United States High School Yearbooks by County
Richard Hunter, 73, had been longtime educator
Richard T. Hunter, 73, of Bantam Falls, died Jan. 10 at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Hunter was born May 27, 1925, in England, son of the late Thomas S. and Gladys (Searle) Hunter.
In 1940, Mr. Hunter was evacuated to the United States, where he attended the Groton School for one year before transferring to Avon Old Farms, from which he graduated in 1943.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a trainee. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Air Force and completed 23 flying operations over Germany, including six with the elite Pathfinder Force of the RAF.
Mr. Hunter worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford with a bachelor's degree.
Mr. Hunter was appointed schoolmaster and subsequently housemaster at the Choate School in Wallingford, where he also enjoyed coaching soccer. For a number of years during Choate's summer holidays, he was a counselor at Camp Pasquaney on Lake Newfound, N.H. He taught at Choate for 19 years and also in Hartford, Bronx, N.Y., Coral Gables, Fla., Atlanta, and finally at Forman School in Litchfield.
After retirement, Mr. Hunter led classes on literature for prisoners in the Litchfield jail and area nursing homes and schools.
He is survived by a brother, Martin Hunter of England; and a sister, Daphne Garrard of England.
A memorial service will be held Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, South Street, Litchfield.
Arrangements are by the Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield.
Donald Franco, 87, was New Milford VFW member
Donald Franco, 87, of 17 Old State Road, New Milford, husband of the late Gloria Day Franco, died Jan. 25 at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Franco was born in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Dec. 3, 1911, a son of the late James and Julia Villamotta Franco.
A veteran of World War II, serving in the European theater, Mr. Franco was a life member of the Andrew B. Mygatt Post 1672 VFW, New Milford, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
For many years he had been employed by the New Milford Park and Recreation Commission, retiring in 1977.
Mr. Franco is survived by his son, Donald Franco Jr. and his wife, Allison, of New Milford; two grandchildren, Anthony D. Franco and Andrew T. Franco; two sisters, Betty Pottenberg of New Milford and Karen "Cookie" Corbett of Tucson, Az.; and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Andrew B. Mygatt Post 1672 VFW or the Military Order of the Purple Heart, both located at 11 Avery Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Beatrice Kennedy, 85, had lived in Roxbury
Beatrice Kennedy, 85, died Jan. 1 in Homestead, Fla. She was the widow of Hugh Kennedy.
Mrs. Kennedy was born in Downsville, N.Y. She lived in Roxbury and Southbury for many years before moving to Florida.
She is survived by a son, Robert Kennedy of Warren; a daughter, Peggy Johnson of Homestead; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held in Miami. Burial will be in Paige Cemetery, Downsville, in the spring.
Caroline E. McIlravy, 87, mother of area residents
Caroline E. McIlravy, 87, formerly of Wilson Street, Danbury, wife of the late Arthur D. McIlravy Sr., died Jan. 25 at Bethel Health Care Center, Bethel.
She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sept. 1, 1911, daughter of the late Robert F. and Caroline (Wright) Potts. She was born, raised and educated in Brooklyn.
Mrs. McIlravy was a devoted mother and loving wife. She resided in Brooklyn until 1941 when she moved to Danbury.
She is survived by two sons, Arthur D. McIlravy of Bethel and Robert F. McIlravy of New Milford; four daughters, Caroline McIlravy of Waterbury, Susann E. Danion of West Palm Beach, Fla., Diane M. Kraska of Madison and Cathleen G. Goos of Bridgewater; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Green Funeral Home in Danbury was in charge of the arrangements.
Vincent Cioffi, 84, had lived in Sherman and Kent
Vincent Cioffi, 84, of 16 Swift Lane, Kent, died Jan. 22 at the home of his stepson in Sherman.
Mr. Cioffi was born in the Bronx, N.Y., June 7, 1914, a son of Ferdinando and Giovanna (Apostilico) Cioffi.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Cioffi had been employed by the Hudson Paint Division of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company from 1936 to 1976.
He lived in Sherman for four years before moving to Kent in 1982.
He is survived by a son, Gary Cioffi of Spotswood, N.J.; four stepsons, Ronald Pizzarelli of Sherman, Tony Pizzarelli, Ralph Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli of Long Island, N.Y.; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by the Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Hospital Foundation, Cancer Center Building Fund, 49 East St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Up for adoption
Wizzard, above, is a tabby and white, bobbed tail cat who is 3 years old and has been neutered. If you would like to meet Wizzard, or any of the other cats and dogs at New Milford Animal Welfare, call (860) 354-1350. Tigger, below, is a 2-year-old neutered male who is looking for a new home. Anyone interested in adopting Tigger, or any of the other cats and dogs at the New Fairfield/ Sherman animal shelter, should call (860) 355-7287.
Henry Schum, 79, retired employee of Amphenol
Henry C. Schum, 79, of 34 Abbott Ave., Danbury, died Jan. 18 at Candlewood Nursing Home in New Milford.
He was born Oct. 28, 1919, in the Bronx, N.Y., son of the late George W. and Kathrina (Rebhan) Schum. He grew up in the Bronx and was a graduate of Roosevelt High School.
Mr. Schum moved to Danbury more than 55 years ago and was a retired employee of Amphenol Company in Danbury.
Mr. Schum was a life member of the South Norwalk Boat Club, life member of the U.S. Power Squadron & Chaplain, past captain of the Padanaram Hose Company and a member of the Fairfield County Chief's Emergency Plan. He was also a past member of the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Danbury and a former chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Doris (McStay) Schum of Danbury; and a nephew, Paul McStay of Waterbury.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450.
Gladys P. Reynolds, 91, leaves a daughter in area
Gladys P. Reynolds, formerly of Danbury, died at Cheyenne Residential and Nursing Home, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 14.
She was born in North Salem, N.Y., Dec. 18, 1907, the daughter of Eugene and Alice Brewer Purdy.
She retired from the New England Shirt Company in 1963 and was a member of the Danbury Senior Center.
She is survived by a brother, Arnold Purdy of Ridgefield; a sister, Yvette Murphy of Danbury; three sons, Percy Reynolds Jr. of Danbury, William Reynolds of Idaho, and Edson Reynolds of Stanhope, N.J.; three daughters, Eugena (Jeanne) Baldwin of Las Vegas and Carolyn Murphy, also of Las Vegas, with whom she lived since 1993, and Jane Wilcox of New Milford.
She was predeceased by her husband, Percy C. Reynolds Sr.; a daughter, Ancelet Reynolds DiGrazia; a granddaughter, Carolyn Reynolds; a grandson, Douglas DiGrazia; and a great-grandson, Edson Reynolds.
The Tomlinson Homestead in Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Bethel, in June at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Connecticut Affiliate, Inc., 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to the Alzheimer Association, P.O. Box 2292, Westport, CT 06880.
Frances Winkler, 94, was a resident of Warren
Frances (Rothenbucher) Winkler, 94, of 67 North Shore Road, Warren, died Jan. 20 at New Milford Nursing Home. She was the widow of John W. Winkler.
Mrs. Winkler was born Oct. 24, 1904, in Kleinwallstadt, Germany, daughter of the late Peter and Gertrude Rothenbucher. She became a Washington resident in 1929 and moved to Warren in 1955.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Washington, a member of the Catholic Women's Guild, and a member of New Preston's Women's Club. She had been a bowler and card player.
Mrs. Winkler is survived by a daughter, Joannette Johnson of New Preston; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford was in charge of the arrangements. Burial will be in the Washington Green Cemetery in the spring.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Washington Ambulance Association, 109 Bee Brook Road, Washington Depot, CT 06794.
Ernest Parmallee, 86, was born in New Milford
Ernest Parmallee, 86, of Norwalk, died at Norwalk Hospital Jan. 15.
He was born in New Milford April 30, 1912, a son of the late Ernest and Leta (Parmaley) Parmallee Sr.
Mr. Parmallee is survived by a brother, Henry of Bethel; two sisters, Dorothy Lengel of Florida and Fannie Dreback of Louisiana; and several nieces and nephews.
Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.
Cremation Services of Western Connecticut of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Helene P. Branch, 68, mother of New Milfordite
Helene (Popp) Branch, 68, of 40 Williams St., Danbury, wife of the late Donald Branch, died at Heritage Heights Health Care Center, Danbury, Jan. 20.
She was born in Eslarn, Germany, Feb. 15, 1930, a daughter of the late Helmut and Anna (Reindel) Popp. She attended school in Germany.
Mrs. Branch was a sales associate for Kmart Department store. She retired in April of 1998.
Her survivors include two daughters, Billie Ballas of New Milford and Barbara Branch of Danbury; two sons, Peter Trommer of New Fairfield and Dennis Branch of Danbury; and two grandchildren.
Private funeral services and cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Edna M. Buell, 85, lifelong Connecticut resident
Edna Merriman (Dyson) Buell, 85, formerly of 7 Reynolds Ridge, Bethel, died Jan. 21 at New Milford Nursing Home. She was the widow of Walter E. Buell.
Mrs. Buell was born June 7, 1913, in Waterbury, daughter of the late William and Maude Dyson. She was a lifelong Connecticut resident.
She is survived by a daughter, Judith Gajdusek of Crestview, Fla.; a brother, Charles Dyson of Naugatuck; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be at the family's convenience.
Arrangements are by Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury.
