United States High School Yearbooks by County
Richard Hottes, 51, was longtime K-C employee
Richard Eugene Hottes, 51, of New Milford died Oct. 16. He fought a long battle with diabetes but succumbed due to complications with cancer. He was the husband of Mary (Thomas) Hottes.
Mr. Hottes was born in Danbury June 2, 1949, the son of Henry J. and Florence H. (Deobner) Hottes Jr.
He was a lifelong stock car racing fan, having grown up just outside of the Danbury Fair Racearena. He was also an avid outdoorsman who liked to spend his summers camping, digging clams, and following the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule.
He lived in Danbury until December 1975, when he moved to New Milford, which he often referred to as “God's country.”
He was a longtime employee of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, where he worked as a mechanic until his retirement in 1996. He most recently was employed at Hemlock Hill RV.
He was a member of the Gaylordsville Volunteer Fire Department and later volunteered as fire police.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Robert of New Milford and Christopher of Seattle, Wash.; a daughter, Tina of New Milford; two brothers, Donald and Kenneth, both of Danbury; a sister, Joanne Anderson of Brookfield; and nieces, nephews and countless friends.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of one's choice or to the Gaylordsville United Methodist Church, 685 Kent Road, Gaylordsville, CT 06755.
Paul Pettit, 81, was brother of New Milford man
Paul G. Pettit, 81, of Candlewood Lake Road, Brookfield, died Oct. 13 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Elise M. (Bengston) Pettit.
Mr. Pettit was born in Danbury June 8, 1919, son of the late Charles and Eleanor (Gilbert) Pettit.
He graduated from Danbury High School, Class of 1937. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
He was a self-employed carpenter and worked with Morehouse Builders in the local area. He was a professional NASCAR driver, point champion in 1957 and a member of the Southern New England Racing Association. He enjoyed gardening and fishing.
Besides his wife Mr. Pettit is survived by a daughter, Patricia Shimko, and her husband Peter; a granddaughter, Dawn Clifton, and her husband Thomas; a great-grandson, Thomas Jr.; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Hazel Pettit of New Milford; a niece, Wendy Martel; and nephews Michael, Andrew and Charles IV Pettit. He was predeceased by his brother, Philip.
The Brookfield Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
Salvatore Germinaro, 72, father of New Milfordite
Salvatore Germinaro, 72, of Memorial Drive, Danbury, died Oct. 16 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Natalie A. (Stuart) Germinaro.
Mr. Germinaro was born in Danbury Nov. 5, 1927, son of the late Salvatore F. and Theresa Germinaro.
He was a lifelong Danbury resident. He was a graduate of Henry Abbott Technical School and a veteran of World War II, serving with the Army of Occupation. He was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
Mr. Germinaro was an electrician for 35 years for various electrical contractors, as well as being self-employed. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church and of its Men's Club for 35 years, the Arion Singing Society and the Beaver Brook Fire Department for many years. As a young man, he played football with the former Danbury Top Hat Bulldogs.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Salvatore of Brookfield; a daughter, Janine Baker of New Milford; two sisters, Mary Wildman of Bethel and Angie Cavagna of Danbury; four grandchildren, Eric Germinaro, Sarah Baker, Christina and David Ceste; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by several brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be private. Burial will be in St. Peter Cemetery.
Ellen Babbitt, 98, mother of Bridgewater man
Ellen (Tower) Babbitt, 98, of Bridgeport, died Sept. 29 in Bridgeport. She was the widow of William Crane Babbitt.
Mrs. Babbitt was born in Rockwell, Fla., daughter of the late Albert Baird and Sarah (Crone) Tower. She grew up in Chattanooga, Tenn., and spent most of her adult life in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
She was a longtime supporter of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon. She was also a member of the Bronxville, N.Y., chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the Lake Wales, Fla. chapter of the Grand Dames of the Republic.
She is survived by a son, Donald of Bridgewater; a sister, Marjorie Holyfield of Tennessee; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held today (Friday) at 10:30 a .m. at Stepney Baptist Church, 423 Main St., Monroe. Burial will follow in Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport.
The Collins Funeral Home of Norwalk is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Petrini, 42, leaves relatives in New Milford
Robert A. Petrini, 42, of Milwaukee Avenue, Bethel, died at Danbury Hospital Oct. 7 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Mr. Petrini was born in Danbury Aug. 25, 1958, son of Joseph A. and Edith (Cotugno) Petrini of Bethel. He had attended Bethel schools and had worked as computer programmer.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sons, Robert Jr. of New Milford and Anthony of Bethel; a daughter, Ashley of Bethel; his companion, Lindsay Searles of Bethel; a brother, Joseph of Newtown; two sisters, Marie Douglas and her husband Philip and Donna J. Petrini, all of New Milford; and several nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Bridget.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Hartley Woodward, 88, managed area dairy farms
Hartley C. Woodward, 88, died Oct. 7 at Litchfield Woods in Torrington. He was the husband of Elsie (Nichols) (Piech) Woodward of Danbury and the widower of Frances (Hubbell) Woodward.
Mr. Woodward was born in Watertown April 6, 1912, son of the late Newton and Florence (Richardson) Woodward.
He was a lifelong resident of Watertown. He managed dairy farms in Bridgewater, New Milford and Bethlehem and retired from Technicraft of Thomaston.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Donald of Bridgewater; three daughters, Joan Matolcsy of Watertown, Elizabeth Chapin of Oakville and Nancy Biello of Watertown; two brothers, Ralph of Litchfield and Kenneth of Morris; three sisters, Marjorie LaBanche and Eleanor Woodward, both of Litchfield, and Alice Didsbury of Morris; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
The Hickcox Funeral Home of Watertown was in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Thomas, 59, aunt of New Milford man
Barbara M. Thomas, 59, of 137 Plumtrees Road, Bethel, died at her home Oct. 4 after a brief illness.
Ms. Thomas was born in New York City, daughter of the late Joseph Thomas and Margaret (Lang) Thomas.
She attended Plumtrees School and Bethel High School and was a graduate of Tufts University and Southern Connecticut State University. She taught physical education at Farmingville Elementary School in Ridgefield for 10 years.
She is survived by a sister, Victoria Hardy-Saviano and her husband Nicholas of Danbury; a brother, Gary J. Thomas and his wife Donna of Otis, Mass.; four nephews, Kim Hardy of New Milford, Bryan Hardy of Danbury, Craig Thomas of Tolland, Mass., and Scott Thomas of Otis; and a great-niece, Melissa Hardy of Danbury.
There are no calling hours.
Burial is private.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247.
Marion L. Jones, 89, formerly of Gaylordsville
Marion L. (Dennis ) Jones, 89, formerly of Gaylordsville, died Oct. 3 in the Southside Community Hospital, Crewe, Va. She was the widow of Charles Edward Jones.
Mrs. Jones was born in New York July 29, 1911, daughter of the late Frederick and Clara (Marcy) Dennis.
She is survived by a daughter, Joan Bennett of Crewe; a sister, Rosamond Santella of Boynton Beach, Fla.; a brother, Elywn Dennis of Lincoln, Maine; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Burial service will be tomorrow (Saturday), at noon at the Morningside Cemetery, Gaylordsville.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Ellen Genalski, 51, was a resident of Sherman
Ellen Louise Genalski, 51, of Sherman, died Oct. 6 at her home. She was the wife of Richard A. Genalski.
Mrs. Genalski was born May 11, 1949, in New Milford, a daughter of the late Carl and Ruth Ann (Schrack) Sterry.
She had been a resident of Sherman for 22 years. She attended the Bible Baptist Church in New Milford and was a member of the Western Connecticut Tree Hound Association. She enjoyed listening to country music and loved to cook.
Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Richard Jr. of Sherman; a stepson, Lukas Mayette of Wilton, Maine; two brothers, the Rev. Raymond Hyatt and Robert Sterry, both of New Milford; and two sisters, Alice Hagen of Columbia, Maine and Betty McMillan of California.
Raphaela M. Hacker, 80, mother of Bridgewater man
Raphaela "Fay" M. Hacker, 80, of Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, died Oct. 5 at her home. She was the wife of the late Alfred A. Hacker.
Mrs. Hacker was born in New York, N.Y., April 2, 1920, a daughter of the late Mauro and Maria (Croce) Maiorino.
She attended New York schools and lived in Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y., for 47 years, moving to Danbury three years ago.
As a young woman she had been employed at Hearnes Department Store in New York as an elevator operator. Her later life was devoted to her home and family. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Valley Stream and St. Peter’s in Danbury.
She is survived by a son, Robert of Bridgewater; a daughter, Janis Sajovic of Newtown; a sister, Phyllis Basile of Cooperstown, N.Y.; four grandchildren, Jennifer Ann Gattie, Jaclyn Hacker, Megan Allyn Sajovic and Nicholas Anthony Sajovic; and several nieces and nephews.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements
Contributions in her memory may be made to Father Flanagan’s Boys Town, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010.
Robert L. Soule, 67, was a native of Kent
Robert L. Soule, 67, of Segar Mountain Road, Kent, died Oct. 3 at Sharon Hospital. He was the husband of Mary Jane (Whelen) Soule.
Mr. Soule was born Jan. 14, 1933, in Kent, son of the late Edgar and Eunice (Darling) Soule.
He was a lifelong resident of Kent, attending local schools and graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He was an Air Force veteran, serving from 1953 to 1957.
Mr. Soule served on the Kent Sewer Commission for several years. He was a member of the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, serving as chief from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1996. He was president of the Arabian Horse Club of America.
Besides his wife of 42 years, he is survived by three sons, Dwight, Daniel and Wendell, all of Kent; a brother, Warren of Georgia; a sister, Jean Chase of Vermont; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Oct. 28 at 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Kent.
The Kenny Funeral Home of Kent is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in Mr. Soule’s memory may be made to the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, Kent, CT 06757.
