United States High School Yearbooks by County
Erica Merkling, 76, artist, illustrator and gardener
Erica Perl Merkling, 76, of New Milford died Jan. 6 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of Frank Merkling, retired music critic for The News-Times.
Mrs. Merkling was born April 23, 1926, in Vienna, Austria. In 1939, she and her family escaped the Nazis and fled to America.
Settling in New York City, she attended the High School of Music and Art.
Mrs. Merkling and her sister, Susan Perl, both drew fashion illustrations for Condé Nast publications, including “Glamour” and “Vogue.”
Mrs. Merkling went on to become art editor of the Metropolitan Opera Guild magazine, “Opera News.” She also did advertising work.
Later, she illustrated children’s books for Doubleday and other publishers, and taught fashion illustrations at Parsons School of Design.
She moved permanently to New Milford in 1974 with her husband and three children. There, she became a skilled organic gardener.
Mrs. Merkling continued to illustrate books. In addition, she was art teacher at the New Milford Senior Center for some 15 years.
An exhibit of art by Mrs. Merkling and her extended family is on exhibit at the Senior Center in the Richmond Citizen Center at 40 Main St. through Jan. 31.
An informal memorial gathering with members of her family will take place tomorrow (Saturday) from 1 to 3 p.m. at the exhibit.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Merkling is survived by two daughters, Melissa Merkling Ashe of New Milford and Maria Merkling Havens of Sydney, Australia; a son, Christian Merkling of Cape Town, South Africa; and four grandchildren.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Norman Piersall, 71, had owned local paint store
Norman R. Piersall, 71, of Summit Drive, New Milford, died Jan. 8 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth (Day) Piersall.
Mr. Piersall was born June 25, 1931, in New Milford, son of the late Norman V. and Helen (Zlotkowski) Piersall.
He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War and a member of VFW Post No. 1672 in New Milford.
He owned and operated the New Milford Paint and Wallpaper Company for many years until selling it in 1969. He then became a carpenter in the Danbury area.
Besides his wife, Mr. Piersall is survived by a son, Brian of Roxbury; three grandchildren, Allison, Michael and Megan; a nephew, William Isakson of Pennsylvania; and several cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Valerie Isakson.
A graveside funeral service will be held today (Friday) at noon at New Milford Center Cemetery.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 102, New Milford CT 06776.
Fred Weighart, 75, was father of Bridgewater man
Fred G. Weighart, 75, of Whisconier Road, Brookfield, died Jan. 3 at his home. He was the husband of Edith (Cushnie) Weighart.
Mr. Weighart was born March 31, 1927, in Jersey City, N.J., son of the late George and Irene (Forbes) Weighart.
He served in the Navy as an aviation electronic technician’s mate.
He attended Johns Hopkins University, where he was a standout pole vaulter. After working as a chief engineer for Sperry Automation in Danbury, he founded Gordon Engineering in Brookfield in 1970.
Mr. Weighart received patents for numerous industrial safety products and sensing devices, most notably a master control for a soft-serve ice cream machine.
He was an avid fly fisherman, woodworker and stone wall builder and a voracious reader. He grew and sold Christmas trees on his property in Brookfield.
He was involved with the Connecticut Junior Republic in Litchfield, an organization designed to help troubled boys.
Besides his wife, Mr. Weighart is survived by two sons, Steve of Bridgewater and Scott and his wife Eleanor of Brookline, Mass.; two grandchildren, Hannah and Timothy of Brookline; a sister, Margaret Fish of Ontario, Canada; two brothers, George of Naples, Fla., and Gordon of Bridgewater, N.J.; his mother-in-law, Edith Cushnie of Danbury; a brother-in-law Pete Cushnie of Bridgewater; and several nieces and nephews in the United States and Canada.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Brookfield, located at the intersection of Routes 25 and 133.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Connecticut Junior Republic, Goshen Road, P.O. Box 161, Litchfield, CT 06759; or to the Congregational Church of Brookfield, in care of the Book of Remembrance, Route 25, Brookfield, CT 06804; or to the Development Fund of the Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06811.
Gerrold Kruse, 88, was military man and athlete
Gerrold H. Kruse, 88, of Starr Avenue, Danbury, died Jan. 6 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Rose Ann (Setaro) Kruse.
Mr. Kruse was born July 5, 1914, in Little Valley, N.Y., son of the late George and Emma (Newbury) Kruse.
He graduated from Little Valley High School, where he was the New York State pole vaulting champion. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country for 35 years. He played semi-professional football, basketball and baseball for various Army teams.
Mr. Kruse was selected and assigned to the intelligence and security division at the Army’s Supreme Headquarters in Paris under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On many occasions, he drove the general around Paris and knew him personally. As sergeant major, he was the recipient of many medals and commendations.
As his military career was coming to a close, Mr. Kruse was assigned to recruiting and taught classes for the Army at New York University.
Besides his wife, Mr. Kruse is survived by a stepson, Theodore Setaro Jr. of Danbury; three grandchildren, Lisa Aurigemma of Naugatuck, Adina Aurigemma of New Milford and Gerrold Kruse of Raleigh, N.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Alida and Thomas Tomascak. He was predeceased by his only child, Alida Smith.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury handled arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital Development Fund, c/o the Cardiac Floor, 8 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Adlyn Anderson, 96, mother of Gaylordsville woman
Adlyn (Gentry) Anderson of Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, died Jan. 3 at her home. She was the widow of George M. Anderson.
Mrs. Anderson was born Nov. 16, 1906, in St. Louis, Mo., daughter of William E. and Monica (Ketzner) Gentry.
She was a graduate of the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was an accomplished and talented artist and worked with her husband in their professional photography business while raising their family in Crestwood, N.Y., until their retirement and subsequent move to Ridgefield.
She most enjoyed religious painting and created works of art for several area churches.
Mrs. Anderson is survived by three daughters, Sister Barbara Anderson of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Ann King and her husband David of Gaylordsville, and Georgia Kula and her husband Frank of Danbury; five grandchildren, George Leonetti of Mims, Fla., Christopher Kula of Danbury, and Monica, David and Timothy King of Gaylordsville; and two great-grandchildren.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Leonard Bourdette Sr., 89, father of local man
Leonard T. Bourdette Sr., 89, of New Milford died Jan. 4 at New Milford Nursing Home.
Mr. Bourdette was born Oct. 30, 1913, in Richmond Hills, N.Y., a son of the late Augustus C. and Jean (Telfer) Bourdette.
He moved to Bethel at age 5 and was a graduate of Bethel High School. He later served in the U.S. Navy, where he trained as an aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Trinidad during World War II.
He was employed by the Prudential Life Insurance Company and later by Bragg Motors of Georgetown.
Mr. Bourdette is survived by a son, Leonard Jr. of New Milford; two daughters, Sandra O’Brien of Brookfield and Wanda Lovisek of Clarkesville, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Ronald.
The Colonial Funeral Home, of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Odelia Larson, 67, mother of New Milford woman
Odelia M. Larson, 67, of New Milford died Jan. 2 at New Milford Hospital. She was the widow of Charles E. Larson.
Mrs. Larson was born Jan. 22, 1935, in Baltimore, a daughter of the late William and Josephine (Savarese) Miller.
She was a longtime resident of Stamford, where she worked as a bank teller until her retirement to New Milford a year ago. She was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church.
She is survived by a daughter, Carole Baniak and her husband Edward of New Milford; and two grandchildren, Erin and Eddie Baniak. She was predeceased by a daughter, Kristin.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions in her name be made to New Milford Hospital, Regional Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Francis M. Keane, 92, was born in New Milford
Francis “Buddy” Michael Keane, 92, of 8 Fifth St., Danbury, died Jan. 7 at Danbury Hospital. He was the widower of Mabel Elizabeth (Stewart) Keane.
Mr. Keane was born Dec. 13, 1910, in New Milford, son of the late Thomas and Delia (Hastings) Keane.
He retired as assistant plant manager from the former Fagg Bearings Corp., Stamford, after more than 25 years of service.
He was a communicant of St. Gregory the Great Church, Danbury.
Mr. Keane is survived by a daughter, Gail McKirdy of Annandale, Va.; three nephews, Dennis and his wife Danielle of New Milford, David and his wife Victoria of Great Britain, and Robert Reid and his wife Maureen of Allentown, N.J.; two nieces, Jacquelyn Stow and her husband Charles of Springfield, Va., and Joann Hollywood and her husband John of Crofton, Md.
He was predeceased by a son, Thomas; four brothers, Thomas, John, Joseph and Martin; and four sisters, Alice and Mary, Margaret Smith and Agnes Pruyn.
A memorial mass will be celebrated tomorrow (Saturday) at St. Gregory the Great Church in Danbury. Burial will take place in the spring.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Gregory the Great Church, 85 Great Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06810, or to the Salvation Army, 15 Foster St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Cynthia Hinchliffe, 85, longtime Washington resident
Cynthia D. Hinchliffe, 85, of 60 Ferry Bridge Road, Washington, died Jan. 8 at her home.
Miss Hinchliffe was born March 19, 1917, in Paterson, N.J., daughter of the late John Darnley and Ann E. (Straumann) Hinchliffe.
She attended primary schools in Washington and graduated from Wykeham Rise School, Class of 1934. She was captain of the basketball team in 1934 and won the Ariste Award given to the best all-around girl of the year.
She graduated in 1939 from Smith College with a major in music. She taught music for two years at St. Mary’s School in New Hampshire. She was also a tennis pro at the Washington Club.
Miss Hinchliffe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was promoted to lieutenant, working in code breaking. Following World War II, she became office manager for the Sharon Clinic until her retirement. She was a volunteer at Gunn Memorial Library.
She is survived by a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church on the Washington Green.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Steep Rock Land Trust, Washington, CT 06794.
Martin William DeAlessio
Martin William DeAlessio, 65, of 7 Robin Lane, Brookfield, died Jan. 12 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Lorraine (Scherwenik) DeAlessio.
Mr. DeAlessio was born Jan. 23, 1937, in New Milford, son of the late Anthony and Martha (Kreinus) DeAlessio.
He was a graduate of New Milford High School, Class of 1955. He was a machinist with Amphenol Corp. of Danbury, retiring after 47 years of service.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Lakes Church in New Milford and a member of the Lillinonah Antique Auto Club.
Besides his wife, Mr. DeAlessio is survived by a son, Martin II of East Sound, Wash.; four daughters, Donna of New Milford, Lori Harrison and her husband David of New Milford, Michelle Michel and her husband Matthew of Upton, Mass., and Jennifer Brady and her husband Kyle of New Milford; three brothers, Stephen of Amarillo, Texas, John and his wife Judy of New Milford, and George and his wife Cassandra of Washington Depot; nine grandchildren, Bryan, Rosemary and Sarah Harrison, Zachary, Alex and Sean Brady, Joanne, Annette and Thomas Michel; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Jeannette, and a brother, Anthony Jr.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
