United States High School Yearbooks by County
Harry O. Erickson
Harry O. Erickson, 80, of 220 Baldwin Hill Road, New Preston, died Thursday at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Erickson was born in Warren May 11, 1919. He was long an active member of the Washington community where he was an active member of the New Preston Congregational Church, serving as the Church Secretary since 1982 and also had served for many years on the Board of Trustees and for many years was Sexton of the church.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the US Navy in the Pacific Theatre with a rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer.
He was a member and past commander of the Gage-Zumpf Post #87 American Legion of Washington. He was a longtime member of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department and served as Secretary of the department since 1972.
He had been a member of the Board of Directors and president of the New Preston Village Cemetery for some 40 years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the New Preston Boy's and Girl's Club. He had also been a member of the former Washington Redevelopment Commission, established after the 1955 Flood for a number of years. He was also a member of St. Peter's Lodge #21 A.F. & A.M. Masons of New Milford.
He had been employed before his retirement at the Warren McArthur Plant in Bantam, which is now P.T.C Aerospace.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian Peterson Erickson; three grandchildren, Roger Erickson, Brenda Murdzek and Kim Humiston; a daughter-in-law, Marylou Erickson; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Leslie P. Ernhout Jr. and Irving Ernhout, both of Washington. He was predeceased by a son, Norman Erickson.
Funeral Services on Monday at 11 a.m. in New Preston Congregational Church. Interment in New Preston Cemetery in the spring.
Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge Street, New Milford, Sunday 7 to 9 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Washington Volunteer Fire Department, 109 Bee Brook Rd., Washington Depot, CT 06795.
Paul H. Pesente
Paul H. Pesente, of Hamilton Drive, Danbury, husband of Janet L. Kaeser Pesente, died at the Danbury Hospital Wednesday evening. He was 72 years of age.
Paul was born in Danbury, December 15, 1927, son of the late Andrew J. and Angeline Gozzi Pesente and attended Danbury Schools, Danbury High School, Class of 1945 and Henry Abbott Technical School. A lifelong Danbury resident he had also maintained a home in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Mr. Pesente was the Owner of Pesente Hardware since 1950 until his retirement in 1984. He had also been a partner at the Pesente & Sons Gravel Bank.
He was a former member of the Madhatters Square Dance Club and was an avid fisherman and gardener growing both flowers and vegetables. Paul also loved to fly his own plane and maintained a Private Pilot's license for several years.
He was a loving husband and father to his wife and two daughters, Cindy Pesente and Paula Salez, both of Danbury and devoted grandfather to Kyle Salez. He is also survived by his brother, John Pesente of Bethel and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Monday morning at 11:30 with the Rev. Patricia A. Nicholas, Pastor of the New Fairfield Congregational Church, officiating.
Interment will be in Mountainview Cemetery, New Fairfield.
Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home, Sunday evening from 5:00 to 8:00.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, Fairfield County Chapter, 102 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, CT 06430-4824.
Minnie Pauline Fernandez
Minnie Pauline Fernandez, 87, of 22 Garamella Blvd., Danbury died January 19, 2000 at home. She was married in Bombay, India and is the widow of Thomas Victor Fernandez.
Minnie was born in Cochlin, Quilon, India on June 29, 1912, a daughter of the late James Feliciouz and Gregoria (n'E9e Fernandez). Minnie immigrated to Danbury in 1982 and became a parishioner of St. Joseph's Church. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Minnie is survived by two sons, Desmond Fernandez and Ivor Fernandez, both of Danbury; two daughters, Maureen Aigner of London, England and Daphne Emmanuel of Danbury; thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. One daughter, Rayma Fernandez; two sons, Trevor Fernandez and Deryck Fernandez; and a sister, Alice Vaguez, predeceased Minnie.
This tribute in her honor is sent with love and appreciation from her son, Ivor Fernandez, her daughter, Daphne Emmanuel and Daphne's children, Walter Chapman, Wendell Chapman and Michelle Emmanuel.
Memorials may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
There are no calling hours. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 24, 2000 at 10:30 a.m., St. Peter's Church, Danbury followed by burial at St. Peter's Cemetery in Danbury.
Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division Street, Danbury is in charge of arrangements.
George Toth
George Toth, age 54, of Newtown, beloved husband of Elizabeth Toth died Thursday, January 20, 2000 in his home.
Born in Bridgeport, he was a resident of Fairfield and Southbury before moving to Newtown. Mr. Toth was retired from Fairfield Hills and was a US Air Force Veteran. He had a great love of camping.
Survivors in addition to his wife include his loving children, Mary Dawn Delaney and Edward B. Delaney, both of Newtown; sisters, Debera Kelly of Norwalk, Michaela Stall of Raleigh, N.C.; brother, John Toth of Tampa, Fla.; his beloved mother-in-law, Leafy J. Conrod of Newtown and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Stephen Toth and sister, Darlene Bernard.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:00 a.m. in the Redgate, Wilmot, West and Goulding Funeral Home, 406 Main St., Monroe with Pastor Gregory Wismar of the Christ the King Lutheran Church of Newtown officiating. Interment with full military honors will be in Newtown Village Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call Sunday 3 to 7 p.m.
Theresa C. Pellegrino
Theresa C. (Regina) Pellegrino, 86, who resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Annette and Vincent Mancuso of New Fairfield, died Jan. 20, surrounded by family and friends, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Rose and John Goetz of New Fairfield. She was the wife of the late Vincent Pellegrino.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 2, 1913, she was a daughter of the late Dominick and Santa (Minerva) Regina.
Mrs. Pellegrino had been employed as a crochet beader in New York City for numerous years before retirement.
She had resided in the Bronx, N.Y., before moving to New Fairfield. She was a member of St. Edward the Confessor Church and its Ladies Guild and the New Fairfield Seniors.
Besides her two daughters, Annette Mancuso and Rose Goetz, she is survived by a son, Vincent Pellegrino of East Lyme, CT; 12 grandchildren, Vincent, Christopher, Debra, Janine, Christine, William, Mary, Peter, Heidi, Donna, Sandra and Rebecca; 4 great-granddaughters, Jordan, Brianna, Jaclyn and Mikayla; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by 3 brothers, Charles, Joseph and Andrew, and a sister, Rose Corso.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Edward the Confessor Church Monday morning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Queens, N.Y.
Friends will be received at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Contributions may be made to St. Edward the Confessor Church Building Fund, Route 39, New Fairfield, CT 06812, or to the Regional Hospice, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Herbert E. Benedict
Herbert E. Benedict Jr., 83, of East Sandwich, Mass., died at his home Jan. 21, 2000. He was the husband of the late Ruth K. (Dent) Benedict.
He was born in Bethel, a son of the late Herbert Eugene Benedict Sr. and Alice J. (Wood) Benedict. He lived in Bethel until 1945, when he and his wife moved to Danbury. Before his retirement, Mr. Benedict had worked as a bus driver of both school and public transportation buses. He had also worked for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
Mr. Benedict was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge 18.
He is survived by a brother, Stuart Benedict, a sister, Barbara Dent, both of Sandwich, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Jean Monroe.
Private funeral services will take place Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home in Sandwich. Private burial will be in Sandwich Town Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.
John Viens
John Viens, 83, of 38 Church St., New Milford, died Thursday at New Milford Hospital.
He was born in St. Angele, Quebec, Canada, on Oct. 19, 1916, a son of the late Albert and Blanche Beaulieu Viens. He was raised in Quebec and moved to the United States as a young man, settling in New Milford in 1956 after serving in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Viens was employed by Kimberly Clark and was also the proprietor of New Milford Sew & Vac until his retirement in 1988. He was active with square dancing groups in the area and was an avid golfer, fisherman and gardener.
He is survived by a brother, Gerard Viens of Van Nuys, CA; two sisters, Lucielle Shepard of Colchester, VT and Francoise Balch of Burlington, VT; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Viens was predeceased by two brothers, Marcel Viens and Richard Viens, and two sisters, Julliette Paquette and Simone Montagne.
There are no calling hours. Cremation will be at Connecticut Crematory Corp., Stamford, CT. The family requests that you remember John in your prayers.
The Colonial Funeral Home, 87 Park Lane Road, New Milford, is in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Barbour
Margaret "Peg" Ferguson Barbour, age 59, of 18 Linda Lane, Bethel, died Friday at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of Edward G. Barbour.
She was born in Norwalk, CT, on Nov. 14, 1940, a daughter of the late George Cameron and Ellen (Nell) Ferguson Steel. She was raised in Norwalk and gradutaed from Norwalk High School.
Mrs. Barbour moved to Bethel with her husband in 1969. She worked as a bookkeeper for various businesses in the area and also owned and operated the Living Waters Christian Bookstore in Mahopac, N.Y., for three years with her husband.
She was a member of Walnut Hill Community Church, where she was appointed the initial chairperson of the Library Committee and served as a Sunday School teacher and member of its Missionary Committee. She was also a member of the Gideons International Auxiliary.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Barbour is survived by two daughters, Ruth Ellen Barbour of New Britain and Jean Margaret Barbour of Bethel.
At the family's request, donations in Margaret's name may be made to: Gideon's International, P.O. Box 1, Hawleyville, CT 06440.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road, Bethel. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bethel Funeral Home, 215 Greenwood Ave., Bethel.
Mary G. Dugdale
Mary G. Dugdale, 67, of 23 Reservoir St., Bethel, died Jan. 22, 2000 at Danbury Hospital following a long illness. She was the wife of John C. Dugdale.
She was born May 24, 1932, in St. Joseph, MO, a daughter of James and Edith Garvey. She graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in St. Joseph and from Duchesne College in Omaha, NE.
Mrs. Dugdale had been a Ridgefield resident for 24 years and played an integral role in the development of St. Elizabeth Seton parish, where she was a Eucharistic Minister and church secretary. She retired from the accounting department of Perkin-Elmer Corp. in 1995.
She was a loving mother and proud grandmother and will be deeply missed by her family.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Dugdale is survived by her children, Susan Saxton of Danbury, Marde Dimon of Seymour, Nancy Stewart of Crested Butte, CO, Michael Saxton and Matthew Saxton, both of Evergreen, CO, Stephen Saxton of Ligonier, PA, and Madeleine Friedlander of McLean, VA. She is also survived by three stepchildren, John P. Dugdale of NYC, Kathleen Dugdale of White Plains, NY, Robert Dugdale of Stamford; and her sister, Mrs. Hall Stewart of Waterwood, TX; and eleven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield. There are no calling hours.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital Oncology Dept., 8 East - Patricia Hough, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06811.
The Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, is in charge of arrangements.
Whitney E. Balakier
Whitney Elizabeth Balakier, age 5, of 23 Paugussett Road, Sandy Hook, Newtown, CT, entered into rest Friday Jan. 21, 2000 at Danbury Hospital with her loving family by her side.
She was born in Bridgeport on Feb. 9, 1994, a daughter of Douglas F. & Kathryn Lewis Balakier. She was a resident of Sandy Hook all of her life.
Besides her parents, Whitney is survived by a brother, Nicholas; a sister, Dana; her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Robaczynski Lewis of Shelton; her paternal grandparents, Theodore & Beatric Balakier of Stratford; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her paternal grandfather, Thomas J. Lewis.
Funeral services will take place Tuesday at noon at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, with the Rev. William J. Killeen, pastor of St. Jude's Church, Derby, officiating. Private burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
At the request of the family, memorial contributions may be made to W.I.N. Foundation, P.O. Box 1125, Bethel, CT 06801.
