdom of Ning, an inspiring read and coloring book for children ages four to one hundred.
In the late 90s, she was asked to write a script for docent tours of Holley House
Museum, Lakeville. Fascinating research led her to hold the family in high esteem for their outstanding contributions to the Northwest Corner and beyond.
Writing stage and screen plays became her passion. Hemingway’s Promise, a one act play about the last hours of Ernest Hemingway’s life, won a Pen & Brush (NYC) first prize, and garnered consistent audience and scholarly accolades at readings.
Animal welfare, gardening, and puzzles filled many happy hours, as did developing
a popular line of greeting cards.
For five years beginning in 2011, she operated TreeHouse, a studio apartment rental on her Sharon property, where she welcomed weekend guests from around the world.
Bettie is survived by her beloved cats, Cleo and Ginger, and cousins in Colorado, California, and Florida, along with those she knew as friends.
A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.
In accordance with Bettie Snyder's wishes, her body has been donated to the Anatomical Gift Program for the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University for medical education and research. Donations can be made in her name to the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.
SHARON – Bettie Louise Snyder died at Sharon Hospital on May 12, 2022.
The only child of Louise (Walker) Snyder and Herbert Parker Snyder, Bettie was born
in rural western Pennsylvania on August 21, 1931. During her life, she preferred small town living, so naturally fell in love with Connecticut’s Northwest Corner at first sight.
She moved to Sharon in 1959 to become office manager at Magnamusic Distributors, and then in 1961 joined the staff of The Sharon Clinic. In 1974, she became the first Program Director at Noble Horizons for several years, and next served as assistant to the president of an international financial planning company, Hamilton Gregg & Company, at the home office in Falls Village.
Always interested in the arts, Bettie worked for 15 years at various radio stations in Connecticut and New York as producer, on air personality, and reviewer of plays and concerts. She was the first Arts & Entertainment Editor when WKZE opened in Sharon, then continued writing art reviews for Hudson Valley newspapers for many years.
Her love of theatre began in Pennsylvania, and took hold when she joined The Oblong Valley Players, finding camaraderie with the Northwest Corner’s talent. She also wrote and performed monologues throughout the Northeast, and toured with several theatre companies, including the Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theatre of West Cornwall.
Clowns fascinated Bettie. She studied with a Ringling Brothers professional, and began this remarkable part of her life visiting hospital patients on a weekly basis, and performing at fairs and parties for all ages. The warden of an upstate New York prison saw a video of her work and invited her to teach values clarification to inmates. Using the power of humor as the foundation, she found these classes amazing and humbling.
In 1989, the possible collapse of the Sharon Creative Arts Foundation was an unacceptable option to many area theatre buffs. Bettie was voted President of SCAF.
She hired local theatre companies to produce a season that wound up in the black, allowing The Sharon Playhouse to keep open its doors. She invited a group from Pine Plains High School to perform The Music Man to end the season. That group became Tri Arts.
During the summer residency of The Berkshire String Quartet, Bettie served on the Music Mountain Board of Directors for eleven years.
Referring to herself as a saloon player, she loved the role of “fly on the wall,” and for two decades, played cocktail party piano standards in local inns and at private parties, while eavesdropping on the intriguing conversations swirling around her.
After retiring from the business world, Bettie wrote and published dozens of essays for local and national magazines and newspapers. Additionally, she penned three books: Veedor the Condor about the only free flying, yet captive, Andean condor in the world; Quickies from Romeos & Other Lovers, a collection of recipes from 101 men with unique vocations from across the United States; and The Kingdom of Ning, an inspiring read and coloring book for children ages four to one hundred.
In the late 90s, she was asked to write a script for docent tours of Holley House
Museum, Lakeville. Fascinating research led her to hold the family in high esteem for their outstanding contributions to the Northwest Corner and beyond.
Writing stage and screen plays became her passion. Hemingway’s Promise, a one act play about the last hours of Ernest Hemingway’s life, won a Pen & Brush (NYC) first prize, and garnered consistent audience and scholarly accolades at readings.
Animal welfare, gardening, and puzzles filled many happy hours, as did developing
a popular line of greeting cards.
For five years beginning in 2011, she operated TreeHouse, a studio apartment rental on her Sharon property, where she welcomed weekend guests from around the world.
Bettie is survived by her beloved cats, Cleo and Ginger, and cousins in Colorado, California, and Florida, along with those she knew as friends.
A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.
In accordance with Bettie Snyder's wishes, her body has been donated to the Anatomical Gift Program for the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University for medical education and research. Donations can be made in her name to the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.
Thomas Page
KENT - Thomas Page 74, of Cobble Road Died May 4, 2022 at New Milford Hospital. He was the loving husband of the late Dawn Page.
Thomas was born March 26, 1948 the son of the late George and Sophia Naboriny Page. He was a graduate of Oliver Wolcott Technical School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Upon returning Thomas married Dawn on September 2, 1972. He was a mechanic and worked for the Kent School until his retirement in 2018.
He is survived by his cousin Lori Brown and her husband David and their son Michael. Besides his wife he was pre-deceased by a son Thomas Page and his sister Nancy Manley.
A graveside service will be celebrated on May 12 at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kent at 11:00AM with Military Honors. All other services are private.
KENT - Thomas Page 74, of Cobble Road Died May 4, 2022 at New Milford Hospital. He was the loving husband of the late Dawn Page.
Thomas was born March 26, 1948 the son of the late George and Sophia Naboriny Page. He was a graduate of Oliver Wolcott Technical School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Upon returning Thomas married Dawn on September 2, 1972. He was a mechanic and worked for the Kent School until his retirement in 2018.
He is survived by his cousin Lori Brown and her husband David and their son Michael. Besides his wife he was pre-deceased by a son Thomas Page and his sister Nancy Manley.
A graveside service will be celebrated on May 12 at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kent at 11:00AM with Military Honors. All other services are private.
Caleen Speed
LAKEVILLE – Caleen “Peaches” Speed, 63, of Lakeville, gained her angels wings suddenly on April 23, 2022 at her home. She was the devoted mother of Ashley Speed and the loving partner of John Gallagher.
Peaches was born on July 22, 1958 in Sharon, the daughter of the late Floyd Sr and Helen Speed. Peaches was well known for her bubbly personality and her unconditional love for those in her life. She worked at The Hotchkiss School in Housekeeping for many years until her early retirement. She met her partner, John Gallagher, while working at The Hotchkiss School and the couple shared 17 blissful years together. Peaches loved spending time with friends and family, reading books recommended by her daughter, arts and crafts, game shows, and animals. Peaches had many pets that she cared for deeply.
Peaches is survived by a daughter, Ashley Speed and fiancé Mark Dautrich, long-time partner, John Gallagher, four brothers, John, Floyd Jr, Gene, and Gary, sister-in-law Diane Speed, and niece Krista Fitzgerald.
Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on Friday May 6, 2022 from 4pm-7pm. Ashley kindly asks that everyone wear something orange in remembrance of Peaches.
LAKEVILLE – Caleen “Peaches” Speed, 63, of Lakeville, gained her angels wings suddenly on April 23, 2022 at her home. She was the devoted mother of Ashley Speed and the loving partner of John Gallagher.
Peaches was born on July 22, 1958 in Sharon, the daughter of the late Floyd Sr and Helen Speed. Peaches was well known for her bubbly personality and her unconditional love for those in her life. She worked at The Hotchkiss School in Housekeeping for many years until her early retirement. She met her partner, John Gallagher, while working at The Hotchkiss School and the couple shared 17 blissful years together. Peaches loved spending time with friends and family, reading books recommended by her daughter, arts and crafts, game shows, and animals. Peaches had many pets that she cared for deeply.
Peaches is survived by a daughter, Ashley Speed and fiancé Mark Dautrich, long-time partner, John Gallagher, four brothers, John, Floyd Jr, Gene, and Gary, sister-in-law Diane Speed, and niece Krista Fitzgerald.
Calling hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT on Friday May 6, 2022 from 4pm-7pm. Ashley kindly asks that everyone wear something orange in remembrance of Peaches.
Peter D. Bull
KENT - Peter D. Bull, of Kent, Connecticut and New York City, beloved husband, cherished son, adored brother, treasured friend, passed away on April 26, 2021, with his wife Jeanne at his side.
Peter was born on March 14, 1964, the youngest of four children. He grew up in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. and attended Briarcliff High School, where he excelled academically, was an avid tennis player, and served as co-captain of the baseball team. After high school, Peter attended Fordham University, where he majored in Political Science, graduating summa cum laude, and being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Peter then went on to study law, graduating cum laude from Fordham University School of Law.
Peter began his career at a boutique commercial litigation firm and later founded his own firm, Bull & Lifshitz, where he practiced law for 15 years, trying primarily securities class action cases in federal and state courts across the country. Peter had great successes and was well respected and well liked. He brought a thoughtful, measured approach to the practice of law, and consistently demonstrated great character and integrity. This was not surprising -- these qualities ran deep in Peter and pervaded everything he did, not just his professional pursuits.
Peter was a thinker. He loved the exchange of ideas and would effortlessly engage in any topic, to the delight of those around him. The depth and breadth of Peter’s knowledge was truly extraordinary. He had a particular fondness for discussions about politics, history, philosophy, and music. He was immensely modest, a remarkable listener, and was genuinely interested in the lives and thoughts of his friends and family, whom he dearly loved. Peter was also a doer, becoming, for example, an accomplished horseback rider in his forties and taking up piano playing during that time as well.
One of Peter’s most endearing traits was his clever and dry wit. Even those who knew Peter best could not always discern if he was serious or joking. The only way to tell for sure was by detecting the twinkle in his eyes. Throughout a lengthy, difficult illness, Peter maintained his sense of humor – as well as the twinkle – to the surprise and admiration of his doctors. He was an inspiration to all.
The true meaning in Peter’s life came from the love of his life, Jeanne Curtis. Their love story began when they met early in their law careers. They were married in July 1996, living in New York City, and spending most weekends in Kent, Connecticut. Peter and Jeanne shared passions for travel, food, the arts (particularly theater, music, and literature), horseback riding, animal rescue work, and spending time with family and friends. Over the years, Peter cultivated these interests with vigor and no more so than when Jeanne entered his life.
Peter and Jeanne’s thirst for travel led to them to take journeys throughout the United States, Central America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, always hiring docents so that they could take deep dives into subjects of interest. They made friends and spent time with a broad spectrum of people they met along the way. Peter savored the conversations they had with their new friends and was always eager for more.
In 2013, Peter and Jeanne decided to step back from their professional pursuits to follow their dream of extended travel, with the opportunity to become a part of the fabric of the communities they visited. They spent chunks of time in a variety of locales; their favorite spots were Barcelona, Krakow, Berlin, Stockholm, and Dingle (Ireland). Throughout their travels and particularly in Dingle, Peter and Jeanne explored their new surroundings on horseback. For Peter, there was little better than feeling the wind as he galloped along the beaches of the Dingle peninsula.
Peter was devoted to his dogs Norma, Jax, and Hank; they were never far from him and even as his illness progressed, his eyes would light up with joy when hearing what they had been doing during the few moments of the day when they were not at his side. Peter’s kindness and compassion were demonstrated in abundance not only with his own rescue dogs, but with all the rescue animals he rallied around. Even during his illness, Peter continued actively helping other animals in need.
Peter epitomized the best of personhood: intellect, humor, courage, integrity, kindness, and goodness to the core. He was that and much, much more.
In addition to Jeanne, Peter is survived by his mother Ann Bull, his siblings Robert, Catherine, and Stephen Bull; his mother-in-law, Barbara Curtis; his sisters- and brothers-in-law Lawrence and Brenda Curtis, Mark and Karen Curtis, Stephen and Angela Curtis, Mary and Michael Stein, Paul and Celia Curtis, Julie Curtis and Bruce Petryshin, and Denise and Michael McDermott; his nieces and nephews Heather and Carlos Amaya, Caitlin Bull, Kyle Bull, Lauren and Jeremy Stimson, Morgan Curtis, Andrew Curtis, Heather Curtis, Eric Curtis, Justin Curtis, Kerianne and Christopher Brewer; Kimberly Stein, Mollie Stein, Diana Curtis, Kelly Curtis, Sarah Curtis, Christopher and Hillary Petryshin, Timothy Petryshin, Ryan and Alana McDermott, Paige McDermott, and Tyler McDermott; grandnieces and nephew Hannah Amaya, Lucas Petryshin, and Eimile Petryshin. He is also survived by many cousins, particularly the Costa, Shea, Bull, Vesich, and Schultz families. He was predeceased by his father, Robert B. Bull, and his father-in-law, Ernest F. Curtis, Jr.
A private celebration of life was held for Peter. Family and friends came together and shared stories of Peter while enjoying great food, music, and many laughs, just as Peter wanted.
KENT - Peter D. Bull, of Kent, Connecticut and New York City, beloved husband, cherished son, adored brother, treasured friend, passed away on April 26, 2021, with his wife Jeanne at his side.
Peter was born on March 14, 1964, the youngest of four children. He grew up in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. and attended Briarcliff High School, where he excelled academically, was an avid tennis player, and served as co-captain of the baseball team. After high school, Peter attended Fordham University, where he majored in Political Science, graduating summa cum laude, and being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Peter then went on to study law, graduating cum laude from Fordham University School of Law.
Peter began his career at a boutique commercial litigation firm and later founded his own firm, Bull & Lifshitz, where he practiced law for 15 years, trying primarily securities class action cases in federal and state courts across the country. Peter had great successes and was well respected and well liked. He brought a thoughtful, measured approach to the practice of law, and consistently demonstrated great character and integrity. This was not surprising -- these qualities ran deep in Peter and pervaded everything he did, not just his professional pursuits.
Peter was a thinker. He loved the exchange of ideas and would effortlessly engage in any topic, to the delight of those around him. The depth and breadth of Peter’s knowledge was truly extraordinary. He had a particular fondness for discussions about politics, history, philosophy, and music. He was immensely modest, a remarkable listener, and was genuinely interested in the lives and thoughts of his friends and family, whom he dearly loved. Peter was also a doer, becoming, for example, an accomplished horseback rider in his forties and taking up piano playing during that time as well.
One of Peter’s most endearing traits was his clever and dry wit. Even those who knew Peter best could not always discern if he was serious or joking. The only way to tell for sure was by detecting the twinkle in his eyes. Throughout a lengthy, difficult illness, Peter maintained his sense of humor – as well as the twinkle – to the surprise and admiration of his doctors. He was an inspiration to all.
The true meaning in Peter’s life came from the love of his life, Jeanne Curtis. Their love story began when they met early in their law careers. They were married in July 1996, living in New York City, and spending most weekends in Kent, Connecticut. Peter and Jeanne shared passions for travel, food, the arts (particularly theater, music, and literature), horseback riding, animal rescue work, and spending time with family and friends. Over the years, Peter cultivated these interests with vigor and no more so than when Jeanne entered his life.
Peter and Jeanne’s thirst for travel led to them to take journeys throughout the United States, Central America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, always hiring docents so that they could take deep dives into subjects of interest. They made friends and spent time with a broad spectrum of people they met along the way. Peter savored the conversations they had with their new friends and was always eager for more.
In 2013, Peter and Jeanne decided to step back from their professional pursuits to follow their dream of extended travel, with the opportunity to become a part of the fabric of the communities they visited. They spent chunks of time in a variety of locales; their favorite spots were Barcelona, Krakow, Berlin, Stockholm, and Dingle (Ireland). Throughout their travels and particularly in Dingle, Peter and Jeanne explored their new surroundings on horseback. For Peter, there was little better than feeling the wind as he galloped along the beaches of the Dingle peninsula.
Peter was devoted to his dogs Norma, Jax, and Hank; they were never far from him and even as his illness progressed, his eyes would light up with joy when hearing what they had been doing during the few moments of the day when they were not at his side. Peter’s kindness and compassion were demonstrated in abundance not only with his own rescue dogs, but with all the rescue animals he rallied around. Even during his illness, Peter continued actively helping other animals in need.
Peter epitomized the best of personhood: intellect, humor, courage, integrity, kindness, and goodness to the core. He was that and much, much more.
In addition to Jeanne, Peter is survived by his mother Ann Bull, his siblings Robert, Catherine, and Stephen Bull; his mother-in-law, Barbara Curtis; his sisters- and brothers-in-law Lawrence and Brenda Curtis, Mark and Karen Curtis, Stephen and Angela Curtis, Mary and Michael Stein, Paul and Celia Curtis, Julie Curtis and Bruce Petryshin, and Denise and Michael McDermott; his nieces and nephews Heather and Carlos Amaya, Caitlin Bull, Kyle Bull, Lauren and Jeremy Stimson, Morgan Curtis, Andrew Curtis, Heather Curtis, Eric Curtis, Justin Curtis, Kerianne and Christopher Brewer; Kimberly Stein, Mollie Stein, Diana Curtis, Kelly Curtis, Sarah Curtis, Christopher and Hillary Petryshin, Timothy Petryshin, Ryan and Alana McDermott, Paige McDermott, and Tyler McDermott; grandnieces and nephew Hannah Amaya, Lucas Petryshin, and Eimile Petryshin. He is also survived by many cousins, particularly the Costa, Shea, Bull, Vesich, and Schultz families. He was predeceased by his father, Robert B. Bull, and his father-in-law, Ernest F. Curtis, Jr.
A private celebration of life was held for Peter. Family and friends came together and shared stories of Peter while enjoying great food, music, and many laughs, just as Peter wanted.
Avis Morehouse
SHARON - Avis Elizabeth Morehouse, 86 of Jackson Road died April 10, 2022 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in North Canaan. She was the wife of James E. Morehouse.
Avis was born May 10,1935 in Cortland, New York; the daughter of the late Ralph and Kathryn (Cutler) Honour. She was a graduate of the Amenia High School in Amenia, New York. She was employed at Sharon Hospital as a switchboard operator where she met her husband of 66 years. She was an EMT with the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance for over 15 years. She was also a caregiver for several estates in the surrounding area.
Besides her husband James, she is survived by her daughters Kathleen Visconti and her husband Mark, Diane James and her son William Morehouse. Her grandchildren Darren, Nathan, and Bradley Visconti, Dylan , Will, Elizabeth and Lyndon Morehouse. Her great-grandchildren Scarlett and Sienna Visconti and Odin Arancibia. Avis was also predeceased by two sons Gary and Peder Morehouse.
Calling Hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon on Tuesday, April 19 from 4-6PM with a service to follow in her memory at 6:00PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
SHARON - Avis Elizabeth Morehouse, 86 of Jackson Road died April 10, 2022 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in North Canaan. She was the wife of James E. Morehouse.
Avis was born May 10,1935 in Cortland, New York; the daughter of the late Ralph and Kathryn (Cutler) Honour. She was a graduate of the Amenia High School in Amenia, New York. She was employed at Sharon Hospital as a switchboard operator where she met her husband of 66 years. She was an EMT with the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance for over 15 years. She was also a caregiver for several estates in the surrounding area.
Besides her husband James, she is survived by her daughters Kathleen Visconti and her husband Mark, Diane James and her son William Morehouse. Her grandchildren Darren, Nathan, and Bradley Visconti, Dylan , Will, Elizabeth and Lyndon Morehouse. Her great-grandchildren Scarlett and Sienna Visconti and Odin Arancibia. Avis was also predeceased by two sons Gary and Peder Morehouse.
Calling Hours will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon on Tuesday, April 19 from 4-6PM with a service to follow in her memory at 6:00PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
John V. Pozzi
CANAAN - John V. Pozzi, “Jack”, 88, of Canaan, CT, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at Sharon Healthcare Center. He was the loving husband of the late Rosaline R. Boyer.
Jack was born May 12, 1933 in North Adams, MA. He was the son of the late Joseph J. Pozzi and Margaret C. DeSanty.
Jack, a lifelong educator in NY & CT, was a high school English teacher, an Elementary School Principal, an Assistant Superintendent and a College Professor. He spent the last 10 years of his career as the Principal at Lee Kellogg in Falls Village, CT. More than anything else in the world Jack loved his family. “La Famiglia” was the center of everything he did.
He is survived by his six children:
Mark A. Pozzi, Lisa A. Pozzi, John B. Pozzi, Meghan L. Pozzi, MaryBeth Reid and Jennifer K. Pozzi. Jack also has 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
All services will be private. Anyone wishing to honor our dad's memory may donate to the Arts Fund for Region One, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Memorial contributions can be sent to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257 or visit www.berkshiretaconic.org/donate.
CANAAN - John V. Pozzi, “Jack”, 88, of Canaan, CT, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at Sharon Healthcare Center. He was the loving husband of the late Rosaline R. Boyer.
Jack was born May 12, 1933 in North Adams, MA. He was the son of the late Joseph J. Pozzi and Margaret C. DeSanty.
Jack, a lifelong educator in NY & CT, was a high school English teacher, an Elementary School Principal, an Assistant Superintendent and a College Professor. He spent the last 10 years of his career as the Principal at Lee Kellogg in Falls Village, CT. More than anything else in the world Jack loved his family. “La Famiglia” was the center of everything he did.
He is survived by his six children:
Mark A. Pozzi, Lisa A. Pozzi, John B. Pozzi, Meghan L. Pozzi, MaryBeth Reid and Jennifer K. Pozzi. Jack also has 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
All services will be private. Anyone wishing to honor our dad's memory may donate to the Arts Fund for Region One, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Memorial contributions can be sent to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257 or visit www.berkshiretaconic.org/donate.
Rosemary Allen
SALISBURY - Rosemary Allen, 83, of Salisbury, died peacefully at Noble Horizons on April 11, 2022. She was the wife of the late Myron W. Allen.
She was born in Manhattan, NY on November 22, 1938. Rosemary graduated high school in 1956 from Villa Maria Academy in Bronx, NY.
In addition to her late husband, Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Emma Hughes, a sister Dolores Caccavo, and a son Francis Cross.
She is survived by her children, Laura Allen, David Allen, Steven Allen, Laurie Cahill, Cynthia Brown, David Cross, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
All services are private.
SALISBURY - Rosemary Allen, 83, of Salisbury, died peacefully at Noble Horizons on April 11, 2022. She was the wife of the late Myron W. Allen.
She was born in Manhattan, NY on November 22, 1938. Rosemary graduated high school in 1956 from Villa Maria Academy in Bronx, NY.
In addition to her late husband, Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Emma Hughes, a sister Dolores Caccavo, and a son Francis Cross.
She is survived by her children, Laura Allen, David Allen, Steven Allen, Laurie Cahill, Cynthia Brown, David Cross, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
All services are private.
Peter Dzenutis
CANTON - Peter A. Dzenutis Sr., 95, of Canton CT, died peacefully April 9, 2022, at his home on Case St., husband to Luigina Dzenutis. Peter was born in Secaucus, NJ on December 13, 1926, to John and Mary (Bruzgis) Dzenutis, who both died at an early age and Peter was raised by his predeceased Aunt and Uncle, Elizabeth and Ralph Gibowich, of Bronx, NY.
Peter served in the U.S. Army 101st during WWII as a lineman, paratrooper, and officer horse caretaker. Peter developed a love of horses while serving and enjoyed raising and racing pigeons from an early age. Upon returning Peter met and married Luigina on February 15, 1953. Peter and Luigina went on to have 12 children and lived in Amenia, N.Y., Norfolk, Ct., and Lake Wales, Fl. while raising them. Peter loved to build and repair. He was a roofer and builder and owned Royal Construction until his retirement. His greatest joy was simple time spent with his family!
Peter is survived by his children, Mary, Peter Jr. (Melinda), Elizabeth (Christopher) Fenn, John (Sandy), Ralph (Cleide), David, Stanley (Agnes), Tom (Robyn Croke), Ann, Luigina, and Rah. Peter is also survived by his 18 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Peter is predeceased by son Michael, grandson Aman Sr. and siblings: John, Stanley, Michael, Millie, Helen, Annie (Gibowich), Francine (Gibowich) and Millie (Gibowich).
A memorial service will be held at the Saint Martin of Tours Church of St Mary Lakeville, CT on April 21 at 11:00 AM followed by the burial at the Amenia, NY Cemetery. Calling hours are on Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford.
CANTON - Peter A. Dzenutis Sr., 95, of Canton CT, died peacefully April 9, 2022, at his home on Case St., husband to Luigina Dzenutis. Peter was born in Secaucus, NJ on December 13, 1926, to John and Mary (Bruzgis) Dzenutis, who both died at an early age and Peter was raised by his predeceased Aunt and Uncle, Elizabeth and Ralph Gibowich, of Bronx, NY.
Peter served in the U.S. Army 101st during WWII as a lineman, paratrooper, and officer horse caretaker. Peter developed a love of horses while serving and enjoyed raising and racing pigeons from an early age. Upon returning Peter met and married Luigina on February 15, 1953. Peter and Luigina went on to have 12 children and lived in Amenia, N.Y., Norfolk, Ct., and Lake Wales, Fl. while raising them. Peter loved to build and repair. He was a roofer and builder and owned Royal Construction until his retirement. His greatest joy was simple time spent with his family!
Peter is survived by his children, Mary, Peter Jr. (Melinda), Elizabeth (Christopher) Fenn, John (Sandy), Ralph (Cleide), David, Stanley (Agnes), Tom (Robyn Croke), Ann, Luigina, and Rah. Peter is also survived by his 18 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Peter is predeceased by son Michael, grandson Aman Sr. and siblings: John, Stanley, Michael, Millie, Helen, Annie (Gibowich), Francine (Gibowich) and Millie (Gibowich).
A memorial service will be held at the Saint Martin of Tours Church of St Mary Lakeville, CT on April 21 at 11:00 AM followed by the burial at the Amenia, NY Cemetery. Calling hours are on Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford.
Raymond Shine
SHARON - Raymond Gordon Shine, age 80, died February 1, 2022 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.
Ray was born March 17, 1941 in Yonkers, NY the son of the late Gordon and Rose (Fedo) Shine. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School. He retired following a long career in machine tool sales and next spent several years selling real estate. His hobbies included photography, fishing and firearms.
He is survived by partner Patricia Cusick of Torrington, son Christopher Shine and daughter in law June Zhan of Irvine, CA, daughter Sharon Shine and partner Mark Sweeney of Sharon, daughter Michelle O’Sullivan and son in law James O’Sullivan of Goshen, three grandchildren: Andrew Shine, Amelia O’Sullivan, Andrea O’Sullivan, sister Maureen and brother in law Peter Peloso of Moneta, VA.
A graveside service will be held at the Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, CT on Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 AM.
SHARON - Raymond Gordon Shine, age 80, died February 1, 2022 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.
Ray was born March 17, 1941 in Yonkers, NY the son of the late Gordon and Rose (Fedo) Shine. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School. He retired following a long career in machine tool sales and next spent several years selling real estate. His hobbies included photography, fishing and firearms.
He is survived by partner Patricia Cusick of Torrington, son Christopher Shine and daughter in law June Zhan of Irvine, CA, daughter Sharon Shine and partner Mark Sweeney of Sharon, daughter Michelle O’Sullivan and son in law James O’Sullivan of Goshen, three grandchildren: Andrew Shine, Amelia O’Sullivan, Andrea O’Sullivan, sister Maureen and brother in law Peter Peloso of Moneta, VA.
A graveside service will be held at the Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, CT on Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 AM.
Isabela Smith
BOCA RATON, FL - Isabela Allard Smith, age 19, of Boca Raton, Florida, died unexpectedly on March 27, 2022. She was the loving daughter of Felicia and Erik and sister of Sophia and Nicholas.
Isabela was born in São Paulo, Brazil on September 10, 2002, where she lived most of her life. In São Paulo, she attended Grade School where she formed lifelong friendships, adored singing in the chorus, playing on the girl's basketball team, and was a member of the Hipica Equestrian Vaulting Team. After Brazil, the family moved to Washington D.C. and Switzerland before settling in Boca Raton.
Isabela's greatest gift was her music. She could pick up lyrics after a single listen and play it beautifully on her guitar; she also composed hundreds of songs, with some being recognized in a recent widely attended Boca Rate music event.
Isabela's family meant the world to her and she will be deeply missed. Although she left this earth way too soon, we are grateful that she has finally found peace in the hands of a loving God.
A funeral will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church (the same church where Felicia and Erik were married) in Lakeville, CT on Saturday, April 02 at 11am with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, CT. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made in her memory to The Bela Fund at For A Better Day Foundation, a non-profit committed to creating mental health awareness, breaking the stigma about mental illness and providing support for all those suffering from any mental health challenges. Please contact Lesley Bravo, founder and CEO at info@forabetterdayfoundation.org to learn more.
BOCA RATON, FL - Isabela Allard Smith, age 19, of Boca Raton, Florida, died unexpectedly on March 27, 2022. She was the loving daughter of Felicia and Erik and sister of Sophia and Nicholas.
Isabela was born in São Paulo, Brazil on September 10, 2002, where she lived most of her life. In São Paulo, she attended Grade School where she formed lifelong friendships, adored singing in the chorus, playing on the girl's basketball team, and was a member of the Hipica Equestrian Vaulting Team. After Brazil, the family moved to Washington D.C. and Switzerland before settling in Boca Raton.
Isabela's greatest gift was her music. She could pick up lyrics after a single listen and play it beautifully on her guitar; she also composed hundreds of songs, with some being recognized in a recent widely attended Boca Rate music event.
Isabela's family meant the world to her and she will be deeply missed. Although she left this earth way too soon, we are grateful that she has finally found peace in the hands of a loving God.
A funeral will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church (the same church where Felicia and Erik were married) in Lakeville, CT on Saturday, April 02 at 11am with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, CT. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made in her memory to The Bela Fund at For A Better Day Foundation, a non-profit committed to creating mental health awareness, breaking the stigma about mental illness and providing support for all those suffering from any mental health challenges. Please contact Lesley Bravo, founder and CEO at info@forabetterdayfoundation.org to learn more.
Teresa Manko
LAKEVILLE — Teresa B. Manko, 97, of Lakeville, died March 23, 2022. She was the widow of William H. Manko.
Born on Dec. 30, 1924, she was the daughter of Veronica and Anthony Zaloga.
Originally from Pleasant Mount, Pa., Teri and her husband and two children lived in New Jersey.
She and her husband moved to Lakeville in 1978, when he became plant manager of the Keuffel & Esser Co. in Millerton.
She was an active volunteer with more than 20 years working the jewelry table at the Noble Horizons Auxiliary Annual Holiday Fair. Additionally, she worked many years with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut at the massive tag sale held every summer.
Teri and her husband were longtime members of Lakeville’s St. Mary Church. As a church fundraiser she made pressed flower pictures, cards and bookmarks, which were sold at the annual Salisbury Fall Festival.
For fun she enjoyed golfing at Hotchkiss, bowling in Great Barrington, gardening and cooking.
She is survived by a daughter, Joyce Manko, and her partner, Kurt Freehauf, of New Jersey; a daughter-in-law, Janet Manko, of Lakeville; a granddaughter, Amber Manko, of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Adeline Heesh, of Lake Como, Pa.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, William M. Manko; and five of her brothers and sisters.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Lakeville. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salisbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SVNA Home Assistance at www.vnhlc.org/services/home-assistance or to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service at www.salisburyambulance.org.
LAKEVILLE — Teresa B. Manko, 97, of Lakeville, died March 23, 2022. She was the widow of William H. Manko.
Born on Dec. 30, 1924, she was the daughter of Veronica and Anthony Zaloga.
Originally from Pleasant Mount, Pa., Teri and her husband and two children lived in New Jersey.
She and her husband moved to Lakeville in 1978, when he became plant manager of the Keuffel & Esser Co. in Millerton.
She was an active volunteer with more than 20 years working the jewelry table at the Noble Horizons Auxiliary Annual Holiday Fair. Additionally, she worked many years with Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut at the massive tag sale held every summer.
Teri and her husband were longtime members of Lakeville’s St. Mary Church. As a church fundraiser she made pressed flower pictures, cards and bookmarks, which were sold at the annual Salisbury Fall Festival.
For fun she enjoyed golfing at Hotchkiss, bowling in Great Barrington, gardening and cooking.
She is survived by a daughter, Joyce Manko, and her partner, Kurt Freehauf, of New Jersey; a daughter-in-law, Janet Manko, of Lakeville; a granddaughter, Amber Manko, of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Adeline Heesh, of Lake Como, Pa.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, William M. Manko; and five of her brothers and sisters.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Lakeville. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salisbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SVNA Home Assistance at www.vnhlc.org/services/home-assistance or to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service at www.salisburyambulance.org.
Ann Kenny
BURKE, VA - LTC (retired) Ann Kenny, 66, died March 21, 2022, at her home in Burke, Virginia.
She was the loving wife of LTC (retired) Timothy (Joe) Kenny and mother of Grant Kenny.
Ann was born May 28, 1955, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the daughter the late COL George and Mrs. Margaret (Baggett) Stukhart. She graduated from George Mason University in 1978 with a B.S. in Nursing and holds a master’s degree in Public Health from Tulane University. She entered the Army in 1978. Her many assignments include: Medical-Surgical Staff Nurse and Operating Room Staff Nurse at Fort Meade, MD (1978-1981) and Operating Room Nurse at Fort Bragg, NC (1981-1983); the Officer’s Advanced Course at Fort Sam Houston and staff officer on the faculty of AMEDD Center (1983-1986) at Fort Sam Houston, TX. LTC Kenny was the Community Health Nurse at Fort Knox, KY (1986-1989) and the Chief, Community Health Nurse at Fort Stewart, GA (1990-1991). During her tenure at Fort Stewart, LTC Kenny developed innovative programs to support the soldiers and families during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. These programs were featured on the NBC Today Show worldwide, the Armed Forces Television Network and local television stations. In 1992, LTC Kenny was assigned as the Chief, Health and Fitness Division and concurrently the Chief, Personnel Programs, V Corps Headquarters in Frankfurt Germany. While at V Corps, LTC Kenny also served as Chief, Executive Services, Secretary of the General Staff. In July 1994, LTC Kenny was deployed to serve on Joint Task Force Support Hope, the Rwandan relief mission. She served as both Deputy Surgeon, Rear, and then as the JTF Surgeon Rear. Before retiring in July 1999, LTC Kenny was assigned as to DoD Health Affairs.
LTC Kenny holds numerous awards to include the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Metal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Joan of Ark Award from the U.S. Armor Association for excellence in service to the military community.
Retiring from the Army in 1999, Ann pursued various career opportunities that leveraged her clinical knowledge and understanding of federal healthcare while providing professional growth. Her first post military job was with the American Institutes for Research as a senior research scientist and program manager. Other companies that benefited from her broad scope of knowledge included SAIC, SRA, HP, NGS, Telligen, Keypro, and IntelliDyne. She completed her career at Healthcare Management Solutions (HMS) from 2020-2022 as their Chief Growth Officer. Nominated and chosen by her peers she was honored with the FedHealthIT 100Honors Award for 2022. This award recognizes individuals for advancing the Federal Health Information Technology and Consulting Market. Additionally, Ann was active in the National Capital Area Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) She was elected and served as President Elect and President of the NCA Chapter from 2011-2013. Most significantly, Ann continued to help lead the chapter after her term by mentoring future chapter leaders and directing the mentorship program, with 20-30 mentees each year. Her dedicated contributions left a positive impact on the nation’s challenges.
She is survived by her husband Joe, a son, Grant and wife Mandy, her sister Carol Weart and her husband Jeff Weart, and their two children Major David Weart and Robert Weart.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/home, and if you can, adopt a pet today!
BURKE, VA - LTC (retired) Ann Kenny, 66, died March 21, 2022, at her home in Burke, Virginia.
She was the loving wife of LTC (retired) Timothy (Joe) Kenny and mother of Grant Kenny.
Ann was born May 28, 1955, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the daughter the late COL George and Mrs. Margaret (Baggett) Stukhart. She graduated from George Mason University in 1978 with a B.S. in Nursing and holds a master’s degree in Public Health from Tulane University. She entered the Army in 1978. Her many assignments include: Medical-Surgical Staff Nurse and Operating Room Staff Nurse at Fort Meade, MD (1978-1981) and Operating Room Nurse at Fort Bragg, NC (1981-1983); the Officer’s Advanced Course at Fort Sam Houston and staff officer on the faculty of AMEDD Center (1983-1986) at Fort Sam Houston, TX. LTC Kenny was the Community Health Nurse at Fort Knox, KY (1986-1989) and the Chief, Community Health Nurse at Fort Stewart, GA (1990-1991). During her tenure at Fort Stewart, LTC Kenny developed innovative programs to support the soldiers and families during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. These programs were featured on the NBC Today Show worldwide, the Armed Forces Television Network and local television stations. In 1992, LTC Kenny was assigned as the Chief, Health and Fitness Division and concurrently the Chief, Personnel Programs, V Corps Headquarters in Frankfurt Germany. While at V Corps, LTC Kenny also served as Chief, Executive Services, Secretary of the General Staff. In July 1994, LTC Kenny was deployed to serve on Joint Task Force Support Hope, the Rwandan relief mission. She served as both Deputy Surgeon, Rear, and then as the JTF Surgeon Rear. Before retiring in July 1999, LTC Kenny was assigned as to DoD Health Affairs.
LTC Kenny holds numerous awards to include the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Metal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Joan of Ark Award from the U.S. Armor Association for excellence in service to the military community.
Retiring from the Army in 1999, Ann pursued various career opportunities that leveraged her clinical knowledge and understanding of federal healthcare while providing professional growth. Her first post military job was with the American Institutes for Research as a senior research scientist and program manager. Other companies that benefited from her broad scope of knowledge included SAIC, SRA, HP, NGS, Telligen, Keypro, and IntelliDyne. She completed her career at Healthcare Management Solutions (HMS) from 2020-2022 as their Chief Growth Officer. Nominated and chosen by her peers she was honored with the FedHealthIT 100Honors Award for 2022. This award recognizes individuals for advancing the Federal Health Information Technology and Consulting Market. Additionally, Ann was active in the National Capital Area Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) She was elected and served as President Elect and President of the NCA Chapter from 2011-2013. Most significantly, Ann continued to help lead the chapter after her term by mentoring future chapter leaders and directing the mentorship program, with 20-30 mentees each year. Her dedicated contributions left a positive impact on the nation’s challenges.
She is survived by her husband Joe, a son, Grant and wife Mandy, her sister Carol Weart and her husband Jeff Weart, and their two children Major David Weart and Robert Weart.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/home, and if you can, adopt a pet today!
Robert Murray
SALISBURY – Robert J. Murray, 82, of Salisbury, CT died on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck, NY.
Born in Middlebury, VT he was the son of the late Alfred and Vena (Holbrook) Murray.
Robert (Bob) enjoyed fishing, hunting, and playing golf. He was a farmer for his entire life. At the age of 52 he began working as the property manager for the Kimmel Estate in Salisbury, where he was employed until retiring in July of 2021. However, his most loved thing was his family.
Robert was predeceased by his wife, Patricia (Degreenia) Murray, and his brothers Francis Murray and George Murray.
Robert is survived by his four sons Joseph and his partner Caroline, Patric and his wife Donna, Richard and his wife Deborah, and Randal and his wife Barbara. His five grandchildren Steve, Paige, Garrett, Evelyn, and Grayson as well as his great-grandson Lucas. He is also survived by his sister Harriet Dawson and his brother Roger Murray.
Calling hours will be Thursday, March 17 at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon from 5-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 18 at 10am at St. Bernard Church in Sharon. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Salisbury. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, 8 Under Mountain Rd, Salisbury, CT 06068.
SALISBURY – Robert J. Murray, 82, of Salisbury, CT died on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck, NY.
Born in Middlebury, VT he was the son of the late Alfred and Vena (Holbrook) Murray.
Robert (Bob) enjoyed fishing, hunting, and playing golf. He was a farmer for his entire life. At the age of 52 he began working as the property manager for the Kimmel Estate in Salisbury, where he was employed until retiring in July of 2021. However, his most loved thing was his family.
Robert was predeceased by his wife, Patricia (Degreenia) Murray, and his brothers Francis Murray and George Murray.
Robert is survived by his four sons Joseph and his partner Caroline, Patric and his wife Donna, Richard and his wife Deborah, and Randal and his wife Barbara. His five grandchildren Steve, Paige, Garrett, Evelyn, and Grayson as well as his great-grandson Lucas. He is also survived by his sister Harriet Dawson and his brother Roger Murray.
Calling hours will be Thursday, March 17 at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon from 5-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 18 at 10am at St. Bernard Church in Sharon. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Salisbury. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, 8 Under Mountain Rd, Salisbury, CT 06068.
Cornelius Kettner
GOSHEN - Cornelius (Neil) Kettner born on April 8, 1931 to Hedwig Weimann and John Vis in Bay Shore, NY, passed away on March 9, 2022. Neil's father passed away in 1938 and was later adopted by his beloved stepfather, Ehardt Kettner.
They moved to Lindenhurst, NY where Neil grew up.
Neil loved to play sports and was the captain of the Lindenhurst football and basketball teams. He also played outfield on the baseball team. Growing up on the south shore of Long Island, Neil developed his love of the Great South Bay. After briefly attending Springfield College, he joined the Air Force and served in combat during the Korean War.
In 1956 he married Helen Goldacker who was the love of his life. They were happily married for 65 years. He and Helen settled in East Islip, NY. They along with their two children shared a love of their German Shepherds, boating on the Great South Bay and camping with their travel trailer. Neil was on a bowling league for many years. He was involved in volunteer organizations, fundraising for charities, and placing flags and wreaths on the graves of veterans.
After retirement, Neil and Helen traveled with their camper all over the U.S. seeing new sights and visiting friends and family.
In 2007 they moved to Goshen, CT to be closer to their daughter and her extended family. Neil enjoyed visiting with family and friends, being with his wife and caring for his home.
Neil is survived by his wife Helen Kettner, daughter Kim and her husband Patrick Redmond of Cornwall Bridge, CT. His son John Kettner and wife Nancy, two grandchildren, Jack and Marie Kettner of Bay Shore, NY. His grandchild Andros Thomson and wife Caitlin Stupak Thomson, granddaughters Elizabeth Thomson and Caitlin Redmond of Cornwall Bridge, CT. Great granddaughters Roslyn and Lydia of Canaan, CT. Neil is also survived by his brother in law Frederick Goldacker of Sayville, NY, nephew Frederick Goldacker and wife Jill, great nieces Abbey and Olivia of Manorville, NY and niece MaryKatherine Goldacker of Sayville, NY.
Neil lived a long and happy life. Neil was a quiet man who had an incredible sense of humor. He had strong faith, love of family and friends. He will be dearly missed.
Services with military honors will be held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Cornwall, CT at 11am on May 7th with private celebration of life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to Kenny Funeral Home, PO Box 12, Sharon, CT 06069, for a memorial park bench to be placed at East Slip Marina overlooking the Great South Bay.
GOSHEN - Cornelius (Neil) Kettner born on April 8, 1931 to Hedwig Weimann and John Vis in Bay Shore, NY, passed away on March 9, 2022. Neil's father passed away in 1938 and was later adopted by his beloved stepfather, Ehardt Kettner.
They moved to Lindenhurst, NY where Neil grew up.
Neil loved to play sports and was the captain of the Lindenhurst football and basketball teams. He also played outfield on the baseball team. Growing up on the south shore of Long Island, Neil developed his love of the Great South Bay. After briefly attending Springfield College, he joined the Air Force and served in combat during the Korean War.
In 1956 he married Helen Goldacker who was the love of his life. They were happily married for 65 years. He and Helen settled in East Islip, NY. They along with their two children shared a love of their German Shepherds, boating on the Great South Bay and camping with their travel trailer. Neil was on a bowling league for many years. He was involved in volunteer organizations, fundraising for charities, and placing flags and wreaths on the graves of veterans.
After retirement, Neil and Helen traveled with their camper all over the U.S. seeing new sights and visiting friends and family.
In 2007 they moved to Goshen, CT to be closer to their daughter and her extended family. Neil enjoyed visiting with family and friends, being with his wife and caring for his home.
Neil is survived by his wife Helen Kettner, daughter Kim and her husband Patrick Redmond of Cornwall Bridge, CT. His son John Kettner and wife Nancy, two grandchildren, Jack and Marie Kettner of Bay Shore, NY. His grandchild Andros Thomson and wife Caitlin Stupak Thomson, granddaughters Elizabeth Thomson and Caitlin Redmond of Cornwall Bridge, CT. Great granddaughters Roslyn and Lydia of Canaan, CT. Neil is also survived by his brother in law Frederick Goldacker of Sayville, NY, nephew Frederick Goldacker and wife Jill, great nieces Abbey and Olivia of Manorville, NY and niece MaryKatherine Goldacker of Sayville, NY.
Neil lived a long and happy life. Neil was a quiet man who had an incredible sense of humor. He had strong faith, love of family and friends. He will be dearly missed.
Services with military honors will be held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Cornwall, CT at 11am on May 7th with private celebration of life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to Kenny Funeral Home, PO Box 12, Sharon, CT 06069, for a memorial park bench to be placed at East Slip Marina overlooking the Great South Bay.
Mary Adams
SHARON - Mary Peterson Adams, 96, of Hidden Lane, died March 06, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Canaan, CT. She was the wife of the late Walter Peterson and Howard Adams.
Mary was born January 12, 1926 in Sharon, CT. The daughter of the late William and Mary (Murphy)Pitcher. She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School. For over 30 years she was a Building Supervisor of the Wassaic State School. She was also an avid flower gardener, and a long-timecommunicant of St. Bernard Church.
Mary is survived by a son, Alan Peterson and his wife Laure of Dedham, MA and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:00AM at St. Bernard Church in Sharon. Burial is private at the Hillside Cemetery in Sharon in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Sharon, Department of Social Services Food Fund, PO Box 385, Sharon, CT 06069.
SHARON - Mary Peterson Adams, 96, of Hidden Lane, died March 06, 2022 at Geer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Canaan, CT. She was the wife of the late Walter Peterson and Howard Adams.
Mary was born January 12, 1926 in Sharon, CT. The daughter of the late William and Mary (Murphy)Pitcher. She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School. For over 30 years she was a Building Supervisor of the Wassaic State School. She was also an avid flower gardener, and a long-timecommunicant of St. Bernard Church.
Mary is survived by a son, Alan Peterson and his wife Laure of Dedham, MA and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:00AM at St. Bernard Church in Sharon. Burial is private at the Hillside Cemetery in Sharon in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Sharon, Department of Social Services Food Fund, PO Box 385, Sharon, CT 06069.
David Buckley
David J. Buckley, 86, passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022. David was born in Albany, NY. He attended Columbia High School in East Greenbush, NY. David served in the Army, was a Korean War Veteran, and Life-time Member of the VFW.
He was predeceased by his father David J. Buckley Sr, mother Ruth Miller Buckley, aunt Dolores Miller and his beloved wife Doris Pruner Buckley.
David is survived by his daughters Debra Wagner, Laura Baker, and Brenda McLean, his sisters Marge Dussich (Roswell, GA), Carolyn Cramer (Rensselaer, NY) and Ruth Nestler (Schodack, NY), his devoted friends and neighbors Lou-Ann and Darrell McEathron and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted in the Spring.
David J. Buckley, 86, passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022. David was born in Albany, NY. He attended Columbia High School in East Greenbush, NY. David served in the Army, was a Korean War Veteran, and Life-time Member of the VFW.
He was predeceased by his father David J. Buckley Sr, mother Ruth Miller Buckley, aunt Dolores Miller and his beloved wife Doris Pruner Buckley.
David is survived by his daughters Debra Wagner, Laura Baker, and Brenda McLean, his sisters Marge Dussich (Roswell, GA), Carolyn Cramer (Rensselaer, NY) and Ruth Nestler (Schodack, NY), his devoted friends and neighbors Lou-Ann and Darrell McEathron and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted in the Spring.
Clair Cohen
June 23, 1945-February 6, 2022
SHARON - Mrs. Clair Catherine Cohen, 76, of New York, NY, and Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully in her sleep in early February.
Clair was born on June 23, 1945 to the late Joseph John Joerg and Rosemary Newcomb Joerg in Brooklyn, NY. She was raised in Rockville Centre, NY where she graduated from St. Agnes Cathedral School. She attended the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. She then moved to New York, NY, where she met her beloved husband of twenty-eight years, Jay Jacob Cohen, who predeceased her in 2000.
For over thirty years Clair worked at Brandeis House, the former alumni house of Brandeis University in New York City, where she enjoyed planning events and welcoming visitors. But the primary focus of her life was caring for her husband and children. She is remembered for her consistent and loving engagement with her sons throughout their childhoods and adult lives, and for her selfless care of Jay during his long illness. She was absolutely devoted to her granddaughters. Her greatest joy was knowing that they were thriving, and she looked forward to nothing more than time with her family.
Clair embraced being a part of the daily life of New York City. She found joy in simple pleasures like stopping at a bakery, shopping for the perfect outfit for her granddaughters, or trying a new restaurant. She attended theatre performances, lunches with friends, and a weekly walking group in Central Park. She participated in many activities and volunteer opportunities at St. Thomas More Church, where she was in regular attendance for Mass.
She likewise enjoyed her time in Sharon, CT, where she had a home. She regularly hosted her siblings there over the years, joining them for excursions to museums and music concerts during summer visits. Antiquing and perusing the surrounding towns were among her favorite activities, as well as regular visits to the local library. When in Sharon she attended St. Bernard Church.
Clair was generous with her enthusiasm and interest, always inquiring about others. She remembered even the smallest details regarding the lives of those in her acquaintance. She was especially quick with discerning and humorous observations that could bring wisdom and levity to about any situation or topic in a moment. Clair was easy going and fun to be with, and is warmly remembered by her family and friends.
Clair is survived by her sons Brian Christopher (Vanessa) and Michael Andrew; granddaughters Katelyn and Elise; siblings Joseph (Mary Ellen) Jordan and Rosemary (Hans) Hinteregger; nieces Rosemary and Ellen and nephew Peter, and their families.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Bernard’s in Sharon, CT on February 19th at 11:00 with Monsignor Vittorio Guerrero officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
June 23, 1945-February 6, 2022
SHARON - Mrs. Clair Catherine Cohen, 76, of New York, NY, and Sharon, CT, passed away peacefully in her sleep in early February.
Clair was born on June 23, 1945 to the late Joseph John Joerg and Rosemary Newcomb Joerg in Brooklyn, NY. She was raised in Rockville Centre, NY where she graduated from St. Agnes Cathedral School. She attended the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. She then moved to New York, NY, where she met her beloved husband of twenty-eight years, Jay Jacob Cohen, who predeceased her in 2000.
For over thirty years Clair worked at Brandeis House, the former alumni house of Brandeis University in New York City, where she enjoyed planning events and welcoming visitors. But the primary focus of her life was caring for her husband and children. She is remembered for her consistent and loving engagement with her sons throughout their childhoods and adult lives, and for her selfless care of Jay during his long illness. She was absolutely devoted to her granddaughters. Her greatest joy was knowing that they were thriving, and she looked forward to nothing more than time with her family.
Clair embraced being a part of the daily life of New York City. She found joy in simple pleasures like stopping at a bakery, shopping for the perfect outfit for her granddaughters, or trying a new restaurant. She attended theatre performances, lunches with friends, and a weekly walking group in Central Park. She participated in many activities and volunteer opportunities at St. Thomas More Church, where she was in regular attendance for Mass.
She likewise enjoyed her time in Sharon, CT, where she had a home. She regularly hosted her siblings there over the years, joining them for excursions to museums and music concerts during summer visits. Antiquing and perusing the surrounding towns were among her favorite activities, as well as regular visits to the local library. When in Sharon she attended St. Bernard Church.
Clair was generous with her enthusiasm and interest, always inquiring about others. She remembered even the smallest details regarding the lives of those in her acquaintance. She was especially quick with discerning and humorous observations that could bring wisdom and levity to about any situation or topic in a moment. Clair was easy going and fun to be with, and is warmly remembered by her family and friends.
Clair is survived by her sons Brian Christopher (Vanessa) and Michael Andrew; granddaughters Katelyn and Elise; siblings Joseph (Mary Ellen) Jordan and Rosemary (Hans) Hinteregger; nieces Rosemary and Ellen and nephew Peter, and their families.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Bernard’s in Sharon, CT on February 19th at 11:00 with Monsignor Vittorio Guerrero officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Teresa Lovett
AMENIA, NY - Miss Teresa Lovett, 60, of Amenia, NY passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 after years of chronic lung problems and COPD.
Her survivors include her loving children, Tyler and Carly Miles, Trisha Gop, along with her two grandchildren, Gianna and Ethan. Her sister Trina Rosas, brother Philip Lovett and many nieces and nephews.
It is a tragedy to see such a fun-loving soul be taken so young. Anybody that knew Teresa knew she was a thrill-seeker who enjoyed spending time with those closest to her. She will be missed by many.
A graveside service will be held at the Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury, CT on Friday, February 11 at 1:30pm.
AMENIA, NY - Miss Teresa Lovett, 60, of Amenia, NY passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 after years of chronic lung problems and COPD.
Her survivors include her loving children, Tyler and Carly Miles, Trisha Gop, along with her two grandchildren, Gianna and Ethan. Her sister Trina Rosas, brother Philip Lovett and many nieces and nephews.
It is a tragedy to see such a fun-loving soul be taken so young. Anybody that knew Teresa knew she was a thrill-seeker who enjoyed spending time with those closest to her. She will be missed by many.
A graveside service will be held at the Salisbury Cemetery in Salisbury, CT on Friday, February 11 at 1:30pm.
Catherine Sherwood
SALISBURY - Catherine Sherwood, 86, of Salisbury, CT passed away January 6, 2022. She was the wife of the late Stan (Stubby) Sherwood who owned and operated Sherwood Nursery and Tree Service in Salisbury.
Cathy was born July 5, 1935 in Harrison, NY, the daughter of the late John and Loretta (Galena) Fennelly.
Cathy was a professional Social Worker, employed by Sharon Hospital for many years, helping many, many people throughout her life.
Affectionately know to her family as "Aunt Tassie" she was predeceased by her sisters Anna Marie (Sis) and Marbeth (Bussie); her brother Jim (Bub); and survived by many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, two great grand-nephews, and two great grand-nieces. Cathy will be sorely missed for her fun nature and salty language. She was the last of her generation and we loved her very much.
Graveside services will be held in mid-May at the Sherwood Family plot at the Salisbury Cemetery.
SALISBURY - Catherine Sherwood, 86, of Salisbury, CT passed away January 6, 2022. She was the wife of the late Stan (Stubby) Sherwood who owned and operated Sherwood Nursery and Tree Service in Salisbury.
Cathy was born July 5, 1935 in Harrison, NY, the daughter of the late John and Loretta (Galena) Fennelly.
Cathy was a professional Social Worker, employed by Sharon Hospital for many years, helping many, many people throughout her life.
Affectionately know to her family as "Aunt Tassie" she was predeceased by her sisters Anna Marie (Sis) and Marbeth (Bussie); her brother Jim (Bub); and survived by many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, two great grand-nephews, and two great grand-nieces. Cathy will be sorely missed for her fun nature and salty language. She was the last of her generation and we loved her very much.
Graveside services will be held in mid-May at the Sherwood Family plot at the Salisbury Cemetery.
Herbert Lee
SHARON - Herbert W. Lee, 84, of Sharon Valley Road died January 8, 2022. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth Lee.
Herbert was born April 21, 1937 in Winsted Hospital, the son of the late Abel and Agnes Lee. He worked in manufacturing at Tri Wall Containers for many years as well as the Lee family farm. During his retirement he worked at Maplebrook School.
His granddaughter Melissa Woodin discovered his great love to travel and took him on many adventures with her family during his retirement which he simply adored.
Herbert is survived by two sons Herbert and Kenny Lee. Three daughters Debbie, Cindy and Terry. His brothers Jimmy and John Lee and a sister Louise Parenteau. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a son Robert Lee, a daughter Kim Carberry, a brother Abel Lee and a sister Ellen Mahone.
A memorial service will be held privately by the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
SHARON - Herbert W. Lee, 84, of Sharon Valley Road died January 8, 2022. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth Lee.
Herbert was born April 21, 1937 in Winsted Hospital, the son of the late Abel and Agnes Lee. He worked in manufacturing at Tri Wall Containers for many years as well as the Lee family farm. During his retirement he worked at Maplebrook School.
His granddaughter Melissa Woodin discovered his great love to travel and took him on many adventures with her family during his retirement which he simply adored.
Herbert is survived by two sons Herbert and Kenny Lee. Three daughters Debbie, Cindy and Terry. His brothers Jimmy and John Lee and a sister Louise Parenteau. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a son Robert Lee, a daughter Kim Carberry, a brother Abel Lee and a sister Ellen Mahone.
A memorial service will be held privately by the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT. 06069.
Ralph Lowell Jr.
Ralph Allen Lowell Jr, 73, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 18, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.
Ralph was born August 29, 1948 to Ralph Allen Lowell Sr and Hilda "Sager" Lowell.
The oldest of 12 siblings, he entered into the Army, in November of 1967, at the age of 19 and served as a Military Policeman until November of 1970. Ralph met the love of his life during that time and he and Patricia May Bassingthwaite were married on January 4, 1970. They shared more than 5 decades together and had 2 daughters.
Throughout his life, Ralph enjoyed motorcycle riding, fishing, antique cars and was an avid golfer. He played in the Danbury Dusty League with his brother and many friends for close to 25 years.
Ralph was predeceased by his parents; sister, Patricia; brother, John; half sister, Sharon and grandsons, Jeffrey and Bobby. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia; daughters, Elizabeth Tarnauskas (Brian); Penny Ciliberti (Joseph); brothers, Richard (Barbara); James; George (Patricia); Ernie (Jo); sisters, Myra Brandt (Wayne); Linda Truskauskas (John); Bertha Bronson (Carl); Elizabeth Cash (Joseph); Eleanor Lowell (Joseph); half sisters, Marge Couture and Susan Robinson, as well as 4 Grandchildren, 4 Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held for family with a Celebration of Life to follow in the spring. Date and location yet to be determined.
Ralph Allen Lowell Jr, 73, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 18, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.
Ralph was born August 29, 1948 to Ralph Allen Lowell Sr and Hilda "Sager" Lowell.
The oldest of 12 siblings, he entered into the Army, in November of 1967, at the age of 19 and served as a Military Policeman until November of 1970. Ralph met the love of his life during that time and he and Patricia May Bassingthwaite were married on January 4, 1970. They shared more than 5 decades together and had 2 daughters.
Throughout his life, Ralph enjoyed motorcycle riding, fishing, antique cars and was an avid golfer. He played in the Danbury Dusty League with his brother and many friends for close to 25 years.
Ralph was predeceased by his parents; sister, Patricia; brother, John; half sister, Sharon and grandsons, Jeffrey and Bobby. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia; daughters, Elizabeth Tarnauskas (Brian); Penny Ciliberti (Joseph); brothers, Richard (Barbara); James; George (Patricia); Ernie (Jo); sisters, Myra Brandt (Wayne); Linda Truskauskas (John); Bertha Bronson (Carl); Elizabeth Cash (Joseph); Eleanor Lowell (Joseph); half sisters, Marge Couture and Susan Robinson, as well as 4 Grandchildren, 4 Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held for family with a Celebration of Life to follow in the spring. Date and location yet to be determined.
Ann Arensberg
SALISBURY - Ann E. Arensberg, prize-winning author and long-time resident of Salisbury died at the Sharon Health Care Center on Thursday morning, January 13, 2022. She was 84 years old. The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest complicated by Covid 19, according to the medical report and the Kenny Funeral Home.
A long-time resident of Salisbury where she and her husband, the late Richard Grossman moved in the 1980’s, Ann was an avid reader, fine cook, gardener, and a devoted friend. She will be long remembered for her warmth and open nature, her lively wit, and her sharp eye for the foibles of human nature. She and her husband Dick, an accomplished writer in his own right were both deeply committed to their friends and neighbors in the Salisbury community.
Ann achieved wide recognition as an author in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Her outstanding recognition came when she received a National Book Award in 1981 for her debut novel, Sister Wolf which had been published the year before. Before that, however, her first short story, Art History, published in the journal ANTAEUS in 1974 was selected for inclusion in the O’Henry Prize collection for 1975. A second story, Group Sex, published in CANTO (1979) also was selected for the O’Henry Prize the following year. Ann expanded Group Sex into a novel which came out in 1986. After a long pause, she finished her last novel INCUBUS which was published
Reviews of Sister Wolf, a story of the tragic outcome of unhinged jealousy and love described Ann as a writer of fine prose and compelling character, crisp, urbane, and alive with wit. Group Sex, her second novel, took a more comic route to portray “ a kind of spineless editor and her torrid affair with an avant-guard theater director.” Incubus drove Ann more deeply into her fascination with the supernatural -shape changers, exorcism, and sexual anxiety- but it also painted a careful portrait of a small New England community and the ups and downs and many tones of marriage.
Ann was born on February 21, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Mariada Comer and Walter E. Arensberg. In early 1946, shortly after her father returned from service in the Navy in WWII, she and her younger brother, Walter moved with the family to Habana, Cuba where her father represented the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. In Habana, her mother was active in community affairs and, eventually, joined the staff of Ruston Academy, a well-known bilingual school in the city. The family lived in Habana until the Fall of 1960, nearly two years after the Castro revolution, at which point, her mother, now divorced, moved to Washington D.C., where she ran Free Cuba Radio and later worked in education and cultural affairs for the US Department of State. Her father had left Cuba and Pittsburgh Plate Glass earlier in 1959 and eventually went to work for the US Agency for International Development in Honduras and Uruguay until his death at the age of 69 in 1981. Ann’s mother died many years later in 2005 at the age of 92.
After Ann went off to boarding school at Concord Academy in Massachusetts at the age of 15, she rarely looked back on her life in Habana. From then on, her education, literary work, and domestic life was rooted in Cambridge, Mass., New York, and the hills of Connecticut’s Northwest Corner. She went to Radcliffe College, graduating in 1958 with a BA in art history and subsequently received a MA in French Literature from Harvard University in 1962. Moving to New York after college, Ann worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and E.P. Dutton publishers before joining Viking Press as an editor in 1967. Having begun to write seriously in her own right, Ann left Viking Press in 1974. In June 1976, Ann married Richard Grossman, a colleague at Viking. Dick was the founder of Grossman Publishers which had been acquired by the Viking Press. Ann was married to Dick for 38 years until his death at 92 in early 2014. He was the solid rock foundation of her life. Her two previous marriages to Pierre Leval, a lawyer, and John Hancock, a theater and movie director ended in divorce.
Ann is survived by her brother Walter and her beloved niece and nephew Chloe and Alexander Arensberg, as well as three stepchildren, Dick Grossman’s daughters: Joan Grossman of Philadelphia, Nancy Nagle of East Hampton, New York, and Lucy Rochambeau also of East Hampton.
A remembrance of Ann is planned for early summer. At her request, donations in her memory may be made to the Little Guild, animal shelter: Little Guild, 285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, Connecticut 06796 (www.littleguild.org).
SALISBURY - Ann E. Arensberg, prize-winning author and long-time resident of Salisbury died at the Sharon Health Care Center on Thursday morning, January 13, 2022. She was 84 years old. The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest complicated by Covid 19, according to the medical report and the Kenny Funeral Home.
A long-time resident of Salisbury where she and her husband, the late Richard Grossman moved in the 1980’s, Ann was an avid reader, fine cook, gardener, and a devoted friend. She will be long remembered for her warmth and open nature, her lively wit, and her sharp eye for the foibles of human nature. She and her husband Dick, an accomplished writer in his own right were both deeply committed to their friends and neighbors in the Salisbury community.
Ann achieved wide recognition as an author in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Her outstanding recognition came when she received a National Book Award in 1981 for her debut novel, Sister Wolf which had been published the year before. Before that, however, her first short story, Art History, published in the journal ANTAEUS in 1974 was selected for inclusion in the O’Henry Prize collection for 1975. A second story, Group Sex, published in CANTO (1979) also was selected for the O’Henry Prize the following year. Ann expanded Group Sex into a novel which came out in 1986. After a long pause, she finished her last novel INCUBUS which was published
Reviews of Sister Wolf, a story of the tragic outcome of unhinged jealousy and love described Ann as a writer of fine prose and compelling character, crisp, urbane, and alive with wit. Group Sex, her second novel, took a more comic route to portray “ a kind of spineless editor and her torrid affair with an avant-guard theater director.” Incubus drove Ann more deeply into her fascination with the supernatural -shape changers, exorcism, and sexual anxiety- but it also painted a careful portrait of a small New England community and the ups and downs and many tones of marriage.
Ann was born on February 21, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Mariada Comer and Walter E. Arensberg. In early 1946, shortly after her father returned from service in the Navy in WWII, she and her younger brother, Walter moved with the family to Habana, Cuba where her father represented the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. In Habana, her mother was active in community affairs and, eventually, joined the staff of Ruston Academy, a well-known bilingual school in the city. The family lived in Habana until the Fall of 1960, nearly two years after the Castro revolution, at which point, her mother, now divorced, moved to Washington D.C., where she ran Free Cuba Radio and later worked in education and cultural affairs for the US Department of State. Her father had left Cuba and Pittsburgh Plate Glass earlier in 1959 and eventually went to work for the US Agency for International Development in Honduras and Uruguay until his death at the age of 69 in 1981. Ann’s mother died many years later in 2005 at the age of 92.
After Ann went off to boarding school at Concord Academy in Massachusetts at the age of 15, she rarely looked back on her life in Habana. From then on, her education, literary work, and domestic life was rooted in Cambridge, Mass., New York, and the hills of Connecticut’s Northwest Corner. She went to Radcliffe College, graduating in 1958 with a BA in art history and subsequently received a MA in French Literature from Harvard University in 1962. Moving to New York after college, Ann worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and E.P. Dutton publishers before joining Viking Press as an editor in 1967. Having begun to write seriously in her own right, Ann left Viking Press in 1974. In June 1976, Ann married Richard Grossman, a colleague at Viking. Dick was the founder of Grossman Publishers which had been acquired by the Viking Press. Ann was married to Dick for 38 years until his death at 92 in early 2014. He was the solid rock foundation of her life. Her two previous marriages to Pierre Leval, a lawyer, and John Hancock, a theater and movie director ended in divorce.
Ann is survived by her brother Walter and her beloved niece and nephew Chloe and Alexander Arensberg, as well as three stepchildren, Dick Grossman’s daughters: Joan Grossman of Philadelphia, Nancy Nagle of East Hampton, New York, and Lucy Rochambeau also of East Hampton.
A remembrance of Ann is planned for early summer. At her request, donations in her memory may be made to the Little Guild, animal shelter: Little Guild, 285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, Connecticut 06796 (www.littleguild.org).
George Wilkens
AMENIA, NY - George F. Wilkens, 94, of Amenia, and formerly Bedford, New York, died January 12, 2022. He had recovered from a serious fall in November but developed pneumonia at Christmas time. He was the loving husband of Mary Ann Wilkens.
George was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 3, 1928, the son of George W. and Anna Reischer Wilkens. During World War II he became a U. S. merchant mariner at 16, participating in the last of the famous and dangerous Murmansk runs to Russia. Forty-eight years later the Russian government was finally allowed to award those surviving mariners with a memorial medal at an official reception at the Russian Embassy in Washington, thanking them for shipping food and supplies to a starving Russian nation. Toward the end of the war George joined the Navy, and later the Coast Guard, spending three years in the Pacific. After marrying Mary Ann on January 3, 1953, he worked in the Insurance industry while attending college at night. In 1957, he rejoined the Coast Guard, attending the Coast Guard Officer Training School in New London, then serving three years aboard the USCG Cutter Rockaway in the North Atlantic, and later joining the Reserve unit in Westport, CT. He returned to the Insurance field in 1961, working as a fire adjuster, underwriter, and later as a fine arts adjuster. He kept up his college studies, and was graduated from Pace University during those early working years.
George was a voracious reader, probably one of the few today, who despite failing eyesight, finished all three volumes of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, as well as numerous books on history and politics. He had a remarkable memory to the end on a wide range of subjects and was a great storyteller. Family and friends often said “George will know that!” His children often remarked on his impeccably simple taste and his love of a bad pun and a good dessert. He loved long walks, especially with his beloved dogs, a pleasure he had to forego when his balance deteriorated. His stoicism in the face of his failing health and strength was remarkable.
He is survived by his loving children, Kate Franklin, Matthew and Brett Wilkens; five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Katherine, Christopher, Hailey and Olivia; and six great-grandchildren: Adeline, Easton, Margaret, Hayden, Atticus, and Remington. He is also survived by his sister Ann Benson of Georgia. He was predeceased by his younger brother David.
A memorial will be held in the spring at a date to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to The Amenia Fire Company, Mechanic Street, Amenia, New York, 12501, whose frequent and unfailing assistance to George was, and is, so sincerely appreciated.
AMENIA, NY - George F. Wilkens, 94, of Amenia, and formerly Bedford, New York, died January 12, 2022. He had recovered from a serious fall in November but developed pneumonia at Christmas time. He was the loving husband of Mary Ann Wilkens.
George was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 3, 1928, the son of George W. and Anna Reischer Wilkens. During World War II he became a U. S. merchant mariner at 16, participating in the last of the famous and dangerous Murmansk runs to Russia. Forty-eight years later the Russian government was finally allowed to award those surviving mariners with a memorial medal at an official reception at the Russian Embassy in Washington, thanking them for shipping food and supplies to a starving Russian nation. Toward the end of the war George joined the Navy, and later the Coast Guard, spending three years in the Pacific. After marrying Mary Ann on January 3, 1953, he worked in the Insurance industry while attending college at night. In 1957, he rejoined the Coast Guard, attending the Coast Guard Officer Training School in New London, then serving three years aboard the USCG Cutter Rockaway in the North Atlantic, and later joining the Reserve unit in Westport, CT. He returned to the Insurance field in 1961, working as a fire adjuster, underwriter, and later as a fine arts adjuster. He kept up his college studies, and was graduated from Pace University during those early working years.
George was a voracious reader, probably one of the few today, who despite failing eyesight, finished all three volumes of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, as well as numerous books on history and politics. He had a remarkable memory to the end on a wide range of subjects and was a great storyteller. Family and friends often said “George will know that!” His children often remarked on his impeccably simple taste and his love of a bad pun and a good dessert. He loved long walks, especially with his beloved dogs, a pleasure he had to forego when his balance deteriorated. His stoicism in the face of his failing health and strength was remarkable.
He is survived by his loving children, Kate Franklin, Matthew and Brett Wilkens; five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Katherine, Christopher, Hailey and Olivia; and six great-grandchildren: Adeline, Easton, Margaret, Hayden, Atticus, and Remington. He is also survived by his sister Ann Benson of Georgia. He was predeceased by his younger brother David.
A memorial will be held in the spring at a date to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to The Amenia Fire Company, Mechanic Street, Amenia, New York, 12501, whose frequent and unfailing assistance to George was, and is, so sincerely appreciated.
George Reid, Jr.
George Reid, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 3, 2022. Born on December 10, 1930 in New York City, he is the youngest and last of four siblings who preceded him in death.
George went to Taft School (‘49), and Oberlin college (‘53), embracing history and jazz as well as becoming an All American soccer player. He had the fortune to go on as an educator, touching the lives of many young people throughout the US and Switzerland.
His love for New England, specifically Northwestern CT, kept him here for most of his adult life; hiking, canoeing, and enjoying the bird life of the area, were some of his treasured pastimes.
He is survived by 3 sons, Michael, James, and Samuel plus many grandchildren who will love and miss him very much.
George Reid, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 3, 2022. Born on December 10, 1930 in New York City, he is the youngest and last of four siblings who preceded him in death.
George went to Taft School (‘49), and Oberlin college (‘53), embracing history and jazz as well as becoming an All American soccer player. He had the fortune to go on as an educator, touching the lives of many young people throughout the US and Switzerland.
His love for New England, specifically Northwestern CT, kept him here for most of his adult life; hiking, canoeing, and enjoying the bird life of the area, were some of his treasured pastimes.
He is survived by 3 sons, Michael, James, and Samuel plus many grandchildren who will love and miss him very much.
Janis Downey
SHARON - Janis Downey , age 83 , died January 3, 2022 in Sharon CT. She was the loving wife of the late John A. Downey MD.
Janis was born June 14, 1938 in Middlesex , UK, the only child of Arnold and Katherine (nee Procter) Piggott. Following completion of her education including secretarial training in Oxford England, Janis moved to London where she worked for various Members of Parliament. She always fondly remembered her nine years working for Baron Richard Luce former Lord Chamberlain to the Queen and a Conservative Member of Parliament.
While on vacation in Italy in 1980 she met her future husband John. After a long distance romance they married in 1983 in NYC. They then split their time between their home in NYC and their farmhouse in Sharon, CT where Janis was able to indulge her lifelong love of animals.
A memorial service will be held at the Sharon Congregational Church in Sharon, CT on Saturday January 15 at 1 pm. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sharon Congregational Church, 25 Main St., Sharon, CT 06069.
SHARON - Janis Downey , age 83 , died January 3, 2022 in Sharon CT. She was the loving wife of the late John A. Downey MD.
Janis was born June 14, 1938 in Middlesex , UK, the only child of Arnold and Katherine (nee Procter) Piggott. Following completion of her education including secretarial training in Oxford England, Janis moved to London where she worked for various Members of Parliament. She always fondly remembered her nine years working for Baron Richard Luce former Lord Chamberlain to the Queen and a Conservative Member of Parliament.
While on vacation in Italy in 1980 she met her future husband John. After a long distance romance they married in 1983 in NYC. They then split their time between their home in NYC and their farmhouse in Sharon, CT where Janis was able to indulge her lifelong love of animals.
A memorial service will be held at the Sharon Congregational Church in Sharon, CT on Saturday January 15 at 1 pm. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sharon Congregational Church, 25 Main St., Sharon, CT 06069.
Mary Laidman
SHARON - Mary Agnus (Towers) Laidman, 97, died January 1, 2022. She was the wife for 42 years of Dr. Herbert Andrew Laidman, who predeceased her in 1987.
Mary was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on January 31, 1924, the daughter of the late Mary (Campbell) and Daniel John Towers.
She graduated from Prospect Heights Hospital with an R.N. degree in 1945 and then attended Columbia University, where she received a B.S. in Nursing. Mary was a nurse for many years in the greater metro New York area.
Later in life, she attended the Westchester School of Counseling and Psychotherapy, where she received a degree in addiction counseling. Mary worked for more than 12 years at Serenity Hill, later Parkside Lodge (now Mountainside) in North Canaan. She developed and ran the Family Program there and was the assistant manager.
She was also a volunteer for more than 12 years at Sharon Hospital as a patient representative.
She was an avid swimmer and a longtime member of the Kilpatrick Athletic Center in Great Barrington, where she swam three to four times a week and developed a group of close friends.
Those who knew her understand why she made such a great nurse, counselor and patient advocate. She had a sixth sense about people, was incredibly intuitive and truly cared for people.
Make no mistake: She was no shrinking violet. She stood up for her rights and those of others. Her motto was Primum, Non Nocere (“First, Do No Harm”) taken from the AMA.
For 42 years Mary and her love, Herb, shared a beautiful, active life together. As their only child, daughter Mimi and Mary were very close.
Mary loved her grandchildren and spent a lot of time with them. She and Kyle would spend many weekends when he was young going on “adventures” to fairs, events, museums etc. and even up in an open-air bi-plane. Mary and Zoe loved their dress-up, formal tea parties, playing what they called, “The Ladies from Baltimore.” She was so happy at the arrival of her great-grandson, Kane.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Mimi Harson, AKA Mary Elizabeth Laidman; her beloved grandchildren, Kyle J. Laidman and Zoe E. Harson; and her great-grandson, Kane A. Laidman
She was predeceased by her brother, John Towers; and her sister, Virginia Towers Frawley.
Her wit, wisdom and love will be greatly missed.
SHARON - Mary Agnus (Towers) Laidman, 97, died January 1, 2022. She was the wife for 42 years of Dr. Herbert Andrew Laidman, who predeceased her in 1987.
Mary was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on January 31, 1924, the daughter of the late Mary (Campbell) and Daniel John Towers.
She graduated from Prospect Heights Hospital with an R.N. degree in 1945 and then attended Columbia University, where she received a B.S. in Nursing. Mary was a nurse for many years in the greater metro New York area.
Later in life, she attended the Westchester School of Counseling and Psychotherapy, where she received a degree in addiction counseling. Mary worked for more than 12 years at Serenity Hill, later Parkside Lodge (now Mountainside) in North Canaan. She developed and ran the Family Program there and was the assistant manager.
She was also a volunteer for more than 12 years at Sharon Hospital as a patient representative.
She was an avid swimmer and a longtime member of the Kilpatrick Athletic Center in Great Barrington, where she swam three to four times a week and developed a group of close friends.
Those who knew her understand why she made such a great nurse, counselor and patient advocate. She had a sixth sense about people, was incredibly intuitive and truly cared for people.
Make no mistake: She was no shrinking violet. She stood up for her rights and those of others. Her motto was Primum, Non Nocere (“First, Do No Harm”) taken from the AMA.
For 42 years Mary and her love, Herb, shared a beautiful, active life together. As their only child, daughter Mimi and Mary were very close.
Mary loved her grandchildren and spent a lot of time with them. She and Kyle would spend many weekends when he was young going on “adventures” to fairs, events, museums etc. and even up in an open-air bi-plane. Mary and Zoe loved their dress-up, formal tea parties, playing what they called, “The Ladies from Baltimore.” She was so happy at the arrival of her great-grandson, Kane.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Mimi Harson, AKA Mary Elizabeth Laidman; her beloved grandchildren, Kyle J. Laidman and Zoe E. Harson; and her great-grandson, Kane A. Laidman
She was predeceased by her brother, John Towers; and her sister, Virginia Towers Frawley.
Her wit, wisdom and love will be greatly missed.
2021 Obituaries
Charlie Paine
LAKEVILLE - Charles (Charlie) Paine, 88, of Lakeville, CT, died on December 28, 2021 at Toby Hospital in Wareham, MA. He was the loving husband of the late Nancy Paine.
Charlie was born February 2, 1933 in Millerton, NY, the son of the late Charles and Mary (Hoysradt) Paine. As a young man Charlie enjoyed farming and working on tractors and race cars with his brothers. Charlie served in the U.S. Army, and upon his return from duty worked at Community Service (Harringtons) in Lakeville where he met his future wife Nancy Millies. Nancy and Charlie were married August 14, 1965. He later was a dispatcher for Community fuel in Lakeville and Charlie retired as a heavy equipment operator for Harlem Valley Materials in Amenia, NY. Charlie enjoyed the quiet life and his family. He enjoyed watching the birds and monitoring the local traffic. Charlie loved watching his granddaughters grow and he was very proud of their accomplishments.
He is survived by a son, Jeff (Heidi) and two granddaughters; Diana and Lauren of Mattapoisett, MA and his brother Kenny Paine of Amenia, NY. He was predeceased by brother Howard.
A graveside memorial service will be held in the Spring. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 582, Salisbury, CT. 06068.
LAKEVILLE - Charles (Charlie) Paine, 88, of Lakeville, CT, died on December 28, 2021 at Toby Hospital in Wareham, MA. He was the loving husband of the late Nancy Paine.
Charlie was born February 2, 1933 in Millerton, NY, the son of the late Charles and Mary (Hoysradt) Paine. As a young man Charlie enjoyed farming and working on tractors and race cars with his brothers. Charlie served in the U.S. Army, and upon his return from duty worked at Community Service (Harringtons) in Lakeville where he met his future wife Nancy Millies. Nancy and Charlie were married August 14, 1965. He later was a dispatcher for Community fuel in Lakeville and Charlie retired as a heavy equipment operator for Harlem Valley Materials in Amenia, NY. Charlie enjoyed the quiet life and his family. He enjoyed watching the birds and monitoring the local traffic. Charlie loved watching his granddaughters grow and he was very proud of their accomplishments.
He is survived by a son, Jeff (Heidi) and two granddaughters; Diana and Lauren of Mattapoisett, MA and his brother Kenny Paine of Amenia, NY. He was predeceased by brother Howard.
A graveside memorial service will be held in the Spring. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 582, Salisbury, CT. 06068.
Phyllis Phelan
Our Mother-Our Angel
SOUTHBURY - Phyllis B. Phelan, 89, of Heritage Village Southbury, previously of Norfolk, CT, passed from this life on December 14, 2021. She was surrounded by children and grandchildren as well as the loving support of caregivers at Nobel Horizons in Salisbury, CT. She had been a resident there since April after a severe stroke, days after Christmas of 2020, left her unable to live alone.
Phyllis was born in Astoria, (Queens) N.Y. on July 10, 1932. She was the only child of Philip and Anne (Gnazzo) Bishop. She was predeceased by her infant son Christopher Paul and her husband of 59 years and the love of her life, George. Phyllis was very close to her two sisters-in-law, Hermaline Pollard and Ruth Phelan, who also went on before her.
As an only child growing up in Astoria, Phyllis was bathed in love and affection. She would often reminisce of trips into Manhattan during the holiday season to shop with her mother. Returning home in a cab, packages adorned with thick gold wrapping paper and silk red ribbons on the seat beside them, she marveled at the sights of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center (erected in 1931) and the window displays at Macy’s. Her love for the bustling streets of the city, Broadway shows, the ballet, fine city dining and, of course shopping, stayed with her for many decades. She was never more brimming with life than when she was hailing a cab to rush to a show. She would grab her PlayBill and gleam with excitement! In her later years she was a season ticket holder at The Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury where she enjoyed dozens of phenomenal performances including one where her grandson appeared as the son of George Burns. She also loved going to the Goodspeed Opera House. She passed on her love of live theater to anyone who would purchase a ticket and go along with her to a show!
In 1937 the family moved to Plainville, CT. where her father opened a restaurant called “The Cruiser Grill” with his brother-in-law, John Sharr. Her mother would often lend a helping hand as a waitress and Phyllis learned early on how to speak up for a side order of pasta with sauce, a burger with “the works” or a hot fudge sundae. There was a room in the lower portion of the restaurant known as the “Rathskeller” where couples came to listen to the music of the day and dance. She begged her mother for dance lessons and quickly discovered that she had good rhythm in a pair of shiny black tap shoes which she much preferred over ballet slippers! She loved learning to Jitterbug, Foxtrot and Rumba as she grew a bit older. The big band era and the sounds of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie were the soundtrack of her young, vibrant life. Her “Plainville days” were filled with sleepovers at her cousins’ homes, Sunday suppers with family, hot chocolate sledding parties and enjoyable grammar school memories.
In the summer of 1945, her parents purchased a home just outside the center of Lakeville, CT and opened the Lakeville Wine Shop. She enrolled that fall at Housatonic Valley Regional Highschool, made lots of friends, spent summers in day camp on Lake Wononscopomuc and enjoyed a robust social life which included two summers on stage with the Summerstock Theater in Sharon, CT. After graduation, she attended Maryland College for Women outside of Baltimore where she made a lifelong friend in her roommate MaryAn Daly (better known as Marty). She would often say that if she got “anything” out of her college days it was her friendship with Marty. In the summer of 1951, she took a job at The Jug End Barn Resort in Egremont, MA. Life changed one night when she was fixed up with a handsome (Irish) college man from Waterbury, CT. who would visit the resort on occasional weekend getaways. Our parents fell madly, and deeply, in love that summer. In the fall Phyllis attended Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT. The trail of love letters back and forth that year marked the beginning of a lasting romance. In many a letter you will find math calculations showing Dad’s attempts to map out how he was going to afford them their first home! In the spring Phyllis put her academic life on hold and became a young bride on June 14, 1952, a month shy of her twentieth birthday. On their first wedding anniversary she delivered her first born, Karen Barbara. Her dreams of a large family had begun!
Phyllis devoted her life to parenting and supporting her husband in his insurance business. The couple owned their first home in Winsted, CT. She worked for a brief time at Dr. Raymond Church veterinary services, solidifying a longstanding love of animals. The couple moved to Norfolk in 1960 where they lived for over 40 years. She was active in her local church, The Catholic Women’s Club, Norfolk/Colebrook Garden Club, PTO, the Norfolk Curling Club, The Norfolk Country Club, and the Isabella Eldridge Club just to name a few.
Perhaps more than anything, she relished her summers with beloved friend Betty Curtiss on the beach at Tobey Pond, bridge games, a fresh canvas for one of her needlepoint creations, opening her homes to friends and family for festive gatherings, and trips to Florida to visit her parents. She enjoyed many family vacations on Hilton Head Island, Kiawah Island and Cape Cod. Her highlighted travel memories include an anniversary trip to England, Ireland and France, a two-week getaway to Banff, B.C., a Thanksgiving journey to the Catskills and a trip to Japan to visit her son Tim accompanied by lifelong friend Dottie Shrope (Dyson).
In the mid 70’s she “struck out on her own” by taking classes in interior design and later started a partnership with her dear friend, Joanie Candler. She loved to pour over samples at Maplewood Fabrics in Sheffield, MA. and sift through the pages of Architectural Digest for unique home designs. She traveled to London with friends and family to learn more about fine antiques and was determined to own her own retail store. On a trip to Charleston, SC, Phyllis and George became very intrigued with a store that carried English campaign furniture and accessories. This led to the opening of her first retail venture, British Court Ltd. in Farmington, CT. Her next store, The Carriage Trade, opened in 1985 and featured fine home items and gifts. She loved going to the retail buying shows, especially at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. Her final retail endeavor was The Shops at the Mad River Mill in Winsted, CT. Her final career accomplishment would be attaining her real estate license and selling homes and property for the Prudential Agency in Torrington and later Joseph Bette Realtors Inc. in Southbury. She had a keen sense of what it meant to align the right family with the right home. We all loved seeing her thrive in that arena.
In 2001 Phyllis and George made the decision to leave their treasured Norfolk estate and move to Heritage Village in Southbury where George’s sisters both had homes. As anyone who knew her will testify, she had a winning smile and optimistic disposition that allowed her to make friends easily. They enjoyed a rich social life during their years in the village. They loved “taking off” to the Pocono Mountains and the Maryland Shore and the occasional trip to the casino. Phyllis was an adept bridge player and enjoyed many afternoons playing card games with her Women’s Club friends. She volunteered at the Village Library where she looked forward to greeting friends both new and old. She was devoted to a powerful spiritual life for decades which continued at Sacred Heart Parish in Southbury. She treasured her church family and was wholly committed to her faith.
There aren’t enough pages in this paper to write what Phyllis meant to her children, grandchildren, and close friends. She lived her life with more zest than most people. Although George’s passing in 2012 left a significant hole in her life, she would pull herself up, say her prayers and sink her heels into life! How we will miss her our Mom, Bish, Philbo, Gummie and Grandma! Above all, nothing gave Phyllis more joy than the company of her grandchildren. Being “Grandma Phelan” and “Gummie” was her most esteemed title!
You have taught us all how to live better, love harder and carry our faith in our hearts. Until we meet again Our Mother, Our Angel. May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Arrivederci!
Phyllis leaves behind many loving friends of Norfolk and Southbury, her daughters Karen B. Phelan of Canaan, Ct., Lisa A. Sullivan (Scott) of New Marlborough, Massachusetts, Patti P. Sinclair (Michael) of Norfolk, sons Robert G. Phelan (Anne) of Avon, Ct., and Timothy J. Phelan (Marie) of Sendai, Japan. Grandchildren Molly Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan, Dan Phelan, Timmy Phelan, Christopher, Alanna and Reid Sinclair, Risa and Emi as well as two step-grandchildren, Lauren Karoutas (James) and Brian Cutlip (Paige). Phyllis also leaves behind her great grandson Maddox and step granddaughters Evie and Addie, and step grandson Parker as well as her niece Susan Pollard of West Hartford.
A mass and memorial will be held at The Parish of St. Martin of Tours in Norfolk, Ct. in the spring of 2022. A notice will be published in this paper as a reminder.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Mission P.O. Box 1612 Waterbury, Ct. 06712 (www.svdpmission.org) or The Nobel Horizons Auxiliary Fund 17 Cobble Rd. Salisbury, Ct. 06068.
Our Mother-Our Angel
SOUTHBURY - Phyllis B. Phelan, 89, of Heritage Village Southbury, previously of Norfolk, CT, passed from this life on December 14, 2021. She was surrounded by children and grandchildren as well as the loving support of caregivers at Nobel Horizons in Salisbury, CT. She had been a resident there since April after a severe stroke, days after Christmas of 2020, left her unable to live alone.
Phyllis was born in Astoria, (Queens) N.Y. on July 10, 1932. She was the only child of Philip and Anne (Gnazzo) Bishop. She was predeceased by her infant son Christopher Paul and her husband of 59 years and the love of her life, George. Phyllis was very close to her two sisters-in-law, Hermaline Pollard and Ruth Phelan, who also went on before her.
As an only child growing up in Astoria, Phyllis was bathed in love and affection. She would often reminisce of trips into Manhattan during the holiday season to shop with her mother. Returning home in a cab, packages adorned with thick gold wrapping paper and silk red ribbons on the seat beside them, she marveled at the sights of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center (erected in 1931) and the window displays at Macy’s. Her love for the bustling streets of the city, Broadway shows, the ballet, fine city dining and, of course shopping, stayed with her for many decades. She was never more brimming with life than when she was hailing a cab to rush to a show. She would grab her PlayBill and gleam with excitement! In her later years she was a season ticket holder at The Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury where she enjoyed dozens of phenomenal performances including one where her grandson appeared as the son of George Burns. She also loved going to the Goodspeed Opera House. She passed on her love of live theater to anyone who would purchase a ticket and go along with her to a show!
In 1937 the family moved to Plainville, CT. where her father opened a restaurant called “The Cruiser Grill” with his brother-in-law, John Sharr. Her mother would often lend a helping hand as a waitress and Phyllis learned early on how to speak up for a side order of pasta with sauce, a burger with “the works” or a hot fudge sundae. There was a room in the lower portion of the restaurant known as the “Rathskeller” where couples came to listen to the music of the day and dance. She begged her mother for dance lessons and quickly discovered that she had good rhythm in a pair of shiny black tap shoes which she much preferred over ballet slippers! She loved learning to Jitterbug, Foxtrot and Rumba as she grew a bit older. The big band era and the sounds of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie were the soundtrack of her young, vibrant life. Her “Plainville days” were filled with sleepovers at her cousins’ homes, Sunday suppers with family, hot chocolate sledding parties and enjoyable grammar school memories.
In the summer of 1945, her parents purchased a home just outside the center of Lakeville, CT and opened the Lakeville Wine Shop. She enrolled that fall at Housatonic Valley Regional Highschool, made lots of friends, spent summers in day camp on Lake Wononscopomuc and enjoyed a robust social life which included two summers on stage with the Summerstock Theater in Sharon, CT. After graduation, she attended Maryland College for Women outside of Baltimore where she made a lifelong friend in her roommate MaryAn Daly (better known as Marty). She would often say that if she got “anything” out of her college days it was her friendship with Marty. In the summer of 1951, she took a job at The Jug End Barn Resort in Egremont, MA. Life changed one night when she was fixed up with a handsome (Irish) college man from Waterbury, CT. who would visit the resort on occasional weekend getaways. Our parents fell madly, and deeply, in love that summer. In the fall Phyllis attended Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT. The trail of love letters back and forth that year marked the beginning of a lasting romance. In many a letter you will find math calculations showing Dad’s attempts to map out how he was going to afford them their first home! In the spring Phyllis put her academic life on hold and became a young bride on June 14, 1952, a month shy of her twentieth birthday. On their first wedding anniversary she delivered her first born, Karen Barbara. Her dreams of a large family had begun!
Phyllis devoted her life to parenting and supporting her husband in his insurance business. The couple owned their first home in Winsted, CT. She worked for a brief time at Dr. Raymond Church veterinary services, solidifying a longstanding love of animals. The couple moved to Norfolk in 1960 where they lived for over 40 years. She was active in her local church, The Catholic Women’s Club, Norfolk/Colebrook Garden Club, PTO, the Norfolk Curling Club, The Norfolk Country Club, and the Isabella Eldridge Club just to name a few.
Perhaps more than anything, she relished her summers with beloved friend Betty Curtiss on the beach at Tobey Pond, bridge games, a fresh canvas for one of her needlepoint creations, opening her homes to friends and family for festive gatherings, and trips to Florida to visit her parents. She enjoyed many family vacations on Hilton Head Island, Kiawah Island and Cape Cod. Her highlighted travel memories include an anniversary trip to England, Ireland and France, a two-week getaway to Banff, B.C., a Thanksgiving journey to the Catskills and a trip to Japan to visit her son Tim accompanied by lifelong friend Dottie Shrope (Dyson).
In the mid 70’s she “struck out on her own” by taking classes in interior design and later started a partnership with her dear friend, Joanie Candler. She loved to pour over samples at Maplewood Fabrics in Sheffield, MA. and sift through the pages of Architectural Digest for unique home designs. She traveled to London with friends and family to learn more about fine antiques and was determined to own her own retail store. On a trip to Charleston, SC, Phyllis and George became very intrigued with a store that carried English campaign furniture and accessories. This led to the opening of her first retail venture, British Court Ltd. in Farmington, CT. Her next store, The Carriage Trade, opened in 1985 and featured fine home items and gifts. She loved going to the retail buying shows, especially at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. Her final retail endeavor was The Shops at the Mad River Mill in Winsted, CT. Her final career accomplishment would be attaining her real estate license and selling homes and property for the Prudential Agency in Torrington and later Joseph Bette Realtors Inc. in Southbury. She had a keen sense of what it meant to align the right family with the right home. We all loved seeing her thrive in that arena.
In 2001 Phyllis and George made the decision to leave their treasured Norfolk estate and move to Heritage Village in Southbury where George’s sisters both had homes. As anyone who knew her will testify, she had a winning smile and optimistic disposition that allowed her to make friends easily. They enjoyed a rich social life during their years in the village. They loved “taking off” to the Pocono Mountains and the Maryland Shore and the occasional trip to the casino. Phyllis was an adept bridge player and enjoyed many afternoons playing card games with her Women’s Club friends. She volunteered at the Village Library where she looked forward to greeting friends both new and old. She was devoted to a powerful spiritual life for decades which continued at Sacred Heart Parish in Southbury. She treasured her church family and was wholly committed to her faith.
There aren’t enough pages in this paper to write what Phyllis meant to her children, grandchildren, and close friends. She lived her life with more zest than most people. Although George’s passing in 2012 left a significant hole in her life, she would pull herself up, say her prayers and sink her heels into life! How we will miss her our Mom, Bish, Philbo, Gummie and Grandma! Above all, nothing gave Phyllis more joy than the company of her grandchildren. Being “Grandma Phelan” and “Gummie” was her most esteemed title!
You have taught us all how to live better, love harder and carry our faith in our hearts. Until we meet again Our Mother, Our Angel. May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Arrivederci!
Phyllis leaves behind many loving friends of Norfolk and Southbury, her daughters Karen B. Phelan of Canaan, Ct., Lisa A. Sullivan (Scott) of New Marlborough, Massachusetts, Patti P. Sinclair (Michael) of Norfolk, sons Robert G. Phelan (Anne) of Avon, Ct., and Timothy J. Phelan (Marie) of Sendai, Japan. Grandchildren Molly Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan, Dan Phelan, Timmy Phelan, Christopher, Alanna and Reid Sinclair, Risa and Emi as well as two step-grandchildren, Lauren Karoutas (James) and Brian Cutlip (Paige). Phyllis also leaves behind her great grandson Maddox and step granddaughters Evie and Addie, and step grandson Parker as well as her niece Susan Pollard of West Hartford.
A mass and memorial will be held at The Parish of St. Martin of Tours in Norfolk, Ct. in the spring of 2022. A notice will be published in this paper as a reminder.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Mission P.O. Box 1612 Waterbury, Ct. 06712 (www.svdpmission.org) or The Nobel Horizons Auxiliary Fund 17 Cobble Rd. Salisbury, Ct. 06068.
Tom Soja
Thomas R. Soja, 59, passed away on November 18, 2021, following his battle with Lung Cancer. He was the loving friend to Shelly Rice, her family, and many special friends of Canaan.
Tom was born on March 25, 1962 in Middletown, CT to Ralph and Judith (Gates) Soja.
He was a Remarkable Carpenter, Avid Golfer, and a Member of the Northwest CT Rod and Gun Club.
Tom helped build the Chapel and “Stairs to Heaven at the Bell Tower” at St. Joseph Church.
Tom is survived by his mother, Judy and step-father Charles Burr, his two children, Benton and Abigail Soja, his sisters Lisa Turner and Denise Soja, his brothers Greg Soja and his wife Frances, and Robert Soja and his wife Maryann.
He was predeceased by his father.
Services will be held January 5th at 11:00 at St. Joseph Church in Canaan, CT.
Thomas R. Soja, 59, passed away on November 18, 2021, following his battle with Lung Cancer. He was the loving friend to Shelly Rice, her family, and many special friends of Canaan.
Tom was born on March 25, 1962 in Middletown, CT to Ralph and Judith (Gates) Soja.
He was a Remarkable Carpenter, Avid Golfer, and a Member of the Northwest CT Rod and Gun Club.
Tom helped build the Chapel and “Stairs to Heaven at the Bell Tower” at St. Joseph Church.
Tom is survived by his mother, Judy and step-father Charles Burr, his two children, Benton and Abigail Soja, his sisters Lisa Turner and Denise Soja, his brothers Greg Soja and his wife Frances, and Robert Soja and his wife Maryann.
He was predeceased by his father.
Services will be held January 5th at 11:00 at St. Joseph Church in Canaan, CT.
Edward Allan Baker
With great sadness, we announce the loss of Edward Allan Baker, beloved father, grandfather, brother, husband, playwright, teacher, colleague, and friend. On the evening of Saturday, November 20, 2021, Ed Baker passed, surrounded by love from friends and family, at St Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT.
Born in Providence, RI on June 18, 1950, Ed was the son of Rose Walsh Baker and Edward “Booker” Baker. He was a loving father to Marlena Aakjar, Dylan Baker, and Alexander Baker, father-in-law to Raymond Aakjar and Kirsten Haaland, and grandfather to Kai Haaland-Warwick and Adrienne Aakjar. He was the eldest of 8 children and uncle to 11 nieces and nephews.
Ed Baker was an extraordinary playwright with a unique voice, the voice of those he called “people born to brick and asphalt, who don't have bad days, they have bad years." He was an inspiring teacher and a hugely generous spirit to all who knew him.
Ed had devoted over 50 years of his life to the theatre. He was a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre, a recipient of "The 25th Anniversary Award For Theatrical Excellence," by E.S.T., and a lifelong member of The Dramatists Guild. He taught playwriting at the University of Hartford and Sarah Lawrence College, and joined the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in 2006, where he created and led the hugely successful Playwriting Program.
He has written over 30 plays. His one-acts, “Dolores,” “North of Providence” and “Rosemary with Ginger” chief among them, have been staged frequently in the US and translated and produced worldwide, including Mexico City, British Columbia, Dublin, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, and Hamburg. He has also written for HBO and Showtime.
Ed Baker’s work touched thousands of audiences, actors, directors, producers, and theatre companies. His dedication to and thirst for truth and raw voices has inspired and will continue to affect many generations of artists. His work is done consistently and passionately in classes and colleges around the globe.
Ed was a lifelong fan of The Honeymooners, the Boston Red Sox, Van Morrison, Jack Kerouac, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, fish and chips, drum solos, ironworkers, Edward Albee, Arthur Miller, yellow legal pads, reading the New York Times on Sunday mornings, typewriters, a wiffle ball home run derby, NBA playoffs, raking leaves, pastries with coffee, his cats, giving books as gifts with his words of love and wisdom always scrawled inside, reenacting comical occurrences that had previously happened to him, and mentoring troubled teens through life’s twisted hardships. His greatest love was for his family, and his extended family.
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett, The Unnamable
An announcement regarding a memorial will be made once it is scheduled.
***
"Dear Edward Allan Baker:
I read North of Providence with my usual interest in your work, and I'm happy to see that your ear is as good as ever (you and Mamet!), that your characters live and breathe right on the page, and that - as they wrote years ago about another playwright I admire - you breathe fire into the smoking embers of naturalism.
Regards, Edward Albee"
--April 26, 1986
Edward Allan Baker website: http://edwardallanbaker.com/html/reviews.html
With great sadness, we announce the loss of Edward Allan Baker, beloved father, grandfather, brother, husband, playwright, teacher, colleague, and friend. On the evening of Saturday, November 20, 2021, Ed Baker passed, surrounded by love from friends and family, at St Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT.
Born in Providence, RI on June 18, 1950, Ed was the son of Rose Walsh Baker and Edward “Booker” Baker. He was a loving father to Marlena Aakjar, Dylan Baker, and Alexander Baker, father-in-law to Raymond Aakjar and Kirsten Haaland, and grandfather to Kai Haaland-Warwick and Adrienne Aakjar. He was the eldest of 8 children and uncle to 11 nieces and nephews.
Ed Baker was an extraordinary playwright with a unique voice, the voice of those he called “people born to brick and asphalt, who don't have bad days, they have bad years." He was an inspiring teacher and a hugely generous spirit to all who knew him.
Ed had devoted over 50 years of his life to the theatre. He was a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre, a recipient of "The 25th Anniversary Award For Theatrical Excellence," by E.S.T., and a lifelong member of The Dramatists Guild. He taught playwriting at the University of Hartford and Sarah Lawrence College, and joined the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in 2006, where he created and led the hugely successful Playwriting Program.
He has written over 30 plays. His one-acts, “Dolores,” “North of Providence” and “Rosemary with Ginger” chief among them, have been staged frequently in the US and translated and produced worldwide, including Mexico City, British Columbia, Dublin, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, and Hamburg. He has also written for HBO and Showtime.
Ed Baker’s work touched thousands of audiences, actors, directors, producers, and theatre companies. His dedication to and thirst for truth and raw voices has inspired and will continue to affect many generations of artists. His work is done consistently and passionately in classes and colleges around the globe.
Ed was a lifelong fan of The Honeymooners, the Boston Red Sox, Van Morrison, Jack Kerouac, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, fish and chips, drum solos, ironworkers, Edward Albee, Arthur Miller, yellow legal pads, reading the New York Times on Sunday mornings, typewriters, a wiffle ball home run derby, NBA playoffs, raking leaves, pastries with coffee, his cats, giving books as gifts with his words of love and wisdom always scrawled inside, reenacting comical occurrences that had previously happened to him, and mentoring troubled teens through life’s twisted hardships. His greatest love was for his family, and his extended family.
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett, The Unnamable
An announcement regarding a memorial will be made once it is scheduled.
***
"Dear Edward Allan Baker:
I read North of Providence with my usual interest in your work, and I'm happy to see that your ear is as good as ever (you and Mamet!), that your characters live and breathe right on the page, and that - as they wrote years ago about another playwright I admire - you breathe fire into the smoking embers of naturalism.
Regards, Edward Albee"
--April 26, 1986
Edward Allan Baker website: http://edwardallanbaker.com/html/reviews.html
Henry Schwarz
H. Marshall Schwarz, 85, of Sharon Road died November 19, 2021 at his home. He was the husband of Rae (Paige) Schwarz.
Marshall was born in New York city on November 5, 1936, the son of the late Frederick and Mary (DuBois) Schwarz. He was a 1958 Graduate of Harvard. He served in the Army Reserve for several years. He worked at the U. S. Trust Company for 35 years, ending his career as Chairman and CEO.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rae, as well as: son Jim (Tracy) Schwarz, daughters Serena (Randy) Larson, and Paige (Jodi) Couture and son Will Schwarz. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Mary, Hayes ,and David Schwarz, Lily and Eliza Larson, Marshall and Amelia Couture.
A memorial service will be held on December 4th at 11 a.m. at the Church of Heavenly Rest, 1085 5th Ave. in New York City. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Road , Sharon, CT. 06069.
H. Marshall Schwarz, 85, of Sharon Road died November 19, 2021 at his home. He was the husband of Rae (Paige) Schwarz.
Marshall was born in New York city on November 5, 1936, the son of the late Frederick and Mary (DuBois) Schwarz. He was a 1958 Graduate of Harvard. He served in the Army Reserve for several years. He worked at the U. S. Trust Company for 35 years, ending his career as Chairman and CEO.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rae, as well as: son Jim (Tracy) Schwarz, daughters Serena (Randy) Larson, and Paige (Jodi) Couture and son Will Schwarz. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Mary, Hayes ,and David Schwarz, Lily and Eliza Larson, Marshall and Amelia Couture.
A memorial service will be held on December 4th at 11 a.m. at the Church of Heavenly Rest, 1085 5th Ave. in New York City. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Sharon Playhouse, 49 Amenia Road , Sharon, CT. 06069.
Leona Alley
Leona Alley, 79, passed away on November 14, 2021 after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late William Alley.
Leona was born September 20, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY the daughter of Harland and Isabelle Morris. She grew up in Brooklyn then moved to Norfolk where she has resided for 58 years. She retired from Winsted Precision Ball after many years as a Data Entry Operator. She was also a communicant of the Norfolk Church of Christ.
She was predeceased by her daughter Erika Lee Dayton.
She is survived by 2 sons, Kristian Oen of Torrington and Robert Oen and his wife Laurie of Florida, her son in law Scott Dayton, 7 grandchildren, Kaleigh, Allyson, Seth, Sawyer, Ethan, Leif and Tabatha and 3 great grandchildren, Aria, Oen and Iyla.
A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday November 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Norfolk. Burial is private at the Center Cemetery in Norfolk.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ Congregational, 12 Litchfield Rd, Norfolk, CT 06058.
Leona Alley, 79, passed away on November 14, 2021 after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late William Alley.
Leona was born September 20, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY the daughter of Harland and Isabelle Morris. She grew up in Brooklyn then moved to Norfolk where she has resided for 58 years. She retired from Winsted Precision Ball after many years as a Data Entry Operator. She was also a communicant of the Norfolk Church of Christ.
She was predeceased by her daughter Erika Lee Dayton.
She is survived by 2 sons, Kristian Oen of Torrington and Robert Oen and his wife Laurie of Florida, her son in law Scott Dayton, 7 grandchildren, Kaleigh, Allyson, Seth, Sawyer, Ethan, Leif and Tabatha and 3 great grandchildren, Aria, Oen and Iyla.
A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday November 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Norfolk. Burial is private at the Center Cemetery in Norfolk.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ Congregational, 12 Litchfield Rd, Norfolk, CT 06058.
Patricia O'Connor
Patricia Ann (Harrity) O’Connor passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at her home in Lakeville, surrounded by her family. Patricia was the loving wife of the late Owen Joseph O’Connor.
Patricia was born December 23, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, daughter of the late Jeremiah and Catherine (Craven) Harrity. After graduating from high school in Bayonne, NJ, Pat completed a dual degree in mathematics and political science from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY. She worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (the precursor to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) in New York City during college, and after graduating, began a job with New York Life Insurance, where she ran the “machine room.” The machine room consisted of ENIAC computers, the first of their kind. It was at New York Life, where she met her future husband Owen (Gene) O’Connor.
Pat and Gene were married June 25, 1955. The couple settled in Bellerose, NY, and started a family of nine children, later moving to Garden City, NY in 1969. Upon Gene’s retirement from the NYPD in 1977, the family moved to the country in Salisbury, CT.
When the youngest of their children were old enough, Pat went back to work as a bank teller at the National Iron Bank in Lakeville, where she enjoyed working until her retirement in 1995. In 2000, she sold the property on Smith Hill and moved into town to enjoy retired life surrounded by her children and many grandchildren.
Pat’s greatest love was her family. From making baby blankets to after-school snacks, she loved every one of her grandchildren, many of whom would walk to “Grammy’s house” after school, getting help with homework in addition to snacks. Pat created beautiful gardens wherever she lived and continued to correspond with people throughout her life the old-fashioned way, by sending thoughtful handwritten notes, often accompanied by a clipping of something she had read that she knew would be of interest. She always welcomed reading a new book, making a new recipe, hearing about new adventures of her every-growing family. Pat was famous in the St. Mary’s coffee circle for her Irish Soda Bread.
Patricia is survived by her children Martin O’Connor, Lakeville; Michael O’Connor (Patricia) of North Berwick, ME; Eileen McGee (Myles) of East Hartford, CT; William O’Connor of Geneva, IL; John O’Connor (Lisa) of Unionville, CT; Cathleen Reid of Lakeville, CT; Kevin O’Connor (Vanessa) of Lakeville, CT and Rory O’Connor of Lakeville, CT. She is also survived by her grandchildren Caroline, Owen, Anna, Christopher, Abigail, Timothy, Katherine, Jack, Jessica, Amanda, Connor, Michael, Amelia, Calvin, Rory Patrick, Sean, Emily, Molly, Eion, Mackenzie, Tyler, Quincy, Maddie and Chase, and her great grandchildren: Nora, Maggie, June, Alice, Savannah and Zoey. Predeceased by son Timothy and great-grandson Otto.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at the Inn at Iron Masters, Lakeville, CT on Monday November 22, 2021 from 4pm-7pm. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (St. Martin of Tours) in Lakeville, CT on Tuesday November 23, 2021 at 11am, with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Cobble Rd, Salisbury, CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary’s Cemetery of Salisbury, PO Box 897, Canaan, CT 06018.
Patricia Ann (Harrity) O’Connor passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at her home in Lakeville, surrounded by her family. Patricia was the loving wife of the late Owen Joseph O’Connor.
Patricia was born December 23, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, daughter of the late Jeremiah and Catherine (Craven) Harrity. After graduating from high school in Bayonne, NJ, Pat completed a dual degree in mathematics and political science from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY. She worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (the precursor to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) in New York City during college, and after graduating, began a job with New York Life Insurance, where she ran the “machine room.” The machine room consisted of ENIAC computers, the first of their kind. It was at New York Life, where she met her future husband Owen (Gene) O’Connor.
Pat and Gene were married June 25, 1955. The couple settled in Bellerose, NY, and started a family of nine children, later moving to Garden City, NY in 1969. Upon Gene’s retirement from the NYPD in 1977, the family moved to the country in Salisbury, CT.
When the youngest of their children were old enough, Pat went back to work as a bank teller at the National Iron Bank in Lakeville, where she enjoyed working until her retirement in 1995. In 2000, she sold the property on Smith Hill and moved into town to enjoy retired life surrounded by her children and many grandchildren.
Pat’s greatest love was her family. From making baby blankets to after-school snacks, she loved every one of her grandchildren, many of whom would walk to “Grammy’s house” after school, getting help with homework in addition to snacks. Pat created beautiful gardens wherever she lived and continued to correspond with people throughout her life the old-fashioned way, by sending thoughtful handwritten notes, often accompanied by a clipping of something she had read that she knew would be of interest. She always welcomed reading a new book, making a new recipe, hearing about new adventures of her every-growing family. Pat was famous in the St. Mary’s coffee circle for her Irish Soda Bread.
Patricia is survived by her children Martin O’Connor, Lakeville; Michael O’Connor (Patricia) of North Berwick, ME; Eileen McGee (Myles) of East Hartford, CT; William O’Connor of Geneva, IL; John O’Connor (Lisa) of Unionville, CT; Cathleen Reid of Lakeville, CT; Kevin O’Connor (Vanessa) of Lakeville, CT and Rory O’Connor of Lakeville, CT. She is also survived by her grandchildren Caroline, Owen, Anna, Christopher, Abigail, Timothy, Katherine, Jack, Jessica, Amanda, Connor, Michael, Amelia, Calvin, Rory Patrick, Sean, Emily, Molly, Eion, Mackenzie, Tyler, Quincy, Maddie and Chase, and her great grandchildren: Nora, Maggie, June, Alice, Savannah and Zoey. Predeceased by son Timothy and great-grandson Otto.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at the Inn at Iron Masters, Lakeville, CT on Monday November 22, 2021 from 4pm-7pm. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (St. Martin of Tours) in Lakeville, CT on Tuesday November 23, 2021 at 11am, with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Cobble Rd, Salisbury, CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary’s Cemetery of Salisbury, PO Box 897, Canaan, CT 06018.
Bruce Forrest Morse
Bruce, 78, passed away at home on November 5th with his wife Vicky and daughters Hope and Grace by his side, embraced by their love.
Born September 22, 1943 in Manhattan. Bruce grew up in New York City and spent summers at his family’s home on Lakeville Lake where he fell in love with nature.
He studied poetry at the University of Iowa and NYU, backpacked through Europe in his 20s and traveled through the US visiting national parks. He spent his youth chasing adventure. After spending over 30 years living in the city, he briefly moved to Pismo Beach, California. When he decided to return to the East Coast he wanted to start his own family in the northwest corner of CT, where he relished in childhood summers spent swimming in the lake, catching frogs, exploring the woods, and being outdoors. After the death of Bruce’s first born son, Jesse, Bruce discovered painting as a way to heal and express his grief.
Throughout the second half of his life he loved watching his children grow, creating a loving and artistic home with wife Vicky, playing tennis, singing and playing guitar, practicing drums, painting, gardening, writing poetry, dancing, playing ping pong and meeting many interesting friends along the way. Bruce connected with people on a deep, vulnerable level; while he also had a witty sense of humor and childlike playfulness that exuded joy.
Bruce leaves behind his beloved wife of 27 years, Vicky, who the majority of his writing is dedicated to and his greatest muse, daughters Hope and Grace, sons Raymond and Adam, stepson Flynn, grandchildren Cecelia, Gessie, and Flynn, and brother Jim and family. He has joined his son Jesse in whatever glorious afterlife had awaited him.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
Bruce, 78, passed away at home on November 5th with his wife Vicky and daughters Hope and Grace by his side, embraced by their love.
Born September 22, 1943 in Manhattan. Bruce grew up in New York City and spent summers at his family’s home on Lakeville Lake where he fell in love with nature.
He studied poetry at the University of Iowa and NYU, backpacked through Europe in his 20s and traveled through the US visiting national parks. He spent his youth chasing adventure. After spending over 30 years living in the city, he briefly moved to Pismo Beach, California. When he decided to return to the East Coast he wanted to start his own family in the northwest corner of CT, where he relished in childhood summers spent swimming in the lake, catching frogs, exploring the woods, and being outdoors. After the death of Bruce’s first born son, Jesse, Bruce discovered painting as a way to heal and express his grief.
Throughout the second half of his life he loved watching his children grow, creating a loving and artistic home with wife Vicky, playing tennis, singing and playing guitar, practicing drums, painting, gardening, writing poetry, dancing, playing ping pong and meeting many interesting friends along the way. Bruce connected with people on a deep, vulnerable level; while he also had a witty sense of humor and childlike playfulness that exuded joy.
Bruce leaves behind his beloved wife of 27 years, Vicky, who the majority of his writing is dedicated to and his greatest muse, daughters Hope and Grace, sons Raymond and Adam, stepson Flynn, grandchildren Cecelia, Gessie, and Flynn, and brother Jim and family. He has joined his son Jesse in whatever glorious afterlife had awaited him.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later time.
Marjorie Liebowitz
Marjorie Liebowitz, an early champion of women’s reproductive rights and beloved mother of four and grandmother of nine, died on November 4 of Covid-19. She was 94. Her husband of 66 years, Sidney Liebowitz, predeceased her.
Marjorie was one of those people who was good at everything she did and unfazed by anything. She was always ready to welcome another person to the table or lend a hand (or car) to someone in need.
Among her interests and talents were tennis, sailing, cooking, gardening, reading, crossword puzzles (always in ink), movies, and traveling, especially to Italy and California’s Anza-Borrego Desert.
Marjorie was a graduate of the Cornell Nursing School and worked for Planned Parenthood for 35 years as director of their Northern Westchester office. During that time she also traveled to prisons and schools to talk about contraception and women’s health. She worked as a volunteer for the local library wherever she lived, and was a passionate and active Democrat.
Marjorie Ann was born on July 12, 1927, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, to Margaret and Albert Morrison.
She is survived by her children, Ellen, David (and Carol), Barbara (and Rob Bettigole), and Peter (and Marsha); her sister Clara Kelly of Honesdale; grandchildren Aaron, Charlie, Justin, Elliot, Alex, Zach, Dylan, Katie, and Kendal; and eight great-grandchildren.
She will be buried in Lake Placid, New York, after a small family service.
Marjorie Liebowitz, an early champion of women’s reproductive rights and beloved mother of four and grandmother of nine, died on November 4 of Covid-19. She was 94. Her husband of 66 years, Sidney Liebowitz, predeceased her.
Marjorie was one of those people who was good at everything she did and unfazed by anything. She was always ready to welcome another person to the table or lend a hand (or car) to someone in need.
Among her interests and talents were tennis, sailing, cooking, gardening, reading, crossword puzzles (always in ink), movies, and traveling, especially to Italy and California’s Anza-Borrego Desert.
Marjorie was a graduate of the Cornell Nursing School and worked for Planned Parenthood for 35 years as director of their Northern Westchester office. During that time she also traveled to prisons and schools to talk about contraception and women’s health. She worked as a volunteer for the local library wherever she lived, and was a passionate and active Democrat.
Marjorie Ann was born on July 12, 1927, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, to Margaret and Albert Morrison.
She is survived by her children, Ellen, David (and Carol), Barbara (and Rob Bettigole), and Peter (and Marsha); her sister Clara Kelly of Honesdale; grandchildren Aaron, Charlie, Justin, Elliot, Alex, Zach, Dylan, Katie, and Kendal; and eight great-grandchildren.
She will be buried in Lake Placid, New York, after a small family service.
Henry Prause
Henry A. Prause, 86, of Millerton, NY, entered the presence of his Lord on November 5, 2021, at Guthrie Medical Center in Cortland, NY. He was the loving, faithful husband of the late Elizabeth (Fitch) Prause.
Henry was born January 10, 1935, in Sharon, CT, the son of the late August and Milanny (Stender) Prause. Henry graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary of Johnson City, NY, and then entered the pastorate. He ministered for a short time at a church in Derby Line, VT, until he was called as the pastor of North East Baptist Church in Millerton, NY, where he served for 61 years.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lois Stupke, Apphia Rofe (Tom), his son Michael (Wendy), his siblings Chris Prause (Mary), Agnes Kranwinkel, Peter Prause (Pixie), Millie Olson (Jim), 25 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Jonathan, son-in-law Harmon Stupke, and wife Elizabeth.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 12, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 13, at 11:00 AM at North East Baptist Church in Millerton, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to North East Baptist Church, PO Box 531, Millerton, NY 12546.
Henry A. Prause, 86, of Millerton, NY, entered the presence of his Lord on November 5, 2021, at Guthrie Medical Center in Cortland, NY. He was the loving, faithful husband of the late Elizabeth (Fitch) Prause.
Henry was born January 10, 1935, in Sharon, CT, the son of the late August and Milanny (Stender) Prause. Henry graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary of Johnson City, NY, and then entered the pastorate. He ministered for a short time at a church in Derby Line, VT, until he was called as the pastor of North East Baptist Church in Millerton, NY, where he served for 61 years.
He is survived by his two daughters, Lois Stupke, Apphia Rofe (Tom), his son Michael (Wendy), his siblings Chris Prause (Mary), Agnes Kranwinkel, Peter Prause (Pixie), Millie Olson (Jim), 25 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Jonathan, son-in-law Harmon Stupke, and wife Elizabeth.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 12, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon, CT. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 13, at 11:00 AM at North East Baptist Church in Millerton, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to North East Baptist Church, PO Box 531, Millerton, NY 12546.
Barbara Sofield
Passed away on Oct. 19, 2021 at Vassar Hospital. Resided at Geer in Canaan, CT. Born in NY on Nov. 12, 1935. She retired from National Cash Register. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Laura Sofield and her brother William. She is survived by her extended family Rebecca Purdy, Jeannette Purdy, Tim Purdy and his wife Huiping. Burial will be private.
Passed away on Oct. 19, 2021 at Vassar Hospital. Resided at Geer in Canaan, CT. Born in NY on Nov. 12, 1935. She retired from National Cash Register. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Laura Sofield and her brother William. She is survived by her extended family Rebecca Purdy, Jeannette Purdy, Tim Purdy and his wife Huiping. Burial will be private.
Lora Pelton
LAKEVILLE - Lora Miller Pelton, age 66, of Wells Hill Road, Lakeville, CT died October 14, 2021 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.
Lora was born November 9, 1954 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late Jean Hughes Miller and the late Norman Clark Miller. Lora graduated from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, Texas and subsequently graduated from University of Texas, Arlington, Texas with a degree in graphic arts. She lived in Texas for many years and moved to Lakeville, CT in 2000.
She worked in Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Poughkeepsie, New York in public relations and Advertising Sales.
Lora is survived by her beloved children, daughter Jennifer Leigh Pelton and son Joe Lee Pelton, her sisters, Marla Miller Brintnell, Valerie Miller Levy and her brother Erik Clark Miller as well as Barbara Chatfield Reynolds with whom Lora had a very special relationship.
All services are private. Kenny Funeral Home, Sharon, CT is taking care of arrangements. Lora will be interred at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home and Mausoleum in Dallas, Texas.
LAKEVILLE - Lora Miller Pelton, age 66, of Wells Hill Road, Lakeville, CT died October 14, 2021 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.
Lora was born November 9, 1954 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late Jean Hughes Miller and the late Norman Clark Miller. Lora graduated from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, Texas and subsequently graduated from University of Texas, Arlington, Texas with a degree in graphic arts. She lived in Texas for many years and moved to Lakeville, CT in 2000.
She worked in Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Poughkeepsie, New York in public relations and Advertising Sales.
Lora is survived by her beloved children, daughter Jennifer Leigh Pelton and son Joe Lee Pelton, her sisters, Marla Miller Brintnell, Valerie Miller Levy and her brother Erik Clark Miller as well as Barbara Chatfield Reynolds with whom Lora had a very special relationship.
All services are private. Kenny Funeral Home, Sharon, CT is taking care of arrangements. Lora will be interred at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home and Mausoleum in Dallas, Texas.
John Klein
BANTAM- John Klein age 70 of Bantam, Conn. passed away suddenly October 4th, 2021. He was born in 1951 in Bridgeport, Conn., son of Lillian and Daniel Klein of Fairfield, Conn. John grew up in Fairfield surrounded by his aunts, uncles, and grandparents on the family farm. He was a loving and devoted husband and father to his wife Lisa and daughters Kristine and Kate.
John’s passions in life were sports, photography, and reading. These interests were the core of his soul, and he shared them with family and friends. John graduated with a degree in Marketing from Fairfield University. John followed his passions and worked in sports photography and publishing for most of his career.
In the early 1990’s John was employed by Pinnacle Brands in Westport, Conn. There he edited photographs for baseball cards and photographed major league baseball players. John went on to work for Major League Baseball, International Masters Publishers, Weekly Reader and spent the last ten years at ESPN in Bristol Conn., where he worked on “ESPN the Magazine” and its website. John loved his work and those he worked with.
John was a devoted husband to his wife Lisa, who he loved dearly. They met on the tennis court in Fairfield, Conn. and married in 1993. In 2000, they moved to Bridgewater Conn. to raise their two daughters, Kristine and Kate. He shared his passions for reading and sports with his daughters.
John loved working on his home gardens with Lisa, weeding, planting, and mowing, always listening to the sports radio as he moved around the yard. Fantasy Football and Baseball was a hobby of his, he loved collaborating with friends about their teams and trading players. John had a steady presence, always there for his family and friends. He was a quiet man with a very loving heart and gentle soul. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Lisa, their two daughters Kristine and Kate, his sister Janice Klein, and his mother Lillian Klein.
There will be a ”Celebration of Life” held at the Bridgewater Congregational Church, Bridgewater Conn. on November 6th, 2021 at 11:00am.
BANTAM- John Klein age 70 of Bantam, Conn. passed away suddenly October 4th, 2021. He was born in 1951 in Bridgeport, Conn., son of Lillian and Daniel Klein of Fairfield, Conn. John grew up in Fairfield surrounded by his aunts, uncles, and grandparents on the family farm. He was a loving and devoted husband and father to his wife Lisa and daughters Kristine and Kate.
John’s passions in life were sports, photography, and reading. These interests were the core of his soul, and he shared them with family and friends. John graduated with a degree in Marketing from Fairfield University. John followed his passions and worked in sports photography and publishing for most of his career.
In the early 1990’s John was employed by Pinnacle Brands in Westport, Conn. There he edited photographs for baseball cards and photographed major league baseball players. John went on to work for Major League Baseball, International Masters Publishers, Weekly Reader and spent the last ten years at ESPN in Bristol Conn., where he worked on “ESPN the Magazine” and its website. John loved his work and those he worked with.
John was a devoted husband to his wife Lisa, who he loved dearly. They met on the tennis court in Fairfield, Conn. and married in 1993. In 2000, they moved to Bridgewater Conn. to raise their two daughters, Kristine and Kate. He shared his passions for reading and sports with his daughters.
John loved working on his home gardens with Lisa, weeding, planting, and mowing, always listening to the sports radio as he moved around the yard. Fantasy Football and Baseball was a hobby of his, he loved collaborating with friends about their teams and trading players. John had a steady presence, always there for his family and friends. He was a quiet man with a very loving heart and gentle soul. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Lisa, their two daughters Kristine and Kate, his sister Janice Klein, and his mother Lillian Klein.
There will be a ”Celebration of Life” held at the Bridgewater Congregational Church, Bridgewater Conn. on November 6th, 2021 at 11:00am.
Maureen E. Prentice
Devoted wife, mother, grandmother and volunteer.
CORNWALL - Maureen E. Prentice passed away on Oct. 8, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at Geer Nursing & Rehab.
Maureen was born on July 29, 1933 in New York to the late Frank and Hetty (Carley) Cole. She was predeceased by her loving husband José Antonio (Toni) Machado Prentice. Maureen graduated from HVRHS in 1951. Went on to graduate from Green Mountain College in 1953 with an associate degree in Retail Management. She put her degree to good use at G. Fox in Hartford, CT and as floor manager at G. Fox in Enfield, CT. She married Toni in 1955. Soon after three incredible, active and unique children arrived. Between being a hands on mom, working, numerous pets, running kids from one activity to another and summers at the camp in Otis, MA, she found time to volunteer at Milton Hall, Historical Society and Cornwall Women's Society annual Rummage Sale were she ended up cleaning in the sink and working the Tiffany Table. She had a great love of history and spent many years archiving photos of Cornwall for the Historical Society as well as countless hours on " The History of Cornwall" book. Ever the advocate for voting she was a pollster at election time in Cornwall.
Brought up Catholic, she had a great devotion to her beloved St. Bridget Church of Cornwall Bridge, CT. She read at Mass, took care of the alter linens, helped at many potluck dinners and their annual rummage sale.
She leaves behind son James Prentice (wife Jane), daughter Sara Prentice, son Michael Prentice (wife Shaila), granddaughter Helen Prentice, grandson Kale Prentice, brother Jim Cole (wife Peggy), a brother in-law and two nieces.
The Prentice Family would like to thank the wonderful staff on Cardinal Court at Geer for the love and care of Maureen for the last two years.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Alzheimer Research, Cornwall Historical Society or your local animal shelter. A Mass service will be held at St. Bridget's Church in Cornwall on Wednesday Oct. 13, 2021 at 11:00am.
Devoted wife, mother, grandmother and volunteer.
CORNWALL - Maureen E. Prentice passed away on Oct. 8, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at Geer Nursing & Rehab.
Maureen was born on July 29, 1933 in New York to the late Frank and Hetty (Carley) Cole. She was predeceased by her loving husband José Antonio (Toni) Machado Prentice. Maureen graduated from HVRHS in 1951. Went on to graduate from Green Mountain College in 1953 with an associate degree in Retail Management. She put her degree to good use at G. Fox in Hartford, CT and as floor manager at G. Fox in Enfield, CT. She married Toni in 1955. Soon after three incredible, active and unique children arrived. Between being a hands on mom, working, numerous pets, running kids from one activity to another and summers at the camp in Otis, MA, she found time to volunteer at Milton Hall, Historical Society and Cornwall Women's Society annual Rummage Sale were she ended up cleaning in the sink and working the Tiffany Table. She had a great love of history and spent many years archiving photos of Cornwall for the Historical Society as well as countless hours on " The History of Cornwall" book. Ever the advocate for voting she was a pollster at election time in Cornwall.
Brought up Catholic, she had a great devotion to her beloved St. Bridget Church of Cornwall Bridge, CT. She read at Mass, took care of the alter linens, helped at many potluck dinners and their annual rummage sale.
She leaves behind son James Prentice (wife Jane), daughter Sara Prentice, son Michael Prentice (wife Shaila), granddaughter Helen Prentice, grandson Kale Prentice, brother Jim Cole (wife Peggy), a brother in-law and two nieces.
The Prentice Family would like to thank the wonderful staff on Cardinal Court at Geer for the love and care of Maureen for the last two years.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Alzheimer Research, Cornwall Historical Society or your local animal shelter. A Mass service will be held at St. Bridget's Church in Cornwall on Wednesday Oct. 13, 2021 at 11:00am.
John Gallup
SALISBURY — Dr. John William “Bill” Gallup was born in Boston, Mass., in 1929.
He entered Cornell University intending to become a forester and graduated with the intent of tending people.
He graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1955.
He and his wife, Jean, moved to Montreal for the next two years, where he continued his medical education. They then moved to Japan, where Dr. Gallup served for three years in the post-occupation U.S. Army as a pediatrician for service dependents.
On return, Dr. Gallup completed his pediatric training at Boston Children’s Hospital over the following two years. In 1962, he and his young family moved to Salisbury, where he joined Dr. Haydock at the Sharon Clinic. He was pediatrician to families, covered well-baby clinics and at various times served as pediatrician for the Society of Brothers, private schools and two residential facilities for children with severe mental and physical impairments.
Bill loved the outdoors, music, contributing in quiet ways to the community and ice cream.
After retiring, he and his wife traveled widely and volunteered at the Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti.
He attended a range of classes including the Taconic Learning Center (TLC), where he served a year as president.
He particularly enjoyed working with the crew at the annual Salisbury Winter Sports Association ski jump.
Until the time of his death, he served on the Board of Directors for The Foundation for Community Health, for which he was a founding member.
Dr. Gallup is survived by his wife, Jean; his children, Sarah Gallup of Portland, Ore., Cristin (Gallup) Rich and son-in-law David Rich, John Gallup and daughter-in-law Than Ngoc Anh of Portland; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth and Katherine Rich and Ý Yên and Ý Lại Gallup.
A remembrance of Dr. Gallup’s life is tentatively planned for late spring.
SALISBURY — Dr. John William “Bill” Gallup was born in Boston, Mass., in 1929.
He entered Cornell University intending to become a forester and graduated with the intent of tending people.
He graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1955.
He and his wife, Jean, moved to Montreal for the next two years, where he continued his medical education. They then moved to Japan, where Dr. Gallup served for three years in the post-occupation U.S. Army as a pediatrician for service dependents.
On return, Dr. Gallup completed his pediatric training at Boston Children’s Hospital over the following two years. In 1962, he and his young family moved to Salisbury, where he joined Dr. Haydock at the Sharon Clinic. He was pediatrician to families, covered well-baby clinics and at various times served as pediatrician for the Society of Brothers, private schools and two residential facilities for children with severe mental and physical impairments.
Bill loved the outdoors, music, contributing in quiet ways to the community and ice cream.
After retiring, he and his wife traveled widely and volunteered at the Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti.
He attended a range of classes including the Taconic Learning Center (TLC), where he served a year as president.
He particularly enjoyed working with the crew at the annual Salisbury Winter Sports Association ski jump.
Until the time of his death, he served on the Board of Directors for The Foundation for Community Health, for which he was a founding member.
Dr. Gallup is survived by his wife, Jean; his children, Sarah Gallup of Portland, Ore., Cristin (Gallup) Rich and son-in-law David Rich, John Gallup and daughter-in-law Than Ngoc Anh of Portland; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth and Katherine Rich and Ý Yên and Ý Lại Gallup.
A remembrance of Dr. Gallup’s life is tentatively planned for late spring.
Denise Cashman
Denise (Morin) Cashman, 51, of Salisbury, Connecticut, passed peacefully September 8, 2021 at Sharon Health Care Center.
Born March 21, 1970 in Biddeford, Maine, Denise was the daughter of Precille (Cote) Morin of Greensboro, North Carolina and the late Rene A Morin of Biddeford, Maine. Denise was a graduate of Biddeford High School. She worked at various jobs in retail, which she truly enjoyed throughout her life. Denise also enjoyed skiing and riding her snowmobile and motorcycle. Denise loved to spend time with family and friends.
Denise is survived by her mother, Precille Morin, a sister, Debra (Morin) Baker (husband Tom), and two brothers, David Morin (wife Jayne) and Daniel Morin (wife Lynn). Denise was loved by her nieces and nephews: Jessica Brackett, Thomas Baker, Hope Lohnes, Kristina Knight, Jennifer Gaither, Jason Morin, Samantha Meader, Jacqueline Antone, and Jacob Morin, along with their spouses and children. She had a close relationship with her cousin, Michelle Cote.
There will be a graveside service for family on October 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at St Joseph's Cemetery in Biddeford, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Hospice of your choice.
Denise (Morin) Cashman, 51, of Salisbury, Connecticut, passed peacefully September 8, 2021 at Sharon Health Care Center.
Born March 21, 1970 in Biddeford, Maine, Denise was the daughter of Precille (Cote) Morin of Greensboro, North Carolina and the late Rene A Morin of Biddeford, Maine. Denise was a graduate of Biddeford High School. She worked at various jobs in retail, which she truly enjoyed throughout her life. Denise also enjoyed skiing and riding her snowmobile and motorcycle. Denise loved to spend time with family and friends.
Denise is survived by her mother, Precille Morin, a sister, Debra (Morin) Baker (husband Tom), and two brothers, David Morin (wife Jayne) and Daniel Morin (wife Lynn). Denise was loved by her nieces and nephews: Jessica Brackett, Thomas Baker, Hope Lohnes, Kristina Knight, Jennifer Gaither, Jason Morin, Samantha Meader, Jacqueline Antone, and Jacob Morin, along with their spouses and children. She had a close relationship with her cousin, Michelle Cote.
There will be a graveside service for family on October 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at St Joseph's Cemetery in Biddeford, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Hospice of your choice.
David Brown
David M. Brown, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on August 30, 2021, after living a wonderful life filled with love. David was born on February 29, 1960 in Dover, Delaware. He grew up with his family in Norfolk, CT. For the last twenty-two years he lived in a group home in Brookfield Connecticut where he was loved and well cared for by the wonderful staff from Ability Beyond.
David was the son of the late Nathaniel W. Brown and Frances E. Brown. He is survived by his siblings and their families including Robert P. Brown, Anne and daughter Isabel, Thomas E. Brown, wife Laura and daughter Constance, Julia F. Chamberland, husband Andre and son Matthew, Mark W. Brown, wife Laura and daughter Lydia and Margaret A. Brown.
David loved going for rides and being outdoors. The light that David brought into our lives will live on in the heavens.
Services will be private. Memorial contributions can be made to Ability Beyond, 4 Berkshire Boulevard, Bethel, CT 06801.
David M. Brown, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on August 30, 2021, after living a wonderful life filled with love. David was born on February 29, 1960 in Dover, Delaware. He grew up with his family in Norfolk, CT. For the last twenty-two years he lived in a group home in Brookfield Connecticut where he was loved and well cared for by the wonderful staff from Ability Beyond.
David was the son of the late Nathaniel W. Brown and Frances E. Brown. He is survived by his siblings and their families including Robert P. Brown, Anne and daughter Isabel, Thomas E. Brown, wife Laura and daughter Constance, Julia F. Chamberland, husband Andre and son Matthew, Mark W. Brown, wife Laura and daughter Lydia and Margaret A. Brown.
David loved going for rides and being outdoors. The light that David brought into our lives will live on in the heavens.
Services will be private. Memorial contributions can be made to Ability Beyond, 4 Berkshire Boulevard, Bethel, CT 06801.
David Sylvester
Salisbury, CT. - David Sylvester, age 81, died peacefully on August 30, 2021 at Sharon Hospital, Sharon, CT. Dave was the loving and devoted husband of Milagros (Millie)…together for 50 years.
Dave was born December 15th, 1939 in Springfield, MA., the son of Andrew and Stella (Davies) Sylvester. After graduating from college, Dave pursued a career in public relations in New York City where he focused on various marketing initiatives for major consumer brands. His true passion however was fly fishing, and in the early 1990’s established the Deerfield Rod Company as the premier custom made - hand crafted fly rod company catering to the sport’s most proficient anglers.
Other interests included a barely controllable, emotional connection and love for jazz,…and a mastery of it’s historical origins and influencers. And lest we forget, those Sunday morning battles with the New York Times crosswords that he bested with fleeting invincibility.
An avid reader, with an enviable command of history, Dave’s keen, dry wit was both engaging and entertaining. Dave’s love of people allowed him to see and celebrate the good in all those that he came in contact with and find joy in each and every newfound friendship.
Dave is survived by step son Richard and his wife Maggie Olmeda; brother Jack; grandchildren Nicole, Todd, and Jeff Olmeda, Steven and Danny Maldonado; great grandchildren, Peter, Louis, Amaryn, Myles, Maxwell, and Phineas Olmeda.
A memorial service will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St. Sharon, CT. 06069 on Friday, Sept 3rd at 11:00 AM. Guests may start arriving at 10:00 AM.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, 8 Undermountain Rd., Salisbury, CT. 06068
Salisbury, CT. - David Sylvester, age 81, died peacefully on August 30, 2021 at Sharon Hospital, Sharon, CT. Dave was the loving and devoted husband of Milagros (Millie)…together for 50 years.
Dave was born December 15th, 1939 in Springfield, MA., the son of Andrew and Stella (Davies) Sylvester. After graduating from college, Dave pursued a career in public relations in New York City where he focused on various marketing initiatives for major consumer brands. His true passion however was fly fishing, and in the early 1990’s established the Deerfield Rod Company as the premier custom made - hand crafted fly rod company catering to the sport’s most proficient anglers.
Other interests included a barely controllable, emotional connection and love for jazz,…and a mastery of it’s historical origins and influencers. And lest we forget, those Sunday morning battles with the New York Times crosswords that he bested with fleeting invincibility.
An avid reader, with an enviable command of history, Dave’s keen, dry wit was both engaging and entertaining. Dave’s love of people allowed him to see and celebrate the good in all those that he came in contact with and find joy in each and every newfound friendship.
Dave is survived by step son Richard and his wife Maggie Olmeda; brother Jack; grandchildren Nicole, Todd, and Jeff Olmeda, Steven and Danny Maldonado; great grandchildren, Peter, Louis, Amaryn, Myles, Maxwell, and Phineas Olmeda.
A memorial service will be held at the Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main St. Sharon, CT. 06069 on Friday, Sept 3rd at 11:00 AM. Guests may start arriving at 10:00 AM.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, 8 Undermountain Rd., Salisbury, CT. 06068
Susan Costello
Susan Costello, 69, of West Cornwall, CT, died peacefully at home on August 19, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Roland Costello.
Born in Philadelphia, she graduated with a degree in nursing from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Soon afterwards, she moved to Pittsfield, MA, and opened a popular coffee shop. Later, she became the caretaker for a mansion that was also the location of a popular summer camp where she hosted and fed a large corps of happy campers.
She met her beloved husband Roland when she moved to West Cornwall where she opened a video rental store and met most everyone in her new adopted hometown. She also became an adept house painter with her husband. She always kept her nursing license and returned to that field while working in a nearby nursing home in later years.
However, she always claimed her proudest accomplishment was raising her children Damien and Paris who survive her along with her granddaughter Willa, brothers Roy and Jeffrey and sister Deborah.
Service will be held at Kenny Funeral Home located at 41 Main Street , Sharon CT 06069. Friends and Family are welcome between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm this Tuesday the 24th of August 2021 with the celebration of Susan’s life to continue after.
Susan Costello, 69, of West Cornwall, CT, died peacefully at home on August 19, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Roland Costello.
Born in Philadelphia, she graduated with a degree in nursing from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Soon afterwards, she moved to Pittsfield, MA, and opened a popular coffee shop. Later, she became the caretaker for a mansion that was also the location of a popular summer camp where she hosted and fed a large corps of happy campers.
She met her beloved husband Roland when she moved to West Cornwall where she opened a video rental store and met most everyone in her new adopted hometown. She also became an adept house painter with her husband. She always kept her nursing license and returned to that field while working in a nearby nursing home in later years.
However, she always claimed her proudest accomplishment was raising her children Damien and Paris who survive her along with her granddaughter Willa, brothers Roy and Jeffrey and sister Deborah.
Service will be held at Kenny Funeral Home located at 41 Main Street , Sharon CT 06069. Friends and Family are welcome between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm this Tuesday the 24th of August 2021 with the celebration of Susan’s life to continue after.
David Moore Sr.
Cornwall-David W. Moore Sr. 77 of Great Hollow Road, died August 12 at the Sharon Hospital. He was the loving husband of Shelia (Green) Moore.
David was born June 9,1944 in Waterbury, the son of the late James and Glenys (Berry) Moore. He worked at BE Aerospace as an inspector for 23 years. He also was a member of the Advent Christian Church in Torrington.
Besides his wife of 57 years David is survived by his children; Brenda (Charles) Rotenberger, David Jr Moore., Lori (Norman) MacKinnon, Brian ( Jennifer) Moore and Mary (Chris) O’Dell. He is also survived by seven Grand Children and three Great Grandchildren.
A celebration of David’s life will be on Thursday August 19 at 11:AM at the Advent Christian Church, 217 New Harwington Road, Torrington. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornwall Fire Department, 289 Sharon Goshen Tnpk. West Cornwall, Ct. 06796 or to the Sullivan Senior Center, 88 E. Albert St. Torrington, Ct. 06790. The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon has care of arrangements.
Cornwall-David W. Moore Sr. 77 of Great Hollow Road, died August 12 at the Sharon Hospital. He was the loving husband of Shelia (Green) Moore.
David was born June 9,1944 in Waterbury, the son of the late James and Glenys (Berry) Moore. He worked at BE Aerospace as an inspector for 23 years. He also was a member of the Advent Christian Church in Torrington.
Besides his wife of 57 years David is survived by his children; Brenda (Charles) Rotenberger, David Jr Moore., Lori (Norman) MacKinnon, Brian ( Jennifer) Moore and Mary (Chris) O’Dell. He is also survived by seven Grand Children and three Great Grandchildren.
A celebration of David’s life will be on Thursday August 19 at 11:AM at the Advent Christian Church, 217 New Harwington Road, Torrington. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornwall Fire Department, 289 Sharon Goshen Tnpk. West Cornwall, Ct. 06796 or to the Sullivan Senior Center, 88 E. Albert St. Torrington, Ct. 06790. The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon has care of arrangements.
Christine Hervieux
Norfolk- Christine Francis Hervieux ,82, of Norfolk died peacefully at Geer Village on July 26, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Wilfred “Willie” Joseph Hervieux, Jr.
Chris was born August 23,1938 in Torrington, Ct. the daughter of the late Roger and Grace (Nataro) Neri. She was a graduate of the Torrington High School and went on to work at the underwood factory in Hartford, CT. It was there where she met the love of her life, “Sonny” and was wed May 7th ,1960. Chris gave birth to her sone Daniel Joseph Hervieux in 1961 and to Douglas Alan Hervieux in 1962.
Chris worked other jobs in her time also including Reynolds and Reynolds, Mechachini’s grocery store in Winsted and as a traffic director.
She is survived by her two sons Danny and Douglas Sr. (Machelle); her grandson Dougie, Jr.. She is also survived by her sibling David (Reggie) and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Roger Jr.
A memorial service will be celebrated at the Battell Chapel of the Church of Christ in Norfolk on August 14 at 11:AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Danny Hervieux care and trust fund managed by the Kenny Funeral Home, P.O. Box 12, Sharon, CT. 06069. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Norfolk- Christine Francis Hervieux ,82, of Norfolk died peacefully at Geer Village on July 26, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Wilfred “Willie” Joseph Hervieux, Jr.
Chris was born August 23,1938 in Torrington, Ct. the daughter of the late Roger and Grace (Nataro) Neri. She was a graduate of the Torrington High School and went on to work at the underwood factory in Hartford, CT. It was there where she met the love of her life, “Sonny” and was wed May 7th ,1960. Chris gave birth to her sone Daniel Joseph Hervieux in 1961 and to Douglas Alan Hervieux in 1962.
Chris worked other jobs in her time also including Reynolds and Reynolds, Mechachini’s grocery store in Winsted and as a traffic director.
She is survived by her two sons Danny and Douglas Sr. (Machelle); her grandson Dougie, Jr.. She is also survived by her sibling David (Reggie) and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Roger Jr.
A memorial service will be celebrated at the Battell Chapel of the Church of Christ in Norfolk on August 14 at 11:AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Danny Hervieux care and trust fund managed by the Kenny Funeral Home, P.O. Box 12, Sharon, CT. 06069. The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Chet DeLong
Sharon- Chet Michael DeLonge of Amenia, NY, passed August 4, 2021, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was a resident of Sharon Health Care Center.
Chet was born May 13, 1956, in Elmhurst, Queens, NY, to Harry C. DeLonge and the late Carol M. DeLonge. Chet graduated from John Jay High School, Cross River, NY.
He is survived by his father, Harry DeLonge, and his three siblings, Marc DeLonge, Roxanne DeLonge and Rowena Haviland and his nieces and nephews, Brittany Williamson, Melany DeLonge, Anthony Scala, Eric Scala, Megan DeLonge, Laurel See, Heather Price, Carol Haviland, Michelle Haviland and Austin DeLonge.
All services are private.
Sharon- Chet Michael DeLonge of Amenia, NY, passed August 4, 2021, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was a resident of Sharon Health Care Center.
Chet was born May 13, 1956, in Elmhurst, Queens, NY, to Harry C. DeLonge and the late Carol M. DeLonge. Chet graduated from John Jay High School, Cross River, NY.
He is survived by his father, Harry DeLonge, and his three siblings, Marc DeLonge, Roxanne DeLonge and Rowena Haviland and his nieces and nephews, Brittany Williamson, Melany DeLonge, Anthony Scala, Eric Scala, Megan DeLonge, Laurel See, Heather Price, Carol Haviland, Michelle Haviland and Austin DeLonge.
All services are private.
Daniel Wright
Daniel Charles Wright, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Sharon, CT in the early hours of Wednesday, July 28, 2021. His wife of 67 years, Ann Wright, was at his bedside along with children and grandchildren.
Dan was born on June 8, 1928 and grew up in Springfield, MA. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 toward the end of World War II and was trained as a Corpsman. Honorably discharged, he attended the Munson Academy in Wilbraham, MA. on the GI Bill, and upon graduation, moved to Boston to attend the Leland Powers School of Television and Radio. While in Boston, in 1952 Dan was reintroduced to an acquaintance from Springfield named Mary Ann Callahan who was attending Boston University. They commenced a lifelong love story.
They married in 1953 and settled in NYC to pursue careers in the entertainment industry. He worked in many different areas of the business, starting out as an actor in live television, and working on production crews for live TV and TV commercials. He transitioned to talent representation and worked with Ann for decades as a Theatrical Agent, a Sports Agent, representing successful athletes in the endorsement and commercials arena, and then as a Literary Agent representing screenwriters.
The essence of Dan as a person is not found in a recitation of his career achievements. Dan was an artist in his core being. He was an observer of human behavior which he strived all his life to translate primarily through his painting, and a lifestyle of do-it-yourself decorative arts, furniture refinishing, and always an appreciation of the common man. His salt-of-the-earth New England values informed his personal style. His aesthetic vision is everywhere evidenced in hundreds of oil paintings on canvas, watercolors, acrylic, charcoal, and pen and ink drawings. His annual hand drawn Christmas Card, was a sought after keepsake. The Sharon house is floor to ceiling Dan art. He showed his work from time to time in N.Y.C., and more recently at the Kent Art Association, Trinity Gallery at Lime Rock, Housatonic Valley Art League, Town Hall Gallery in Sharon, and the Litchfield Jazz Festival, where his popular collection of “Jazz Greats” portraits were displayed.
Dan loved his family with particular unwavering love for Ann, which he stated loudly for all to hear every morning.
Dan was predeceased by son Patrick Xavier Wright of Ridgefield, CT. He is survived by wife, Mary Ann Wright of Sharon CT; his children, Christopher Wright of Los Angeles, CA; Susan Wright of Sharon, CT; and Michael Wright of Sandy Hook, CT; along with his daughters-in-law, Laurie Ledoux Wright of Sandy Hook, CT and Holly Powell-Wright of Paso Robles, CA. Also his grandchildren in order of age, Ryan Wright of Menlo Park, CA, Nicholas Tripodi, of Canaan, CT, Alex Tripodi of Sharon, CT and Jerusha Wright of Sandy Hook, CT
Family Visitation Hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT on Thursday, August 12 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary’s Church, 55 Catoonah St, Ridgefield, CT 06877 on Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 AM.
Daniel Charles Wright, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Sharon, CT in the early hours of Wednesday, July 28, 2021. His wife of 67 years, Ann Wright, was at his bedside along with children and grandchildren.
Dan was born on June 8, 1928 and grew up in Springfield, MA. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 toward the end of World War II and was trained as a Corpsman. Honorably discharged, he attended the Munson Academy in Wilbraham, MA. on the GI Bill, and upon graduation, moved to Boston to attend the Leland Powers School of Television and Radio. While in Boston, in 1952 Dan was reintroduced to an acquaintance from Springfield named Mary Ann Callahan who was attending Boston University. They commenced a lifelong love story.
They married in 1953 and settled in NYC to pursue careers in the entertainment industry. He worked in many different areas of the business, starting out as an actor in live television, and working on production crews for live TV and TV commercials. He transitioned to talent representation and worked with Ann for decades as a Theatrical Agent, a Sports Agent, representing successful athletes in the endorsement and commercials arena, and then as a Literary Agent representing screenwriters.
The essence of Dan as a person is not found in a recitation of his career achievements. Dan was an artist in his core being. He was an observer of human behavior which he strived all his life to translate primarily through his painting, and a lifestyle of do-it-yourself decorative arts, furniture refinishing, and always an appreciation of the common man. His salt-of-the-earth New England values informed his personal style. His aesthetic vision is everywhere evidenced in hundreds of oil paintings on canvas, watercolors, acrylic, charcoal, and pen and ink drawings. His annual hand drawn Christmas Card, was a sought after keepsake. The Sharon house is floor to ceiling Dan art. He showed his work from time to time in N.Y.C., and more recently at the Kent Art Association, Trinity Gallery at Lime Rock, Housatonic Valley Art League, Town Hall Gallery in Sharon, and the Litchfield Jazz Festival, where his popular collection of “Jazz Greats” portraits were displayed.
Dan loved his family with particular unwavering love for Ann, which he stated loudly for all to hear every morning.
Dan was predeceased by son Patrick Xavier Wright of Ridgefield, CT. He is survived by wife, Mary Ann Wright of Sharon CT; his children, Christopher Wright of Los Angeles, CA; Susan Wright of Sharon, CT; and Michael Wright of Sandy Hook, CT; along with his daughters-in-law, Laurie Ledoux Wright of Sandy Hook, CT and Holly Powell-Wright of Paso Robles, CA. Also his grandchildren in order of age, Ryan Wright of Menlo Park, CA, Nicholas Tripodi, of Canaan, CT, Alex Tripodi of Sharon, CT and Jerusha Wright of Sandy Hook, CT
Family Visitation Hours will be held at Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT on Thursday, August 12 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary’s Church, 55 Catoonah St, Ridgefield, CT 06877 on Saturday, August 14 at 10:00 AM.
Salvatore Accardo
Salvatore F. Accardo (Sal), of Sharon, CT, died on July 19th. He was the loving husband of Janet How Accardo.
Born December 30, 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, Sal was the son of Settimo and Theresa Mineo Accardo of Bloomfield, New Jersey. After graduating from Bloomfield High School, he earned a B.S. and A.B.E.E. Masters of Advanced Engineering degree from Cornell University (1961) where he was a member and President of the Seal and Serpent fraternity.
Following college, Sal earned an M.B.A from New York University’s Stern School of Business (1963). He was in the Air Force during the Pueblo crisis, followed by the Reserves for five years. He joined General Electric for five years going through their marketing training program. In 1969, Sal started his career on Wall Street as an institutional sell-side analyst in high tech with William D. Witter, Inc. He had similar research positions at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kidder Peabody, and Shearson/American Express. Sal was named to the Institutional Investor Magazines All-American Research Team for three years as one of the top ranked electronics analysts. The work suited Sal’s inquisitive mind, his fascination with high-tech, and his extroverted personality.
From 1983-91 he moved to the investment management side starting with Manufacturers Hanover Bank’s (JP Morgan Chase) institutional division which was subsequently sold to Paine Webber’s (UBS) Mitchell Hutchins subsidiary. There he eventually ran a venture capital partnership. From 1991 to ‘93 Sal conceived and established a joint venture between Chancellor Capital Management (money management arm of Citibank) and a European fund-of-funds. From 1994-2006 Sal worked as a Sr. V.P. at Melhado Flynn; from 2007-10 as Managing Director at IQ Venture Advisors; and from 2010 to retirement in 2016 as V.P. at Source Capital Group.
In 2016, Sal and his wife Janet moved full time to Sharon, CT after having been weekenders since the 1980s. Sal loved the beauty of the Northwest corner of Connecticut and its many cultural offerings.
Sal had a lifelong love of music. A trumpet player, Sal was part of high school and college dance bands as well as the Cornell University Marching Band. For many years, Sal was a member and frequent attendee of the Metropolitan Opera Club enjoying many MET productions. Sal also had a love of Broadway music and during his many years as member of the University Club in New York City he served on the Musical Affairs committee and produced two popular musical events for the Club. Once in Connecticut, Sal joined the Board of Music Mountain in Falls Village. He had a love for the organization and during the summers, one could find him hanging up posters or handing out flyers around the Northwest Corner.
A lifelong learner, a fan of history and nonfiction, an information gatherer, and a news junkie, Sal read The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal daily. While reading one book, he always had a stack of others to read nearby. The Taconic Learning Center and Salisbury Forum were two sources for courses and lectures to which he subscribed.
Another great source of pleasure for Sal was his 1967 Buick Electra which he enjoyed driving around the Northwest corner on beautiful summer days while listening to classical music. He loved to drive veterans in the Buick for the Salisbury Memorial Day parade.
In Connecticut Sal belonged to the Congregational Church of Salisbury, CT, and the Sharon Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Janet of 34 years, his step daughter Elizabeth Sorem, her husband John Lussier and grandchildren Leo and Sigrid Lussier. He was pre-deceased by his two brothers, Carmine and Joseph. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Mary Ann Accardo and Roseann Accardo, four nephews: Joseph, Paul, Carmen and Andrew, two nieces: Arianna and Treza, their spouses and children.
A celebration of Sal’s life will be held at the Salisbury Congregational Church on Saturday, August 7th at 1:00pm. Contributions in Sal’s memory may be made to Music Mountain, P.O. Box 738, Lakeville, CT 06039.
Salvatore F. Accardo (Sal), of Sharon, CT, died on July 19th. He was the loving husband of Janet How Accardo.
Born December 30, 1937 in Newark, New Jersey, Sal was the son of Settimo and Theresa Mineo Accardo of Bloomfield, New Jersey. After graduating from Bloomfield High School, he earned a B.S. and A.B.E.E. Masters of Advanced Engineering degree from Cornell University (1961) where he was a member and President of the Seal and Serpent fraternity.
Following college, Sal earned an M.B.A from New York University’s Stern School of Business (1963). He was in the Air Force during the Pueblo crisis, followed by the Reserves for five years. He joined General Electric for five years going through their marketing training program. In 1969, Sal started his career on Wall Street as an institutional sell-side analyst in high tech with William D. Witter, Inc. He had similar research positions at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kidder Peabody, and Shearson/American Express. Sal was named to the Institutional Investor Magazines All-American Research Team for three years as one of the top ranked electronics analysts. The work suited Sal’s inquisitive mind, his fascination with high-tech, and his extroverted personality.
From 1983-91 he moved to the investment management side starting with Manufacturers Hanover Bank’s (JP Morgan Chase) institutional division which was subsequently sold to Paine Webber’s (UBS) Mitchell Hutchins subsidiary. There he eventually ran a venture capital partnership. From 1991 to ‘93 Sal conceived and established a joint venture between Chancellor Capital Management (money management arm of Citibank) and a European fund-of-funds. From 1994-2006 Sal worked as a Sr. V.P. at Melhado Flynn; from 2007-10 as Managing Director at IQ Venture Advisors; and from 2010 to retirement in 2016 as V.P. at Source Capital Group.
In 2016, Sal and his wife Janet moved full time to Sharon, CT after having been weekenders since the 1980s. Sal loved the beauty of the Northwest corner of Connecticut and its many cultural offerings.
Sal had a lifelong love of music. A trumpet player, Sal was part of high school and college dance bands as well as the Cornell University Marching Band. For many years, Sal was a member and frequent attendee of the Metropolitan Opera Club enjoying many MET productions. Sal also had a love of Broadway music and during his many years as member of the University Club in New York City he served on the Musical Affairs committee and produced two popular musical events for the Club. Once in Connecticut, Sal joined the Board of Music Mountain in Falls Village. He had a love for the organization and during the summers, one could find him hanging up posters or handing out flyers around the Northwest Corner.
A lifelong learner, a fan of history and nonfiction, an information gatherer, and a news junkie, Sal read The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal daily. While reading one book, he always had a stack of others to read nearby. The Taconic Learning Center and Salisbury Forum were two sources for courses and lectures to which he subscribed.
Another great source of pleasure for Sal was his 1967 Buick Electra which he enjoyed driving around the Northwest corner on beautiful summer days while listening to classical music. He loved to drive veterans in the Buick for the Salisbury Memorial Day parade.
In Connecticut Sal belonged to the Congregational Church of Salisbury, CT, and the Sharon Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Janet of 34 years, his step daughter Elizabeth Sorem, her husband John Lussier and grandchildren Leo and Sigrid Lussier. He was pre-deceased by his two brothers, Carmine and Joseph. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Mary Ann Accardo and Roseann Accardo, four nephews: Joseph, Paul, Carmen and Andrew, two nieces: Arianna and Treza, their spouses and children.
A celebration of Sal’s life will be held at the Salisbury Congregational Church on Saturday, August 7th at 1:00pm. Contributions in Sal’s memory may be made to Music Mountain, P.O. Box 738, Lakeville, CT 06039.
Helen Humeston
Helen Wike Humeston passed away July 12, 2021 at her home two days after her 99th birthday.
Born July 10, 1922 she was the daughter of the late Edward Charles Wike and Alice Judd (Wike) Gavel.
Helen was a member of the first class to graduate from HVRHS in 1940.
After high school Helen attended Henry W. Bishop School of Nursing in Pittsfield, MA. After completing her nursing training at House of Mercy Hospital in Pittsfield and Boston City Hospital in Boston, MA she graduated in 1944 and returned to Sharon. She worked at Canaan Hospital (now Geer) and Sharon Hospital until 1946.
Helen married John D. (Don) Humeston on August 13, 1946. Helen and Don were married for 61 years until Don’s passing in 2007. Together they raised two daughters, Donna and Lynn. During their time together Helen and Don enjoyed golfing and they spent their annual vacations traveling to golf destinations in the southern United States and to Ireland.
Helen was a stay at home Mom until she embarked on a new career in 1971. It was then she took a job in the assessor’s office. She went on to become Sharon’s first Certified Municipal Assessor (1976) and eventually served as Chairman of the Board of Assessors in Sharon. Helen retired from the Board in 2004 at the age of 82.
Helen served as a volunteer and Certified EMT with the Sharon Fire Department Ambulance Squad from 1978 until 1993.
Helen’s family’s farm was her home for her whole life. She was passionately committed to the preservation of nature and the protection of farm land in particular.
Helen is survived by her daughters Lynn Humeston and Donna Hoskins and her husband Henry Barlow, two grandchildren Benjamin Hoskins and his wife Melinda, and Rebecca Malone and her husband Colin, and three great-grandchildren Finian and Keely Malone and Zander Hoskins. She was predeceased by her brother Edward.
All services will be private. There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury VNA Home assistance, 30A Salmon Kill Rd., Salisbury, CT 06068 or CT Farmland Trust, 77 Buckingham St. 3rd floor, Hartford, CT 06106 or Sharon Fire Department, PO Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Helen Wike Humeston passed away July 12, 2021 at her home two days after her 99th birthday.
Born July 10, 1922 she was the daughter of the late Edward Charles Wike and Alice Judd (Wike) Gavel.
Helen was a member of the first class to graduate from HVRHS in 1940.
After high school Helen attended Henry W. Bishop School of Nursing in Pittsfield, MA. After completing her nursing training at House of Mercy Hospital in Pittsfield and Boston City Hospital in Boston, MA she graduated in 1944 and returned to Sharon. She worked at Canaan Hospital (now Geer) and Sharon Hospital until 1946.
Helen married John D. (Don) Humeston on August 13, 1946. Helen and Don were married for 61 years until Don’s passing in 2007. Together they raised two daughters, Donna and Lynn. During their time together Helen and Don enjoyed golfing and they spent their annual vacations traveling to golf destinations in the southern United States and to Ireland.
Helen was a stay at home Mom until she embarked on a new career in 1971. It was then she took a job in the assessor’s office. She went on to become Sharon’s first Certified Municipal Assessor (1976) and eventually served as Chairman of the Board of Assessors in Sharon. Helen retired from the Board in 2004 at the age of 82.
Helen served as a volunteer and Certified EMT with the Sharon Fire Department Ambulance Squad from 1978 until 1993.
Helen’s family’s farm was her home for her whole life. She was passionately committed to the preservation of nature and the protection of farm land in particular.
Helen is survived by her daughters Lynn Humeston and Donna Hoskins and her husband Henry Barlow, two grandchildren Benjamin Hoskins and his wife Melinda, and Rebecca Malone and her husband Colin, and three great-grandchildren Finian and Keely Malone and Zander Hoskins. She was predeceased by her brother Edward.
All services will be private. There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury VNA Home assistance, 30A Salmon Kill Rd., Salisbury, CT 06068 or CT Farmland Trust, 77 Buckingham St. 3rd floor, Hartford, CT 06106 or Sharon Fire Department, PO Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Adam Prindle
TORRINGTON - Adam Prindle, 39, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 9, 2021.
Adam was born January 20, 1982 in Torrington, CT. The son of Richard Prindle and Victoria Vosburgh Mulville.
Adam was a hard working man. His last place of employment being a manager at Dunkin Donuts and formally a manager at McDonalds. Adam strived for greatness. Applying himself anyway he could to be better than the day before. If there was a way for him to make a buck he was doing it. He enjoyed it too. However there was no greater passion of his than spending time with his kids and sports. If Adam wasn’t at work or at home with his family then you would probably find him outside of a dugout at one of his children's baseball games. Coaching his children and many others to be aspiring players of the game. This was where Adam shined. Even though too young he couldn’t wait for his daughter to begin walking so he could teach her how to play softball.
Adam was the kind of person that could make a room light up when he walked in. He loved with his whole heart, every moment was cherished.
He is survived by his late Grandmother Patricia Vosburgh and living Grandfather Arthur Vosburgh. His late Grandparents Helen and Carlton Prindle. Mother Victoria Vosburgh-Mulville. His father Billy Mulville. His brothers Jordan Hitchcock, Taylor Hitchcock, Conor Vosburgh-Mulville, Ryder Vosburgh-Mulville. Krysten McKinstry and their two children Ajay Prindle, Kody Prindle, and Allie. Crystal St. Hilaire and their children Adain Prindle, Noah Prindle, Hailey Whipple, Abbigale Whipple. Miko Lopez and their daughter Ahmya Prindle and Grayson. His Uncle Charles Vosburgh. David and Joanna Prindle. Tom Prindle. Julie and Dennis Werner. Lois Cugno Prindle. Nephews Cole, and Caleb Taylor. Niece Carter Mulville.Kim Lancey Kopp. As well as his godmother Susian Godding and children Cheyenne Godding and Michaela Godding.
A celebration of life will be held at the Elk’s Pond in Torrington between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. More details can be found on facebook. If you are interested in making a donation to his cremation or celebration of life please follow the link to his GoFundMe Page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebration-of-life-adam-prindle-children?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.
You may also contact Misti Doherty at (207)-798-1835 or at CoachMistiD@yahoo.com.
TORRINGTON - Adam Prindle, 39, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 9, 2021.
Adam was born January 20, 1982 in Torrington, CT. The son of Richard Prindle and Victoria Vosburgh Mulville.
Adam was a hard working man. His last place of employment being a manager at Dunkin Donuts and formally a manager at McDonalds. Adam strived for greatness. Applying himself anyway he could to be better than the day before. If there was a way for him to make a buck he was doing it. He enjoyed it too. However there was no greater passion of his than spending time with his kids and sports. If Adam wasn’t at work or at home with his family then you would probably find him outside of a dugout at one of his children's baseball games. Coaching his children and many others to be aspiring players of the game. This was where Adam shined. Even though too young he couldn’t wait for his daughter to begin walking so he could teach her how to play softball.
Adam was the kind of person that could make a room light up when he walked in. He loved with his whole heart, every moment was cherished.
He is survived by his late Grandmother Patricia Vosburgh and living Grandfather Arthur Vosburgh. His late Grandparents Helen and Carlton Prindle. Mother Victoria Vosburgh-Mulville. His father Billy Mulville. His brothers Jordan Hitchcock, Taylor Hitchcock, Conor Vosburgh-Mulville, Ryder Vosburgh-Mulville. Krysten McKinstry and their two children Ajay Prindle, Kody Prindle, and Allie. Crystal St. Hilaire and their children Adain Prindle, Noah Prindle, Hailey Whipple, Abbigale Whipple. Miko Lopez and their daughter Ahmya Prindle and Grayson. His Uncle Charles Vosburgh. David and Joanna Prindle. Tom Prindle. Julie and Dennis Werner. Lois Cugno Prindle. Nephews Cole, and Caleb Taylor. Niece Carter Mulville.Kim Lancey Kopp. As well as his godmother Susian Godding and children Cheyenne Godding and Michaela Godding.
A celebration of life will be held at the Elk’s Pond in Torrington between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. More details can be found on facebook. If you are interested in making a donation to his cremation or celebration of life please follow the link to his GoFundMe Page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebration-of-life-adam-prindle-children?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.
You may also contact Misti Doherty at (207)-798-1835 or at CoachMistiD@yahoo.com.
Martha Baer
Martha L. Baer - Died peacefully on June 24th, 2021, surrounded by family and friends. She was 82 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents Roland C. Baer and Emily Baer Hall.
Martha graduated from Mary Institute then Vassar College where she graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
After graduation, Martha followed her love of the arts and moved to New York where she worked for the André Emmerich Gallery and then as a Director at Acquavella Contemporary Art Gallery.
In 1978 Martha founded the Contemporary Art Department at Christie’s Auction House where she led it through remarkable growth over a 40 -year period. She was a renowned authority on post-war and contemporary art, with special expertise in abstract expressionism. She was involved in the formation and sale of many of the top contemporary art collections.
A lifelong learner, Martha loved going to the theater and opera as well as spending time with family and friends at her home in Lakeville, CT. She was dedicated to her Church, Trinity Lime Rock, where she sang in the choir. She also was a proud member of the Crescendo which is a family of music lovers that brings exquisite choral music to audiences throughout New England.
She is survived by her brother, Roland C. Baer, Jr. (Mikey); nephews Roland C. Baer III (Sylvia), Claxton A. Baer, Alexander B. Baer (Anna); grandnieces Lydia, Toni, Synthia, Cece, Kate; grandnephews Claxton, Zack, Alex; cousins Alice Muckerman (Rick), Carolyn Cranston (Bob), William Coit.
The family would like to give special thanks to Erin Granger, Joe Culver, Jill Hennessey, Laura Schroeder and Dawn Brinson who gave Martha such compassionate care over the last few months of her life.
Charitable donations may be sent to: The little Guild Animal Shelter, 285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796
Service:
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Lime Rock Church, 484 Lime Rock Rd, Lakeville, CT on Saturday July 24th at Noon.
A Private Graveside service will be held at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO on August 7th, 2021.
Martha L. Baer - Died peacefully on June 24th, 2021, surrounded by family and friends. She was 82 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents Roland C. Baer and Emily Baer Hall.
Martha graduated from Mary Institute then Vassar College where she graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
After graduation, Martha followed her love of the arts and moved to New York where she worked for the André Emmerich Gallery and then as a Director at Acquavella Contemporary Art Gallery.
In 1978 Martha founded the Contemporary Art Department at Christie’s Auction House where she led it through remarkable growth over a 40 -year period. She was a renowned authority on post-war and contemporary art, with special expertise in abstract expressionism. She was involved in the formation and sale of many of the top contemporary art collections.
A lifelong learner, Martha loved going to the theater and opera as well as spending time with family and friends at her home in Lakeville, CT. She was dedicated to her Church, Trinity Lime Rock, where she sang in the choir. She also was a proud member of the Crescendo which is a family of music lovers that brings exquisite choral music to audiences throughout New England.
She is survived by her brother, Roland C. Baer, Jr. (Mikey); nephews Roland C. Baer III (Sylvia), Claxton A. Baer, Alexander B. Baer (Anna); grandnieces Lydia, Toni, Synthia, Cece, Kate; grandnephews Claxton, Zack, Alex; cousins Alice Muckerman (Rick), Carolyn Cranston (Bob), William Coit.
The family would like to give special thanks to Erin Granger, Joe Culver, Jill Hennessey, Laura Schroeder and Dawn Brinson who gave Martha such compassionate care over the last few months of her life.
Charitable donations may be sent to: The little Guild Animal Shelter, 285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796
Service:
A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Lime Rock Church, 484 Lime Rock Rd, Lakeville, CT on Saturday July 24th at Noon.
A Private Graveside service will be held at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO on August 7th, 2021.
Travis Ball
Travis Lee Ball, 40, entered into eternal rest on July 4, 2021 surrounded by his family. Born in Sharon, Connecticut, Travis will forever be remembered as “Uncle Trav” to not only his loving family but those that became family throughout his life.
Travis, the youngest of five children, was welcomed into Heaven by his father, Sidney Ball, Sr. He is survived by his mother Shirley Ball, his brothers Sidney Jr. (Heather), Richard (Theresa), Robert (Samantha), as well as his other half in life and twin sister, Tracy (John) Nolan. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews along with an extended family that will forever miss his presence on earth.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the Amenia Fish and Game at 11am on July 11, 2021. All are welcome to join to show their love for “Uncle Trav” as, “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality” (Emily Dickenson). In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Marfan Foundation (give.marfan.org) in Travis’s name.
Travis Lee Ball, 40, entered into eternal rest on July 4, 2021 surrounded by his family. Born in Sharon, Connecticut, Travis will forever be remembered as “Uncle Trav” to not only his loving family but those that became family throughout his life.
Travis, the youngest of five children, was welcomed into Heaven by his father, Sidney Ball, Sr. He is survived by his mother Shirley Ball, his brothers Sidney Jr. (Heather), Richard (Theresa), Robert (Samantha), as well as his other half in life and twin sister, Tracy (John) Nolan. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews along with an extended family that will forever miss his presence on earth.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the Amenia Fish and Game at 11am on July 11, 2021. All are welcome to join to show their love for “Uncle Trav” as, “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality” (Emily Dickenson). In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Marfan Foundation (give.marfan.org) in Travis’s name.
Doris Carberry
SHARON - Doris M. Carberry passed away at her home just a week shy of her 96th birthday, surrounded by her family.
Doris was born on July 4, 1925 in Sharon, CT to Thomas and Violet (Clum) Cunningham. She was a lifelong resident of Sharon and communicant of St. Bernard’s Church. She graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Doris worked for the telephone company in Canaan, CT, was also the assistant Town Clerk for the Town of Sharon and co-owner of Carberry Tree Service, along with her late husband.
Doris and her husband, Bob, enjoyed traveling the states from coast to coast, in their camper. After retirement, they spent their winters in Englewood, Florida.
Doris is survived by her beloved son Robert B. Carberry and his wife, Helen, her grandson Robert E. Carberry (Hanna), and granddaughter Michelle Carberry (Jared Schwartz). She was the beloved great-grandmother to Rowan, Lincoln and Sylvie Schwartz and Robert D. Carberry. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws Emma Paley and Barbara (Joseph) McEnroe along with many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Carberry and her brother Robert (Tuck) Cunningham.
The family would like to give special thanks to Norma Wright and her wonderful staff of Healing Hands Companions for their loving and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Sharon Fire Department, PO BOX 357 Sharon, CT 06069.
Calling Hours will be held Tuesday, June 29th from 5:00-7:00 at Kenny Funeral Home. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 30th at 10:00am at St. Bernard’s Church.
SHARON - Doris M. Carberry passed away at her home just a week shy of her 96th birthday, surrounded by her family.
Doris was born on July 4, 1925 in Sharon, CT to Thomas and Violet (Clum) Cunningham. She was a lifelong resident of Sharon and communicant of St. Bernard’s Church. She graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Doris worked for the telephone company in Canaan, CT, was also the assistant Town Clerk for the Town of Sharon and co-owner of Carberry Tree Service, along with her late husband.
Doris and her husband, Bob, enjoyed traveling the states from coast to coast, in their camper. After retirement, they spent their winters in Englewood, Florida.
Doris is survived by her beloved son Robert B. Carberry and his wife, Helen, her grandson Robert E. Carberry (Hanna), and granddaughter Michelle Carberry (Jared Schwartz). She was the beloved great-grandmother to Rowan, Lincoln and Sylvie Schwartz and Robert D. Carberry. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws Emma Paley and Barbara (Joseph) McEnroe along with many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Carberry and her brother Robert (Tuck) Cunningham.
The family would like to give special thanks to Norma Wright and her wonderful staff of Healing Hands Companions for their loving and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Sharon Fire Department, PO BOX 357 Sharon, CT 06069.
Calling Hours will be held Tuesday, June 29th from 5:00-7:00 at Kenny Funeral Home. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 30th at 10:00am at St. Bernard’s Church.
Gloria Sosin
Gloria Donen Sosin died peacefully at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, NY, on Monday, June 21, 2021, at the age of 99.
Gloria was born on March 21, 1922, and grew up in Rye, NY, the daughter of Isaac and Eda Donen, who settled there in the 1920s, after emigrating to New York from Ukraine. In 1939 she graduated from Rye High School, where she was voted Most Industrious. She lived a long life true to that early recognition.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Michigan, where she wrote for The Michigan Daily, sang in choral groups, and belonged to Alpha Epsilon Phi. A World War II veteran, she served as a sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps. While studying for her master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature at Columbia University, she met the love of her life, Gene Sosin, in a Dostoevsky class. Their romance led to marriage in June 1950. Soon after, Gloria and Gene moved to Munich, Germany to interview displaced Russian refugees as part of the Harvard Project. Upon their return to Westchester in 1951, their son, Donald, was born; daughter Deborah arrived in 1954. The couple raised their children in Rye and became active members of the Community Synagogue, which Gloria’s parents had helped to found. Gloria earned a second master’s from Hunter College, then taught high school Russian in Greenwich, CT, and Scarsdale, NY. She was also fluent in Yiddish, German, and French. She kept active in Jewish and civic organizations such as Hadassah and the League of Women Voters.
From 1966 to 1970, the Sosins returned to Munich, where Gene was an executive at Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. The family traveled throughout Europe and Israel before returning to Westchester, settling in White Plains. Gloria and Gene, passionate chamber music devotees, attended concerts at SUNY Purchase and other Westchester venues, and enjoyed other art and musical events in and around New York. For many years, they helped Soviet emigres adapt to life in the United States and were on the board of NYANA (New York Association for New Americans).
Gloria was a voracious reader of contemporary fiction and nonfiction on loan from her beloved White Plains Public Library. Other hobbies included playing bridge, knitting, needlepoint, and baking (her mother’s apple pie recipe was a favorite family dish). She played the piano and studied voice and especially loved German Lieder and Yiddish and Russian songs.
She wrote many essays, articles, and poems; and self-published two memoirs, A New Life Is Coming Soon--a chronicle of her father’s journey from Ukraine to America; and Red Letter Year, about her and Gene's time in Munich in 1950-51. Her work appeared in The Michigan Daily, The Forward, The Rye Record, and other Westchester newspapers.
After Gene’s passing at age 93 in 2015, Gloria remained in her home in White Plains, blessed with the loving companionship of home caregivers Joan Isree and, later, Amalia Saroian as well as Agavni Mkoyan and Lulu Saroian.
She is survived by her daughter Deborah, of Boston; her son Donald and his wife Joanna Seaton, of Lakeville, CT, and their children, Nicholas and Mollie Sosin; her niece, Nancy Hirschhorn, of Washington, DC; and her nephew, Robert Hirschhorn, of New York City. Her dear sister, Joyce Donen Hirschhorn, of Killingworth, CT, passed away in 2017.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, June 24, at 1pm, at Sharon Gardens, 273 Lakeview Ave, Valhalla, NY. 1-888-KENSICO (536-7426) https://www.sharongardens.org/sharon-directions/#content
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Synagogue, 200 Forest Avenue, Rye, NY.
http://www.comsynrye.org/donate.html
Details for a Zoom Shiva gathering to celebrate Gloria's 99 years of life will be announced shortly.
Gloria Donen Sosin died peacefully at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, NY, on Monday, June 21, 2021, at the age of 99.
Gloria was born on March 21, 1922, and grew up in Rye, NY, the daughter of Isaac and Eda Donen, who settled there in the 1920s, after emigrating to New York from Ukraine. In 1939 she graduated from Rye High School, where she was voted Most Industrious. She lived a long life true to that early recognition.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Michigan, where she wrote for The Michigan Daily, sang in choral groups, and belonged to Alpha Epsilon Phi. A World War II veteran, she served as a sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps. While studying for her master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature at Columbia University, she met the love of her life, Gene Sosin, in a Dostoevsky class. Their romance led to marriage in June 1950. Soon after, Gloria and Gene moved to Munich, Germany to interview displaced Russian refugees as part of the Harvard Project. Upon their return to Westchester in 1951, their son, Donald, was born; daughter Deborah arrived in 1954. The couple raised their children in Rye and became active members of the Community Synagogue, which Gloria’s parents had helped to found. Gloria earned a second master’s from Hunter College, then taught high school Russian in Greenwich, CT, and Scarsdale, NY. She was also fluent in Yiddish, German, and French. She kept active in Jewish and civic organizations such as Hadassah and the League of Women Voters.
From 1966 to 1970, the Sosins returned to Munich, where Gene was an executive at Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. The family traveled throughout Europe and Israel before returning to Westchester, settling in White Plains. Gloria and Gene, passionate chamber music devotees, attended concerts at SUNY Purchase and other Westchester venues, and enjoyed other art and musical events in and around New York. For many years, they helped Soviet emigres adapt to life in the United States and were on the board of NYANA (New York Association for New Americans).
Gloria was a voracious reader of contemporary fiction and nonfiction on loan from her beloved White Plains Public Library. Other hobbies included playing bridge, knitting, needlepoint, and baking (her mother’s apple pie recipe was a favorite family dish). She played the piano and studied voice and especially loved German Lieder and Yiddish and Russian songs.
She wrote many essays, articles, and poems; and self-published two memoirs, A New Life Is Coming Soon--a chronicle of her father’s journey from Ukraine to America; and Red Letter Year, about her and Gene's time in Munich in 1950-51. Her work appeared in The Michigan Daily, The Forward, The Rye Record, and other Westchester newspapers.
After Gene’s passing at age 93 in 2015, Gloria remained in her home in White Plains, blessed with the loving companionship of home caregivers Joan Isree and, later, Amalia Saroian as well as Agavni Mkoyan and Lulu Saroian.
She is survived by her daughter Deborah, of Boston; her son Donald and his wife Joanna Seaton, of Lakeville, CT, and their children, Nicholas and Mollie Sosin; her niece, Nancy Hirschhorn, of Washington, DC; and her nephew, Robert Hirschhorn, of New York City. Her dear sister, Joyce Donen Hirschhorn, of Killingworth, CT, passed away in 2017.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, June 24, at 1pm, at Sharon Gardens, 273 Lakeview Ave, Valhalla, NY. 1-888-KENSICO (536-7426) https://www.sharongardens.org/sharon-directions/#content
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Synagogue, 200 Forest Avenue, Rye, NY.
http://www.comsynrye.org/donate.html
Details for a Zoom Shiva gathering to celebrate Gloria's 99 years of life will be announced shortly.
Dominic Zanobi
Dominic was born at the family residence on Valley View Road in Norfolk, on April 26, 1926 to Tomase and Maria(Inglese) Zanobi. He is predeceased by brothers Joseph, John and Carmen as well as his sisters Angela, Mary and Grace.
Dominic attended Norfolk Center School and Gilbert High School in Winsted. He worked over 40 years at the Torrington Company in Torrington. Dominic was a long time member of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. Dominic was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk and greatly missed attending Sunday Mass when he became confined to his apartment. Dominic spent the later years of his life at Meadowbrook Apartments in Norfolk and enjoyed the company of his good friend Jim Hotchkiss while there.
Donations in Dominic's memory may be sent to the Lion's Club Ambulance Association in Norfolk. The family would like to thank all those who assisted Dominic in his recent confinement at Meadowbrook. A Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk on Monday June, 28th at 11AM.
Dominic was born at the family residence on Valley View Road in Norfolk, on April 26, 1926 to Tomase and Maria(Inglese) Zanobi. He is predeceased by brothers Joseph, John and Carmen as well as his sisters Angela, Mary and Grace.
Dominic attended Norfolk Center School and Gilbert High School in Winsted. He worked over 40 years at the Torrington Company in Torrington. Dominic was a long time member of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. Dominic was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk and greatly missed attending Sunday Mass when he became confined to his apartment. Dominic spent the later years of his life at Meadowbrook Apartments in Norfolk and enjoyed the company of his good friend Jim Hotchkiss while there.
Donations in Dominic's memory may be sent to the Lion's Club Ambulance Association in Norfolk. The family would like to thank all those who assisted Dominic in his recent confinement at Meadowbrook. A Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk on Monday June, 28th at 11AM.
Claudette Douglas
Claudette Chaber Douglas, 84, of New Milford, passed away June 10, 2021 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She was a loving wife of the late Harry T. Douglas formerly of Sharon, Connecticut.
Claudette was born November 1, 1936 in Bridgeport, CT the daughter of the late Abraham and Mary Chaber. Claudette graduated from Danbury High School.
She is survived by her niece, Elizabeth, Godson Mark, stepson Brian, two brothers, two sisters, two nephews, and several cousins.
A private service was held at All Saints of America in Salisbury, Connecticut.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Milford Animal Welfare – 8 Dodd Rd. – New Milford, CT 06776 or American Red Cross of Connecticut – 209 Farmington Ave. 3rd Floor – Farmington, CT 06032
Claudette Chaber Douglas, 84, of New Milford, passed away June 10, 2021 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She was a loving wife of the late Harry T. Douglas formerly of Sharon, Connecticut.
Claudette was born November 1, 1936 in Bridgeport, CT the daughter of the late Abraham and Mary Chaber. Claudette graduated from Danbury High School.
She is survived by her niece, Elizabeth, Godson Mark, stepson Brian, two brothers, two sisters, two nephews, and several cousins.
A private service was held at All Saints of America in Salisbury, Connecticut.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Milford Animal Welfare – 8 Dodd Rd. – New Milford, CT 06776 or American Red Cross of Connecticut – 209 Farmington Ave. 3rd Floor – Farmington, CT 06032
Janos Terdik
AMENIA – Janos ( John ) Terdik, 90, of Prospect Avenue, died peacefully on June 16 at Vassar Hospital.
Janos was born October 11, 1930 in Hungary. Married his soul mate Terez Terdik on December 20, 1954. He worked at the old Wassaic State School on the Grounds Department and retired in 1992.
He is survived by his wife Terez, daughter Veronica Stark and her husband Kevin, two grandsons John and Peter Stark, two great grandsons Avery and Maverick Stark, brother-in-law Bela Pinczes and his wife Rosie, sister-in-law Theresa Pinczes, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be held Monday June, 21 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Kenny’s Funeral Home in Sharon, CT. Services will be held Tuesday June, 22 at 11:00AM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia.
AMENIA – Janos ( John ) Terdik, 90, of Prospect Avenue, died peacefully on June 16 at Vassar Hospital.
Janos was born October 11, 1930 in Hungary. Married his soul mate Terez Terdik on December 20, 1954. He worked at the old Wassaic State School on the Grounds Department and retired in 1992.
He is survived by his wife Terez, daughter Veronica Stark and her husband Kevin, two grandsons John and Peter Stark, two great grandsons Avery and Maverick Stark, brother-in-law Bela Pinczes and his wife Rosie, sister-in-law Theresa Pinczes, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be held Monday June, 21 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Kenny’s Funeral Home in Sharon, CT. Services will be held Tuesday June, 22 at 11:00AM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia.
Robert Skibsted
Robert (Bob) Skibsted
Was a Renaissance Man
According to his partner of 48 years, Jim Flaherty, “Bob was the ideal partner—whatever I couldn’t do, wouldn’t do and didn’t want to learn to do, Bob did perfectly”. His parents, both natives of Denmark, met and married in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Bob was born September 17, 1936, and raised in Argentina. He migrated to the US (speaking only Spanish and Danish) to enter college at Univ. of Montana in Missoula, Mt., where his brother, Eric, lived with his wife and children. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree, Bob went to Thunderbird, now called The International School of Business, in Arizona, and earned a Masters Degree and was Valedictorian of his class.
He then went to work for Reynold’s Aluminum, selling tons of aluminum around the world. He lived in the Bahamas, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong and Argentina. In his 30’s he spoke five languages. By 1975, partnered with Jim, they bought a barn in Sharon, CT, which they converted to a home, as a weekend getaway since both were working in Manhattan.
Then, although it was completely unplanned, they bought the abandoned English estate, Troutbeck, in Amenia, in 1978, restored it, and opened it as Troutbeck, The Executive Retreat in Dutchess County. When they first opened, Bob was the Chef. “When he wasn’t cooking, he was planning and planting the gardens at Troutbeck and everywhere.”
When Jim took over the management of the Inn, Bob started building beautiful homes in and around the Troutbeck community. They had another converted barn/home in Sharon, on Mudge Pond; and lived in two homes in their residential community, and for six years, had a magnificent contemporary home right on the Hudson River, in Saugerties, NY. In recent years, they’ve occupied their third converted barn/home in Amenia.
Over the years, Bob and Jim have lived in NYC, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and Acapulco, Mexico, and have traveled a great deal to S. E. Asia and all of Europe and South America. Although they sold Troutbeck in 2016, they have great respect and admiration for the New Troutbeck. Bob died June 15th, in Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT, of complications brought on by kidney failure, he was a few months shy of 85. Other than Jim, Bob is survived by a sister, Lili Packer, and various nephews and nieces.
Sometime in the near future, a memorial celebration will be announced.
Robert (Bob) Skibsted
Was a Renaissance Man
According to his partner of 48 years, Jim Flaherty, “Bob was the ideal partner—whatever I couldn’t do, wouldn’t do and didn’t want to learn to do, Bob did perfectly”. His parents, both natives of Denmark, met and married in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Bob was born September 17, 1936, and raised in Argentina. He migrated to the US (speaking only Spanish and Danish) to enter college at Univ. of Montana in Missoula, Mt., where his brother, Eric, lived with his wife and children. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree, Bob went to Thunderbird, now called The International School of Business, in Arizona, and earned a Masters Degree and was Valedictorian of his class.
He then went to work for Reynold’s Aluminum, selling tons of aluminum around the world. He lived in the Bahamas, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong and Argentina. In his 30’s he spoke five languages. By 1975, partnered with Jim, they bought a barn in Sharon, CT, which they converted to a home, as a weekend getaway since both were working in Manhattan.
Then, although it was completely unplanned, they bought the abandoned English estate, Troutbeck, in Amenia, in 1978, restored it, and opened it as Troutbeck, The Executive Retreat in Dutchess County. When they first opened, Bob was the Chef. “When he wasn’t cooking, he was planning and planting the gardens at Troutbeck and everywhere.”
When Jim took over the management of the Inn, Bob started building beautiful homes in and around the Troutbeck community. They had another converted barn/home in Sharon, on Mudge Pond; and lived in two homes in their residential community, and for six years, had a magnificent contemporary home right on the Hudson River, in Saugerties, NY. In recent years, they’ve occupied their third converted barn/home in Amenia.
Over the years, Bob and Jim have lived in NYC, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and Acapulco, Mexico, and have traveled a great deal to S. E. Asia and all of Europe and South America. Although they sold Troutbeck in 2016, they have great respect and admiration for the New Troutbeck. Bob died June 15th, in Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT, of complications brought on by kidney failure, he was a few months shy of 85. Other than Jim, Bob is survived by a sister, Lili Packer, and various nephews and nieces.
Sometime in the near future, a memorial celebration will be announced.
Richard Gottlieb
Sharon - Richard Gottlieb, 82, passed away at his home on the Green on June 14th, surrounded by his family.
Richard was born April 21, 1939, in New York City, the son of the late Jack and Ruth Gottlieb. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1960. After answering an ad in the Village Voice looking for extra passengers, he traveled across the country to San Francisco, where he launched his publishing career with Wadsworth Publishing. His love for that city started then and continued to the end of his life.
In the early 1970s, Richard moved back to New York City, where he led divisions of Raytheon Technologies and Macmillan Publishing. In his free time, he took up skydiving as a hobby, performing jumps throughout the Tri-State area at special events.
In 1979 he married his beloved wife Leslie Mackenzie and in 1981 they moved to Upper Main Street in Sharon and never left. In 1980 they founded Grey House Publishing, which has grown over forty years from their kitchen table to a publishing house with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Toronto.
Richard was a proud member of the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance squad for three decades. He was a regular at area coffeehouses with his New York Times and black coffee, always happy to strike up conversation and brag about his children.
In addition to his wife Leslie, Richard is survived by his three children: Peter and wife Andrea of Sudbury, MA, Nicholas and wife Jaime of Washington, DC, and Caroline and husband David Virenius of New York, NY. He is also survived by brothers Michael Gottlieb of Lakeville, CT and Leonard Gottlieb of Somerville, MA. He was a proud grandfather to Owen, Darcy, Jacob, Maisie, and Benjamin Gottlieb.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Sharon - Richard Gottlieb, 82, passed away at his home on the Green on June 14th, surrounded by his family.
Richard was born April 21, 1939, in New York City, the son of the late Jack and Ruth Gottlieb. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1960. After answering an ad in the Village Voice looking for extra passengers, he traveled across the country to San Francisco, where he launched his publishing career with Wadsworth Publishing. His love for that city started then and continued to the end of his life.
In the early 1970s, Richard moved back to New York City, where he led divisions of Raytheon Technologies and Macmillan Publishing. In his free time, he took up skydiving as a hobby, performing jumps throughout the Tri-State area at special events.
In 1979 he married his beloved wife Leslie Mackenzie and in 1981 they moved to Upper Main Street in Sharon and never left. In 1980 they founded Grey House Publishing, which has grown over forty years from their kitchen table to a publishing house with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Toronto.
Richard was a proud member of the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance squad for three decades. He was a regular at area coffeehouses with his New York Times and black coffee, always happy to strike up conversation and brag about his children.
In addition to his wife Leslie, Richard is survived by his three children: Peter and wife Andrea of Sudbury, MA, Nicholas and wife Jaime of Washington, DC, and Caroline and husband David Virenius of New York, NY. He is also survived by brothers Michael Gottlieb of Lakeville, CT and Leonard Gottlieb of Somerville, MA. He was a proud grandfather to Owen, Darcy, Jacob, Maisie, and Benjamin Gottlieb.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Janet Mol
MOL, JANET MORGAN (1940-2021) Janet Gail Morgan Mol passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 30th 2021.Janet was born on September 1, 1940 in Ledyard, CT to Henry and Beatrix Morgan. She is survived by her son, James Curtis Mol (of Lakeville, CT), and her daughter Gretchen Elise Mol and husband Tod Williams (of Sheffield, MA) and her two beloved grandchildren, Ptolemy John Williams and Winter Morgan Williams.
She is also survived by her two sisters, Patricia Statham ( brother-in-law John), and Sheila Hatmaker, and her brother Richard Morgan (and sister-in law Deborah). She was predeceased by her brother Harry.
Janet was raised on the Morgan family farm in Ledyard. She attended Norwich Free Academy and later the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She received an MFA from Wesleyan University.
An artist, Janet taught for 26 years at the Norwich Free Academy School of Arts in the Fine Arts Program, and loved working with young adults who were pursuing a life in the arts. Once retired, she moved to Brooklyn, NY, where she lived for 22 Years. She lived and created more artwork in Greenpoint, BK and loved being close to her two children, Jim and Gretchen, and soon, her two grandchildren, Ptolemy and Winter. One of her favorite things to do was ride her bike over the Williamsburg Bridge, feeling the breeze, to visit her kids and grandkids.
A memorial service celebrating her life and art, will be posted at a later date. It will be held near the Morgan family farm, where so much of her early life was spent.
MOL, JANET MORGAN (1940-2021) Janet Gail Morgan Mol passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 30th 2021.Janet was born on September 1, 1940 in Ledyard, CT to Henry and Beatrix Morgan. She is survived by her son, James Curtis Mol (of Lakeville, CT), and her daughter Gretchen Elise Mol and husband Tod Williams (of Sheffield, MA) and her two beloved grandchildren, Ptolemy John Williams and Winter Morgan Williams.
She is also survived by her two sisters, Patricia Statham ( brother-in-law John), and Sheila Hatmaker, and her brother Richard Morgan (and sister-in law Deborah). She was predeceased by her brother Harry.
Janet was raised on the Morgan family farm in Ledyard. She attended Norwich Free Academy and later the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She received an MFA from Wesleyan University.
An artist, Janet taught for 26 years at the Norwich Free Academy School of Arts in the Fine Arts Program, and loved working with young adults who were pursuing a life in the arts. Once retired, she moved to Brooklyn, NY, where she lived for 22 Years. She lived and created more artwork in Greenpoint, BK and loved being close to her two children, Jim and Gretchen, and soon, her two grandchildren, Ptolemy and Winter. One of her favorite things to do was ride her bike over the Williamsburg Bridge, feeling the breeze, to visit her kids and grandkids.
A memorial service celebrating her life and art, will be posted at a later date. It will be held near the Morgan family farm, where so much of her early life was spent.
Gerard Insolia
SHARON - Gerard Insolia, 90, of Low Rd. Sharon, CT, died Tuesday June 1st, 2021 at his home in Sharon, Connecticut. He was the loving husband of the late Flora Insolia.
Gerard was born March 29th, 1931 in Mount Vernon, New York the son of the late Salvatore Insolia and Lena Beladino. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Later he was the Vice President of Engineering at Cognitronics Corporation that developed the first character recognitions systems. He is survived by two sons, Anthony and Peter; and two daughters Theresa and Frances.
A memorial service will be held at the Sharon St. Bernard’s Church on Monday June 7th, at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.
SHARON - Gerard Insolia, 90, of Low Rd. Sharon, CT, died Tuesday June 1st, 2021 at his home in Sharon, Connecticut. He was the loving husband of the late Flora Insolia.
Gerard was born March 29th, 1931 in Mount Vernon, New York the son of the late Salvatore Insolia and Lena Beladino. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Later he was the Vice President of Engineering at Cognitronics Corporation that developed the first character recognitions systems. He is survived by two sons, Anthony and Peter; and two daughters Theresa and Frances.
A memorial service will be held at the Sharon St. Bernard’s Church on Monday June 7th, at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.
Jeffrey Smith
LEE, MA- Jeffrey Allen Smith, 30, of Lee, MA passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 22. Jeffrey leaves his mother Elizabeth Tarnauskas and her husband Brian of Canaan, CT, his dad Chris Labshere and his wife Misty of Pittsfield, MA, his father Eric J. Smith of Canton, CT, his sister Andrea Pratt and husband Joel of Chatham, NY, sister Hayley Labshere and fiancé Cody of Sheffield, MA, a brother Corey Labshere of Canaan, CT, his beautiful daughters, Mackenzie Marie and Sophia Rose who will never not know who he is. His many grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousin from the Lowell, Labshere and Smith families. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 29 at 2pm at 5 Lawrence Ave., Canaan, CT.
LEE, MA- Jeffrey Allen Smith, 30, of Lee, MA passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 22. Jeffrey leaves his mother Elizabeth Tarnauskas and her husband Brian of Canaan, CT, his dad Chris Labshere and his wife Misty of Pittsfield, MA, his father Eric J. Smith of Canton, CT, his sister Andrea Pratt and husband Joel of Chatham, NY, sister Hayley Labshere and fiancé Cody of Sheffield, MA, a brother Corey Labshere of Canaan, CT, his beautiful daughters, Mackenzie Marie and Sophia Rose who will never not know who he is. His many grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousin from the Lowell, Labshere and Smith families. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 29 at 2pm at 5 Lawrence Ave., Canaan, CT.
John Neufeld
SALISBURY — John Neufeld, 78, died on May 16, 2021, at his home in Salisbury. He is survived by his companion of 37 years, Winston Foote.
Mr. Neufeld was born in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 14, 1938, the son of Rhoda (Padway) and Leonard Neufeld.
He was educated at Phillips Exeter and Yale, and worked in publishing from 1962 until 1969, when his groundbreaking young adult novel, “Lisa,Bright and Dark” was published.
Between the time Mr. Neufeld graduated from Exeter and Yale, he came to Salisbury, he had written for radio, television and newspapers — and published 20 novels.
Moving from Los Angeles to Salisbury in 1998, John continued to write. His work has been published by Random House, Harper’s, Atheneum, Putnam, Norton, Fawcett, New American Library, Penguin and Dial — and in Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Swedish and Malay, in addition to English.
His first book, “Edgar Allan,” was a New York Times Book Review Best Books of the Year and was called “a work of art” by the New York Times. A historical mystery novel for young readers called “Gaps in Stone Walls” was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award in 1997.
His work received American Library Association awards, was cited by Time magazine, included twice in Best Books of the year by the Sunday New York Times, and was cited for fine writing by the New England Press Association.
A recent work, called “April Fools,” was set in Salisbury.
Eventually moving to Salisbury, Mr. Neufeld quickly became an integral and important member of the community. He was a vestry member at St. John’s Church in Salisbury, and organized the church’s annual quality used menswear sale during the annual Fall Festival.
In particular, he took an active and creative role in the Salisbury Rotary Club, where he created and implemented several highly successful programs.
Among these were the Rotary-sponsored breakfasts across the street from Town Hall in Salisbury during each presidential election; and the successful scholarship program for Northwest Corner residents who wanted to pursue a degree in nursing.
He was past president of the Salisbury Rotary Club and recipient of the Paul Harris Award, given to an outstanding Rotarian. He also served on the board of the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
He shared his gift for writing prose with many residents of the Northwest Corner in his popular writing workshops.
He also had two podcasts on NPR Station WHDD for 11 years, called “Political Safari” and “Good News.”
And he taught courses at the Taconic Learning Center.
In addition to Mr. Foote, Mr. Neufeld is survived by his sister, Jane, of Manhattan.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at St. John’s Church in Salisbury.
SALISBURY — John Neufeld, 78, died on May 16, 2021, at his home in Salisbury. He is survived by his companion of 37 years, Winston Foote.
Mr. Neufeld was born in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 14, 1938, the son of Rhoda (Padway) and Leonard Neufeld.
He was educated at Phillips Exeter and Yale, and worked in publishing from 1962 until 1969, when his groundbreaking young adult novel, “Lisa,Bright and Dark” was published.
Between the time Mr. Neufeld graduated from Exeter and Yale, he came to Salisbury, he had written for radio, television and newspapers — and published 20 novels.
Moving from Los Angeles to Salisbury in 1998, John continued to write. His work has been published by Random House, Harper’s, Atheneum, Putnam, Norton, Fawcett, New American Library, Penguin and Dial — and in Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Swedish and Malay, in addition to English.
His first book, “Edgar Allan,” was a New York Times Book Review Best Books of the Year and was called “a work of art” by the New York Times. A historical mystery novel for young readers called “Gaps in Stone Walls” was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award in 1997.
His work received American Library Association awards, was cited by Time magazine, included twice in Best Books of the year by the Sunday New York Times, and was cited for fine writing by the New England Press Association.
A recent work, called “April Fools,” was set in Salisbury.
Eventually moving to Salisbury, Mr. Neufeld quickly became an integral and important member of the community. He was a vestry member at St. John’s Church in Salisbury, and organized the church’s annual quality used menswear sale during the annual Fall Festival.
In particular, he took an active and creative role in the Salisbury Rotary Club, where he created and implemented several highly successful programs.
Among these were the Rotary-sponsored breakfasts across the street from Town Hall in Salisbury during each presidential election; and the successful scholarship program for Northwest Corner residents who wanted to pursue a degree in nursing.
He was past president of the Salisbury Rotary Club and recipient of the Paul Harris Award, given to an outstanding Rotarian. He also served on the board of the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
He shared his gift for writing prose with many residents of the Northwest Corner in his popular writing workshops.
He also had two podcasts on NPR Station WHDD for 11 years, called “Political Safari” and “Good News.”
And he taught courses at the Taconic Learning Center.
In addition to Mr. Foote, Mr. Neufeld is survived by his sister, Jane, of Manhattan.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at St. John’s Church in Salisbury.
David Wayne Bahre
David Wayne Bahre, age 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 24, 2021 at AdventHealth Hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on February 21, 1939 in Canton, Connecticut to the late Paul B Bahre and Lois A (Hewett) Bahre. He was retired from Stop&Shop from which he was a butcher for most of his life. He also owned a butcher shop in New Britain. David loved baseball and was an avid Yankees fan. He loved to travel even if it was a random Tuesday to get a cup of coffee and a donut in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine. David truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasure such as making friends and family laugh, playing games such as marbles and cards, Gulf in particular. David enjoyed cooking for his family as well as entertaining.
He is survived by his wife Sharon (Glasstetter) Bahre of Simsbury, Connecticut and of the late Syilvia (Cleary) Bahre of Simsbury, Connecticut. David has also left behind his brothers Ronald of Massachusetts and Dean Bhare of Illinois, a sister Donna Sheivers of Pennsylvania. He is survived by his three biological children Linda Allen and her husband Ken Allen of Vermont, Paul Bahre and his wife Kathy of Ohio and Jared Bahre and his girlfriend Angela of Florida. He was pre deceased by his son David Bahre. He also leaves behind two step children Lori (Cleary) Bilodeau and her husband Larry of Enfield, Connecticut and Stephen Cleary of Windsor Locks, Connecticut. He also leaves behind his two step children from his current marriage, Richard Bournique and his wife Patty of Garden City, New York and Bonnie Girard and her husband Steven of West Granby, Connecticut. He is survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and step grandchildren; Leah Burns, Lance Butle, Amy Bhare, Emily Bahre, Mason Bradley, Tristian Burns, Aaron Burns, Heather Girard, Kyle Girard, and Megan Bournique. Along with many nieces and nephews.
Family, Friends, and others whose lives David touched are invited to St. Therese Church, 120 W Granby Rd, Granby, Connecticut at 10AM on Saturday May 29, 2021. Services will be done by Kenny Funeral Home of Sharon, Connecticut. Following the service there will be a grave side burial at Simsbury Cemetery.
David Wayne Bahre, age 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 24, 2021 at AdventHealth Hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on February 21, 1939 in Canton, Connecticut to the late Paul B Bahre and Lois A (Hewett) Bahre. He was retired from Stop&Shop from which he was a butcher for most of his life. He also owned a butcher shop in New Britain. David loved baseball and was an avid Yankees fan. He loved to travel even if it was a random Tuesday to get a cup of coffee and a donut in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine. David truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasure such as making friends and family laugh, playing games such as marbles and cards, Gulf in particular. David enjoyed cooking for his family as well as entertaining.
He is survived by his wife Sharon (Glasstetter) Bahre of Simsbury, Connecticut and of the late Syilvia (Cleary) Bahre of Simsbury, Connecticut. David has also left behind his brothers Ronald of Massachusetts and Dean Bhare of Illinois, a sister Donna Sheivers of Pennsylvania. He is survived by his three biological children Linda Allen and her husband Ken Allen of Vermont, Paul Bahre and his wife Kathy of Ohio and Jared Bahre and his girlfriend Angela of Florida. He was pre deceased by his son David Bahre. He also leaves behind two step children Lori (Cleary) Bilodeau and her husband Larry of Enfield, Connecticut and Stephen Cleary of Windsor Locks, Connecticut. He also leaves behind his two step children from his current marriage, Richard Bournique and his wife Patty of Garden City, New York and Bonnie Girard and her husband Steven of West Granby, Connecticut. He is survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and step grandchildren; Leah Burns, Lance Butle, Amy Bhare, Emily Bahre, Mason Bradley, Tristian Burns, Aaron Burns, Heather Girard, Kyle Girard, and Megan Bournique. Along with many nieces and nephews.
Family, Friends, and others whose lives David touched are invited to St. Therese Church, 120 W Granby Rd, Granby, Connecticut at 10AM on Saturday May 29, 2021. Services will be done by Kenny Funeral Home of Sharon, Connecticut. Following the service there will be a grave side burial at Simsbury Cemetery.
Rita Rundall
Rita Lucille Rundall, 82, a long time resident of Pine Plains, N.Y. passed away on May 12th, 2021. Born on October 20, 1938, she was the daughter of Webster and Charlotte Wagner Wilbur.
Rita worked for many years as a cook at the Maplebrook School in Amenia N.Y. She was devoted to her family and loved time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Rita loved cooking, camping, playing cards, and casinos. She enjoyed many fond memories of camping in Rhode Island and trips to the Foxwoods Casinos.
Rita is survived by son Lawrence (Larry) Rundall Jr. and his wife Claire of Pine Plains, N.Y., son Jerome (Jerry) Rundall and his wife Karen of Elizaville, N.Y., and daughter Robin Rundall Swartz of Pine Plains. N.Y. In addition, she is survived by granddaughter Nicole Rundall Kosiorek, her husband Matthew, and great grandchildren Juliana and Matthew Jr. Kosiorek of Lee, Ma. Grandson Andrew Rundall and his wife Renee, and great grandson Arjen Rundall of Clinton Corners, N.Y. Granddaughter Ashley Fitzpatrick and great grandson Daniel DiRusso of Pine Plains N.Y. As well as brother Frederick Wilbur and his wife Mary of Pine Plains, N.Y.
Predeceased by her soul mate and loving husband Lawrence (Larry) in 2015 after 58 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by grandson Shawn Michael Rundall, sisters Edith, Charlotte, Clara, Monaretta, Alnora, and brothers Howard, Webster, Ralph, Clayton, John, Melvin, Chester, and Gordon.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday May 18th from 10AM-12 noon. A 12 noon service will follow at the Kenny Funeral Homes, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Pine Plains, N.Y.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Pine Plains Ambulance, 42 Poplar Ave. Pine Plains, NY 12567.
Rita Lucille Rundall, 82, a long time resident of Pine Plains, N.Y. passed away on May 12th, 2021. Born on October 20, 1938, she was the daughter of Webster and Charlotte Wagner Wilbur.
Rita worked for many years as a cook at the Maplebrook School in Amenia N.Y. She was devoted to her family and loved time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Rita loved cooking, camping, playing cards, and casinos. She enjoyed many fond memories of camping in Rhode Island and trips to the Foxwoods Casinos.
Rita is survived by son Lawrence (Larry) Rundall Jr. and his wife Claire of Pine Plains, N.Y., son Jerome (Jerry) Rundall and his wife Karen of Elizaville, N.Y., and daughter Robin Rundall Swartz of Pine Plains. N.Y. In addition, she is survived by granddaughter Nicole Rundall Kosiorek, her husband Matthew, and great grandchildren Juliana and Matthew Jr. Kosiorek of Lee, Ma. Grandson Andrew Rundall and his wife Renee, and great grandson Arjen Rundall of Clinton Corners, N.Y. Granddaughter Ashley Fitzpatrick and great grandson Daniel DiRusso of Pine Plains N.Y. As well as brother Frederick Wilbur and his wife Mary of Pine Plains, N.Y.
Predeceased by her soul mate and loving husband Lawrence (Larry) in 2015 after 58 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by grandson Shawn Michael Rundall, sisters Edith, Charlotte, Clara, Monaretta, Alnora, and brothers Howard, Webster, Ralph, Clayton, John, Melvin, Chester, and Gordon.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday May 18th from 10AM-12 noon. A 12 noon service will follow at the Kenny Funeral Homes, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT 06069. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Pine Plains, N.Y.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Pine Plains Ambulance, 42 Poplar Ave. Pine Plains, NY 12567.
Vincent J Cody
Vincent Cody died in Sharon, Connecticut on April 28th, 2021 at age 76 after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of 4 in an Irish Catholic family. He attended Xaverian High School and served in the Army, stationed in Germany.
He was a salesman for over 45 years working in the Tristate area with his clients - most in the auto industry. He was gregarious and well-liked.
Clients became friends, along with those he met playing golf at Tunxis, dancing the tango and dining at his favorite restaurant, Briccos.
He built his dream house with his wife, raised two daughters and enjoyed collecting handcrafted furniture and great wine.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Patricia Cody of Sharon, CT, his daughters, Lorraine Cody (Phil Dunlap) and Jennifer Cody (Jon Cooper), his brother Matthew Cody (Joy), sister Maryann Daniels (Steve), grandsons Conor and Kyle Mitts and Jaeden Morningstar and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, James and Veronica Cody and his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Marie Cody.
His farewell will remain private, in accordance with his wishes and COVID safety measures.
We wish to thank the physicians and medical staff who cared for him during his treatment and convalescence at Hartford and Sharon Hospitals.
Celebrate his life with a donation to a cancer organization or contact us to contribute to his grandson's college fund or share a story.
(email: jennifercody@mac.com)
Vincent Cody died in Sharon, Connecticut on April 28th, 2021 at age 76 after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of 4 in an Irish Catholic family. He attended Xaverian High School and served in the Army, stationed in Germany.
He was a salesman for over 45 years working in the Tristate area with his clients - most in the auto industry. He was gregarious and well-liked.
Clients became friends, along with those he met playing golf at Tunxis, dancing the tango and dining at his favorite restaurant, Briccos.
He built his dream house with his wife, raised two daughters and enjoyed collecting handcrafted furniture and great wine.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Patricia Cody of Sharon, CT, his daughters, Lorraine Cody (Phil Dunlap) and Jennifer Cody (Jon Cooper), his brother Matthew Cody (Joy), sister Maryann Daniels (Steve), grandsons Conor and Kyle Mitts and Jaeden Morningstar and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, James and Veronica Cody and his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Marie Cody.
His farewell will remain private, in accordance with his wishes and COVID safety measures.
We wish to thank the physicians and medical staff who cared for him during his treatment and convalescence at Hartford and Sharon Hospitals.
Celebrate his life with a donation to a cancer organization or contact us to contribute to his grandson's college fund or share a story.
(email: jennifercody@mac.com)
Bonnie Sears
Bonnie Sears, 74, of Northrup Road, died April 25, 2021 at Sharon Hospital. She was the loving wife of Peter Kukresh.
Bonnie was born April 14, 1947 in Manhattan, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude Sears. Bonnie graduated from the Manhattan High School of Visual Arts. She received a Bachelor In Fine Arts with honors from Pratt Institute and a Masters In Fine Arts in Painting from Hunter College. She worked at the registers office at Pratt Institute where she met and married her husband Peter. They moved to Sharon in 1988 to take care of Peter's ailing father.
She is survived by her husband Peter and two cats.
The service will be private. Any memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Bonnie Sears, 74, of Northrup Road, died April 25, 2021 at Sharon Hospital. She was the loving wife of Peter Kukresh.
Bonnie was born April 14, 1947 in Manhattan, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude Sears. Bonnie graduated from the Manhattan High School of Visual Arts. She received a Bachelor In Fine Arts with honors from Pratt Institute and a Masters In Fine Arts in Painting from Hunter College. She worked at the registers office at Pratt Institute where she met and married her husband Peter. They moved to Sharon in 1988 to take care of Peter's ailing father.
She is survived by her husband Peter and two cats.
The service will be private. Any memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069.
Ann Paddock
Ann Blechinger Paddock 90 of Roxbury, CT died peacefully Friday April 23rd, 2021. Born January 11, 1931 in Buffalo, NY daughter of the late Carol, Jean and Frank Blechinger. She lived most of her life in Roxbury, CT.
Ann devoted her life raising 5 sons. She was always smiling even during the final tough years of her life. Ann was a loving and kind woman. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Especially gardening, doing crafts and cooking great meals.
Ann is survived by 4 sons, Daryl, Bryan, Todd and Glenn (Dolores) Paddock. She also leaves behind two grandchildren Ben Paddock and Alexandra (Paddock) Curran, and one great granddaughter Eleanor Paddock. She also leaves behind her brother Jim Blechinger and sister Joyce Berruet.
Ann was predeceased by her infant son Nicholas and her beloved son Gary and sister Marlene.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to The Colorectal Cancer Alliance www.ccalliance.org in memory of Ann Paddock who lost her beloved son Gary to this terrible disease when he was in his 40’s.
Ann Blechinger Paddock 90 of Roxbury, CT died peacefully Friday April 23rd, 2021. Born January 11, 1931 in Buffalo, NY daughter of the late Carol, Jean and Frank Blechinger. She lived most of her life in Roxbury, CT.
Ann devoted her life raising 5 sons. She was always smiling even during the final tough years of her life. Ann was a loving and kind woman. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Especially gardening, doing crafts and cooking great meals.
Ann is survived by 4 sons, Daryl, Bryan, Todd and Glenn (Dolores) Paddock. She also leaves behind two grandchildren Ben Paddock and Alexandra (Paddock) Curran, and one great granddaughter Eleanor Paddock. She also leaves behind her brother Jim Blechinger and sister Joyce Berruet.
Ann was predeceased by her infant son Nicholas and her beloved son Gary and sister Marlene.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to The Colorectal Cancer Alliance www.ccalliance.org in memory of Ann Paddock who lost her beloved son Gary to this terrible disease when he was in his 40’s.
Catherine (Palmer) Wilcox
Catherine (Palmer) Wilcox passed away on April 16, 2021 at her home in Sharon. Born May 10, 1933 in Cornwall, CT she was the daughter of Esther (Bailey) and Edwin Palmer. Married 65 years to the late Norman Wilcox.
A graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School she lived all of her adult life in Sharon on the family dairy farm. Catherine worked for many years at the Mohawk State Forest fire tower in Cornwall scanning the vast forest with binoculars searching for fires, before satellites.
She then worked her way up to head the Purchasing Department at Sharon Hospital till her retirement, a job she loved and always talked about. During her retirement she volunteered every Tuesday for many years at the Bargain Barn in Sharon. She and her husband traveled the entire US (including Alaska for 3 months) in their RV.
Later, they cruised to the Panama Canal; traveled internationally with the Connecticut Dairy Tours, visiting farms in Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland. Cherished trips to France with their daughters and grandson, and a trip to Norway with their daughter. They frequently went on Senior day trips to various places.
Catherine was very passionate about the things she loved, you always learned something new about the birds she enjoyed watching (hummingbirds in particular), the beautiful flowers she grew, or her love of cooking and baking. She was known for her cheesecakes making sure everyone had their favorite. She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, sewing her clothes and dresses for her young girls with matching dresses for their dolls.
She leaves her daughter Laure Peterson and husband Alan of Dedham, MA a grandson Joshua Fontaine and wife Christina of North Haven, CT and 3 great grandchildren Jackson, Lucy and Rae Fontaine. She was predeceased by her husband Norman, a daughter Debra Fontaine and her husband John, a sister Donna DiLullo and brother William Palmer.
A graveside ceremony is scheduled for Friday, April 23 at 11:00 am at the Cornwall Hollow Cemetery in Cornwall, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sharon CT Fire and Ambulance P.O. Box 357 Sharon, CT 06069
Catherine (Palmer) Wilcox passed away on April 16, 2021 at her home in Sharon. Born May 10, 1933 in Cornwall, CT she was the daughter of Esther (Bailey) and Edwin Palmer. Married 65 years to the late Norman Wilcox.
A graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School she lived all of her adult life in Sharon on the family dairy farm. Catherine worked for many years at the Mohawk State Forest fire tower in Cornwall scanning the vast forest with binoculars searching for fires, before satellites.
She then worked her way up to head the Purchasing Department at Sharon Hospital till her retirement, a job she loved and always talked about. During her retirement she volunteered every Tuesday for many years at the Bargain Barn in Sharon. She and her husband traveled the entire US (including Alaska for 3 months) in their RV.
Later, they cruised to the Panama Canal; traveled internationally with the Connecticut Dairy Tours, visiting farms in Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland. Cherished trips to France with their daughters and grandson, and a trip to Norway with their daughter. They frequently went on Senior day trips to various places.
Catherine was very passionate about the things she loved, you always learned something new about the birds she enjoyed watching (hummingbirds in particular), the beautiful flowers she grew, or her love of cooking and baking. She was known for her cheesecakes making sure everyone had their favorite. She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, sewing her clothes and dresses for her young girls with matching dresses for their dolls.
She leaves her daughter Laure Peterson and husband Alan of Dedham, MA a grandson Joshua Fontaine and wife Christina of North Haven, CT and 3 great grandchildren Jackson, Lucy and Rae Fontaine. She was predeceased by her husband Norman, a daughter Debra Fontaine and her husband John, a sister Donna DiLullo and brother William Palmer.
A graveside ceremony is scheduled for Friday, April 23 at 11:00 am at the Cornwall Hollow Cemetery in Cornwall, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sharon CT Fire and Ambulance P.O. Box 357 Sharon, CT 06069
Kim Carberry
Kim Carberry, 59, of Sharon Valley, died April 7, 2021 at Vassar Hospital after a brief illness with family by her side.
Kim was born on April 10, 1961 to Herbert Webb Lee and the late Elizabeth Ann (Stapleton) Lee.
On August 22, 1987 Kim married her husband Thomas J. Carberry and for more than three decades together they lived out their vows and built a beautiful life where they raised three children: Michael, Ashley, and Zachary. The pair went on to have four grand daughters Aria, Circe, Faora, and Sybella.Kim is also survived by her brother Herbert, twin brother Kenny, and her three sisters Debbie, Cindy and Terri. She was predeceased by her mother, as well as her brother Bob.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the family’s convenience.
“Little drops of rain
Whisper of the pain.
Tears of love lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong,
With you there is no wrong.
Together we shall go until we die.”
Kim Carberry, 59, of Sharon Valley, died April 7, 2021 at Vassar Hospital after a brief illness with family by her side.
Kim was born on April 10, 1961 to Herbert Webb Lee and the late Elizabeth Ann (Stapleton) Lee.
On August 22, 1987 Kim married her husband Thomas J. Carberry and for more than three decades together they lived out their vows and built a beautiful life where they raised three children: Michael, Ashley, and Zachary. The pair went on to have four grand daughters Aria, Circe, Faora, and Sybella.Kim is also survived by her brother Herbert, twin brother Kenny, and her three sisters Debbie, Cindy and Terri. She was predeceased by her mother, as well as her brother Bob.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the family’s convenience.
“Little drops of rain
Whisper of the pain.
Tears of love lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong,
With you there is no wrong.
Together we shall go until we die.”
Mary Woodhouse
Mary Tracey Woodhouse, age 97 of North Canaan, CT, died on April 8, 2021. Born on November 30, 1923, she was the daughter of the late James and Mary (Devery) Tracey. One of five children, Mary grew up in Hartford, CT. She had many wonderful memories of living in a neighborhood with a large extended Irish family. She was the last remaining sibling.
Mary lived a long and happy life bringing up her family in West Hartford, CT. and then spending twenty years of retirement on Cape Cod. She was part of the Orleans Quilting Guild, spending many hours with friends creating beautiful works of art. Her quilts were displayed in various art shows and the local library. Many of those quilts are in the homes of her children and grandchildren. She and her husband moved back to CT in 2007 to be near their children.
She was a loving grandmother, always ready to help, listen, bake cookies and be a supportive shoulder.
She leaves behind her son Stephen Woodhouse and his wife Patty of Hampton, NH; her daughter Pat Whelan and her husband Rob of Sharon, CT; her daughter Jamie Butka and her husband Tom of Cranston, RI. She will be sorely missed by her grandchildren, James Woodhouse, Kate Partridge and her husband Brian, Ian Whelan and his wife Nora, Kevin Whelan and his wife Alyssa, Tommy Butka, Rachel Butka and her husband Gil Lawrence. ‘Mimi’, as she was affectionately known was also the proud great-grandmother of Maggie, Charlotte and Lucy Partridge, Elijah and Iris Whelan and Will Lawrence. She also leaves her sister in law, Ursula Woodhouse, the last of that generation in the family, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband James S. Woodhouse, her grandson Kyle Whelan, her brothers Tom, Jimmy, and Donald Tracey and her sister Elizabeth McKenna.
The family would like to thank Geer Village for their kindness, love and support. The nurses and aides of Gardenside treated our mother like she was one of their own family.
A private family service will be held in April. Memorial contributions can be made to Geer Village or Childrens Cardiomyopathy Foundation.
Mary Tracey Woodhouse, age 97 of North Canaan, CT, died on April 8, 2021. Born on November 30, 1923, she was the daughter of the late James and Mary (Devery) Tracey. One of five children, Mary grew up in Hartford, CT. She had many wonderful memories of living in a neighborhood with a large extended Irish family. She was the last remaining sibling.
Mary lived a long and happy life bringing up her family in West Hartford, CT. and then spending twenty years of retirement on Cape Cod. She was part of the Orleans Quilting Guild, spending many hours with friends creating beautiful works of art. Her quilts were displayed in various art shows and the local library. Many of those quilts are in the homes of her children and grandchildren. She and her husband moved back to CT in 2007 to be near their children.
She was a loving grandmother, always ready to help, listen, bake cookies and be a supportive shoulder.
She leaves behind her son Stephen Woodhouse and his wife Patty of Hampton, NH; her daughter Pat Whelan and her husband Rob of Sharon, CT; her daughter Jamie Butka and her husband Tom of Cranston, RI. She will be sorely missed by her grandchildren, James Woodhouse, Kate Partridge and her husband Brian, Ian Whelan and his wife Nora, Kevin Whelan and his wife Alyssa, Tommy Butka, Rachel Butka and her husband Gil Lawrence. ‘Mimi’, as she was affectionately known was also the proud great-grandmother of Maggie, Charlotte and Lucy Partridge, Elijah and Iris Whelan and Will Lawrence. She also leaves her sister in law, Ursula Woodhouse, the last of that generation in the family, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband James S. Woodhouse, her grandson Kyle Whelan, her brothers Tom, Jimmy, and Donald Tracey and her sister Elizabeth McKenna.
The family would like to thank Geer Village for their kindness, love and support. The nurses and aides of Gardenside treated our mother like she was one of their own family.
A private family service will be held in April. Memorial contributions can be made to Geer Village or Childrens Cardiomyopathy Foundation.
Joan Loper
Joan Boyd Barnett Loper, 85, of Sharon, CT (Formerly of Lakeville, CT) passed away peacefully at her home on March 29, 2021.
A grave-side service will be held at Ellsworth Cemetary in Ellsworth, CT, at a date and time to be announced. Pastor Margaret Laemmel of Sharon & Lakeville Methodist Churches will be officiating.
Joan was born in Sharon, CT on September 7, 1935. She graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School and continued on to attend college in Vermont.
Joan was married to Ralph Everett Loper, the love of her life on July 1, 1972; they were married for 48 years. (28 years if you go by Ralph’s death in 2000 – since they were only widowed, not divorced)
Joan worked for General Mills Food in Chicago, IL, Sharon Hospital, and Treasurer for the Town of Sharon over the years. She enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading and knitting.
Joan is survived by her daughter, Chaffee T. Loper of Sharon, CT, her granddaughter Emma Grace Fechteler, her sister Cynthia (Barnett) Smith (husband Clayton Smith) of Lakeville, CT, her brother Peter Barnett (wife Jeanne Burke Barnett) of New Jersey, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Loper, her parents William and Mary Barnett, her In-Laws Howard and Winifred Loper, and her twin brothers John and William Jr. Barnett.
Joan Boyd Barnett Loper, 85, of Sharon, CT (Formerly of Lakeville, CT) passed away peacefully at her home on March 29, 2021.
A grave-side service will be held at Ellsworth Cemetary in Ellsworth, CT, at a date and time to be announced. Pastor Margaret Laemmel of Sharon & Lakeville Methodist Churches will be officiating.
Joan was born in Sharon, CT on September 7, 1935. She graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School and continued on to attend college in Vermont.
Joan was married to Ralph Everett Loper, the love of her life on July 1, 1972; they were married for 48 years. (28 years if you go by Ralph’s death in 2000 – since they were only widowed, not divorced)
Joan worked for General Mills Food in Chicago, IL, Sharon Hospital, and Treasurer for the Town of Sharon over the years. She enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading and knitting.
Joan is survived by her daughter, Chaffee T. Loper of Sharon, CT, her granddaughter Emma Grace Fechteler, her sister Cynthia (Barnett) Smith (husband Clayton Smith) of Lakeville, CT, her brother Peter Barnett (wife Jeanne Burke Barnett) of New Jersey, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Loper, her parents William and Mary Barnett, her In-Laws Howard and Winifred Loper, and her twin brothers John and William Jr. Barnett.
Ursula Foster
Ursula Emma Foster, 96, of Town Center Road died March 24,2021 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in North Canaan. She was the beloved wife of the late Edgar Foster.
Ursula was born July 29,1924 in Bad Odesloe, Germany, the daughter of the late Adolph and Gertrude Bruhn. She was a Pediatric Nurse for many years and later became a nursery school teacher.
She is survived by her daughters, Jeanette Wrieske and her husband Gerhard, Diane Cawley and her husband Michael. A sister Edith Colanari; her grandchildren Jason and Sasha Wrieske and Kiersten Higgins. Greatgrandchildren Jason, Gavin, Penelope and Olivia Wrieske.
Many Nieces and Nephews and longtime friend and companion Harry Holleufer.
A small family service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude’s Children Research Center
Ursula Emma Foster, 96, of Town Center Road died March 24,2021 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in North Canaan. She was the beloved wife of the late Edgar Foster.
Ursula was born July 29,1924 in Bad Odesloe, Germany, the daughter of the late Adolph and Gertrude Bruhn. She was a Pediatric Nurse for many years and later became a nursery school teacher.
She is survived by her daughters, Jeanette Wrieske and her husband Gerhard, Diane Cawley and her husband Michael. A sister Edith Colanari; her grandchildren Jason and Sasha Wrieske and Kiersten Higgins. Greatgrandchildren Jason, Gavin, Penelope and Olivia Wrieske.
Many Nieces and Nephews and longtime friend and companion Harry Holleufer.
A small family service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude’s Children Research Center
Robert Peters
Robert Delano Peters died Thursday, the 4th of March 2021. He was 58. His whole family was caring for him in his home. Robert had a long battle with kidney cancer and stepped up to fight it as best he could.
Robert was born in 1962 in Glen Cove, LI, NY to Anthony J. Peters and Mary V. Peters. He moved to Manhattan in 1967 with his family and attended Saint David’s school. Later he went to Avon Old Farms School in Avon CT and The University of New Hampshire. Because of his father’s ownership of Interlaken Inn, Robert spent a lot of summers in Lakeville as a child. He moved to CT permanently around the time The Woodland opened in 1983 and worked as the sous-chef (later becoming the chef). His sister Carol owned the restaurant then with her former husband. In 2004 Robert bought the restaurant from Carol and has been the chef and owner ever since.
Robert renovated and enlarged a small house in Sharon CT with his beloved friend Eugene Wright. He loved this house and often talked about the light in every room at different times of the day. And the light was beautiful only to be appreciated when spending whole days there. He wanted no screens or window coverings so that the outside became as much of a feature, it was beautiful inside.
Robert was not only a chef and restaurant owner but an artist. His own drawings, paintings, pottery and collage were on display in his art filled home. He loved house plants, trees, and his gardens, and feeding the many critters who came to his back door. His best buddy, Snowy the cat, aka Boy, was at his side all of the time till the end.
Robert had a biting sense of humor, suffered no fools, loved to drive fast, eat in the best restaurants and visit Jamaica and Miami.
Robert leaves behind his siblings, Mary Ann Giffuni and her husband Vincent Giffuni, Anthony Peters, Patricia Cavanagh and her husband John Cavanagh, Kathleen Peters and her husband Stuart Berman, Elizabeth Mastopietro and John Peters and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Special mention goes to two good friends: Amy Goossens and Michelle McBreairty. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Carol Peters.
Robert was deeply loved by all of us.
If you want to honor Robert, donations may be made to The Last Post in Falls Village CT or The Little Guild in West Cornwall CT.
Burial was private.
Robert Delano Peters died Thursday, the 4th of March 2021. He was 58. His whole family was caring for him in his home. Robert had a long battle with kidney cancer and stepped up to fight it as best he could.
Robert was born in 1962 in Glen Cove, LI, NY to Anthony J. Peters and Mary V. Peters. He moved to Manhattan in 1967 with his family and attended Saint David’s school. Later he went to Avon Old Farms School in Avon CT and The University of New Hampshire. Because of his father’s ownership of Interlaken Inn, Robert spent a lot of summers in Lakeville as a child. He moved to CT permanently around the time The Woodland opened in 1983 and worked as the sous-chef (later becoming the chef). His sister Carol owned the restaurant then with her former husband. In 2004 Robert bought the restaurant from Carol and has been the chef and owner ever since.
Robert renovated and enlarged a small house in Sharon CT with his beloved friend Eugene Wright. He loved this house and often talked about the light in every room at different times of the day. And the light was beautiful only to be appreciated when spending whole days there. He wanted no screens or window coverings so that the outside became as much of a feature, it was beautiful inside.
Robert was not only a chef and restaurant owner but an artist. His own drawings, paintings, pottery and collage were on display in his art filled home. He loved house plants, trees, and his gardens, and feeding the many critters who came to his back door. His best buddy, Snowy the cat, aka Boy, was at his side all of the time till the end.
Robert had a biting sense of humor, suffered no fools, loved to drive fast, eat in the best restaurants and visit Jamaica and Miami.
Robert leaves behind his siblings, Mary Ann Giffuni and her husband Vincent Giffuni, Anthony Peters, Patricia Cavanagh and her husband John Cavanagh, Kathleen Peters and her husband Stuart Berman, Elizabeth Mastopietro and John Peters and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Special mention goes to two good friends: Amy Goossens and Michelle McBreairty. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Carol Peters.
Robert was deeply loved by all of us.
If you want to honor Robert, donations may be made to The Last Post in Falls Village CT or The Little Guild in West Cornwall CT.
Burial was private.
Christopher Kaufholz
Christopher Kaufholz passed away on February 19th after a long illness. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on September 6, 1946.
He was the son of the late Frederick and Mary Kaufholz of Lakeville, Connecticut and the brother of David Kaufholz of Franklin, North Carolina. He had been a resident at Noble Horizons for the past six years. Prior to that, he lived in Lakeville and on Upper Goose Island in Casco Bay, Maine.
He graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1964. He then served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970, where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 99th OMS on Guam as a B-52 Crew Chief with Top Secret Clearance.
After serving his country, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker for several years before forming his own business, Chris Kaufholz Woodworking. During that time, he and his brother formed a bluegrass duo, The IKB (for Infamous Kaufholz Brothers.) Chris played guitar, banjo, and fiddle. They later played for several years in the popular bluegrass band, Iron Mountain Cannonball.
Having an avid interest in computers, Chris graduated from the Computer Processing Institute in East Hartford, Conncticut in 1989. Then, at the age of 45, he enrolled at the University of Connecticut and received his degree with honors in Computer Science Engineering in 1994. Subsequently, he joined NRS in Lakeville as a Systems Analyst until his retirement.
After retirement, he continued to dabble in computers while also continuing his interest in woodworking, constructing fine cabinets and furniture for his friends.
Chris is survived by his brother, David Kaufholz, of Franklin, North Carolina, and former wives, Lucy Lamson, of Salisbury, Connecticut, and Michele Conklin, of Canaan, Connecticut. Chris asked that there be no formal services, but that his ashes be spread on his beloved island in Maine.
Christopher Kaufholz passed away on February 19th after a long illness. He was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on September 6, 1946.
He was the son of the late Frederick and Mary Kaufholz of Lakeville, Connecticut and the brother of David Kaufholz of Franklin, North Carolina. He had been a resident at Noble Horizons for the past six years. Prior to that, he lived in Lakeville and on Upper Goose Island in Casco Bay, Maine.
He graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1964. He then served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970, where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 99th OMS on Guam as a B-52 Crew Chief with Top Secret Clearance.
After serving his country, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker for several years before forming his own business, Chris Kaufholz Woodworking. During that time, he and his brother formed a bluegrass duo, The IKB (for Infamous Kaufholz Brothers.) Chris played guitar, banjo, and fiddle. They later played for several years in the popular bluegrass band, Iron Mountain Cannonball.
Having an avid interest in computers, Chris graduated from the Computer Processing Institute in East Hartford, Conncticut in 1989. Then, at the age of 45, he enrolled at the University of Connecticut and received his degree with honors in Computer Science Engineering in 1994. Subsequently, he joined NRS in Lakeville as a Systems Analyst until his retirement.
After retirement, he continued to dabble in computers while also continuing his interest in woodworking, constructing fine cabinets and furniture for his friends.
Chris is survived by his brother, David Kaufholz, of Franklin, North Carolina, and former wives, Lucy Lamson, of Salisbury, Connecticut, and Michele Conklin, of Canaan, Connecticut. Chris asked that there be no formal services, but that his ashes be spread on his beloved island in Maine.
Joshua Wilkinson
Joshua Wilkinson 41 of Sharon Valley Road died February 9th at the Sharon Hospital. He was the husband of Tanya Wallace Wilkinson.
Joshua was born in Torrington July 5,1979 the son of Richard Kearns Jr. and Linda Palmer. A graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Joshua worked in landscaping with Upcountry in Sharon for many years. He was a longtime member of the Sharon Fire Department. He was an avid pool player and loved playing horseshoe and cornhole games.
Besides his wife and mother he is survived by his two sons Gage and Mason Wilkinson, his stepsisters Heather Kearns and Ryan St. John, stepbrother Mark St. John. Many aunts and uncles and his best friends Matt and Brittany Hosier and Sean Milton.
A celebration of Joshua’s life will be on July 10, 2021 at 1:00PM at the Sharon Veterans Field. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Fire Department.
Joshua Wilkinson 41 of Sharon Valley Road died February 9th at the Sharon Hospital. He was the husband of Tanya Wallace Wilkinson.
Joshua was born in Torrington July 5,1979 the son of Richard Kearns Jr. and Linda Palmer. A graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Joshua worked in landscaping with Upcountry in Sharon for many years. He was a longtime member of the Sharon Fire Department. He was an avid pool player and loved playing horseshoe and cornhole games.
Besides his wife and mother he is survived by his two sons Gage and Mason Wilkinson, his stepsisters Heather Kearns and Ryan St. John, stepbrother Mark St. John. Many aunts and uncles and his best friends Matt and Brittany Hosier and Sean Milton.
A celebration of Joshua’s life will be on July 10, 2021 at 1:00PM at the Sharon Veterans Field. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Fire Department.
Bonnie Lee Aakjar
Bonnie Aakjar 72, passed away peacefully at her home with her family at her side, after a hard fought year long battle with lung cancer.
Bonnie was born September 30, 1948 in Sharon to the late Dorothy Mae Bejean Booth and the late Dellavergne Booth. She graduated from the Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Class of 1966.
On June 11, 1966, at 17 years old, she married the love of her life, Raymond Aakjar.
After their honeymoon in Cape Cod, Ray left for Vietnam where he was stationed for the next 13 months. When he came home and stationed stateside in Oklahoma and Georgia, Bonnie enthusiastically joined him.
They settled back in Sharon after Ray was honorably discharged from the Army. In 1969 her son Raymond II was born, and in 1973 her son Eugene was born. She took to motherhood with the same love and enthusiasm she put into everything she did. She went to work for the Sharon Hospital in the Social Work Department, where she retired in 1992. Never one to sit still Bonnie worked at several different places after her retirement, all of which she loved dearly. Sharon Pharmacy, McLean Ford and Lakeville Wine and Spirits were all blessed with her bubbly personality, organizational skills and great work ethic. One of her great loves was volunteering. Bonnie was a Cub Scout and a Girl Scout Leader, volunteered at many American Legion Dinners where she prepared, cooked and served, Beer Festivals and Sharon Fire Department Soapbox Race s and Carnival events. In 1999 Bonnie and her son Raymond volunteered at Woodstock 99. Bonnie volunteered as a Crisis Counselor for Family of Woodstock, putting her organizational skills to work the first night, creating “Bonnie Find” which was where people who had lost their friends could check in to reconnect with their parties. By the end of the festival, there were thousands of names on the list, which Bonnie kept together very easily.
Bonnie was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother and a dear friend to so many as well as a talented artist, gardener, calligrapher, and chef. She took a keen interest in genealogy, and knew both sides of her family back many generations. An avid reader, she could be found engrossed in the latest mystery, biography, or historical novel. She was a lover of all genres of music and instilled her love of music into her children. Simply put, Bonnie embraced life and life with Bonnie was an adventure. While her achievements were many, it was her kindness that will be remembered most, by the many family and friends who loved her.
Bonnie is survived by her loving husband Ray of 54 years, sons Ray II (Marlena) and Eugene (Christine), Grandchildren Jon and Adrienne, Cousins Tina and Brianna, her kitten “Boots”, a large extended family and many dear friends.
Bonnie’s wishes were to not have a funeral, but to have a celebration of life later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Legion, Post 126 in Sharon, CT.
Bonnie Aakjar 72, passed away peacefully at her home with her family at her side, after a hard fought year long battle with lung cancer.
Bonnie was born September 30, 1948 in Sharon to the late Dorothy Mae Bejean Booth and the late Dellavergne Booth. She graduated from the Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Class of 1966.
On June 11, 1966, at 17 years old, she married the love of her life, Raymond Aakjar.
After their honeymoon in Cape Cod, Ray left for Vietnam where he was stationed for the next 13 months. When he came home and stationed stateside in Oklahoma and Georgia, Bonnie enthusiastically joined him.
They settled back in Sharon after Ray was honorably discharged from the Army. In 1969 her son Raymond II was born, and in 1973 her son Eugene was born. She took to motherhood with the same love and enthusiasm she put into everything she did. She went to work for the Sharon Hospital in the Social Work Department, where she retired in 1992. Never one to sit still Bonnie worked at several different places after her retirement, all of which she loved dearly. Sharon Pharmacy, McLean Ford and Lakeville Wine and Spirits were all blessed with her bubbly personality, organizational skills and great work ethic. One of her great loves was volunteering. Bonnie was a Cub Scout and a Girl Scout Leader, volunteered at many American Legion Dinners where she prepared, cooked and served, Beer Festivals and Sharon Fire Department Soapbox Race s and Carnival events. In 1999 Bonnie and her son Raymond volunteered at Woodstock 99. Bonnie volunteered as a Crisis Counselor for Family of Woodstock, putting her organizational skills to work the first night, creating “Bonnie Find” which was where people who had lost their friends could check in to reconnect with their parties. By the end of the festival, there were thousands of names on the list, which Bonnie kept together very easily.
Bonnie was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother and a dear friend to so many as well as a talented artist, gardener, calligrapher, and chef. She took a keen interest in genealogy, and knew both sides of her family back many generations. An avid reader, she could be found engrossed in the latest mystery, biography, or historical novel. She was a lover of all genres of music and instilled her love of music into her children. Simply put, Bonnie embraced life and life with Bonnie was an adventure. While her achievements were many, it was her kindness that will be remembered most, by the many family and friends who loved her.
Bonnie is survived by her loving husband Ray of 54 years, sons Ray II (Marlena) and Eugene (Christine), Grandchildren Jon and Adrienne, Cousins Tina and Brianna, her kitten “Boots”, a large extended family and many dear friends.
Bonnie’s wishes were to not have a funeral, but to have a celebration of life later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Legion, Post 126 in Sharon, CT.
Bronislaw Michael Bibro
Bronislaw Michael Bibro, 96, of Lime Rock, Salisbury, CT, passed away on February 5, 2021, after suffering a stroke.
Bronislaw “Bronik/Broni” Bibro was born on February 8, 1924 in Michałowice, Poland, to Jan and Rosalia Bibro.
A passionate defender of freedom, Bronislaw left home and joined the Polish army at age sixteen. He fought valiantly with allied forces, and was wounded during the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, one of the most important battles of World War II.
During WWII, dances at local halls were a popular form of entertainment, where people danced to swing bands. After the war ended, he met his future wife, Doreen Booker, at a dance hall in Sheffield, England, where he swept her off her feet.
Bronislaw and Doreen emigrated to the United States, married in Bridgeport, CT, on October 12, 1957, and were honored to earn their citizenship. They were married for 55 years, raising five children.
Bronislaw was a machinist by trade, working for many years at Bridgeport Machines, Century Brass in New Milford, and Becton Dickinson in Canaan. Bronislaw and Doreen also owned and operated the Half a Sixpence Luncheonette (and gas station) in Lime Rock. As a semi-retiree, Bronislaw worked at Noble Horizons in Salisbury.
He cherished family gatherings and breaking bread with friends, sharing his grapes and wine, cheese and kielbasa. He loved to dance, had a wonderful voice, and was a long-time parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville.
Bronislaw was a hard-working family man, fiercely independent, and quite a character. An avid newspaper reader, who freely engaged in political discussions. He advocated for Polish Solidarity and served as Secretary and Commander, respectively, at the Polish Army Veterans Associations in Bridgeport and Torrington.
Noble became his last residence, where his presence was honored and cherished. He was known for his welcoming, kind smile, and twinkle in his eye. He loved people and making friendships...spreading his positivity...and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Bronislaw is survived by his daughter, Joan Linton and her husband, Bruce, of Walnut Creek, CA; daughter, Denise Bibro and her husband, Stuart Elvidge, of Manhattan and Lime Rock; daughter, Karen Stevens and her husband, Lawrence, of West Cornwall; daughter, Krysia Bibro of Queens and Goshen; son, Mark Bibro, Esq. of Manhattan; and daughter-in-law, Karen Bibro, widow of son, Stefan, of Taconic.
His surviving grandchildren are Aryn Earnhardt, Beth Burns, Amanda Rose Stevens, Jason Stevens, Lily Bibro, and Alexis Bibro; and great grandchildren, Jordan, Kayden, and Levi Burns, and Cleo Earnhardt.
He was predeceased by his wife, Doreen Booker Bibro, on September 10, 2012, his son, Stefan Bibro, on August 30, 2019, and his siblings, Stacia, Josef, and Gustaw of Michałowice, Poland.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at Saint Martin of Tours Church of Saint Mary in Lakeville (formerly, “St. Mary’s”).
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT and/or the volunteer ambulances of Salisbury, Falls Village, and Cornwall.
Bronislaw Michael Bibro, 96, of Lime Rock, Salisbury, CT, passed away on February 5, 2021, after suffering a stroke.
Bronislaw “Bronik/Broni” Bibro was born on February 8, 1924 in Michałowice, Poland, to Jan and Rosalia Bibro.
A passionate defender of freedom, Bronislaw left home and joined the Polish army at age sixteen. He fought valiantly with allied forces, and was wounded during the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, one of the most important battles of World War II.
During WWII, dances at local halls were a popular form of entertainment, where people danced to swing bands. After the war ended, he met his future wife, Doreen Booker, at a dance hall in Sheffield, England, where he swept her off her feet.
Bronislaw and Doreen emigrated to the United States, married in Bridgeport, CT, on October 12, 1957, and were honored to earn their citizenship. They were married for 55 years, raising five children.
Bronislaw was a machinist by trade, working for many years at Bridgeport Machines, Century Brass in New Milford, and Becton Dickinson in Canaan. Bronislaw and Doreen also owned and operated the Half a Sixpence Luncheonette (and gas station) in Lime Rock. As a semi-retiree, Bronislaw worked at Noble Horizons in Salisbury.
He cherished family gatherings and breaking bread with friends, sharing his grapes and wine, cheese and kielbasa. He loved to dance, had a wonderful voice, and was a long-time parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville.
Bronislaw was a hard-working family man, fiercely independent, and quite a character. An avid newspaper reader, who freely engaged in political discussions. He advocated for Polish Solidarity and served as Secretary and Commander, respectively, at the Polish Army Veterans Associations in Bridgeport and Torrington.
Noble became his last residence, where his presence was honored and cherished. He was known for his welcoming, kind smile, and twinkle in his eye. He loved people and making friendships...spreading his positivity...and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Bronislaw is survived by his daughter, Joan Linton and her husband, Bruce, of Walnut Creek, CA; daughter, Denise Bibro and her husband, Stuart Elvidge, of Manhattan and Lime Rock; daughter, Karen Stevens and her husband, Lawrence, of West Cornwall; daughter, Krysia Bibro of Queens and Goshen; son, Mark Bibro, Esq. of Manhattan; and daughter-in-law, Karen Bibro, widow of son, Stefan, of Taconic.
His surviving grandchildren are Aryn Earnhardt, Beth Burns, Amanda Rose Stevens, Jason Stevens, Lily Bibro, and Alexis Bibro; and great grandchildren, Jordan, Kayden, and Levi Burns, and Cleo Earnhardt.
He was predeceased by his wife, Doreen Booker Bibro, on September 10, 2012, his son, Stefan Bibro, on August 30, 2019, and his siblings, Stacia, Josef, and Gustaw of Michałowice, Poland.
A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at Saint Martin of Tours Church of Saint Mary in Lakeville (formerly, “St. Mary’s”).
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT and/or the volunteer ambulances of Salisbury, Falls Village, and Cornwall.
Edward M. Kirby
A long and multi-layered life came to an end Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, with the death of Edward M. Kirby, 93, a lifelong resident of Sharon and communicant of St. Bernard’s Church.
Kirby was born Aug. 26, 1927, the son of Kathleen and Edward J. Kirby. He was married to the former Mary Tobin of Kent for 68 fulfilling years and they had five children. Kirby grew up on the estate of Emily Winthrop Miles, whose mentorship was largely responsible for developing his intellectual curiosity and deep cultural appreciation for the arts and nature.
Following graduation from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1945, Kirby served in the Army Combat Engineers as a topographic surveyor in Okinawa, Japan and other Ryukus Islands.
Discharged as a corporal, he returned to Connecticut and enrolled in the Teacher’s College of Connecticut (Central Connecticut State University), studying biology, history and coaching. In 1959, he received a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Hartford and in 1971 completed a Sixth-Year Program, also at Hartford. He completed courses in various aspects of education at Vassar College, Seattle Pacific University and the University of Connecticut.
He was first employed as an elementary school teacher at Cornwall Consolidated School, while also acting as a basketball coach for the school and as a volunteer baseball coach at HVRHS.
When a teaching position opened at HVRHS, Kirby joined the science department and ultimately enrolled in a summer course in geology at Vassar College, awarded to him by National Science Foundation. It sparked a lifelong interest in geology and led to further development of the geology curriculum at the school. He performed extensive geological research in both the East and the West, as well as authored several books about geology and the local iron industry. He continued to teach geology until 1979, even after being appointed principal in 1966. Following his tenure as the second principal of HVRHS, he became assistant superintendent of schools for Region 1 before retiring in 1985 to pursue other ambitions.
Kirby was an accomplished athlete, excelling in area basketball leagues for years and playing in a softball league, retiring at age 74. He became HVRHS Athletic Director in 1960 and was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1983 with one of the highest winning percentages in the state.
In 1968, Kirby ventured to the American West as a consulting geologist for a small oil company; this was the initial journey of a series of many trips to that part of the country. During these trips, he developed an interest in the people and history of the West culminating in definitive biographies of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and many additional scholarly articles about the American West. When the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was released, he kindled a friendship with Butch’s sister whom he brought to the high school to speak to history classes. He served on the advisory boards and boards of directors for the Wild West History Association, the Outlaw Trail History Association and the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History and was a member of the Western Writers of America. True to form, he spent part of his last Friday watching his favorite movie surrounded by family.
As Kirby developed his skills as an industrial archaeologist, he worked to restore iron industry relics in the tristate region, working as project manager for the preservation of blast furnaces in Lime Rock, Mt. Riga and Canaan, and for the Sharon Valley Lime Kiln. He oversaw preservation of the Sharon Town Clock Tower and the expansion of the Sharon Historical Society building. His work with the Historical Society resulted in his authorship of a number of books focused on local history. He also appeared in numerous television documentaries as an expert in American history.
In addition to serving a long tenure as president of the Sharon Historical Society, he received a lifetime service award in 2013. He also served on the town’s Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Commission from 1972 until 2019 and was active in community politics.
Each Memorial Day, he pulled out his restored 1941 tractor, attached a decorated wagon, loaded it up with his grandchildren. The tradition continued even as the grandchildren grew up. Family and friends recall him as a friendly, witty man with a twinkle in his eye. “It was his sense of humor that was everything for me,” said his wife. “He never lost it.” She recalled that when a tree was planted in his honor at the high school, he was introduced as a Renaissance Man. “I thought that was appropriate,” she said.
Edward Kirby is survived by his wife; three daughters, Anne Kirby (Fred Kantrowitz), Medfield, MA, Maureen Dore (Thomas P. Jr.) Sharon, and Kaki Kirby (Charles Caulkins) Fort Lauderdale, FL; two sons, Kevin Kirby (Lynne), Wethersfield, and Edward M. Kirby, Jr. (Laurie Cheney) Kent; seven grandchildren, Gregory, William, Kevin, Jonathan, Kathleen, Emily and Thomas, and a great-grandson, Jack Edward. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Mary (Kirby) Loper.
Funeral services will be private with a memorial service to be planned after the corona crisis passes. Memorial donations may be made to the Edward M. Kirby Scholarship, administered by the trust department at Salisbury Bank & Trust, P.O. Box 1868, Lakeville, CT 06039-1868, c/o Darilyn Woods; to the Sharon Fire Department and Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069, or to the Sharon Historical Society, visit sharonhist.org to make online donations.
Baseball Anecdotes
A long and multi-layered life came to an end Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, with the death of Edward M. Kirby, 93, a lifelong resident of Sharon and communicant of St. Bernard’s Church.
Kirby was born Aug. 26, 1927, the son of Kathleen and Edward J. Kirby. He was married to the former Mary Tobin of Kent for 68 fulfilling years and they had five children. Kirby grew up on the estate of Emily Winthrop Miles, whose mentorship was largely responsible for developing his intellectual curiosity and deep cultural appreciation for the arts and nature.
Following graduation from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1945, Kirby served in the Army Combat Engineers as a topographic surveyor in Okinawa, Japan and other Ryukus Islands.
Discharged as a corporal, he returned to Connecticut and enrolled in the Teacher’s College of Connecticut (Central Connecticut State University), studying biology, history and coaching. In 1959, he received a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Hartford and in 1971 completed a Sixth-Year Program, also at Hartford. He completed courses in various aspects of education at Vassar College, Seattle Pacific University and the University of Connecticut.
He was first employed as an elementary school teacher at Cornwall Consolidated School, while also acting as a basketball coach for the school and as a volunteer baseball coach at HVRHS.
When a teaching position opened at HVRHS, Kirby joined the science department and ultimately enrolled in a summer course in geology at Vassar College, awarded to him by National Science Foundation. It sparked a lifelong interest in geology and led to further development of the geology curriculum at the school. He performed extensive geological research in both the East and the West, as well as authored several books about geology and the local iron industry. He continued to teach geology until 1979, even after being appointed principal in 1966. Following his tenure as the second principal of HVRHS, he became assistant superintendent of schools for Region 1 before retiring in 1985 to pursue other ambitions.
Kirby was an accomplished athlete, excelling in area basketball leagues for years and playing in a softball league, retiring at age 74. He became HVRHS Athletic Director in 1960 and was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1983 with one of the highest winning percentages in the state.
In 1968, Kirby ventured to the American West as a consulting geologist for a small oil company; this was the initial journey of a series of many trips to that part of the country. During these trips, he developed an interest in the people and history of the West culminating in definitive biographies of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and many additional scholarly articles about the American West. When the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was released, he kindled a friendship with Butch’s sister whom he brought to the high school to speak to history classes. He served on the advisory boards and boards of directors for the Wild West History Association, the Outlaw Trail History Association and the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History and was a member of the Western Writers of America. True to form, he spent part of his last Friday watching his favorite movie surrounded by family.
As Kirby developed his skills as an industrial archaeologist, he worked to restore iron industry relics in the tristate region, working as project manager for the preservation of blast furnaces in Lime Rock, Mt. Riga and Canaan, and for the Sharon Valley Lime Kiln. He oversaw preservation of the Sharon Town Clock Tower and the expansion of the Sharon Historical Society building. His work with the Historical Society resulted in his authorship of a number of books focused on local history. He also appeared in numerous television documentaries as an expert in American history.
In addition to serving a long tenure as president of the Sharon Historical Society, he received a lifetime service award in 2013. He also served on the town’s Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Commission from 1972 until 2019 and was active in community politics.
Each Memorial Day, he pulled out his restored 1941 tractor, attached a decorated wagon, loaded it up with his grandchildren. The tradition continued even as the grandchildren grew up. Family and friends recall him as a friendly, witty man with a twinkle in his eye. “It was his sense of humor that was everything for me,” said his wife. “He never lost it.” She recalled that when a tree was planted in his honor at the high school, he was introduced as a Renaissance Man. “I thought that was appropriate,” she said.
Edward Kirby is survived by his wife; three daughters, Anne Kirby (Fred Kantrowitz), Medfield, MA, Maureen Dore (Thomas P. Jr.) Sharon, and Kaki Kirby (Charles Caulkins) Fort Lauderdale, FL; two sons, Kevin Kirby (Lynne), Wethersfield, and Edward M. Kirby, Jr. (Laurie Cheney) Kent; seven grandchildren, Gregory, William, Kevin, Jonathan, Kathleen, Emily and Thomas, and a great-grandson, Jack Edward. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Mary (Kirby) Loper.
Funeral services will be private with a memorial service to be planned after the corona crisis passes. Memorial donations may be made to the Edward M. Kirby Scholarship, administered by the trust department at Salisbury Bank & Trust, P.O. Box 1868, Lakeville, CT 06039-1868, c/o Darilyn Woods; to the Sharon Fire Department and Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 357, Sharon, CT 06069, or to the Sharon Historical Society, visit sharonhist.org to make online donations.
Baseball Anecdotes
- Witnessed Babe Ruth’s last home run, at Nickerson Field in Boston
- Took Mary on a date to see Satchel Paige pitch against the NY Yankees in 1949
- Shagged flies with Hank Aaron in July 1959 before a Milwaukee Braves game
- Loaned his baseball glove to Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews who used it in a MLB game
- Attended final game in Ted Williams’ career, witnessing his final homer
- Attended first night World Series game in Pittsburgh in 1971
- Attended first night game at Wrigley Field in 1988
- Attended final game played at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1990
- Attended final game at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland in 1993
- Won 1963 State Babe Ruth League Championship
- Overall baseball record 482-133
- Teams won over 80% of their games
- Housatonic Varsity Baseball Record 153-38
- Had an undefeated team in 1957
- One of his teams only allowed 12 runs in a 17 game season
- For three years, coached both Varsity and JV Baseball - JV record was 44-1
Marjorie Kasack
Marjorie Cleveland Kasack, age 103, of Bethel, CT, died January 23, 2021 at Sharon Health Care Facility after a brief illness. She was the loving wife of the late Frederick W. Kasack, a licensed optician in the Danbury area.
Marjorie was born December 30, 1917 in Waterbury CT, the daughter of James Wylie Cleveland and Eleanor (Racke) Cleveland. Marjorie was raised in New Haven, graduating from Hillhouse High School where she was the commencement speaker of her class of over 1,000 students. She continued her education at Grace Hospital Nursing School, graduating as an RN in 1939. After being asked four times to marry him, Marjorie finally said “yes” to her beau, Fred. They were married at Plymouth Congregational Church, New Haven on June 1, 1940. In 1948, the young family built their home in Bethel. Marjorie was a long-time employee of Danbury Hospital, serving as head nurse of the coronary care unit, retiring in 1983.
Marjorie was a very proud member of the Cleveland family. Her eighth great grandfather Moses Cleveland (b.1620) is said to be the first Cleveland in the New World. Many of his descendants played instrumental roles in the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the birth of our new nation.
A second cousin seven generations past was General Moses Cleveland (b. 1754). A lawyer, a soldier, a politician, a surveyor, he was commissioned in the Continental Army. At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, he began his law practice. In 1796, was tasked with surveying what was then called the Western Reserve, which later became a portion of Ohio. He is known as the founder of Cleveland, Ohio.
Another descendant of the earliest Moses Cleveland is Marge’s cousin, Grover Cleveland (b.1837), Mayor of Buffalo, Governor of the great State of New York, and the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.
In her spare time, Marge loved to sew, play piano, dance, and travel, especially to the Caribbean with her husband Fred. Most of all, she loved her family and looked forward to annual Christmas gatherings at her home. In her later years, as a widow, Marge’s sister Audrey Ford came to live with her. They shared the family home in Bethel until Audrey’s passing in 2010. Her brother James Cleveland passed away in 2009. Marge was always interested in and followed the athletic teams that her grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in. Marge was a loyal and avid fan of the UConn Huskies Women’s’ Basketball team. Even as her eyesight gave way to macular degeneration, she could be found with her chair pulled close to the television cheering on the team.
Marjorie is survived by her devoted and loving son Randall and his wife, Jane of Danbury. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Sandra LaFlam Kasack. Marjorie is also survived by her son Brian and his wife JoAnna of Goshen. In addition to her late husband, she was predeceased by her son Conrad of Brookfield, her daughter Kristi Abbotts (Andre) Boucher of Danbury, her granddaughter Marjorie Kasack (Richard) Reder of North Branford. She leaves behind seven grandchildren, Christopher Kasack, Glenn (Melissa) Abbotts, Jeffrey (Dee Molloy) Abbotts, Kimberly Kasack, Jeremy (Carisa Harrison) Kasack, Melanie (Peter) Ivey. Marjorie was also blessed with eight-great grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She leaves behind many longtime kind and loving friends including the LaFlam family and the Read family, both of Bethel. The family wishes to express our greatest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Marianna, our mother’s home health care provider, for her professionalism, dedication, kindness, and sincere love for Mom, which made it possible for her to remain in the family home until recently.
Burial will be private. A memorial gathering for friends and family will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to a charity or food pantry in your local community.
Marjorie Cleveland Kasack, age 103, of Bethel, CT, died January 23, 2021 at Sharon Health Care Facility after a brief illness. She was the loving wife of the late Frederick W. Kasack, a licensed optician in the Danbury area.
Marjorie was born December 30, 1917 in Waterbury CT, the daughter of James Wylie Cleveland and Eleanor (Racke) Cleveland. Marjorie was raised in New Haven, graduating from Hillhouse High School where she was the commencement speaker of her class of over 1,000 students. She continued her education at Grace Hospital Nursing School, graduating as an RN in 1939. After being asked four times to marry him, Marjorie finally said “yes” to her beau, Fred. They were married at Plymouth Congregational Church, New Haven on June 1, 1940. In 1948, the young family built their home in Bethel. Marjorie was a long-time employee of Danbury Hospital, serving as head nurse of the coronary care unit, retiring in 1983.
Marjorie was a very proud member of the Cleveland family. Her eighth great grandfather Moses Cleveland (b.1620) is said to be the first Cleveland in the New World. Many of his descendants played instrumental roles in the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the birth of our new nation.
A second cousin seven generations past was General Moses Cleveland (b. 1754). A lawyer, a soldier, a politician, a surveyor, he was commissioned in the Continental Army. At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, he began his law practice. In 1796, was tasked with surveying what was then called the Western Reserve, which later became a portion of Ohio. He is known as the founder of Cleveland, Ohio.
Another descendant of the earliest Moses Cleveland is Marge’s cousin, Grover Cleveland (b.1837), Mayor of Buffalo, Governor of the great State of New York, and the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.
In her spare time, Marge loved to sew, play piano, dance, and travel, especially to the Caribbean with her husband Fred. Most of all, she loved her family and looked forward to annual Christmas gatherings at her home. In her later years, as a widow, Marge’s sister Audrey Ford came to live with her. They shared the family home in Bethel until Audrey’s passing in 2010. Her brother James Cleveland passed away in 2009. Marge was always interested in and followed the athletic teams that her grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in. Marge was a loyal and avid fan of the UConn Huskies Women’s’ Basketball team. Even as her eyesight gave way to macular degeneration, she could be found with her chair pulled close to the television cheering on the team.
Marjorie is survived by her devoted and loving son Randall and his wife, Jane of Danbury. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Sandra LaFlam Kasack. Marjorie is also survived by her son Brian and his wife JoAnna of Goshen. In addition to her late husband, she was predeceased by her son Conrad of Brookfield, her daughter Kristi Abbotts (Andre) Boucher of Danbury, her granddaughter Marjorie Kasack (Richard) Reder of North Branford. She leaves behind seven grandchildren, Christopher Kasack, Glenn (Melissa) Abbotts, Jeffrey (Dee Molloy) Abbotts, Kimberly Kasack, Jeremy (Carisa Harrison) Kasack, Melanie (Peter) Ivey. Marjorie was also blessed with eight-great grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She leaves behind many longtime kind and loving friends including the LaFlam family and the Read family, both of Bethel. The family wishes to express our greatest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Marianna, our mother’s home health care provider, for her professionalism, dedication, kindness, and sincere love for Mom, which made it possible for her to remain in the family home until recently.
Burial will be private. A memorial gathering for friends and family will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to a charity or food pantry in your local community.
Bartram-Maynard C.
Maynard Cleveland Bartram, Jr., 94, of Seabury in Bloomfield, CT, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2021. He was born August 9, 1926, in Sharon, CT, the son of Maynard and Nina Juckett Bartram.
He attended Indian Mountain School (’41), and was a member of the class of 1945 at Hotchkiss, graduating early, in 1944, to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater as Seaman 1st Class QM on LCI 343. He was in Leyte Gulf readying for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.
He attended Yale University on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950 with a B.S. in Economics. Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, 1978−79. After Yale, he joined Connecticut General (now CIGNA) in national real estate investment. He was President, Connecticut General Mortgage and Realty Investments, and President, CONGEN Realty Advisory Company. After selling the REIT to Prudential, he was principal at Bartram & Company real estate investment advisors, later Bartram & Cochran. He was President, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), 1972−73.
He served as Chairman, Yale’s Real Estate Investment Committee from 1979−1983, and on Yale’s Development Committee from 1978−1982. For more than 50 years, he served as President, Chairman, Director, and Co-Founder of non-profit Church Homes, Inc., a pioneer in senior life care communities in CT, including Avery Heights and Noble Horizons. He was a founder, director, and president of Interfaith Homes, Bloomfield, CT.
He was a member of the Bloomfield Congregational Church for over 60 years, where he served as President, Board of Trustees; Treasurer; and on the Finance Committee; and enjoyed singing in the choir. He was elected to the Bloomfield Board of Education, and served as Vice Chairman from 1967−71, helping to further integration in the schools.
He was married to Jeannette Gardner Norton (“Jay”) for 60 happy years until her death in 2013. An avid sportsman and outdoorsman, he and Jay traveled the world, and especially enjoyed hiking in the Alps and White Mountains and summers on Seneca Lake.
He is survived by his sister Barbara Bartram; children Carey Meltzer (Harland), Peter Bartram, Sarah Noyes (Jon), and Amy Bartram; grandchildren Amory (Jarra) and Nathaniel Meltzer, Jacob and Abigail Noyes; great-grandson Jesse Meltzer; and extended family.
Private burial in Hillside Cemetery, Sharon, CT. Memorial gifts to First Congregational Church, 10 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT, 06002, and Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Suite 2, Boston, MA 02129.
Maynard Cleveland Bartram, Jr., 94, of Seabury in Bloomfield, CT, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2021. He was born August 9, 1926, in Sharon, CT, the son of Maynard and Nina Juckett Bartram.
He attended Indian Mountain School (’41), and was a member of the class of 1945 at Hotchkiss, graduating early, in 1944, to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater as Seaman 1st Class QM on LCI 343. He was in Leyte Gulf readying for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.
He attended Yale University on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950 with a B.S. in Economics. Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, 1978−79. After Yale, he joined Connecticut General (now CIGNA) in national real estate investment. He was President, Connecticut General Mortgage and Realty Investments, and President, CONGEN Realty Advisory Company. After selling the REIT to Prudential, he was principal at Bartram & Company real estate investment advisors, later Bartram & Cochran. He was President, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), 1972−73.
He served as Chairman, Yale’s Real Estate Investment Committee from 1979−1983, and on Yale’s Development Committee from 1978−1982. For more than 50 years, he served as President, Chairman, Director, and Co-Founder of non-profit Church Homes, Inc., a pioneer in senior life care communities in CT, including Avery Heights and Noble Horizons. He was a founder, director, and president of Interfaith Homes, Bloomfield, CT.
He was a member of the Bloomfield Congregational Church for over 60 years, where he served as President, Board of Trustees; Treasurer; and on the Finance Committee; and enjoyed singing in the choir. He was elected to the Bloomfield Board of Education, and served as Vice Chairman from 1967−71, helping to further integration in the schools.
He was married to Jeannette Gardner Norton (“Jay”) for 60 happy years until her death in 2013. An avid sportsman and outdoorsman, he and Jay traveled the world, and especially enjoyed hiking in the Alps and White Mountains and summers on Seneca Lake.
He is survived by his sister Barbara Bartram; children Carey Meltzer (Harland), Peter Bartram, Sarah Noyes (Jon), and Amy Bartram; grandchildren Amory (Jarra) and Nathaniel Meltzer, Jacob and Abigail Noyes; great-grandson Jesse Meltzer; and extended family.
Private burial in Hillside Cemetery, Sharon, CT. Memorial gifts to First Congregational Church, 10 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT, 06002, and Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Suite 2, Boston, MA 02129.
Betsy Smith
Betsy Smith, 83, of Salisbury, CT, died of a sudden heart attack at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Betsy was born in Omaha, NE on July 29, 1937, the daughter of William S. and Elizabeth C. Covington. She grew up in Lake Forest, IL and graduated Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Before moving to Sharon, CT in 1986, Betsy and her late husband, Carter Smith, lived in New York City. She wrote a number of books for young adults, including “Breakthrough: Women in Religion,” named a Notable Book of the Year by New York Public Library; “Breakthrough: Women in Law”; “Breakthrough: Women in Television”; “Jimmy Carter, President.” She also published a family history, “FAMILY BUSINESS – A History of Fairbanks Morse and the Charles Hosmer Morse Family” in 2011. Betsy was an advocate for mentally ill people and served on the board of Prime Time House; the board of Housatonic Center for Mental Health; as Sharon’s representative to the NW CT Mental Health Catchment Council and Chair of that council; a Governor’s appointee to the state Board of Mental Health; President of NAMI CT (National Alliance on Mental Illness) from 1997-1999; and a national board member of NAMI from 2000 to 2006. Betsy is survived by three children, Adair Smith of Salisbury, Carter Smith of Yonkers, NY and Adam Smith of St. Petersburg, FL, and four grandchildren. The family requests that any donations in her name be made to NAMI (NAMI.org).
Betsy Smith, 83, of Salisbury, CT, died of a sudden heart attack at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Betsy was born in Omaha, NE on July 29, 1937, the daughter of William S. and Elizabeth C. Covington. She grew up in Lake Forest, IL and graduated Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Before moving to Sharon, CT in 1986, Betsy and her late husband, Carter Smith, lived in New York City. She wrote a number of books for young adults, including “Breakthrough: Women in Religion,” named a Notable Book of the Year by New York Public Library; “Breakthrough: Women in Law”; “Breakthrough: Women in Television”; “Jimmy Carter, President.” She also published a family history, “FAMILY BUSINESS – A History of Fairbanks Morse and the Charles Hosmer Morse Family” in 2011. Betsy was an advocate for mentally ill people and served on the board of Prime Time House; the board of Housatonic Center for Mental Health; as Sharon’s representative to the NW CT Mental Health Catchment Council and Chair of that council; a Governor’s appointee to the state Board of Mental Health; President of NAMI CT (National Alliance on Mental Illness) from 1997-1999; and a national board member of NAMI from 2000 to 2006. Betsy is survived by three children, Adair Smith of Salisbury, Carter Smith of Yonkers, NY and Adam Smith of St. Petersburg, FL, and four grandchildren. The family requests that any donations in her name be made to NAMI (NAMI.org).
Donald S. Connery
Donald S. Connery, a widely travelled foreign correspondent during the “golden age of journalism,” author, and eloquent advocate for criminal justice reform, passed away on January 11, 2021, at age 94 from complications caused by pneumonia.
Knowing early and clearly what he wanted to do in life, Don pursued his passion for journalism and communications avidly to the end. Born Feb. 9, 1926 and raised in New York City, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he covered The Philippines’ independence ceremonies in Manila for the Armed Forces Radio Service and the first United Nations General Assembly in New York for United Press. While at Harvard on the G.I. Bill from 1947-50, his broadcasts for Boston’s World Radio University reached a global audience. After marrying his college love, Leslie Guy, he returned briefly to UP in time to cover Senator Joe McCarthy at the start of his “Red Scare” rampage and then served a year as assistant director of Harvard’s News Office until joining Time Inc. in 1951.
From 1957 to 1965, he roamed the world as a Time Inc. bureau chief and foreign correspondent for Time, Life, Fortune and Sports Illustrated while raising four children with Leslie, an educator and autism pioneer, from homes in New Delhi, Tokyo and London. An eyewitness to history who reported everyday life as well as crises on three continents and the U.S., he covered presidential campaigns, the rise of postwar Japan and South Korea, military coups in Asia, revolutions in colonial Africa, civil wars in Ireland and Cyprus, the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet, and crucial events of the U.S.-USSR rivalry. Don’s Time-Life assignments, often with top photojournalists, ranged from politics and business to sports, entertainment and the arts. His Soviet Union assignments in 1961-62, notably a 6,000-mile journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, eventually led to his expulsion from Moscow. His professional encounters with 20th-century personalities included Douglas MacArthur, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, John & Robert Kennedy, Chou En-Lai, Ho Chi Minh, Nikita Khrushchev, Jawaharlal Nehru, Robert Frost, Frank Lloyd Wright, Yuri Gagarin, Ingmar Bergman, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Jackie Robinson, William Styron and The Beatles.
In 1968, as a London freelancer with two books published (The Scandinavians, The Irish), he moved with his family to Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, where he wrote One American Town, Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Convicting the Innocent, The Inner Source and Escape From Oblivion. Now permanently settled, he contributed extensively over many decades to his beloved local community, including serving as founding director of the Kent Land Trust.
His professional life took an unusual turn in 1973 when his daughter’s high school classmate, Peter Reilly, 18, succumbed to police interrogation-room pressures and “confessed” to viciously slaying his mother despite his obvious innocence. Peter’s conviction ignited a national cause celebre to fight this miscarriage of justice. The teenager’s exoneration, documented by Don in Guilty Until Proven Innocent, marked the beginning of his four-decade nationwide involvement in working to overturn wrongful conviction cases.
He was a pioneer in the movement that spurred the DNA revolution and the founding of the national network of innocence projects, leading to greater awareness of the magnitude of unjust convictions. An organizer of landmark forums on false memories and false confessions, he served as an advisor to the Center on Wrongful Convictions and the National Center for Reason and Justice. "You can retain your passion for journalism while acting on your passion for justice," he said in a 2004 New York Times interview. "Both are about searching for the truth and hoping the truth helps."
A captivating storyteller and dynamo of determination, positive energy, and perpetual curiosity, Don is survived by his wife, Leslie Guy Connery, children (Jan, Eric, Julie and Carol), daughter-in-law (Jane), sons-in-law (Keith and Bruce), eight grandchildren and a great-grandson. A memorial service to celebrate Don’s life will be held in early summer. Donations to honor his life can be made to the Center on Wrongful Convictions, National Center for Reason and Justice, Kent Land Trust and Kent CT Memorial Library. To share memories, tributes, and condolences, please visit the guestbook on Don’s legacy.com webpage.
Donald S. Connery, a widely travelled foreign correspondent during the “golden age of journalism,” author, and eloquent advocate for criminal justice reform, passed away on January 11, 2021, at age 94 from complications caused by pneumonia.
Knowing early and clearly what he wanted to do in life, Don pursued his passion for journalism and communications avidly to the end. Born Feb. 9, 1926 and raised in New York City, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he covered The Philippines’ independence ceremonies in Manila for the Armed Forces Radio Service and the first United Nations General Assembly in New York for United Press. While at Harvard on the G.I. Bill from 1947-50, his broadcasts for Boston’s World Radio University reached a global audience. After marrying his college love, Leslie Guy, he returned briefly to UP in time to cover Senator Joe McCarthy at the start of his “Red Scare” rampage and then served a year as assistant director of Harvard’s News Office until joining Time Inc. in 1951.
From 1957 to 1965, he roamed the world as a Time Inc. bureau chief and foreign correspondent for Time, Life, Fortune and Sports Illustrated while raising four children with Leslie, an educator and autism pioneer, from homes in New Delhi, Tokyo and London. An eyewitness to history who reported everyday life as well as crises on three continents and the U.S., he covered presidential campaigns, the rise of postwar Japan and South Korea, military coups in Asia, revolutions in colonial Africa, civil wars in Ireland and Cyprus, the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet, and crucial events of the U.S.-USSR rivalry. Don’s Time-Life assignments, often with top photojournalists, ranged from politics and business to sports, entertainment and the arts. His Soviet Union assignments in 1961-62, notably a 6,000-mile journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, eventually led to his expulsion from Moscow. His professional encounters with 20th-century personalities included Douglas MacArthur, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, John & Robert Kennedy, Chou En-Lai, Ho Chi Minh, Nikita Khrushchev, Jawaharlal Nehru, Robert Frost, Frank Lloyd Wright, Yuri Gagarin, Ingmar Bergman, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Jackie Robinson, William Styron and The Beatles.
In 1968, as a London freelancer with two books published (The Scandinavians, The Irish), he moved with his family to Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, where he wrote One American Town, Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Convicting the Innocent, The Inner Source and Escape From Oblivion. Now permanently settled, he contributed extensively over many decades to his beloved local community, including serving as founding director of the Kent Land Trust.
His professional life took an unusual turn in 1973 when his daughter’s high school classmate, Peter Reilly, 18, succumbed to police interrogation-room pressures and “confessed” to viciously slaying his mother despite his obvious innocence. Peter’s conviction ignited a national cause celebre to fight this miscarriage of justice. The teenager’s exoneration, documented by Don in Guilty Until Proven Innocent, marked the beginning of his four-decade nationwide involvement in working to overturn wrongful conviction cases.
He was a pioneer in the movement that spurred the DNA revolution and the founding of the national network of innocence projects, leading to greater awareness of the magnitude of unjust convictions. An organizer of landmark forums on false memories and false confessions, he served as an advisor to the Center on Wrongful Convictions and the National Center for Reason and Justice. "You can retain your passion for journalism while acting on your passion for justice," he said in a 2004 New York Times interview. "Both are about searching for the truth and hoping the truth helps."
A captivating storyteller and dynamo of determination, positive energy, and perpetual curiosity, Don is survived by his wife, Leslie Guy Connery, children (Jan, Eric, Julie and Carol), daughter-in-law (Jane), sons-in-law (Keith and Bruce), eight grandchildren and a great-grandson. A memorial service to celebrate Don’s life will be held in early summer. Donations to honor his life can be made to the Center on Wrongful Convictions, National Center for Reason and Justice, Kent Land Trust and Kent CT Memorial Library. To share memories, tributes, and condolences, please visit the guestbook on Don’s legacy.com webpage.
