United States High School Yearbooks by County
Art Smith, former longtime South Kent School teacher
Arthur R. Smith, who was a teacher for 24 years at South Kent School, died Oct. 15 at his home on Cape Cod.
He was remembered Oct. 6 at a memorial service at Saint Michael's Chapel.
Mr. Smith began at SKS in September 1954, when he was hired to teach math. However, he was best known by his students as an English and history teacher.
He specialized in an Oriental history course, for which he wrote his own text. He was instrumental in encouraging Asian students to attend South Kent. The first Japanese student at South Kent, Sukehiro "Skitch" Hasegawa (Class of 1962), who is now a United Nations diplomat and father of Stefan Hasegawa (Class of 2000), came back to campus to remember his teacher.
"After you graduate from South Kent and you spend 20, 30 and 40 years away, you realize that Art (Smith) showed the love of mankind and respect toward each other. That is something I carry with me," Mr. Hasegawa said.
Mr. Hasegawa said the principles of South Kent School - Simplicity of Life, Self-Reliance and Directness of Purpose - are still guiding principles in his life today and that Mr. Smith and others helped him learn the importance of these beliefs.
One of Mr. Smith's close faculty friends, Noble Richards, a former headmaster and longtime math teacher, remembered Mr. Smith with a funny story about one of his first math classes. Although Mr. Smith was hired as a math teacher, this was not his specialty.
"Any teacher finds the beginning years difficult ones. Art found teaching math a challenge," Mr. Richards remembered.
Mr. Smith moved to the humanities with joy and relief, Mr. Richards said. His most notable contribution to the humanities, was the introduction of a history course on China, India and Japan.
"Every student who took Asian History from Art Smith will always remember the experience," Mr. Richards said.
Mr. Smith's son, Lawrence (Class of 1973), gave the eulogy during the service. He remembered his father as a man revered on the South Kent campus.
"Dad taught us in death the same way he taught us in life -with grace, dignity and love," Lawrence Smith said. "He enjoyed his life and shared his joy with others."
Allen Couch, 74, former arearesident, decorated veteran
Allen N. Couch, 74, died Nov. 13 at Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles, Wash. He was the husband of the late Barbara (Ruot) Couch and had lived in the area most of his life.
Mr. Couch was born June 7, 1925, in New Milford, the son of the late Norman and Gertrude (Allen) Couch. He grew up in New Preston, where he lived until 1984.
He was a graduate of Romford School in Washington and a graduate of The Gunnery in Washington, Class of 1943. He was an outstanding athlete and played three varsity sports at The Gunnery. A standout pitcher, he was scouted by major league teams but decided to go into the service during World War II.
Mr. Couch joined the Army Aug. 24, 1943, and served until Jan. 7, 1946. He spent 22 months in Europe as a member of the infantry, holding the rank of corporal. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star for "exemplary conduct in ground combat." He also was awarded a Purple Heart, a Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Service Wreath.
After being honorably discharged from the service, Mr. Couch joined the family-owned business of Norman W. Couch, Inc., an automobile dealership in New Preston. He worked for the firm and was a part-owner for many years.
Mr. Couch and his wife moved to Morris in 1984, and he became a familiar face for many years as an employee of True Value Hardware in Litchfield. Mrs. Couch died in January 1995, and in 1997 Mr. Couch moved to the West Coast. In 1998, he moved to Sequim, Wash., to be near his son, Robert D. Couch, and his daughter-in-law, Sidney.
Mr. Couch was a member of the Washington American Legion Post No. 87. He served as president of the post at the same time his wife, Barbara, was president of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary.
He raced autos at the Lime Rock Park racetrack. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping and the outdoors.
Mr. Couch is survived by his son, Robert D. Couch, and his wife, Sidney, of Sequim; his daughter, Susan M. Cummings of New Milford; his grandson, William Couch of Houghton, N.Y.; and his brother, Norman Couch of Simsbury.
Calling hours will be held tomorrow (Saturday) from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Rowe Funeral Home at 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. The funeral service will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m., following the calling hours, also at the Rowe Funeral Home, with the Rev. Michael Moran officiating. Burial will follow in the East Morris Cemetery.
Contributions in memory of Mr. Couch may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810, or to the New Milford Hospital Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Paul V. Chudy, 84, was uncle of Roxbury man
Paul V. Chudy, 84, of 23 Valerie Lane, Danbury, died Nov. 11 at the Hancock Hall Nursing Home in Danbury.
Mr. Chudy was born in Danbury Oct. 18, 1915, son of the late Paul and Pauline (Zilka) Chudy. He was a lifelong Danbury resident and a graduate of St. Peter School and Henry Abbott Technical School.
Mr. Chudy served with the United States Navy during World War II with a ship repair company at the Puget Sound Naval Yard.
He was a retired tool maker and had worked for many years for Consolidated Controls of Danbury and the Eaton Corporation. He retired in 1984.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion and the Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Mr. Chudy is survived by a sister, Catherine A. Chudy of Danbury; a brother, E. Henry Chudy of Danbury; three nephews, Peter Chudy of Danbury, Michael Zack of Roxbury and Leon Marasco of Plainfield, Vt.
Contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church/Project 2000, 12 Cottage St., Danbury, CT 06810; or Hancock Hall/Recreation Fund, 31 Staples St., Danbury, CT 06810; or to a charity of one's choice.
Carrie Friedrich, 92, mother of local woman
Carrie (Schlacht) Friedrich, 92, of Walker Street, Lenox, Mass., died Nov. 9 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass. She was the widow of Carl H. Friedrich.
Mrs. Friedrich was born Feb. 15, 1907, in Berlin, Germany, daughter of the late Herman and Helen (Rex) Schlacht. She came to this country in 1910. She was a resident of Queens, N.Y., and Nassau County, N.Y., for many years.
Mrs. Friedrich is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Coons of Sarasota, Fla., and Betty F. Sutter of New Preston; 17 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Carl R. Friedrich.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth L. Vogel, 87, was a Warren resident
Ruth (Lockward) Vogel, 87, of 12 Strawberry Lane, Warren, died Nov. 28 at Candlewood Valley Health Center in New Milford. She was the wife of William H. Vogel Jr.
Mrs. Vogel was born April 15, 1912, in Caldwell, N.J., daughter of the late Lynn G. and Helen (Smith) Lockward. She was a 1934 graduate of Aurora University in Aurora, Ill.
She was a resident of Hartsdale, N.Y., before moving to Warren in 1972. She was a member of Warren Congregational Church and the church's Ladies Aide and Warren Prime Timers.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Vogel is survived by a brother, Howard J. Lockward of Bolton.
The funeral will be held today (Friday) at 11 a.m. at the Warren Congregational Church, Sackett Hill Road. Burial will take place in the New Warren Cemetery.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Warren Congregational Church, Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754.
Alice Marsan, 90, mother of New Milford man
Alice Gates Marsan, 90, formerly of Ward Street, Norwalk, died Nov. 27 at The Kent, specialty care facility, in Kent. She was the wife of the late Gerard Marsan.
She was born in Norwalk Sept. 7, 1909, a daughter of the late Fernando and Lottie (Baumiller) Gates. Mrs. Marsan was a Norwalk resident for most of her life.
She is survived by three sons, Thomas R. Marsan of New Milford, Benjamin D. Marsan of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Edward J. Marsan of Bridgeport; a daughter, Lorraine M. Clark of Bethel; a sister, Nellie Kalnasky of Norwalk; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Charles A. Harvey, 66, had worked at K-C
Charles "Allen" Harvey, 66, of 27 Sega Drive, New Milford, died Nov. 25 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Barbara Ann (Nichols) Harvey.
He was born in Yonkers, N.Y., July 10, 1933. Mr. Harvey was last employed as a security guard at the Kimberly-Clark Corp. in New Milford. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War.
Mr. Harvey had lived in Danbury from 1967 to 1978 before moving to New Milford.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Scott A. Harvey of Danbury; a daughter, Kimberly Ann Lindberg of Clearwater, Fla.; a brother, Edward J. Harvey of Daytona Beach, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Ethel R. Gonnoud, 76, longtime New Milfordite
Ethel R. Gonnoud, 76, of 69 Butter Brook Hill Apartments, New Milford, died Nov. 22 at New Milford Hospital. She was the widow of Arthur Gonnoud.
Mrs. Gonnoud was born March 1, 1923, in Pittsfield, Mass., daughter of the late Raymond and Jane F. (Snow) Tanner. She was a longtime New Milford resident and worked at Burndy Manufacturing for many years.
Mrs. Gonnoud is survived by a son, James Gonnoud of New Milford; a daughter, Mary Brant of New York; a sister, Kathryn Kip of Schenectady, N.Y.; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced at Butter Brook Hill Apartment's Community Hall. The Hull Funeral Service in Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Juvenile Diabetes, 16 Forest St., Canaan, CT 06840.
Anne R. Delaney, 85, sister of Roxbury woman
Anne (Rant) Delaney, 85, of Watertown Road, Morris, died Nov. 25 at Valerie Manor in Torrington. She was the widow of Frank B. Delaney.
Mrs. Delaney was born July 2, 1914, in Bronx, N.Y., daughter of the late Stephen F. and Anastasia (Pasternak) Rant.
She was a 1934 graduate of Booth Free School in Roxbury and graduated as a registered nurse from Waterbury Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. Mrs. Delaney worked at Waterbury Hospital for many years and later worked as a nurse at Southbury Training School for 17 years.
She is survived by a son, Francis S. Delaney of Winsted; a daughter, Mary Ann Lowen of Amherst, Mass.; two brothers, Francis Rant of Dothan, Ala., and Walter Rant of Southbury; two sisters, Mary Weaver of Roxbury and Frances Peck of South Britain; and a granddaughter.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield was in charge of arrangements. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Northern Connecticut Chapter, 443 Franklin Ave., Hartford, CT 06114-2517.
Edmond Terenzi, 74, father of New Milford woman
Edmond C. Terenzi, 74, of 19 Judson Ave., Woodbury, died Nov. 24 at his home. He was the husband of Connie (Polletta) Terenzi.
Mr. Terenzi was born Dec. 8, 1924, in Waterbury, son of August and Gelsomina (Luciano) Terenzi.
He grew up and attended school in Queens, N.Y. He was a Middlebury resident for 37 years, moving to Bonita Springs, Fla., in 1987, and later settling in Woodbury in 1997.
He was a dry wall contractor and owned TNT Dry Wall of Middlebury. He later worked at Davis Acoustical of East Hartford, retiring in 1986. He was a communicant of St. Teresa's Church in Woodbury.
Besides his wife, Mr. Terenzi is survived by three sons, Edmond J. Terenzi of Waterbury, Robert J. Terenzi of Middlebury and John W. Terenzi of Guilford; a daughter, Diane G. Hume of New Milford; a sister, Edvige Pantaleo of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and seven grandchildren.
His funeral will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 10:30 a.m. from Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway to St. John of the Cross Church, Middlebury, for Mass at 11:30. Burial will be in Middlebury Cemetery. Friends may call today (Friday) from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Anna Duda, 92, longtime New Milford resident
Anna Pliska Thomas Duda, 92, formerly of East Street, New Milford, wife of the late John A. Duda, died Nov. 25 at Candlewood Valley Health Care Center in New Milford.
She was born in Holyoke, Mass., April 22, 1907, a daughter of the late George and Anna (Mikloka) Pliska. She spent her early life in Danbury before moving to New Milford in 1929.
Mrs. Duda worked for many years at the Southbury Training School, retiring as a supervisor in 1962.
She was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church of New Milford and was a longtime member of the New Milford Senior Center.
Mrs. Duda is survived by a son, Donald Thomas of Waterbury; two daughters, Betty Ann Guman of Brookfield and Patricia T. Gerstenmaier of Las Vegas, Nev.; a brother, Andrew Pliska of Torrance, Calif.; a sister, Dorothy Shier of Danbury; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the New Milford Senior Center, Richmond Citizen Center, 40 Main St., New Milford, CT 06776.
