United States High School Yearbooks by County
Sotero Rivera, 76, had received many Army honors
Sotero Rivera, 76, of Lake Ave., Danbury, husband of Maria (Marerro) Rivera, died at Mediplex Health Care Center, Danbury, Jan. 20.
He was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico, April 22, 1922, son of the late Robustino and Carmen (Alvarado) Rivera.
Mr. Rivera served 22 years with the U.S. Army, including service in both World War II and the Korean War. He attained the rank of sergeant. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Occupation of Japan Medal, Korean Service Medal with three bronze Service Stars and one Overseas Bar.
After retiring from the U.S. Army, he was a self-employed plumber. He resided in the Bronx, N.Y., until moving to Danbury in 1981.
Besides his wife, his survivors include four sons, Edwin of New Milford and Hector, Sotero II and Carlos, all of Danbury; three daughters, Maria Aviles, Mayda Rivera and Carmen Rivera, all of Danbury; a brother, Victor Rivera of Puerto Rico; 38 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions may be made to St. Judes Funeral Home, One St. Jude Place Building, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148-0552.
Robert Gallo, 45, leaves three daughters in area
Robert A. Gallo, 45, husband of Paula (DiNoia) Gallo of 8 Cedar St., Danbury, died at Danbury Hospital Jan. 18, as a result of gunshot wounds he received in a robbery at his liquor store on North Street in Danbury.
He was born in Danbury Nov. 22, 1953, son of F. Anthony Gallo of Danbury and the late Ruth (Reynolds) Gallo. A lifetime Danbury area resident, he was a graduate of Danbury High School and the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Mr. Gallo was a drummer, and in the 1960s played in the band Southern Comfort. He had managed the Hi-Way Package Store, Danbury, which his father had founded, for more than 20 years.
In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by three daughters, Meghan Gallo, Alicia Gallo and Rachel Gallo, all of New Milford; two stepchildren, John Keenan and Stephanie Keenan, both of Danbury; a sister, Donna G. Miller of Palm Coast, Fla.; an aunt, Adeline Dohan of Danbury; and three nephews. He was predeceased by his mother in 1996 and two brothers, Jay in 1987 and Gregory in 1995.
Green Funeral Home of Danbury is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Edith G. Mason, 79, was associate professor
Edith Gentry Mason, 79, of West Short Road, Washington, died Jan. 27 at New Milford Hospital.
Mrs. Mason was born Sept. 12, 1919, in Glastonia, N.C., daughter of the late Claude and Katherine (Douthit) Gentry. She graduated cum laude in 1940 from Winthrope College, Rockhill, S.C., with a bachelor of science degree. She then served as recreation director for the YWCA in Greenville, N.C., and directed the Burgess Glen Camp.
In 1942, she joined the Navy and served as a Lieutenant Sr. Grade in the WAVES. Her assignment was at the naval base in Norfolk, Va., as base recreation director.
Following the war in 1945, she joined the faculty at Louisiana State University and later taught physical education at "Ole Miss."
After receiving a master's degree from Louisiana State University in 1949, she became an Associate Professor at Barnard College in New York City. Mrs. Mason was named chairman of the department of physical education at Barnard in 1974.
During her 23 years at Barnard, she taught swimming, various sports and was the coach of both the volleyball and archery teams. She also directed Barnard Camp.
Upon her retirement in 1980, she was the recipient of the New York State Archery Association Award for her inspiring influence and promotion of archery at Barnard and in New York State.
Mrs. Mason and her husband retired to their home on Lake Waramaug in Washington, where she devoted much of her time to various supportive services.
She served for six years on the board of the Visiting Nurse Association Board of Directors, was an active member of the Washington Garden Club, contributed freely of her time to services sponsored by the First Congregational Church in Washington and most recently completed the Hospice training course.
Mrs. Mason is survived by her husband, Edgar "Dick" Mason; a son, Edgar D. Mason III; and a sister, Katherine G. Smith of New Jersey.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 6 Kirby Road, Washington.
The family requests that contributions in memory of Mrs. Mason be made to Visiting Nurse and Home Care, NW, Inc., Federal Square, 24 Village Green Dr., Litchfield, CT 06759.
Vincent Horan, 85, had been a New Milford resident
Vincent Horan, 85, of Syracuse, N.Y., formerly of Danbury and New Milford, died at Veterans Hospital in Syracuse Jan. 27.
He was born in Danbury Jan. 9, 1914, a son of the late William F. and Mary (Krupinsky) Horan and attended Danbury schools.
Mr. Horan served in the U.S. Army during World War II, when he served in the Asiatic Pacific theater. He worked for the state of Connecticut for 20 years as an inspector of weights and measures.
He is survived by a sister, Christine Smith of Syracuse, and several nieces and nephews.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Scott Santa-Maria, 30, was State Rep. and police officer
Scott Santa-Maria, 30, of 15 Brooks Lane, Brookfield, a police officer for the Bethel Police Department for the past 11 years, died in Brookfield Jan. 26 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was born in Danbury March 13, 1968, a son of Benedict and Sandra (Carson) Santa-Maria. He was a graduate of Brookfield High School, Class of 1987 and had attended the University of Connecticut.
While on the Bethel police force, he received several awards, including the National Silver Star for Bravery, the Wounded in Combat Cross, the Chiefs Citation for Meritorious Service and Police Officer of the Year, and a citation for Outstanding Community Service from the Connecticut General Assembly.
Mr. Santa-Maria also served as a state representative for the 107th District, which includes Brookfield and northern Bethel. He was elected to the position in 1994 and re-elected in 1996 and 1998.
He was ranking House Republican Member of the General Assembly's Labor and Public Employees Committee and a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
He was also a member of the Bonding Subcommittee of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, which is responsible for developing the state's annual capital budget. He previously served on the Environment Committee and the Banks Committee.
Mr. Santa-Maria served as a marine police officer on Lake Lillinonah for Brookfield for eight years. He was also a state certified emergency medical technician and served with the Brookfield Volunteer Department. He served two terms as captain, supervising the ambulance service for Brookfield.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Lynne Santa-Maria Beardsley of New Milford, Kristiann Santa-Maria of Charlottesville, Va., and her husband James McClung, and Jennifer Santa-Maria of Bradley Beach, N.J.; his paternal grandmother, Stella Santa-Maria of Florida; two foster sons, Colin Delaney and Tyler Delaney, both of Brookfield; a niece, Lauren Beardsley of New Milford; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, 103 West Broad St., Stamford, CT 06902.
Julia Szanitter, 95, leaves family in New Milford
Julia Szanitter, 95, of 65 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, died at the Glen Hill Convalescent Center in Danbury Jan. 28. She was the wife of the late Albert Szanitter.
Mrs. Szanitter was born in Forberg, Czechoslovakia, the daughter of Paul and Suzanne Roth Greisiger. She received her education there. She came to the United States in 1949.
A resident of Bethel for 27 years, she moved to Danbury three years ago to make her home with her daughter, Emma Feulner.
She had been employed in the Winding Department of Davis and Geck for 13 years, retiring in 1965. Her later years were devoted to her home.
She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Bethel Senior Citizens. She was a former member of the Ladies Aid Society of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Besides her daughter, Mrs. Szanitter is survived by a grandson, John Feulner of New Milford; a granddaughter, Doris Feulner Johnson of Reno, Nev.; a great-granddaughter, Kiley S. Feulner of New Milford; a son-in-law, Paul Zoellkau of Newtown; and several nieces and nephews in Europe. She was pre-deceased by a daughter, Jolan Zoellkau.
The Cornell memorial Home in Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Step of Faith of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 26 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Theodore J. Olack, 79, father of area resident
Theodore J. Olack, 79, of 105 Stoney Way, New Fairfield, died at Danbury Hospital Jan. 30. He was the husband of Josephine Giambrone.
He was born in Edwardsville, Pa., Feb. 17, 1919, a son of the late Andrew and Anna Maruschak Olack. He was one of nine children.
Mr. Olack graduated from the School of the New York Botanical Garden. He served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was stationed in New Guinea. He worked for IBM for over 37 years and retired as the curator of the historical collection.
In addition to his wife of 48 years, his brother Edward Olack of Kingston, Pa., and sister Margaret Pelesh of Lewes, Del., he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Miriam and John Borgatti of Northfield; a son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Rebecca Olack and their four children, Kyle, Craig, Ted and Ellen of Ridgeland, Miss.; and a daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Thomas Sullivan of New Milford and their two children, Nicole and Alexa.
The Hull Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders, 6 East 39th St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016.
Dennis M. Roosevelt, 52, stepfather of local woman
Dennis M. Roosevelt, 52, of Southbury, loving husband of Mary Downs Roosevelt, died Jan. 28 in Danbury Hospital.
During his 22 year battle with cancer, he never gave up and never let the disease overwhelm his spirit. Mr. Roosevelt found the time, love and energy to marry, graduate with honors from The Culinary Institute of America as a chef, remodel his family home, and be a prize-winning competitor in chili cook-offs for charity throughout the Northeast.
For seven years, he was head chef at the annual Taste of the Holidays fund-raiser for the Stratford Chapter of the American Red Cross.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Roosevelt had been an assistant scoutmaster at the old Troop 7 in Weston, and had twice taken groups to Philmont Scout Reservation, N.M.
He ran food services at Duracell, Pitney Bowes, and Branson Ultrasonics. He was a 1964 graduate of Staples High School and of Norwalk State Technical College.
Mr. Roosevelt gave hope and inspiration to all who knew him. His spirit and care for others with cancer helped many to see that in spite of the disease, they could thrive and survive. He will be remembered as a symbol of true courage in the face of overwhelming odds.
Besides his wife Mary of Southbury, he is survived by two stepdaughters, Veronica Downs-White of New Milford and Ginger Flynn of Florida; four grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Leslie Roosevelt and Richard Sanders, and their daughter, Alyssa, all of Maryland; and several other relatives. He was predeceased by his parents, Miles and Charlotte Roosevelt of Weston, and a stepson, John White of Bethel.
A private memorial will be held at the convenience of the family. Daystar of Stratford is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Stratford Chapter of the American Red Cross, 3231 Main St., Stratford, CT 06614, or to Troop 788 Boy Scouts of America, Norfield Congregational Church, Norfield Road, Weston, CT 06883.
John A. Lineweber, 71, resident of Roxbury
John Allen Lineweber Sr., 71, of Roxbury died Jan. 30 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Beverly (Allen) Lineweber.
Mr. Lineweber was born Aug. 25, 1927, in Derby, son of the late Henry Allen and Emily (Silks) Lineweber.
He worked as a heavy equipment operator before retiring. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, and served with the Seabees. He was an Oxford resident before moving to Roxbury in 1972.
Besides his wife of 46 years, he leaves a son, John A. Lineweber Jr. of Bethlehem; four daughters, Karen Swanson of Bridgewater, Kathy Baker of Virginia Beach, Va., Heidi Neff of Roxbury and Nancy Boyd of Windsor Locks; two sisters, Rita Talarico of Woodbury and Shirley Drummer of Seymour; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. at Roxbury Congregational Church, Church St., Roxbury. Burial is private. There are no calling hours.
Arrangements are by Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, Main Street South.
Contributions may be made to Roxbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 94, Roxbury, CT 06783, or to the Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department, Roxbury, CT 06783.
