United States High School Yearbooks by County
Patricia Ann Nord, 80, was a resident of Kent
Patricia Ann Nord, 80, of 80 North Main St., Kent, died May 16. She was the widow of Dr. Charles Lowell Nord and Wesley Nord.
Mrs. Nord was born Nov. 21, 1922, in Hasen, Iowa, daughter of Percy and Hannah Potter. She attended public schools in Des Moines, Iowa.
Family members say she was bestowed with perfect pitch and could play almost anything on the piano — classical etudes, show tunes, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter. At Christmas, she led her family in fairly raucous versions of “Silent Night” and “Here We Come a Wassailing.”
Mrs. Nord attended Lindenwood College and graduated while World War II was in full progress, marrying a young physician in training, Charles Lowell Nord.
She spent the war years working as a journalist in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Mich., then became a full-time mother when their first child was born.
Dr. Nord’s work took the family in the 1950s to Kentucky.
Mrs. Nord was a lifelong learner, and attended classes in music history and received a master’s degree in library science.
After her husband’s death she married his brother, Wesley Nord, and moved to the foothills of the Berkshires.
Mrs. Nord volunteered at the thrift shop at the First Congregational Church in Kent; and served as an officer on the board of the condominiums where she lived, driving people less able to doctor and dentist appointments.
She enjoyed living with her daughter, Peggy, and their two dogs.
Mrs. Nord is survived by three daughters, Kristin Nord Phelps of New Fairfield, Peggy of Kent and Julie of Jackson Heights, N.Y.; a son, Eric of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.; a stepson, Randell of Savannah, Ga.; and six grandchildren, Christopher, Lisa, Wesley, Matthew, Kelsey and Liam.
Burial in the family plot will take place today (Friday) in Chautauqua, N.Y. The Kenny Funeral Home of Sharon is in charge of arrangements
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Patricia Ann Nord Fund of The First Congregational Church of Kent, Kent, CT 06757.
Elizabeth Whippie, 79, mother of New Milfordites
Elizabeth T. “Betty” Whippie, 79, of Richmond Street, Winchester, N.H., died May 17 at her home. She was the wife of Theodore G. Whippie.
Mrs. Whippie was born March 2, 1924, in Groton, N.Y., the daughter of Lewis and Eloise (Wendemuth) Townley.
She attended schools in Ithaca, N.Y., and then attended The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, N.Y.
Mrs. Whippie was a former resident of Newtown and had made her home in Winchester for the past seven years.
For eight years, she and her husband traveled the North American continent extensively.
Mrs. Whippie taught music in the Winchester-Ashuelot school system and had taught instrumental music in the Newtown school system for 17 years.
She played flute in the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Raleigh Symphony, the Columbia, S.C., Symphony, and the Danbury Symphony. She directed English handbell choirs in South Carolina and Newtown.
Mrs. Whippie was a member of the Winchester Women’s Club, the Winchester Historical Society, and the United Church of Winchester Ladies Society. She also volunteered in the reading program at the Winchester Elementary School.
Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Joan Freeman and her husband Alan of New Milford; four sons, Randolph and his wife Natalie of Corvallis, Mont., Lawrence and his wife Linda of Newtown, John of Meriden, and David and his wife Connie of New Milford; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The O’Connor-Carr Funeral Home of Winchester was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the TEW Trust Scholarship Fund, Winchester School District, Thayer High School, Parker Street, Winchester, NH 03470; or to the Winchester Historical Society, P.O. Box 64, Winchester, NH 03470.
Mary Ring, 95, mother of Bridgewater woman
Mary K. (Keena) Ring, 95, of Marlborough, formerly of New Britain, died May 16 at Middlesex Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of William J. Ring Sr.
Mrs. Ring was born in Hartford, the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (White) Keena.
She lived most of her life in New Britain, moving to Marlborough five years ago. She was the first secretary of the former St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain.
She was a charter member of St. Maurice Church and was active with their Women’s Guild and the Catholic Council of Women.
Mrs. Ring is survived by three sons, William Jr. and his wife Priscilla of Beverly, Mass., Jerome and his wife Mary of Woodbridge, Va., and James of Glastonbury; two daughters, Marjorie and her husband Bill Leuschner of Southport, N.C., and Rosemary and her husband Elliott Woolwich of Bridgewater; a sister-in-law, Vivian Keena of West Hartford; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Robert.
Funeral services will be held today (Friday) at 9 a.m. from the Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Square, New Britain, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Maurice Church, Wightman Road, New Britain.
Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery in New Britain.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made the Recreation Department of the Marlborough Health Care Center, 85 Stage Harbor Road, Marlborough, CT 06447, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Catherine Ryan, 58, had worked at nursing home
Catherine M. Ryan, 58, of Mist Hill Drive, Brookfield, died May 19 at her home. She was the wife of William S. Ryan.
Mrs. Ryan was born April 28, 1945, in Port Chester, N.Y., daughter of Anthony G. and Mary (Cizmarik) Novakowski of Southbury.
She was a graduate of Greenwich High School, Class of 1963, and Yale New Haven School of Nursing, Class of 1966. She was employed by United Hospital in Port Chester until 1971, when she became supervisor at New Milford Nursing Home.
In 1981, she took a position with Interweave Adult Day Care Center in Danbury, where she was employed up until her illness.
Mrs. Ryan did volunteer work for St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church. She was a 25-year member of the Quota Club International of Candlewood Valley and a member of the St. Marguerite church parish nurses.
Besides her husband and parents, she is survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today (Friday) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in St. John Cemetery, Norwalk.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Western Connecticut Chapter, 1 Selleck St., Norwalk, CT 06855; or to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06050; or to Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys Church, 138 Candlewood Lake Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.
Raymond Cummings, 84, veteran, longtime resident and volunteer
Raymond DeWitt Cummings, 84, of 57 Butter Brook Hill Apartments, New Milford, died May 19 at New Milford Hospital after a long and courageous battle. He was surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Margaret Beatty Cummings.
Mr. Cummings was born April 8, 1919, in Weston, son of the late Edgar and Anna Garrison Cummings.
Shortly after birth, he moved to Roxbury, where he was raised and attended school. During his days in Roxbury, he was active in Boy Scouts, baseball and theater groups.
Mr. Cummings received the Presidential Citation for lifesaving for the rescue of the Ognan twins from the Shepaug Dam.
After serving his country with the 43rd Infantry Division during World War II, he married and moved to New Milford in 1948. He was proud of the tank on the New Milford Village Green, which he drove to its present location in 1949.
Mr. Cummings owned and operated the Sun Ray Sunoco station on Route 7 for many years until becoming employed at the Montgomery Ward Corporation in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Following an early retirement from Montgomery Ward, he became the first superintendent of Butter Brook Hill Apartments in New Milford in 1973. He remained in that position for 10 years until he was seriously injured.
After a long recovery and remarkable rehabilitation, he became a longtime volunteer at New Milford Hospital, amassing over 7,000 hours of volunteer time.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 1672 in New Milford and had interest in photography and wildlife.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, Mr. Cummings is survived by two daughters, Debra Cummings-Waldorf and Wendy Wassong of New Milford; 13 grandchildren, Dana Plaxo and Brooke Spain, both of California, Jaimie Harel of Arizona, Guy White, Desaree Sikora, Dawn Hungerford, Heidie Hungerford, Renee Hungerford, Katina Fagnand, Sondae Fedeli, Angela Waldorf, Aimee Wassong and Joshua Wassong, all of Connecticut; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his stepchildren, Harold Bennett and Linda Bennett, and a step-randson, James Bennett.
Funeral services will be held today (Friday) at 11 a.m. at Christ Church in Roxbury. Burial will follow at Morningside Cemetery in Gaylordsville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Butter Brook Hill Apartments’ Program Account, P.O. Box 763, New Milford, CT 06776, or to New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford is in charge of the arrangements.
William A. Loftus, 62, had worked at Wetmore’s
William Albert Loftus, 62, of Island Green, S.C., died May 14 at his home. He was the husband of Judith (Duce) Loftus.
Mr. Loftus was born July 23, 1940, in Norwalk, the son of the late William and Mable (Henry) Loftus.
He was a United States Navy veteran and a member of the Myrtle Beach Elks Lodge and the American Legion.
He was the service manager for Wetmore’s Jeep in New Milford.
After moving to Myrtle Beach, S.C., he worked for The Reserve Golf Club as equipment manager.
Besides his wife, Mr. Loftus is survived by two sons, Robert of Torrington and Martin and his wife Jossie of Myrtle Beach; a daughter, Lisa Startari of Pittsburgh, Pa.; two sisters, Mable Burke of Wilton and Judy Towers of Derby; and four grandchildren, Jaime, Jessica, Allison and Justin.
Grand Strand Funeral Home and Crematory of Myrtle Beach was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Mercy Hospice of Horry County, P.O. Box 50640, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.
Marion Blake, 81, was mother of Sherman woman
Marion Blake, 81, of Wilton died May 15 at Norwalk Hospital. She was the wife of Kenneth W. Blake.
Mrs. Blake was born Oct. 18, 1921, in Tennent, N.J., daughter of the late Joseph and Vinola (McElwaine) Snyder.
She was raised in Freehold, N.J., and graduated from high school there. Prior to her retirement, she had been an executive secretary with the former Norwalk Savings Society, now Fleet Bank.
She was active with the Wilton Women’s Club and the Newcomer’s Club. She was also a member of the Wilton Congregational Church.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Blake is survived by twin daughters, Jayne Flynn of Sherman and Jeanne Fivaz of Lawrenceville, Ga.; a son, John of Wilton; and two grandchildren, Jennifer and Brian Flynn.
The Bouton Funeral Home of Georgetown was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Wilton Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 70 Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
Peter A. Loya, 33, was brother of Roxbury man
Peter A. “Hammy” Loya, 33, of Danbury died May 17. He was the husband of Kris (Klose) Loya.
Mr. Loya was born Feb. 9, 1970, in Danbury, son of Andrew J. Loya Sr. of Bethel, and the late Theresa “Terry” (Schulze) Loya.
He graduated from Bethel High School in 1989 and owned and operated P.A. Loya Hardwood Floors for the past 10 years. He was an accomplished, self-taught musician and played with various bands as a drummer.
Mr. Loya had been a volunteer fireman for several area departments.
He enjoyed playing softball and bocce in local leagues. He was an avid New England Patriots fan, enjoyed vacationing in Vermont and fishing with his father, and loved music and old comedies.
Besides his wife and his father, Mr. Loya is survived by three brothers, Rick and his wife Sandy of Morrisville, Vt., Charles and his wife Barbara of Torrington, and Drew and his wife Deb of Roxbury; two sisters, Louise Mayne of Bethel and Kathy Darrah and her husband Ken of Bethel; his mother-in-law, Fran Mason of New Milford; his father-in-law Ted Klose of Southbury; his brother-in-law, Ted Klose Jr. of Montgomery, Ala.; and 10 nieces and nephews.
The Bethel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to a volunteer fire department of one’s choice.
