United States High School Yearbooks by County
John Gebhardt Jr., 93, had been selectman, town clerk, volunteer
John Richard Gebhardt Jr., 93, of New Hartford, formerly of Gaylordsville, died March 12, 2006, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. He was the husband of Betty (Williamson) Gebhardt.
Mr. Gebhardt was born June 27, 1912, in Middle Village, N.Y., son of the late John Richard Sr. and Margaret (Hess) Gebhardt.
He graduated from Jamaica High School in Jamaica, N.Y., Class of 1932, and was foreman at Warren McArthur Corporation in Bantam.
He lived most of his adult life in Gaylordsville, where he was one of the founding members of Gaylordsville Volunteer Fire Department and past president of the Gaylordsville Cemetery Association.
Mr. Gebhardt served as town clerk in New Milford from 1969 to 1975; was on the Board of Selectmen from 1961 to 1969; and was a 30-year member of the Republican Town Committee.
He was also a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Cornwall; St. Peter’s Lodge No. 21, AF & AM; Ousatonic Chapter No. 33, Royal Arch Masons of New Milford; Pyramid Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. of Milford; Scottish Rite Consistory of Valley, Bridgeport; Lodge Council Chapter, Valley of Waterbury; Past Patron of Armee Chapter No. 99 Order of Eastern Star, New Milford; and life member of Stellar Chapter No. 55 OES, Danbury.
Besides his wife, Mr. Gebhardt is survived by a daughter, Karen and her husband Bruce Brett of Barkhamsted; two grandsons, Joshua and Matthew of Barkhamsted; a brother, William and his wife Nancy of Belchertown, Mass.; and two nephews. He was predeceased by a grandson, Michael Brett.
A memorial service will be held April 1 at 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Cornwall. Burial will be private.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 38, Cornwall, CT 06753; or to St. Peter’s Lodge No. 21, AF & AM, P.O. Box 461, New Milford, CT 06776; or to the charity of one’s choice.
William Chiappetta, 91, New Milford man’s father
William Joseph Chiappetta, 91, a lifelong resident of Cos Cob, died March 15, 2006, at Greenwich Hospital. He was the widower of Angelina Gloria (Strazza) Chiappetta.
Mr. Chiappetta was the son of the late Dominick and Clementine (Cosentino) Chiappetta, both born in Rose, Italy.
He graduated from Greenwich High School in 1933 as the captain of the golf team and was well-known on the local courses for many years. When he graduated high school he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps stationed in Cornwall. He was self-employed as a landscaper/tree surgeon before being employed at the Hoffman Fuel Company for 30 years.
During retirement years Mr. Chiappetta was actively involved in saving Civil War battlefields and American historical site preservation, and he had visited many Eastern battlefields.
He was a former president of the St. Lawrence Society in Mianus, who is the patron saint of Rose, Italy. The highlight of his late years was a recent family trip to Italy to celebrate his 90th birthday. He was able to visit for the first time the town of Rose, Italy, from where his parents emigrated around the turn of the century.
Mr. Chiappetta is survived by a daughter, Janet Papst of Ridgefield; a son, William II of New Milford; a grandson, David Papst, who is presently attending college in Indiana; two brothers, Dominick of Cos Cob and Lawrence of Belcherville, Mass.; a sister, Carmelina Curcio of Cos Cob; and 21 nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by three grandsons, Theodore and Thomas Mackewitz and Michael Jenkins II; three brothers, Patrick, Sylvie and Frank; and three sisters, Mary Smeriglio, Rose Previte and Margaret.
The Castiglione Funeral Home of Greenwich was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael T. Jenkins II “96” MVP Scholarship Fund at Mitchell College, 437 Pequot Ave., New London, CT 06320.
Robert R. Calvert, 76, father of two local women
Robert Richard Calvert, 76, of Pound Ridge, N.Y., died March 14, 2006. He was the husband of Evelyn (Martyn) Calvert.
Mr. Calvert was born April 9, 1929, in the Bronx, N.Y., son of William W. and Mina (Waibel) Calvert.
He was employed by the New York Telephone Co. in White Plains, N.Y. and retired after 35 years of service. He was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America; a charter member of the Yorktown Lions Club; a commissioner with the Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 1, Pound Ridge; a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bedford, N.Y.; and a member of the Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
He enjoyed his family and traveling.
Besides his wife, Mr. Calvert is survived by two sons, Robert and his wife Emily of Sarasota, Fla., and Brian and his wife Robin of Southbury; five daughters, Virginia of New Milford, Susan and her husband David Durkin of East Greenbush, N.Y., Mary and her husband John Semenetz of Bridgewater, Lois and her husband Scott Semenetz of Mahopac, N.Y., and Claudia and her husband Carl Stark of Mahopac; 20 grandchildren, including Michelle, Bobby, Brian and Evan Reda of New Milford, John Semenetz III of Danbury, Megan, Amy and Jeff Semenetz of Bridgewater, and Drew, Adam and Max of Southbury; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three sisters and two brothers.
A private burial will take place in the spring in Roxbury.
The Clark Funeral Home of Katonah, N.Y. is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pound Ridge Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 237, Pound Ridge, NY 10576.
Guy G. Renzi, 49, was brother of Kent resident
Guy Gerard Renzi, 49, of Belhaven, N.C., died March 12, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Renzi was born Oct. 21, 1956, in New York, N.Y., son of Margaret (Donnelly) Renzi and the late Salvatore S. Renzi.
Prior to moving to North Carolina, he lived in Danbury and New Fairfield for most of his life.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, swimming and camping.
In North Carolina, Mr. Renzi would spend time at the area convalescent homes entertaining folks with his dog and playing Santa Claus during Christmas. He loved all types of music.
Besides his mother of Bethel, Mr. Renzi is survived by a brother, Henry and his wife Annie of Danbury; three sisters, Donna Sario of Kent, Judy Staib and her husband Edward of Bethel, and Dawn of Tampa, Fla.; his companion, Cherylee Hack and her son Matthew of Belhaven; several cousins; and nieces and nephews Dayna, Nicky, Katelyn and Dominick.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Edward S. Stasny, 81, New Milford woman’s father
Edward Stephen Stasny, 81, of Danbury died March 16, 2006, at his home. He was the husband of Jean (Gorski) Stasny.
Mr. Stasny was born June 3, 1924, in Danbury, son of the late John and Anna (Balash) Stasny.
He graduated from Danbury High School and served in the U.S. Army. He was employed as a machinist and sheet metal technician at Sikorsky Aircraft, Doman Helicopters and National Can before retiring in 1970 with a permanent disability resulting from a truck accident. He was an avid landscaper, gardener and cook.
Mr. Stasny is survived by a daughter, Sheryl Waldron and her husband Pat of New Milford; two grandchildren, Daryle and Brett of New Milford; a sister, Ann Williams of Tallahassee, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, John and Paul.
Cremation and burial will be private at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. The Green Funeral Home of Danbury handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 405 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Elizabeth Matson, 76, former Kent employee
Elizabeth (Campbell) Matson, 76, of Newport, N.H., and Palm Bay, Fla., formerly of Kent, died March 15, 2006, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Palm Bay. She was the wife of Samuel H. Matson.
Mrs. Matson was born May 15, 1929, in Caribou, Maine, daughter of the late John W.R. and Elizabeth (McGlinn) Campbell.
She attended Holy Rosary School, graduated from Caribou High School and attended Husson College in Bangor, Maine. She worked for Maine Potato Growers in Presque Isle, Maine, Watertown Manufacturing in Watertown, attorney Francis Cady in Kent, as assessor’s clerk for the town of Kent and as a Republican registrar of voters. She also worked with the Kent town clerk, probate court and tax collector and the Kimberly-Clark credit union in New Milford.
She volunteered with the Ladies of Sacred Heart and Kent Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance, the New Milford Hospital gift shop, and as secretary of the AARP Palm Bay Chapter. She was affiliated with Catholic churches in Maine, Litchfield County and Florida.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Matson is survived by two sons, Kenneth and his wife Vicki of Bantam, and Donald of Kent; a daughter, Marjorie Finch of Litchfield; a brother, Robert Campbell of Maine; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kent Fire Department, P.O. Box 355, Kent, CT 06757.
Edna Daigneault, 91, was longtime local resident
Edna R. (Krasselt) Daigneault, 91, of Newtown died March 16, 2006, at Ashlar of Newtown. She was the widow of Homer Daigneault and Henry T. Gibson Sr.
Mrs. Daigneault was born Dec. 13, 1914, in Hoboken, N.J., daughter of the late Paul and Emma Krasselt.
She lived briefly in New Haven before moving to Warren, where her family bought a farm. In 1925, they relocated to New Preston, where her father opened a bakery. The store became well-known as “Krasselt’s” grocery store and served the community for more than 40 years.
Mrs. Daigneault attended Washington High School, where she graduated valedictorian of her class in 1932. She married Homer Daigneault in 1934 and stayed home to raise their six children. She later worked as a library aide in the local schools. Following the death of her husband in 1977, she married Henry T. Gibson Sr. The two moved to Ashlar in 1998.
She was a deacon of the New Preston Congregational Church and a member of the church choir. She enjoyed baking, bake sales and gardening.
Mrs. Daigneault is survived by five children, Ronnie, Denny, Audrey, Paula and Larry; a brother, Clarence; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held April 22 at 2 p.m. at the New Preston Congregational Church.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ashlar of Newtown, 39 Toddy Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 96 Oak St., Hartford, CT 06106.
Gertrude King, 92, was mother of Sherman man
Gertrude V. (Coffey) King, 92, of Danbury Commons died March 14, 2006, at Danbury Hospital. She was the widow of William L. King Sr.
Mrs. King was born Feb. 24, 1914, in Waterbury, daughter of the late Jeremiah and Viva (Reynolds) Coffey. She was a graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School in West Hartford.
Mrs. King worked a salesperson for Evelyn’s Curtain Shop in Danbury and later in food service for Western Connecticut State University. She was an active parishioner of St. Peter Church in Danbury. She volunteered at the Danbury Hospital and was a member of AARP.
As a lifetime member of the Danbury community, she was an avid Danbury historian, especially the Mill Plain section. She was honored with an award from the Danbury Scott Fanton Museum and Historical Society for her 23 years of volunteer service. She was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother who was happiest with her family.
Mrs. King is survived by three sons, William Jr. of Sherman, John of New York, N.Y., and Robert of Savannah, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Robin Garavel, Holly Lamarte, Mary Kay Cole, Bradley, William III, Perry, Maxwell and Victoria; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, James Coffey.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Danbury Museum and Historical Society, 43 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810, or to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 405 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Dorothy M. Peschel, 76, was mother of Kent man
Dorothy May Peschel, 76, of Main Street, Kent, died March 14, 2006, at The Kent.
Mrs. Peschel was born Aug. 1, 1929, in Flushing, N.Y., daughter of the late Hans and Camilla (Schutz-Sterling) Schwendimann.
She earned a degree in home economics from Howard University and a master’s degree in education from Yeshiva University in New York.
She taught special education at JFK Elementary in Brewster, N.Y., for several years before moving to West Hampton, N.Y., where she owned her own tennis shop, Kimberly’s, for many years. She returned to Brewster and moved to Kent five years ago.
Mrs. Peschel is survived by two sons, Stephen of Kent and Michael of Boston Corners, N.Y.; a daughter, Heidi of Solvang, Calif.; a brother, Fred Schwendimann of Allentown, Pa.; six grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held April 7 at St. Andrews Church in Kent. The Kenny Funeral Home of Sharon is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Little Guild of St. Francis, 285 Sharon-Goshen Tnpk., West Cornwall, CT 06796, or to Kent Kats, P.O. Box 916, Kent, CT 06757.
John Gardner, 43, New Milford women’s brother
John A. Gardner, 43, of Queen Street, Southington, died March 20, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Gardner was born Aug. 17, 1962, in Bridgeport, the son of Raymond Gardner of Bristol and the late Lois E. (Wildman) Gardner.
He was employed by Haynes Construction Material in Seymour. He was a member of the New Life Christian Church in Waterbury.
Besides his father, Mr. Gardner is survived by a son, Raymond of Southington; four sisters, Jo-Ann Smith of Southington, Susan Kitchen of Germany and Sandra Lewis and Tammy-Jo Benning of New Milford; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
The DellaVecchia Funeral Home of Southington was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Raymond Gardner Education Fund, c/o TD BankNorth, P.O. Box 174, New Britain, CT 06050-0174.
