United States High School Yearbooks by County
James F. Ducey, 73, had worked at Century Brass
James F. Ducey, 73, of Redington Beach, Fla., died March 29. He was the husband of Marilynn A. (Swift) Ducey.
Mr. Ducey was born March 11, 1930, in New York City.
He was honorably discharged from the Army in March 1953. He lived a large part of his life in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut.
For 18 years, Mr. Ducey worked at Century Brass in New Milford. He enjoyed working with antique clocks and was an avid woodworker.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Lawrence of Seminole, Fla., and Brian of Torrington; a daughter, Patrisha Matos of Framingham, Mass; and 10 grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters, Shelia Evens and Eileen.
A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 7 Bolton Hill Road, Cornwall.
Allen Hollister, 84, was a native of Washington
Allen B. Hollister, 84, of Bee Brook Road, Washington, died April 1 at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center in New Milford. He was the husband of Ethel (Whittlesey) Hollister.
Mr. Hollister was born Oct. 15, 1918, in Washington, a son of the late Burr and May Louise (Hickox) Hollister.
He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was an oil delivery driver for the Washington Supply Company for 16 years and the Hoffman Fuel Company for 14 years. He retired in 1979.
Mr. Hollister was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge No. 27, the American Legion and the Washington Grange. He was a member of the Washington Fire Department and was chief from 1972 to 1973.
He served on the Redevelopment Committee after the Flood of 1955 and was a member of the Carl Johnson Memorial Bowling League for many years.
Besides his wife, Mr. Hollister is survived by a son, Richard of Cavendish, Vt.; two daughters, Louise Camp of Washington Depot and Katherine Johnson of Marble Dale; a sister, Elinor Quint of North Anson, Maine; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Jean York.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Washington Volunteer Fire Department, 109 Bee Brook Road, Washington, CT 06794.
Ruth Johnson, was active in Roxbury community
Ruth Elizabeth Johnson of Roxbury died March 25 at her home.
Ms. Johnson was born in Kentucky. She lived in New York City, where she was involved in photography and design.
After moving to Roxbury 40 years ago, she was the chairperson of the Planning Commission, director of the Roxbury Land Trust, and involved in Republican town and state politics.
Ms. Johnson recently exhibited her bronze sculptures at Minor Memorial Library in Roxbury. She was a member of the Roxbury Congregational Church.
She is survived by a brother, Warren of Indianapolis, Ind.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Roxbury Land Trust, Roxbury, CT 06783.
Joan Burmann, 70, was mother of local residents
Joan M. Burmann, 70, of Wells, Maine, died March 31 after a brief illness.
Mrs. Burmann was born Feb. 5, 1933, in New York City. She grew up in Great Neck, N.Y., where she attended school.
She married Frederick M. Burmann. They lived in Framingham, Mass., and later moved to Brookfield, where they lived for 20 years. In 1987, they moved to Flintlock Village in Wells, Maine.
She was an artist who is remembered by family and friends as having drawn her inspiration from the beauty and tranquillity of the coast of Maine.
Mrs. Burmann is survived by two sons, Bruce of Roxbury and Robert and his wife Maureen of Bridgewater; two daughters, Christine Wilkinson and her husband Jack of Newbury, Mass., and Karen Boyle and her husband Keith of Conifer, Colo.; three grandchildren, Brett Burmann and Britt and Erin Boyle; two sisters, Sonja Willett of Bellingham, Mass., and Gail Harmon, of Plagah Forest, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate her life will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells.
An early spring memorial service is planned for Connecticut, where the family lived for many years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in her memory be sent to York Hospital, Development Office, 15 Hospital Drive, York, ME 03909, or to The American Cancer Society, 1 Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.
Bridget Durba, 85, mother of New Milford woman
Bridget Durba, 85, of Fishkill, N.Y., died March 25 at her home. She was the widow of George Durba.
Mrs. Durba was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Limerick, Ireland, the daughter of the late Michael Coughlan and Mary Ryan.
She lived in Fishkill for the last 11 years and was a member of the First Reformed Church in Fishkill. She previously lived in Spring Hill, Fla.
Mrs. Durba is survived by two sons, George and his wife Rita of Putnam Valley, N.Y., and Michael and his wife Fran of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; a daughter, Lisa and her husband Mitchell McMillen of New Milford; five grandchildren, Patrick and Erin of Putnam Valley, Amy of Salisbury, N.C., and Jenny and Melissa of Hopewell Junction.
The Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Homes Inc. of Fishkill was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Elizabeth Estok, 92, sister of Roxbury resident
Elizabeth M. Estok, 92, of Eden Hill Road, Newtown, died March 29 at the Lutheran Home in Southbury, where she had been a resident for the past 11 years. She was the widow of Paul Estok.
Mrs. Estok was born Sept. 24, 1910, in Bridgeport, a daughter of the late George and Anna (Liptak) Mayernick.
She was a former member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Bridgeport and a charter member of Christ The King Lutheran Church in Newtown.
She is survived by a sister, Ruth Gasser of Roxbury, and several nieces and nephews.
The Honan Funeral Home of Newtown handled arrangements.
Sean M. Geegan, 42, was a New Milford resident
Sean M. Geegan, 42, of New Milford died March 31 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Sharon (Balzarini) Geegan.
Mr. Geegan was born Nov. 30, 1960, in Danbury, son of Robert M. and Dorothy J. (Hudson) Geegan of Danbury.
He was a graduate of Henry Abbott Regional Technical School in Danbury.
He was employed by the city of Danbury’s Department of Public Utilities and was the chief operator of the water treatment plant. He was a member of the Candlewood Camera Club and was an avid amateur photographer.
Besides his wife and parents, Mr. Geegan is survived by several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today (Friday) at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, Danbury. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Peter O’Brien, 91, had owned New Milford Laundry
Peter Julius O’Brien, 91, of Crossbrook Road, New Milford, died March 27 at his home. He was the widower of Vivian (Kennedy) O’Brien.
Mr. O’Brien was born in 1912 in Waterbury, son of the late Thomas and Petrea O’Brien.
He moved to New Milford in 1920. He attended local schools and began working at New Milford Laundry, the family business, in 1926. Upon the death of his father, he took over the laundry business and ran it until his retirement in 1989.
Mr. O’Brien was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He served in New Guinea in the chemical unit as a master sergeant quartermaster in charge of the base PX. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and was a longstanding member of the local branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a master storyteller and often entertained friends and family with tales of meeting celebrities such as Greta Garbo and Fredric March. He kept alive many local stories which dealt with early New Milford.
Mr. O’Brien is survived by a sister, Anna Pagliaro of Derby; four daughters, Sharon Stewart of Kent, Linda of Roxbury, and Kathryn and Betty-Ann Flanagan of New Milford; two sons, Peter and his wife Sally of New Hartford, and Reid and his wife Carolyn of New Milford; nine grandchildren, Nathan, Jade, Bryce, Shannon Betts, Luar Lauf, Sef Dione and Petrea, Sean and Kathryn Flanagan; and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, 68 Park Lane, New Milford, CT 06776.
Ruth Bjorken, 86, grandmother of New Milfordite
Ruth (Eliason) Bjorken, 86, of Sandy Hook died April 7 at her home. She was the widow of Elov Bjorken.
Mrs. Bjorken was born Sept. 11, 1916, in Bridgeport, to the late Carl and Ida Eliason.
She was a member of the Swedish dance team. She lived in Morris for 25 years before moving to the home of her daughter and son-in-law seven years ago.
Mrs. Bjorken was a waitress until the age of 70. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Scandinavian Club, the Swedish Welfare and the Newtown Senior Center.
She is survived by a daughter, Eileen Holleran and her husband Howard; four grandchildren and their spouses, Bonnie and Michael Skane of Woodbury, Heather and Gus Sfaelos of New Milford, Todd and Jennifer Holleran of Ovid, N.Y., and Tricia and Derek Bobowick of Sandy Hook; three great-grandchildren, Kevin and Danielle Skane and Derek Bobowick Jr.; two sisters, Edna Haffling of Stratford, and Mae Johnson and her husband Roland of Bridgeport; and several nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by a son, Bruce, and a sister, Dorothy Grant.
A memorial service will be held April 26 at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 466 Elm St., Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 466 Elm St., Monroe, CT 06468.
Shirley Birch, 75, lifelong New Milford resident
Shirley May Birch, 75, of New Milford died April 7 at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Ms. Birch was born Oct. 3, 1927, in New Milford, daughter of the late John and Mabel (Storm) Birch.
She lived in New Milford most of her life and attended New Milford schools. She had been a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness in New Milford since 1958.
Ms. Birch is survived by two brothers, Harold and Ralph of New Milford, and two sisters, Linda of Florida and Charlotte of Torrington.
A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3:15 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness, 22 Old Park Lane, New Milford. A graveside service will be held today (Friday) at noon at Center Cemetery in New Milford.
The Colonial Funeral of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness, 22 Old Park Lane, New Milford, CT 06776.
Harry Scalzo, 66, brother of New Milford woman
Harry W. Scalzo, 66, of Danbury died April 4 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Sandra J. (Woodworth) Scalzo.
Mr. Scalzo was born Dec. 13, 1936, in Danbury, son of the late John and Teresa (Falvo) Scalzo.
He was a graduate of Danbury High School, Class of 1954. He received an associate’s degree in education from the former Danbury State Teachers College, a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Connecticut State College, and a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut.
He began his teaching career in Stamford. He retired in 1995 from the Meadow Pond Elementary School as a remedial reading specialist after 37 years as an educator. After his retirement, he was active in his son’s business, Counterworks.
Mr. Scalzo was active in Danbury Democratic politics for over 40 years. He was first ward councilman for 11 years, was a member of the Democratic Town Committee, served as assistant registrar of voters, was a past member of the Elks, was an usher at St. Joseph Church, was an avid golfer, and was a member of the Senior League at Richter Park Golf Course.
Besides his wife, Mr. Scalzo is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Krafick and her husband David of Danbury; a son, David and his fiancée Sharon Kornhaas of Danbury; three grandchildren, Kori, Kendall and Kyle; three brothers, Mario of Mississippi, and Richard and Robert of Danbury; four sisters, Yolanda Milton of Maine, Mary McGrath of Florida, Gloria Rogalski of New Milford and Louise Belanger of Canada; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Priscilla Woodworth of Danbury; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, John.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Hanahoe Memorial Children’s Clinic, 205 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.
