United States High School Yearbooks by County
Joy Fletcher Whitbeck, 90, lived in Sherman
Joy Fletcher Whitbeck, an avid tennis player and championship bridge player, died July 17 at Pomperaug Woods nursing home in Southbury.
She was the wife of the late Ferdinand Lowther Starbuck and Volkert S. Whitbeck. with whom she moved to Sherman in 1976 and maintained a vacation house.
Ms. Whitbeck was born July 24, 1907 in Philadelphia, the daughter of George William Bergner Fletcher and Joy Chandler Dickerman. She was raised in Radnor and Haverford, Penn.
She attended the Shipley School and graduated from Dana Hall in Wellesley, Mass. in 1927. In 1931, she graduated from Smith College, where she played varsity field hockey, basketball and tennis.
After graduation, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a receptionist for American Locomotive Company. During World War II, she worked as an ambulance driver.
In 1943, she met her first husband while playing tennis at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, N.Y. While raising a family, she worked at perfecting her bridge and tennis games.
She lived in Forest Hills Gardens until three years after the death of her first husband, when she remarried and moved the family to Greenwich.
Even in hers 60s, she won numerous tennis tournaments at her club. She continued to play tennis competitively until the age of 84.
She was also known for her contract bridge playing ability in the tri-state area. She was a frequent duplicate player in Wilton, Ridgefield, Danbury, Brookfield and Southbury and achieved the ranking of Silver Life Master by the American Bridge League.
For many years she taught bridge, leaving behind many ardent pupils.
In 1976, she and her husband moved to Sherman. For many years, she was the president of the Timber Trails Association and worked as a volunteer on many charities. She moved to Pomperaug Woods in 1995.
She is survived by three sons, Ferdinand L. Starbuck of Middlebury, William D. Starbuck of Ridgefield, and Robert F. Starbuck of South Salem, N.Y.; ten grandchildren and four stepchildren.
A reception to celebrate her life will be held tomorrow (Friday) from 3 to 5 p.m. at Pomperaug Woods, Heritage Road, Southbury.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut, 800 Main Street South, Southbury, CT 06488, or to your local hospice.
Carpino Funeral Home in Southbury is in charge of the arrangements.
Stephanie Adamsky, mother of Roxbury man
Stephanie (Majauskas) Adamsky, of 646 Highland Ave., Waterbury, died Aug. 3 at Waterbury Hospital. She was the wife of Stephen J. Adamsky.
Mrs. Adamsky was born in Waterbury, daughter of the late George and Antoinette (Jusdaitis) Majauskas Sr. She graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School and attended Post College.
She most recently worked as a teacher assistant for the City of Waterbury Department of Education for five years, retiring in 1983. Previously she worked for Farrar News for 10 years and Timex Corp. of Middlebury as a quality control inspector.
Mrs. Adamsky was a charter member of Western Hills Women's Golf Association and was the club's two-time golf champion. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Besides her husband, she leaves a son, Robert S. Adamsky of Roxbury; a brother George Majauskas of Franklyn, N.J., and two sisters, Alice Murphy and Mary Hughson, both of Waterbury.
Contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Waterbury, 50 Brookside Drive, Waterbury CT 06708.
Ethelda Gillotti, 77, mother of New Milfordite
Ethelda S. Gillotti, 77, died July 28 at the Candlewood Valley Care Center in New Milford.
Mrs. Gillotti was born in Bethel Jan. 13, 1921, daughter of Eliphalet and Lettie Sherwood Stevens. She graduated from Bethel High School and had lived with her late husband, Michael W. Gillotti, on Liberty Avenue and the King Street area.
She was employed as an assembler at American Radionics for 10 years. While a resident of Danbury, she attended St. Peter Church and devoted herself to her home and family. In later years she moved to 2A Summit St. in New Milford with her son Michael S. Gillotti.
She is also survived by hers sons, Jeffrey of Stanton, Neb., Glenn of Danbury and Mark S. of Durham, N.C.; a daughter, Pamela M. Gusmao of Sun Valley, Calif.; and five grandchildren, Omar Gusmao Jr., Tatianna Gusmao, Michael Gillotti, Christine Gillotti and Steven Gillotti; and several nieces and nephews.
The Cornell Memorial Home in New Milford was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Neaf Johnson, 87, was area resident
Mary Neaf Johnson, 87, of Pomperaug Woods, died Aug. 2 at Pomperaug Woods Health Center in Southbury. She was the widow of William C. Neaf and Samuel C. Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson was born Oct. 30, 1910, in Rome, N.Y., daughter of the late William and Mary (Larkin) Hagerty. A longtime resident of Rome, she was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. She moved to Heritage Village in 1980 and to Pomperaug Woods in 1993.
She leaves a son-in-law, Hauthaway Mabbett Jr. of Roxbury; and a granddaughter. A daughter, Christina Neaf Mabbett, is deceased.
Funeral and burial are private at the family's convenience. Arrangements are being handled by Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, Main Street South.
Madeline Smith Seymour, 75, advocate for poor
Madeline Smith Seymour of New Milford died July 28 at her home after a battle with lung cancer.
She was born Nov. 2, 1923. She was an advocate for the poor and underprivileged.
She leaves four children, Jennifer Anthony of South Glastonbury, Barat DelVicario and Trisha Barry, both of New Milford, and Norman Seymour of Wilton; seven grandchildren, Debra, Madeline, Michael, Lorin, Jackson, Faye and Jesse; a great-grandchild, Jacob; and a sister, Michaela Pingpank of Farmington.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Dana McLendon, 28, was local parishioner
Dana L. McLendon, 28, of Bethel, wife of David N. McLendon, died on Aug. 4 at Danbury Hospital.
Mrs. McLendon was born in Danbury, June 5, 1970, a daughter of William G. and Judy (Humiston) LaPoint. A lifelong resident of Bethel, she graduated from Bethel High School, Class of 1978. She also graduated from Berkley College in White Plains, NY, where she received an associate's degree in hotel management.
Mrs. McLendon had been employed by Res-i-tec of Bethel for the past 11 years, for the past six years as its office manager.
She was an active parishioner of Our Lady of the Lakes Church in New Milford, where she assisted as a lector during weekend masses.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by two brothers, Jerry LaPoint of Saranac Lake, NY, and Travis LaPoint of Bethel; a sister and a brother-in-law, Tina M. and Richard A. Davis of Danbury, as well as their two children, Elizabeth Ann and Ryan William; her father- and mother-in-law, David J. and Stephanie K. McLendon of New Milford; and many cousins.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 7, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, New Milford. At 11 a.m. Entombment will take place at St. Peter Cemetery Garden Mausoleum, Danbury.
Margaret Griffin, 62, was Head Start teacher
Margaret A. Griffin, 62, of 20 Chimney Drive, Bethel, died at the Danbury Hospital Aug. 4.
She was born in New York City, June 23, 1936, daughter of the late James P. and Catherine (Crowley) Burke. She moved to Danbury in the 1950s and had been a resident of the area since.
Mrs. Griffin had worked for the Danbury Board of Education as a teacher in the Head Start program for more than 25 years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church and had served as a Eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart.
She is survived by four sons, Edward J. and John J. Griffin of Danbury; Thomas M. of Bethel and David J. of New Milford; a daughter, Deborah Schmid of Danbury; a sister, Mary Catherine Palma of LeCanto, Fla.; three brothers, John J. Burke of Queens, N.Y.; James P. Burke of Danbury and David M. Burke of Florida; nine grandchildren, a great-grandson and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Catherine A., and a sister, Patricia Corona.
A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Danbury.
Contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church, care of 12 Cottage St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Paula A. Nicastro, 82, grandmother of residents
Paula A. Nicastro, 82, of 887 Federal Road, Brookfield, died at her home Sept. 16. She was the wife of the late Michael Nicastro.
Mrs. Nicastro was born Oct. 2, 1915 in New Canaan, daughter of the late Ottavio and Adeline Franco Forlivio. She attended New Canaan schools.
Mrs. Nicastro had lived in Norwalk before moving to Brookfield 51 years ago. While in Norwalk, she worked at Pepperidge Farm. After moving to Brookfield, she was employed as a group leader at American Cyanamid Corporation for 25 years, retiring in 1981. Her retired life was devoted to her family.
She was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield.
Surviving are a daughter, Joan A. Tenney of Adrian, W.Va.; a brother, James Forlivio of New Canaan; seven sisters, Margaret Nicastro and Helen McConnell, both of New Canaan, Josephine Cossuto and Angelina Nicastro, both of Norwalk, Mary Monaco and Frances Russo, both of Stamford, and Louise Thompson of Vero Beach, Fla.; six grandchildren, Jane A. Rigdon and William H. Miller III, both of New Milford, Michael L. Miller of Danbury, Michele Miller of Norwalk, George Confere IV of Bridgewater and Joanne Catino of Stamford; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Forlivio and Ottavio Forlivio Jr.
Arrangements were handled by the Brookfield Funeral Home.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Sister Mary Anna Carroll, New Milford native
Sister Mary Anna Carroll, a native of New Milford, died Sept. 21 at Cenacle Convent in Liverpool, England.
Sister Carroll was born Dec. 11, 1908, the daughter of the late Michael and Mary Ellen Morrissey Carroll.
She graduated from New Milford High School in 1924 and from St. Elizabeth College in Convent Station, N.J. In 1932, under the guidance of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, she entered the congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle at Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
In 1946, she volunteered to work for her order in England, becoming Mistress of Novices for 12 years. She also served as Superior in convents in England and Ireland. Elected as Councilor of the Congregation in Rome, she made her home there for six years, during which she made extensive travels with the order's Mother General.
She is survived by her niece and nephew, Joanne Carroll and Vincent Carroll, formerly of New Milford, and several grand-nephews. She is also survived by her cousins, Robert Young of Bethel, John Young of Branford, Gene Young and Alma Granja, both of Danbury, Charles Young and Marie Young of Brookfield and Joan Cushnie of Bridgewater. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Martin Carroll in 1963.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford. Burial took place in Liverpool.
Donations in her memory may be made to the St. Francis Xavier Capital Improvement Fund, P.O. Box 390, New Milford, CT 06776, or to the charity of one's choice.
Isabel R. Cogswell, 79, mother of residents
Isabel R. Cogswell, 79, wife of the late Stuart F. Cogswell of 6 Oak Lane in Jensen Park in Danbury, died Sept. 17.
She was born Feb. 16, 1919 in East Providence, R.I., daughter of the late John and Letitia Davidson Tracy. She had lived in New Fairfield from 1959 until she moved to Danbury in 1984.
She a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a very giving person; if she saw a need, she always tried to fill it.
She is survived by three daughters, Sandra Keane of Sherman, Donna Hodson of New Milford and Shirley Cogswell of Taconic, N.Y.; a sister, Hope Yeaw of East Providence, R.I., a brother, James Tracy of Greensboro, N.C.; three granddaughters; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Lakeview Social Club in Jensen Park on West Kenosia Avenue in Danbury.
There are no calling hours. Green Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions may be made to New Milford V.N.A. Hospice, 68 Park Lane, New Milford, CT 06776.
Robert C. Kozar, 63, served in Army Reserves
Robert C. Kozar, 63, an industrial engineer with Nash Engineering of Monroe for more than 40 years, died Sept. 15 in Danbury Hospital.
He was the husband of Barbara DuLac Kozar and resided on Bridge End Farm Road in Sandy Hook.
He was born March 2, 1935 in Norwalk, son of Elizabeth Kozar of Meriden and the late George Kozar. He was educated in Norwalk schools and took several college courses in engineering.
During the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was also a member of the Order of Elks.
Besides his mother and wife, he is survived by two sons, Robert W. Kozar of New Milford and Christopher G. Kozar of Bethel; a daughter, Lisa M. Kozar of Danbury; and four grandchildren, Daniel, Rachelle, Victoria and Hayley Kozar.
Arrangements were handled by the Honan Funeral home in Newtown.
Contributions may be made to American Lung Association, 45 Ash St., East Hartford, CT 06108.
