United States High School Yearbooks by County
Peter S. Harris, 65, was graduate of Kent School
Peter Schenck Harris, 65, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Jan. 17 at his home. He was the husband of Betty Harris.
Mr. Harris was born in Winsted and grew up there and in Norfolk.
He was a graduate of Kent School and Hamilton College. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He worked for IBM before he retired.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Laurence V.D. Harris Jr. of Longwood, Fla., and Richard B. Harris of Watertown.
Funeral services were held in Albuquerque, N.M.
Evelyn Bennitt, 80, mother of New Milford women
Evelyn E. Bennitt, 80, of 185 Hanover Road, Newtown, died Jan. 14 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of the late Joseph L. Bennitt.
Mrs. Bennitt was born May 26, 1919, in New York City, a daughter of the late Paul and Julia (Elko) Grubbe.
She was a graduate of Good Council College in White Plains, N.Y., and had worked as a fashion model prior to her marriage.
A resident of Newtown for 53 years, she assisted her late husband as a draftsman in his surveying business. She was a communicant of St. Rose Church, Newtown.
Mrs. Bennitt is survived by her son and best friend, Paul Bennitt of Newtown; four daughters, Donna Hofmann of Southbury, Mary Schenzer and Ellen Bennitt, both of New Milford, and Diane Weiner-Lacoursiere of Waterbury; two sisters, Pearl (Dolly) Garrow and Lillian Connor, both of Rutland, Vt.; six grandchildren, Jacquelyn Hofmann, Christine Gayot, Darryl Schenzer, Wayne Hofman, Ellen Fields and Amy Weiner; nine great-grandchildren, Tracy Paist, Naomi Fields, Raymond Gayot, Dylan, Brandon, Kelly and Alison Hofmann, and Alisha and Amara McCarthy; a great-great-grandchild, Alyssa Paist; and several nieces and nephews.
The Honan Funeral Home of Newtown was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Datahr, 135 Old State Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.
Alice Tolarovic, 94, was born in New Milford
Alice M. (Hunt) Tolarovic, 94, formerly of Mountainview Terrace, Danbury, died at the Candlewood Valley Care Center, New Milford, Jan. 24. She was the wife of the late Frank A. Tolarovic.
She was born in New Milford March 4, 1905, daughter of the late Robert S. and Daisy Lane Hunt. She attended New Milford schools.
Earlier in her life, she had worked at the Amelia Brewster Home for 10 years and had devoted most of her life to her home and family. She had lived in Danbury for 75 years.
Mrs. Tolarovic was a member of the First Assembly of God Church since 1958 and was active in church functions and activities, serving as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She had also served as a Volunteer Driver transporting members to the church and its activities.
Mrs. Tolarovic is survived by a son, Curtis W. McKay of Newtown; two daughters, Shirley V. Pierce of Danbury and Francine A. Race of Green, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 19 great great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her first husband, Wilbur McKay, and a daughter, Fayoline Pomeroy.
Funeral services will be held at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield, today (Friday) at 3:30 p.m. with Pastor Mark Cernero of the First Assembly of God Church officiating.
Interment will be in Central Cemetery, Brookfield, in the spring.
The Brookfield Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the First Assembly of God Church, 133 Junction Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.
Robert V. Malz Sr., 87, had lived in Roxbury
Robert V. Malz Sr., 87, of 42 Cassidy Ave., Waterbury, died Jan. 22 at Waterbury Hospital. He was the widower of Mary (Weeks) Malz.
Mr. Malz was born March 31, 1912, in the Bronx, N.Y., son of the late Oscar and Anna (Gerrity) Malz. He grew up and attended school in the Bronx and was a graduate of Fordham University.
A resident of Roxbury from 1950 to 1970, he lived in Waterbury for many years.
He worked at the Uniroyal Rubber Co. in Naugatuck, retiring after several years. He also worked at the former Sealy Mattress Co. in Oakville for several years.
Mr. Malz is survived by a daughter, Dorothy E. M'Sadoques, with whom he lived; a sister, Lillian Topping of Maryland; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.
The O'Neill Funeral Home in Oakville was in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the VNA Health at Home, 27 Princeton Road, Watertown, CT 06795.
John Viens, 83, was a Kimberly-Clark employee
John Viens, 83, of 38 Church St., New Milford, died Jan. 20 at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Viens was born in St. Angele, Quebec, Canada, Oct. 19, 1916, a son of the late Albert and Blanche (Beaulieu) Viens.
He was raised in Quebec and moved to the United States as a young man, settling in New Milford in 1956 after serving in the United States Army.
He was employed by Kimberly-Clark and was also the proprietor of New Milford Sew & Vac until his retirement in 1988. He was active with square dancing groups in the area and was an avid golfer, fisherman and gardener.
Mr. Viens is survived by a brother, Gerard Viens of Van Nuys, Calif.; two sisters, Lucielle Shepard of Colchester, Vt., and Francoise Balch of Burlington, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Marcel Viens and Richard Viens and two sisters, Julliette Paquette and Simone Montagne.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
The family requests that people remember Mr. Viens in their prayers.
Richard Crawford, 62, leaves family in Bridgewater
Richard John Crawford, 62, of Shadduck Road, Middlebury, died Jan. 19 after a long illness. He was the husband of Susan (Shaw) Crawford.
Mr. Crawford was born in Greenwich Aug. 18, 1937, son of Mrs. Genevieve (Egan) Whipple and the late Henry P. Crawford Jr.
He was a graduate of Greenwich High School and was a star hockey player in high school and later played semi-pro hockey in Connecticut. He had worked for the town of Greenwich.
Mr. Crawford was a member of the United States Naval Reserve. A member of the New Life Christian Church in Waterbury, he retired from the Southern New England Telephone Co. after 30 years of service.
Besides his mother of Greenwich and his wife of 30 years, Mr. Crawford is survived by a son, Stephen Crawford of Bridgewater; a daughter, Karen Monaghan of Bridgewater; three sisters, Barbara Gallo of Armonk, N.Y., Sheila Saturno of Waterbury and Genevieve Healey of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Sarah Welsh and Aidan Monaghan, both of Bridgewater. He was predeceased by a daughter, Alicia Deborah Crawford and two brothers, Henry P. Crawford III and Michael J. Crawford.
The Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Ruth Ferriss, 74, was a lifelong area resident
Ruth (Alfredson) Ferriss, 74, of 65 Fort Hill Road, New Milford, died Jan. 19 peacefully at the home of her daughter in Kent after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Stephen Ferriss.
Mrs. Ferriss was born in Sherman Nov. 29, 1925, a daughter of the late David and Hilda (Carlson) Alfredson.
She was a longtime member of St. John's Episcopal Church in New Milford.
Mrs. Ferriss is survived by six sons, Stephen Ferriss of New York City, David Ferriss of Lake Huzerne, N.Y., Peter Ferriss of Crystal Bay, Nev., and Robert Ferriss, Timothy Ferriss and Brian Ferriss, all of New Milford; two stepsons, Stephen Ferriss and Roger Ferriss of Lake Charles, La.; five daughters, Karen Charbonneau of Kent, Theresa Kanagaki of West Springfield, Mass., Melanie Farhadi of Springfield, Mass., Debra Ferriss of Richmond, R.I., and Pamela Ferriss of New Milford; a stepdaughter, Eleanor Lockwood of Florida; a brother, Carl (Buck) Alfredson of Sherman; a sister, Mary Bates of Danbury; twenty-seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Harry Erickson, 80, was active in Washington
Harry O. Erickson, 80, of 220 Baldwin Hill Road, New Preston, died Jan. 20 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Lillian (Peterson) Erickson.
Mr. Erickson was born May 11, 1919, in Warren. He was a longtime active member of the Washington community and an active member of New Preston Congregational Church, where he served as secretary since 1982.He also served on the Board of Trustees and as sexton for many years at the church.
Mr. Erickson was a Navy veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific theater with a rank of second class petty officer.
He was a 47 year member of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department and served as secretary for 28 years. Mr. Erickson worked at the Warren McArthur plant in Bantam, now known as PTC Aerospace, retiring after more than 40 years.
He was a member and past commander of Gage-Zumpf Post 87, American Legion of Washington. He was on the board of directors and served as president of New Preston Village Cemetery for 40 years. He also served on the board of directors of New Preston Boys and Girls Club.
Mr. Erickson was a longtime member of the former Washington Redevelopment Commission, which was established after the flood of 1955. He was a member of St. Peter's Lodge 21, A.F. & A. M., of New Milford.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Leslie P. Ernhout Jr. and Irving Ernhout, both of Washington; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Norman Erickson.
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 Depot, CT 06795.
William Van Wagner, 83, father of New Milfordite
William C. Van Wagner, 83, of 28 Myrtle Ave., Danbury, died Jan. 18 at Danbury Hospital after a sudden illness. He was the husband of Alice M. (Flynn) Van Wagner.
Mr. Van Wagner was born in Norwalk Aug. 15, 1916, son of the late William H. and Irene M. (Saulpaugh) Van Wagner.
He attended Norwalk schools and moved to Danbury 46 years ago.
He was a veteran of the Navy in both World War II and Korea and served as ship's cook, first class. He returned to work at the A&P Tea Co. where he started at the age of 18 and retired as produce manager at the age of 65. He worked in the Ridgefield and New Canaan stores.
Besides his wife, Mr. Van Wagner is survived by three daughters, Lynn A. Bricker of New Milford, Cynthia I. Anderson of Danbury and Kathy L. Van Wagner-Strawson of Cornwall Bridge; nine grandchildren, Jeff Bricker, Kevin and Nicole Van Wagner, Megan Anderson, Rachel, Scott and Coty Reeves and Stephanie and Mark Kubovic; three great-grandchildren, Jade and Justin Martel and Nathan Brant; and a sister, Vivian Salvatore of Norwalk. He was predeceased by a daughter, Sharon Kubovic.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Easter Seals.
Harry Telensky, 84, father of Washington man
Harry P. Telensky, 84, died Jan. 7 in New Hampshire. He was the husband of the late Elma (Madore) Telensky.
Mr. Telensky was born July 8, 1915, son of the late Harrison and Madelyn (Golas) Telensky.
He was the owner of T's Market until his retirement in 1977.
He is survived by a son, James Telensky of Washington; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield was in charge of arrangements.
Carol Prause, 60, leaves family in New Milford
Carol (Williams) Prause, 60, of 22 Housatonic Ave., New Milford, died Jan. 22 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of Christian R. Prause.
Mrs. Prause was born in North Canaan Sept. 26, 1939, a daughter of the late Willis and Alice (Dean) Williams.
She spent her early life in Sharon and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village. She moved to New Milford from Sharon in 1959.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Prause is survived by a son, Richard D. Prause of New Milford; two daughters, Linda S. Mosher and Donna J. Doto of New Milford; a sister, Hazel Zani of Canaan; and four grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the New Milfo
rd Hospital Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
