United States High School Yearbooks by County
Robert F. Bonner, 59, longtime New Milfordite
Robert F. Bonner, 59, of Ocala, Fla., died Nov. 8 at his home.
Mr. Bonner was born Dec. 30, 1940 in Danbury, a son of the late Omer and Rose (Silvasi) Bonner.
He had spent the greater part of his life in New Milford, before moving to Ocala in 1988. He had formerly been employed by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation in New Milford and had last been employed as a supervisor with the K-Mart Distribution Center in Ocala.
Mr. Bonner had at one time been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves in Brookfield.
He is survived by a son, Kevin, of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter, Kristine Hansen, of New Milford; and four grandsons.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
Joseph J. Ploch Sr., 81, lifelong New Milfordite Joseph J. Ploch Sr.
Joseph John Ploch Sr., 81, of 93 Danbury Road in New Milford, died Nov. 13 at The Kent. He was the husband of Mary (Wodjenski) Ploch.
Mr. Ploch was born Sept. 9, 1919 in New Milford, the son of the late Paul C. and Josephine (Yankowski) Ploch.
He attended St. Francis Xavier School and, along with his future wife, was in the first graduating class. He was a dairy farmer for most of his young life and subsequently contributed 31 years of service to Connecticut Light and Power Company as an electrical worker.
In addition, he served St. Francis Xavier Church for nearly a lifetime, first as an altar boy and then as sexton of the church’s cemetery. During World War II, he served in the Connecticut State Guard Volunteer Reserve.
Mr. Ploch was a volunteer with the fire department and was elected "Mayor of Wellsville Avenue," an honorary title celebrating his involvement in the community.
He enjoyed car travel with his wife and taking "the road less traveled." He was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. He loved to hunt, enjoying communing with nature most of all. He also enjoyed and played baseball.
Besides his wife of 52 years, Mr. Ploch is survived by three sons, Christopher and his wife, Cher, of Cloverdale, Calif., Patrick of New Milford, and Joe Jr. and his fiancTe, Ruth Daley, of Cornwall; a daughter, Mary Jo and her husband Jeffrey Dix, of New Milford; three grandchildren, Tyrone, Aubree and Collin. In addition, he is survived by 15 of the 16 foster children whom he and his wife cared for in their home, and countless foster grandchildren.
There are no calling hours. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, Route 109, New Milford, today (Friday) at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery, Fort Hill Road.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Richard M. Fish, 75, was a resident of Kent
Richard Minor Fish, 75, of Jennings Road, Kent, died Nov. 11 at New Milford Hospital after a brief illness. He was the longtime companion of Magda Kozma.
Mr. Fish was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 12, 1925, a son of the late Clarence and Isabelle MacKenzie Howden Fish.
He attended schools in Woodbury, N.J., and later resided in Ridgefield and Brookfield. He worked for many years for the Viking Wire Co. in Danbury and then later as an independent contractor in the building trade.
Mr. Fish is survived by three sons, Ronald, U.S. Air Force Reserves, of Woodbury, Robin of Foster , R.I., and Royal, retired U.S. Navy, of Bremerton, Wash.; his former wife, Betty (Rotherforth) Fish of Ridgefield; four granddaughters, Dawn Popolizio of Wallingford, Jennifer Kaiser and Katherine Fish, both of New Milford, and Dayna Marie Fish of Bremerton, Wash.; four grandsons, Royal Jr. of the U.S. Navy at Corpus Christi, Texas, David of Bethlehem, Maxwell of Foster , R.I., and Richard of Bremerton, Wash.; and two great-grandchildren, Anthony James Popolizio and Rachel Marie Popolizio of Wallingford.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 35 Cold Spring Road, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
Robin J. Retalis, 44, leaves in-laws in Roxbury
Robin Jean Retalis, 44, of Wingdale, N.Y., died Nov. 6 in Roxbury at the home of her husband’s parents, William and Patricia Berth. She was the wife of Peter Retalis.
Mrs. Retalis was born in Danbury March 20, 1956, a daughter of Paul and Beverly (Purinton) Boucher.
She was raised in Newtown, where she attended Newtown schools. She later moved to Danbury with her husband and attended Western Connecticut State University and began her family. She and her family then relocated to Brewster, N.Y.
Mrs. Retalis worked for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals as an administrative assistant in the Research and Development Division for the last several years.
Mrs. Retalis was a loving and devoted wife and mother who was totally involved in her children’s activities, which included soccer, Scouts, school activities and all facets of her husband’s and children’s lives.
Besides her husband of 22 years, she is also survived by her parents, Paul and Beverly Boucher of Newtown; her husband’s parents, William and Patricia Berth of Roxbury; a son, Nicholas of Wingdale; a daughter, Katherine of Wingdale; a brother, Kurt Boucher of New Mexico; two sisters, Cheryl Boucher of Newtown and Karen Dwinells of Japan; two nephews, Tyler Dwinells and Zachary Retalis; and a niece, Amanda Dwinells.
The Tomlinson Homestead of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897; or to Regional Hospice of Western CT, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Mary A. Harrison, 89, was New Preston resident
Mary (Adams) Harrison, 89, of New Preston, died Nov. 10 at her home after an extended illness. She was the widow of Donald Cuthbert Harrison.
Mrs. Harrison was born March 28, 1911, in Westport to the late Thomas Davies Adams and Minnie May (Sherwood) Adams.
She attended Westport schools and graduated from Staples High School in 1927. She received a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1931 and later attended Fordham Law School. She was admitted to the Bar in New York City, Dec. 8, 1941.
She married her husband Sept. 5, 1931 and they lived in New York City until 1948, when they moved to Westport. In 1969, they moved to Roxbury and soon became active in the Washington Art Association.
Mrs. Harrison worked as a volunteer and later as a trustee for the association. In 1997, she moved to New Preston.
She is survived by a sister, Betty Daniels, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; a daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and C. Marston Case of Lawrenceville, N.J.; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Bonnie Harrison, of Hingham, Mass.; and four grandsons.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Washington Art Association, 4 Bryan Plaza, Washington, CT 06794.
Fred P. Holley, 93, was a New Milford resident
Fred P. Holley, 93, of 140 Chapin Road in New Milford, died Nov. 14 at New Milford Hospital. He was the widower of Elizabeth (Kramer) Holley.
Mr. Holley was born April 19, 1907, in Long Island, N.Y.
He was a faculty member at Chelsea Vocational High School in New York from 1936 until his retirement in 1971. He moved to New Milford in 1958.
Mr. Holley is survived by two daughters, Francine and Rosalyn, both of New Milford; and two grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 102, New Milford, CT 06776.
Leonard J. Sadowski, 51, brother of New Milfordite
Leonard J. Sadowski, 51, of Old Turnpike Road in Brookfield, formerly of 22 Smith St. in Danbury, died Nov. 16 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Maureen (Zelinsky) Sadowski.
Mr. Sadowski was born Oct. 22, 1949 in Danbury, a son of the late Joseph P. and Mary (Cesca) Sadowski.
He attended local schools and graduated from Danbury High School, Class of 1967, and Norwalk Community College.
He was a mason by trade, and a member of Local 1-Connecticut, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. He enjoyed fishing, golfing and gardening.
Mr. Sadowski was an Army veteran and served during the Vietnam War.
He was a member of the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge, VFW Post No. 149 and Richter Park Golf Club, all of Danbury. He was a former member of the Padanaram Hose Fire Department.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Joseph of Danbury and Peter of New Milford; two nephews, Daniel and Nathan; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
The Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital Development Fund, Oncology Nursing Services, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810; or to Yale Cancer Center, Oncology Nursing Services, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520.
Victor A. Blois, 85, longtime Sherman resident
Victor A. Blois, 85, of Sherman died Nov. 15 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Kathleen (Spearman) Blois.
Mr. Blois was born Aug. 23, 1915, in Stamford, a son of the late Pasquale and Rose (DeVita) Blois. He had been a resident of Sherman since 1948.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Albert of Stamford; a daughter, Janet Salamon of Darien; two stepsons, Anthony and John Chirillo of New York; a brother, Julius of Stamford; three grandchildren, Scott, Mark and Dawn Salamon; and several nieces and nephews.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials in his memory may be made to the New Milford Hospital Oncology Unit, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Norma A. Robles, 60, former New Milfordite
Norma (Alvarez) Robles, 60, of Mukilteo, Wash., died Nov. 11 at her home.
Mrs. Robles was born Oct. 10, 1940, in Douglas, Ariz., a daughter of Jose G. Alvarez and the late Alicia Q. Alvarez of El Paso, Texas.
She attended Loretto Academy in El Paso and the Hotel Dieu School of Nursing. She worked as a dance instructor and then as a dedicated wife and mother.
She and her family lived in New Milford for 21 years. All of her children shared her talents as a musician, as she herself was an accomplished pianist.
Besides her father, Mrs. Robles is survived by two sisters, Irma A. Fernandez and Lydia A. Dickey, of El Paso; a brother, Hector Alvarez, of Tucson, Ariz.; her former husband, Dan Robles of New Milford; three sons, Daniel of Mukilteo and David and Arthur of New Milford; a daughter, Norma Alice, of El Paso; five grandchildren, Kristin Robles of El Paso and Elliott, Eden, Walter and Geneva Robles of New Milford.
The Martin Funeral Home of El Paso was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to The American Lung Association, 45 Ash St., East Hartford, CT 06108.
Jean Theobald, 57, was on staff at Kent School
Jean (Hague) Theobald, 57, of Kent School, Kent, died Nov. 16 at Torrington Extend-A-Care in Torrington. She was the wife of Louis Cyrus Theobald.
Mrs. Theobald was born Dec. 20, 1942, in Elizabeth, N.J., daughter of the late Edward W. and Margaret (Hunt) Hague.
She was a graduate of Union High School, Class of 1961, in Elizabeth, and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1965.
She lived in Kent since 1965 and was a member of the New Milford High School faculty from 1967 to 1972. She later was a librarian at the former Kent Girls School and more recently worked in the admissions department of the Kent School until her illness. She was a member of First Congregational Church of Kent.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Theobald is survived by two sons, Robert of St. Augustine, Fla., and Nicholas of Manchester, N.H.; two sisters, Marcia Denman of East Windsor, N.J., and Carol Machmer of Longwood, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Chapel at Kent School.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Theobald Scholarship Fund, Kent School, Kent, CT 06757.
