SEARCH FOR YOUR SURNAMES IN THE
GENEALOGYBUFF.COM LIBRARY:
December 9, 2001
Stanley S. Kaminski, a Stamford resident, died Sunday, Dec. 2, at Stamford Hospital. He was 56.
He died of cancer, according to his friend and executor, Anthony Pavia of Stamford.
Born March 13, 1945 in Stamford, he was the son of the late Sigmund and Frances Peliksza Kaminski.
Mr. Kaminski was a senior research scientist with Cytec Laboratories, formerly American Cyanamid, retiring after many years of service. At the time of his death, Mr. Kaminski was a self-employed consultant in the field of chemistry. He held 10 U.S. patents in the areas of chemicals, polymers, fibers and resins.
Mr. Kaminski was an avid golfer known widely in local golf circles. He was considered an authority on golf rules and USGA decisions.
He is survived by an uncle, Theodore M. Peliksza of Seffner, Fla.; and two cousins, Edward Kaminski of Milford and Carole DiMattio of Stratford.
Funeral service and burial were private.
Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, handled the arrangements.
November 20, 2002
Thomas A. Kapustynski Sr., a Stamford resident and retired postal employee, died Monday, Nov. 18, at Stamford Hospital. He was 73.
He died of cancer, according to his family.
Born Oct. 28, 1929, in Stamford, he was a son of the late Harry and Katherine Kapustynski.
Mr. Kapustynski served in the U.S. Navy and was a Korean War veteran. He was a retired mechanic for U.S. Postal Service in Stamford. He was an accomplished woodworker and an avid boater.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas Kapustynski Jr. of Stratford, Mark Kapustynski of East Haddam and David Kapustynski of Stamford; a daughter, Barbara Danziger of Norwalk; three sisters, Mary Brzoska, Mildred Chrostowski and Helen Koczeniak, all of Stamford; and three grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Piasecki Kapustynski; four brothers, John Kaplane, Andrew Kaplane, Stanley Kaplane and Joseph Kapustynski; two sisters, Julie Kurzatkowski and AnnMocarski; and a grandson, Andrew Kapustynski.
Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at Bosak-Talboys Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 369 Washington Blvd., Stamford.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 45 Ash St., East Hartford, CT 06108-3272.
December 21, 2002
Stella H. Kapustynski, a Stamford resident, died Thursday, Dec. 19 at Stamford Hospital. She was 84.
She died of pneumonia, according to her family.
Born Oct. 6, 1918, in Stamford, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Sophie Dembowski Podlaski.
Raised in Poland, Mrs. Kapustynski returned to Stamford after World War II. She retired from Pitney Bowes. She was a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stamford and a past member of the Holy Name Rosary Society. She was most recently a resident of Sunrise Assisted Living and prior to her death a resident of St. Camillus Health Center.
She is survived by a daughter, Janet M. Vaccaro of Stamford; a son, Joseph W. Kapustynski Jr. of Darien; a brother, Charles Podlaski of Stamford; and six grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph W. Kapustynski Sr.; and a brother, Matthew Podlaski.
Calling hours will be 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Bosak-Talboys Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 365 Washington Blvd., Stamford.
Burial will follow at St. John cemeteryin Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dana's Angels Research Trust, 15 E. Putnam Ave. No. 17, Greenwich, CT 06830-5424, or the Holy Name Renovation Fund, 4 Pulaski St., Stamford, CT 06902.
September 5, 2003
Doris M. Karlson of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., a former longtime Stamford resident, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at home. She was 81.
She died of cancer, according to her family.
Born June 4, 1922, in Erie, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Henry and Margaret Eller Heidecker.
Mrs. Karlson worked at Three Crowns Bakery in Stamford for several years before joining Gimbles department store. She worked there for 19 years, and then at CVS on Newfield Avenue in Stamford for 11 years. She retired in 2000 and moved to Dingmans Ferry in 2001.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church and Hubbard Heights Garden Club, both in Stamford, and the Dingmans Ferry First United Methodist Church and Friendship Circle, both in Dingmans Ferry.
She was an avid gardener and member of the African Violet Society. She will be remembered by those close to her as a loving mother and friend.
She is survived by two sons, John B. Karlson of Newtown and Paul L. Karlson of Dingmans Ferry; a daughter, Judith O. Karlson of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Marie Raybuck of Erie; a brother, Herbert Heidecker of Waterford, Pa.; and two grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a sister, Helen Kienholz; and two brothers, Wallace Heidecker and Oscar Heidecker.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at G.R. Bailey Funeral Home, 4396 Iroquois Ave., Erie.
A service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the funeral home. The Rev. Lee Pomeroy of the Summit United Methodist Church in Erie will officiate.
Burial will follow in Laurel Hill cemeteryin Erie.
Memorial donations may be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ 07680.
August 15, 2002
F. Keister Smith of Stamford, retired director of manufacturing for Champion International and community volunteer, died Monday, Aug. 12, at Stamford Hospital. He was 75.
He died of complications from a blood clot in his lung, according to his family.
Born Dec. 17, 1926, in Keyser, W.Va., he was the son of the late E.K. and Nelle Smith.
Mr. Smith was a World War II veteran, serving as a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army on Okinawa. He was former president of Champion International Alumni and the Darien/New Canaan chapter of the AARP. He volunteered at the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.
Mr. Smith was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Stamford, where he sang bass in the church choir for 19 years. He was a member of various Masonic organizations.
Mr. Smith moved to Stamford with his wife in 1980 from Hamilton, Ohio, where they had lived for 20 years.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, Norma O. Smith of Stamford, he is survived by two sons, Randall Smith of Bethel and Brian Smith of Stamford; two grandsons and a granddaughter.
He was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey Smith, last year.
Calling hours will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road, Stamford.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the church.
Burial will be in Keyser.
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road, Stamford, CT 06905.
Viola P. Kelley
December 30, 2003
Viola Pelosi Kelley of Avon, a former resident of Stamford, Monroe and Prospect, died Saturday, Dec. 27, at the University of Connecticut Medical Center in Farmington. She was 89.
She died of heart failure, according to her family.
Born Aug. 11, 1914, in Stamford, she was the daughter of the late Vincent J. and Antoinette Giacco Pelosi.
During the 1950s and the early 1960s, Mrs. Kelly was the cafeteria manager at St. Mary's School and at Stamford Catholic High School. From 1962 to 1963, she was a secretary at the Stamford Department of Education. She went on become the office manager at Rogers elementary and junior high school in Stamford, where she worked from 1963 to 1972.
Mrs. Kelley was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Stamford, where she sang in the junior and senior choir.
In 1972, she moved from Stamford to Monroe. She joined St. Stephen's Church in Trumbull, where she sang in the choir. At the church, she taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and was on the parish lay advisory council. She was also involved with several charitable organizations including Meals on Wheels and Friends in Service Help.
She moved to Prospect in 1985, where she lived until 1991. She was an active member of the Prospect Senior Center. In 1991, she moved back to Stamford. In Stamford, she resided at the Eleanor Roosevelt Home and at Mediplex of Stamford.
Last summer, Mrs. Kelley moved to Avon, where she resided at the Avon Health Center.
She is survived by a daughter, Margaret K. Johnson of Bristol; two sisters, Helen Conforti and Gloria Kelley, both of Stamford; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased in 1984 by her husband, Frank A. Kelley; a brother, Andrew James Pelosi; four sisters, Sadie Scicli, Gertrude Hatterman, Theresa Manforte and Ann Lemone; and a grandson, Paul F. Stockman.
Calling hours will be 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today, Dec. 30, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 566 Elm St., Stamford.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
November 5, 2002
Emily Kellner-Kavalek, a Stamford resident, died Friday, Nov. 1, at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain. She was 89.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Nov. 22, 1912, in Osvetimany, Czechoslovakia, she was the daughter of the late Frances Cvek-Kellner and Antonin Kellner.
Mrs. Kellner-Kavalek immigrated to the United States in 1929. She was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, crafting and gardening.
She is survived by a son, Richard Kavalek of Dawsonville, Ga.; two daughters, Frances Sceblo of Mount Dora, Fla., and Carol Graham of Weston; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild with another due in June.
There will be no calling hours.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on her birthday, Friday, Nov. 22, at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 21 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospital for Special Care, 2150 Corbin Ave., New Britain, CT 06053. Hartford County/Farmingdale Direct Cremation Society, 764 Farmington Ave., New Britain, handled arrangements.
December 21, 2002
John F. Kelly of Fort Pierce, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 19, at Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 67.
He died of sepsis, according to his death certificate.
Born July 12, 1935, in Stamford, he was the son of the late Gertrude A. Purdy and George W. Kelly.
Mr. Kelly worked for the Dorr-Oliver Corp. in Milford as a mechanical draftsman for 42 years.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Kelly was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Milford, where he sang in the choir. He also was a member of St. Augustine Episcopal Church in Vero Beach. He moved from Milford to Fort Pierce last year.
He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Carol Jessup Kelly of Fort Pierce; two sons, Craig Kelly of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Brian Kelly of Stratford; a stepdaughter, Leslie C. Pokora of Wilton; a sister, Janet Hanson of Pompano Beach, Fla.; and four grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a stepdaughter, Kim Alison Chippetta.
Calling hours will be 1 to 2 p.m. today, Dec. 21, at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home, 1655 27th St., Vero Beach.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Michael Goldberg, pastor of St. Augustine Episcopal Church, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 475 43rd Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Russell Thomas Kelly
August 12, 2004
Russell Thomas Kelly of Ophir, Colo., a former Darien resident and avid kayaker and sportsman, died Monday, Aug. 9, in an automobile accident in Yellowstone National Park. He was 29.
Born Aug. 15, 1974, in Stamford, he was a son of Joseph T. and Melanie Reisdorf Kelly of Darien.
Mr. Kelly was returning home from a three-week whitewater kayaking expedition in the Lake Baikal region of Siberia, Russia, at the time of his death.
He grew up in Darien and attended Holmes Elementary and Middlesex Middle schools. In ninth grade, he moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo. and attended the Whiteman School, where he competed as a freestyle skier. He also learned to whitewater kayak there.
He was devoted to kayaking and kayaked some of the most difficult rivers to navigate in Nepal, Kashmir, Peru, Chile and Argentina. He also did multiple class V first descents.
Mr. Kelly worked summers as a river guide and kayak safety in Colorado, Idaho and the Gauley River in West Virginia and then for Jo-Ma-Ma's Moving Company in Telluride, Colo. to help finance his five month expeditions from October to March.
He was on one of his expeditions, on the Chenab River in the Kashmir region of India, on Sept. 11, 2001. He noticed soldiers riding trucks on their way to the Pakistani border. After the expedition, a local stopped him on the street and asked if he was an American and insisted he come into a restaurant to see the television showing the burning twin towers.
He was an adventure photographer and had photos in the Portfolio section of "Kayak Sessions," magazine issues 9, 10 and the yet to come 11. He also had photos in "Canoe and Kayak" and "Patagonia Clothing" catalog. He has been a subject of photos such as a full page in "Men's Journal Magazine" kayaking the famous class V "North Fork" of the Payette River in Idaho.
In addition to kayaking, Mr. Kelly was also an avid skier and a fan of the Grateful Dead, attending more than 100 shows.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his maternal grandmother, Jane Residorf of Clearwater, Fla.; and a brother, Alex Kelly of Darien.
He was predeceased by a brother, Christopher S. Kelly.
Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien.
A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, in Spring Grove Cemetery, 41 Hecker Ave., Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Rivers, 1025 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 720, Washington DC 20005-3516 or to World Wildlife Fund, 1250 Twenty-Fourth St., NW, Washington DC, 20037, or to an environmental organization of one's choice.
Chrysoula Kementzidis
October 14, 2003
Chrysoula Kementzidis, a longtime Norwalk resident, died Sunday, Oct. 12, at Norwalk Hospital. She was 65.
The cause of death was heart failure, according to her family.Born April 10, 1938, in Greece, she was a daughter of the late Haralampos and Maria Handavaridoy Kougioumtzidis.
Mrs. Kementzidis lived in Norwalk for 29 years and was a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
She is survived by her husband, Ilias Kementzidis of Norwalk; two sons, Bill Kementzidis and George Kementzidis, both of Norwalk; a daughter, Maria Kementzidis of Norwalk; two brothers, Vasilios Kougioumtzidis of Norwalk and Anastasios Kougioumtzidis of Germany; two sisters, Anna Giapoutzis of Norwalk and Panagiota Skaperda of Greece; and four grandchildren.
Calling hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave., Norwalk.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 238 West Rocks Road, Norwalk.
Burial will take place in Riverside cemeteryin Norwalk.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 238 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851.
November 18, 2002
Rita Kemp, a lathe operator and former Stamford resident, died Saturday, Nov. 16, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. She was 86.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born Oct. 7, 1916, in Rye, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Constantine and Christina Mangini Lusita.
Mrs. Kemp lived in Stamford for 60 years. She moved to Trumbull about two years ago.
She worked for 25 years as a glass lathe operator for Machlett Laboratories, formerly in Stamford. She retired in 1978.
Mrs. Kemp enjoyed painting and gourmet cooking.
She is survived by a son, Randall S. Kemp of Trumbull; two sisters, Anna Klaes of Grier, S.C., and Josephine Collignon of Rye; and one grandson.
Mrs. Kemp was predeceased by her husband, Herbert O. Kemp.
Calling hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the funeral home.
Burial will follow in Lakeview cemeteryin New Canaan.
August 28, 2003
Eleanor O'Connor Kennard of Fort Myers, Fla., a former elementary school principal in Stamford, died Monday, Aug. 25, at Calusa Harbour, a senior living community in Fort Myers. She was 94.
She died of natural causes, according to her family.
Born May 27, 1909, in Stamford, she was the daughter of the late John and Eleanor O'Connor.
Mrs. Kennard graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford, Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and Columbia University in New York City.
She worked for the Stamford public school system for 31 years. She began her career as a teacher at the former Willard School. She became assistant principal of the former Hoyt School, and later the first female principal of the Willard/Hoyt School, a position she held for 14 years.
She lived in Stamford for more than 60 years before moving to Stratford, and then to Beaufort, S.C. Mrs. Kennard moved to Fort Myers in 1995.
She is survived by her niece, Eleanor O'Connor Bowman of Greenwich; and many other nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Donald T. Kennard, who died in 1995; and six brothers, Roger O'Connor, Donald O'Connor, Joseph O'Connor, John O'Connor, Richard O'Connor and Thomas O'Connor.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon today, Aug. 29 at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel in Gate of Heaven cemeteryon Stevens Ave., Hawthorne, N.Y.
Burial will follow in the cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hawthorne Funeral Home, 21 Stevens Ave., Hawthorne.
Paul J. Kennedy, Jr.
October 8, 2003
Paul J. Kennedy Jr. of Norwalk, a retired telephone traffic engineer, died Monday, Oct. 6 at the Honey Hill Care Center in Norwalk. He was 85.
He died of natural causes, according to his family.
Born Dec. 1, 1917, in Greenwich, he was the son of the late Paul J. Kennedy Sr. and Loretta Brennan Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy retired after 39 years with the New York Telephone Co. where he was a traffic engineer. As a U.S. Signal Corps officer, he participated in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns and with the 5th Air Force and was promoted to Captain. He was recalled to active duty with the New York Air National Guard and served with the 33rd Communications Squadron at the 15th Air Force headquarters, March Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif.
A Norwalk resident since 1953, Mr. Kennedy was a member of St. Jerome Church. He was a graduate of the Byram School in Greenwich and Roeliff-Jansen High School in Hillsdale, N.Y. He received a B.S. degree from Cornell University in 1948, where he was a member of the Glee Club, and his master's degree from New York University School of Education in 1979.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen Lawlor Kennedy of Norwalk, whom he married in 1948; three sons, John P. Kennedy of San Diego, Lawrence W. Kennedy of Clarks Summit, Pa., and Brian J. Kennedy of Norwalk; a sister, Joan Harvey of Pittsfield, Mass.; two brothers, L. Roger Kennedy of Greenwich and Francis X. Kennedy of Chatham, N.Y.; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Teresa Manitz.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk.
Burial will follow in St. Mary's cemeteryin Greenwich.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk, CT 06851; Student Aid, Norwalk Community College, 188 Richard's Ave., Norwalk, CT 06850; or to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship Fund at Cornell University, c/o Linda Hoffman, 270 Roberts Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Anne Kilcoyne
October 4, 2003
Anne Kilcoyne, a longtime Stamford resident, died Thursday, Oct. 2, at home. She was 58.
She died of cancer, according to her family.
Born Oct. 8, 1944, in Kinvara, Galway, Ireland, she was a daughter of the late Thomas and Nora Jordan Mooney.
Mrs. Kilcoyne was employed in the city of Stamford's tax office as a cashier. She had a 15-year banking career in Stamford, including jobs at Fleet and Cornerstone banks.
She was an active member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division No. 59 in Stamford and the Hibernian Golf Association of Stamford. She had lived in Stamford since 1967.
Mrs. Kilcoyne is survived by her husband, Aidan Kilcoyne of Stamford; two sons, James Kilcoyne of Stamford and Thomas Kilcoyne of the Bronx, N.Y.; two daughters, Marie Kilcoyne of Chicago and Siobhan Kilcoyne of Stamford; two brothers, Patrick Mooney of Stamford and Joseph Mooney of Kinvara; and two sisters, Mary Donato of The Villages, Fla., and Delia Egan of Oranmore, Galway.
She was predeceased by a brother, Bertie Mooney.
Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at St. Gabriel Church, 914 Newfield Ave., Stamford.
Burial will follow in Queen of Peace cemeteryin Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
September 10, 2003
NEW YORK -- Sean Kimerling, an Emmy award-winning sportscaster for WPIX-TV's "The WB11 News at Ten," died Tuesday of complications from testicular cancer, the station said. He was 37.
Kimerling, a native of Westchester County, joined WPIX as weekend sports anchor in December 1997 after working similar jobs in Texas and Oklahoma. He also served as a commentator on WPIX broadcasts of New York Mets games.
He won an Emmy in 2002 for best professional sports coverage of the Mets.
The Mets marked his death before Tuesday's game against Florida with a moment of silence.
Kimerling received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown and earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Southern California.
He is survived by his parents, a brother and a sister.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
November 22, 2002
Ernestine King, a longtime Stamford resident, died Saturday, Nov. 16, at Stamford Hospital. She was 60.
She died of cardiac arrest, according to her family.
Born March 20, 1942, in Auburn, Ala., she was the daughter of the late Isaiah B. Drake II and Mary Lee Drake.
Mrs. King was a graduate of Lee County Training School in Auburn, Ala. She was a supervisor at Xerox in Stamford, where she lived for 40 years. She was a member of Community Tabernacle Church in Stamford.
She is survived by two daughters, Lucille King of Rochester, N.Y., and Felica King of Stamford; two sons, Stanley King of Richmond, Va., and Shawn King of Stamford; a sister, Bessie Virella of Opelika, Ala.; 15 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
She was predeceased by her husband, Aaron King; and a son, Conrad King.
Calling hours will be 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at Community Tabernacle Church, 198 Selleck St., Stamford.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. Apostle Timothy Johnson of the Bread of Life Church will officiate.
Burial will be private.
Baker Funeral Services, 84 South Main St., Norwalk, is handling the arrangements.
J. Edward Kirchner
October 23, 2003
J. Edward "Big Ed" Kirchner, a Catholic lay leader who lived in Stamford, died Saturday, Oct. 4, at his daughter's home in Columbus, Ohio. He was 91.
He died of lung cancer, according to his family.
Born July 12, 1912, in Pittsfield, Mass., he was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa Cullen Kirchner.
He grew up on a dairy farm in Pittsfield. Mr. Kirchner attended Ohio State University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity. After graduation, he became the fraternity's national secretary.
In 1937, he attended a meeting in Paris of the Pax Romana, the International Movement of Catholic Students. He went on to help form the National Federation of Catholic College Students.
In 1938, Mr. Kirchner was elected president of Pax Romana. During World War II, he helped find housing and scholarships for student refugees and helped run the wartime office of Pax Romana.
Mr. Kirchner enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving as a personnel officer in the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kirchner hired Albert Einstein as a Navy consultant, Mr. Kirchner's family said.
In 1946, he married Louisa Byles. The couple moved to Fribourg, Switzerland, where they launched the Pax Romana Relief Department. He was appointed director of the Funk Kaserne Resettlement Camp by the United Nation's International Relief Organization. He helped prevent infighting among warring Eastern European factions in the refugee camps.
Mr. Kirchner went on to work for the U.S. State Department in Germany. He and his family returned to the United States in 1955, settling in Stamford.
Mr. Kirchner served as Pax Romana's representative to the League of Nations, and later to the United Nations and UNESCO.
He attended the Second Vatican Council, which helped reshape the church in the early 1960s.
Mr. Kirchner and his wife helped develop and sustain the U.S.-based Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs, a Pax Romana affiliate for Catholic professionals. The couple also helped form the country's first Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission.
In the early 1970s, he received a master's degree in social work from Fairfield University. He was appointed director of the Ministry of Social Concerns for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He opened soup kitchens in Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk. Mr. Kirchner retired in the early 1980s but continued to volunteer with Catholic organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Louisa Byles Kirchner of Stamford; two sons, Edward C. Kirchner of Johns Island, S.C., and Joseph Kirchner of Silver Spring, Md.; a daughter Mary Crawford of Columbus; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Robert Kirchner and Donald Kirchner; and two sisters, Elizabeth Dale and Dorothy Pillion.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 1200 Shippan Ave., Stamford.
Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in St. Joseph's cemeteryin Pittsfield. Friends are asked to meet inside the cemeterygate at 10:15 a.m. The Rev. Michael Shershanovich of St. Joseph's Church will officiate.
Memorial donations may be made to Pax Romana Foundation, c/o Joseph Kirchner, 10402 Burnt Ember Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20903.
Wellington Funeral Home, 220 East St., Pittsfield, is handling arrangements.
February 12, 2003
State Superior Court Judge Andre Mark Kocay of West Hartford died Monday, Feb. 10, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. He was 59.
He died of a stroke, according to his family.
Born Feb. 9, 1944, in London, he was a son of the late Witold and Helena Kocay.
Mr. Kocay immigrated to Connecticut in 1950, where he has lived for the past 53 years. He attended Holy Name of Jesus School in Stamford and Stamford Catholic High School. He graduated from Fordham University in 1966 and from the University of Connecticut Law School in 1969.
He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1969 to 1973. He was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was active in the Air Force Reserves for 20 years, and was called to active duty for Desert Storm. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He practiced law with Januszewski, McQuillan and DeNigris in New Britain, before moving into private practice. He was appointed to the Superior Court in 1989.
Mr. Kocay was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Judges Association, Polish National Alliance, Polish American Congress, 44 Club in New Britain and the Rolls Royce Owners Club. He was chairman of the Endowed Polish Chair Advisory Committee at Central Connecticut State University.
He was a captain in the First Company Governor's Footguard and an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, where he was a lector and formerly served on the parish council. He also was an antique car and model railroad enthusiast.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Wallin Kocay of West Hartford; a daughter, Michelle Kocay of Burlington; two sons, Matthew Kocay and Michael Kocay, both of West Hartford; and a brother, Christopher Kocay of El Cajon, Calif.
Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.
Burial will follow in Fairview cemeteryin West Hartford.
|
|
