United States High School Yearbooks by County
Marguerite Roulat, 73, longtime local resident
Marguerite Roulat, 73, of New Milford died March 2 at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of Laurent L. Roulat. Mrs. Roulat was born in Brussels, Belgium, March 11, 1926, a daughter of the late Johannes and Marguerite (Ossola) Hunziker. She emigrated from Brussels to the United States in 1956 and had been a resident of the New Milford area since 1957. She was a gourmet cook who enjoyed entertaining her family and good friends and who also enjoyed reading in her spare time. Mrs. Roulat was a longtime member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Marble Dale. Besides her husband of 43 years, she is survived by a son, John L. Roulat of New Milford; a daughter, Gisele M. Davis of Newtown; a brother, Jean Hunziker of Liestal, Switzerland; three grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church Book of Remembrance, P.O. Box 2007, Marble Dale, CT 06777.
Mary Fox, 93, was active in Sherman church
Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Fox died March 2. She was the wife of the late Harold Fox. Mrs. Fox was born in New York City Aug. 14, 1906, daughter of Caroline and George Fitzgerald. She was a woman of many talents. In her younger years, she was secretary to several lawyers in New York City and White Plains. Her ability in sewing and needlework was superior, and she was known for the beautiful outfits she made. She put her talents to use in her beloved women's group at the Sherman Congregational Church, preparing for the yearly bazaars. She was also very involved in Bible studies, both in Sherman and New Fairfield. Mrs. Fox is survived by several nieces and nephews, as well as her many friends.
The New Fairfield Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Marshall Miner, 56, leaves several local survivors
Marshall E. Miner, 56, of New Milford, died March 6 at New Milford Hospital. Mr. Miner was born in Malone, N.Y., Nov. 24, 1943, a son of Lillian Miner of Chateaugay, N.Y., and the late William Miner. He was raised in New York and was a graduate of Chateaugay High School. In 1963, he moved to Connecticut and worked at the Kimberly-Stevens Corp. in New Milford until the company closed. He worked as a custodian for the New Milford Board of Education until the time of his death. He was a member of the Local Teamsters Union No. 677. Besides his mother, Mr. Miner is survived by three sons, Thomas Miner of Gaylordsville, Michael Miner of Thomaston and Jason Miner of New Milford; a daughter, Pamela Murphy of New Milford; two brothers, Lloyd Miner of New Milford and Gerard Miner of Allenburg Depot, N.Y.; a sister, Josephine M. Langevin of Chazy, N.Y.; and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, Joyce A. Miner. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today (Friday) at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, Route 109, New Milford. Burial will be in Center Cemetery, New Milford. The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5022, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492-7522 or to New Milford Hospital, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Thomas Gibson, 57, was a New Milford resident
Thomas W. Gibson, 57, of 78 Long Mountain Road, New Milford, husband of Kathleen (Morrison) Gibson, died suddenly March 13 at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Gibson was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 30, 1942, a son of Barbara (Parker) Gibson and the late William E. Gibson.
He spent his early life in Pittsburgh and was a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the United States Army as a helicopter pilot.
Mr. Gibson moved to New Milford in 1986 from Hampton, N.J. He had been in the display business for nearly 30 years.
In 1991, he was one of the founders of Alliance Display and Packaging Company of Winston-Salem, N.C. At the time of his death, he was the vice president of sales for New England for the Alliance Display and Packaging Company. A communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church, New Milford, he loved to sail, loved his dog, Scupper, and loved spending time with his family.
Besides his mother and wife of 30 years, Mr. Gibson is survived by six daughters, Elizabeth S., Meghan R., Molly M., Kathleen A., Colleen M. and Brie D.; a brother, Robert P. Gibson of Dunedin, Fla.; and a sister, Joan McClain of Davenport, Wash.
Funeral services will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, Route 109, with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in St. Francis Cemetery, New Milford.
Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford, today (Friday) from 7 to 9 p.m.
Susan Anne Geyselaers, 31, was a nurse's aide
Susan Anne Geyselaers of New Milford, 31, died March 12 as a result of car accident in Maine.
Miss Geyselaers was born in Danbury May 24, 1968, the daughter of Sam and Bobbie Geyselaers of Vermont.
She lived most of her life in New Fairfield, attending schools there and graduating with New Fairfield High School's Class of 1986. She worked as a nurse's aide in Kent and also did private duty care.
Besides her parents, Miss Geyselaers is survived by her grandparents, Jim and Anne Camarata of Farmington; a brother, Michael of Cornwall Bridge; and a sister, Christine Murphy of Montpelier, Vt.
The family will have a Memorial Mass at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield.
Elizabeth Brower, 82, survived by area residents
Elizabeth (Levis) Brower, 82, of New Milford died March 13 at the New Milford Nursing Home. She was the widow of Lester N. Brower.
Mrs. Brower was born Sept. 18, 1917, in Norwalk, a daughter of the late Charles F. and Roxenia (Ballard) Levis.She graduated from Norwalk High School.
Mrs. Brower was a school secretary in the Norwalk and Ridgefield public school systems, retiring as administrative secretary at Ridgefield High School. She lived most of her life in Norwalk, moving to New Milford in 1978.
Mrs. Brower is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles F. and Suzanne Brower of Bethel and William J. and Lois Brower of Ridgefield and Kent; a sister, Mary Levis of Kent; three grandchildren, Bruce Benjamin of New Milford, Christopher Patrick Benjamin of Southington and Linda Benjamin of Bethel; and a great-grandson, Tristan Benjamin of Bethel. She was predeceased by a brother, Charles F. Levis of Norwalk.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to ABC House, 32 Fairview Ave., Ridgefield, CT 06877; or to New Milford Hospital Regional Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Louis Garizio, 89, grandfather of New Milfordite
Louis Q. Garizio, 89, of Florida died March 6. He was the husband of Edna (Daros) Garizio.
Mr. Garizio was born in Queens, N.Y., the son of the late John and Clara Garizio. He was a resident of Brookfield for 27 years before retiring to Florida in 1972.
Mr. Garizio belonged to the Mazzini Lodge No. 824 of the Free and Accepted Masons for over 60 years. A past member of the Brookfield Fire Department, Candlewood Company, he owned and operated Hub Spirits in Bethel for many years.
Besides his wife of 64 years, Mr. Garizio is survived by a son, Paul L. Garizio Sr. of Brookfield; a brother, Lawrence Garizio of New York; a daughter-in-law, Martina Garizio of Brookfield; three grandchildren, John Garizio Sr. and Paul L. Garizio Jr., both of Brookfield, and Marie Titus of New Milford; seven great-grandchildren, James, Katherine, Alina, John Jr. and Gabrielle Garizio, all of Brookfield and Jackson and Gavin Titus of New Milford; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family will have a private memorial service in the spring.
Donations in his memory can be made to Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department, Candlewood Company, P.O. Box 296, Brookfield, CT 06804.
Manuel Silva, 74, father of New Milford men
Manuel M. Silva, 74, of 60B Sheridan St., Danbury, died March 19 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Maria Lurdes Cordeiro Silva.
Mr. Silva was born May 29, 1925, in Azores, Portugal, son of the late Jose and Maria (Conceicao) Silva.
He served in the Portuguese Army for three years. In 1971 he came to North Babylon, L.I., from the Azores. He was employed as a baker for Entenmann's Bakery.
In 1979, he moved to Danbury and was employed by the former National Can Corp. After retirement he worked part-time for Diversified Maintenance of Danbury.
Besides his wife, Mr. Silva is survived by two daughters, Fernanda Vieira of Swansea, Mass., and Maria Araujo of Middletown, N.Y.; five sons, Pedro Silva of Danbury, Joao Silva and Serafim Silva, both of New Milford and Jaime Silva and Michael Silva, both of Danbury; a sister, Janiaria Figareto of Canada; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He was predeceased by his son, Jose, in 1997.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Maxine Persbacker, 80, was active in Bridgewater
Maxine Persbacker, 80, of Bridgewater died March 20 at Glen Hill Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Danbury. She was the wife of Victor L. Persbacker.
Mrs. Persbacker was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of the late James T. Crawford and Eva Gladwin Crawford.
Mrs. Persbacker spent her early years in Niagara Falls, N.Y. She was a resident of Connecticut for 51 years, living in West Redding for 28 years before moving to Bridgewater in 1980.
Mrs. Persbacker was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, the Roxbury-Bridgewater Garden Club, the Bridgewater Historical Society and the Bridgewater Grange and served on the Bridgewater Republican Town Committee.
She was also on the board of the Brookfield Republican Women's Club and was a member of the Traveler's Club of Danbury.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Elaine Joyce Wyman of Ponte Vedra, Fla., and Gail Diane Persbacker of Sandy, Utah; five grandchildren, Paul Richard Pollard, Kyle Victor Wyman, Felicity Marie Wyman, Josclyn Rose Wyman and Kayleigh Adair Wyman.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. with the Rev. George Hall, rector, officiating.
There are no calling hours.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford was in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, CT 06752.
George Wells, 98, New Milford native, farmer and volunteer
George E. Wells, 98, of 359 Wellsville Ave., New Milford, died March 20 at his home. He was the husband of the late Ethel (Mallory) Wells, to whom he was married for 73 years.
Mr. Wells was born in New Milford Feb. 18, 1902, son of the late John and Vesta (Abbott) Wells.
He was a graduate of New Milford High School and later graduated from the former Connecticut Agricultural College, now the University of Connecticut.
He was a pitcher for the baseball team for the Connecticut Agricultural College.
After engaging in farming for a number of years, Mr. Wells became a member of the faculty of the New Milford High School, where he taught vocational agriculture for 11 years. After working at the school, he started Wells Hatchery, which he owned and operated with his son, Stuart, until his retirement.
Over the years, Mr. Wells owned and operated a number of poultry and dairy farms in the area. He was a longtime member of the Litchfield County Farm Bureau, of which he served as president and was a member of and served as vice president of the Connecticut State Farm Bureau.
He was a recipient of the Outstanding Farmer of the Year award which was presented by the University of Connecticut.
Active in the New Milford community for many years, he served on the New Milford Board of Education and was a past chairman of the board.
Mr. Wells had served on the building committee in 1954 for the John Pettibone Elementary School in New Milford.
A lifetime member of the First Congregational Church of New Milford, he was a past deacon and had served as the treasurer of the church for 17 years.
He was also chairman of the building committee for the Marsh Parish Hall constructed by the church.
His hobbies included fishing, flying his own sea-plane, gardening and golf. He started golfing at age 70 and had two holes-in-one.
Mr. Wells is survived by two sons, the Rev. J. Stuart Wells of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Richard Wells of New Milford; three daughters, Marie VanAchte of Brookfield, Nancy Wells of Kensington and Jane Wiser of Middlebury; a sister, Ruth Stull of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; 19 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for the family will be held Monday at Center Cemetery, New Milford.
A memorial service for Mr. Wells and his late wife, Ethel M. Wells, who died Oct. 1, 1999, will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 36 Main St., New Milford.
There are no calling hours.
The Lillis Funeral Home in New Milford is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Book of Remembrance at the First Congregational Church, 36 Main St., New Milford, CT 06776; or to the John Pettibone Scholarship Fund, 50 East St., New Milford, CT 06776.
George Hill Jr., 66, leaves many area relatives
George E. Hill Jr., 66, of 381 Salisbury Road, North Canaan, died March 16 at Sharon Hospital. He was the husband of Caroline M. (Box) Hill.
Mr. Hill was born Sept. 19, 1933, in New Milford, son of the late George E. and Dorothy (Frink) Hill Sr.
He was a farmer and had worked on farms in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Mr. Hill was a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars, serving in the military police. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Fair Association.
Mr. Hill played basketball in high school and enjoyed fishing.
Besides his wife, Mr. Hill is survived by two daughters, Vicki Day of East Canaan and Valerie Hill of Bristol; four sons, George E. Hill III of East Canaan, Douglas C. Hill of Torrington, Kevin M. Hill of Craryville, N.Y., and David B. Hill of North Canaan; seven brothers, Andrew and Roger Hill of New York, Ernest, Richard, Edward, Robert and James Hill, all of New Milford; four sisters, Dorothy Johnson of Oklahoma, Shirley Yeomans of New Milford, June Box of Bethlehem and Sheila Carlson of Bridgewater; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A son, Stephen Hill, is deceased.
The Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home of North Canaan was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to American Legion Post, Bethlehem, CT 06751.
