United States High School Yearbooks by County
Herbert Bloom, 86, father of Bridgewater woman
Herbert F. Bloom, 86, of Memorial Drive, Danbury, died Feb. 11 at Mediplex of Danbury. He was the husband of Mae (DeWitt) Bloom.
Mr. Bloom was born in Norwalk Dec. 22, 1914, son of the late William F. and Mary (Butterfazz) Bloom.
He received his education in Norwalk. He was a truck driver for the Public Works Department for the city of Danbury for 25 years and retired at the age 62.
Mr. Bloom was the shop steward for Local No. 677 Teamsters in Danbury and a member of the Danbury-Bethel Pigeon Racing Association.
Besides his wife, he is survived by five sons, David of Hampton, Neb., Dennis of Sandy Hook, Earl of Otego, N.Y., and Richard and Brian of Danbury; five daughters, Joyce Bloom of Norwalk, Judith A. Kubisek of Bridgewater, Sally R. Devine of Harford, N.Y., June L. Blazek of Cortland, N.Y., and Sandra M. Marinaro of Orlando, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson Dennis Bloom.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 607 Main St., Norwalk, CT 06851.
Anita Vassos, 81, mother of New Milford woman
Anita Gombos Vassos, 81, died Feb. 7 at Ashlar of Newtown. She was the widow of both James Gombos, her husband of 45 years, and more recently, her second husband, James Vassos.
Mrs. Vassos lived the early part of her life in Stamford.
In 1979, she and James Gombos retired to Brattleboro, Vt. They resided there until Mr. Gombos’ death in 1985.
In 1987, she wed Mr. Vassos and moved to La Verne, Calif. Mr. Vassos died in 1996, and she returned to Connecticut to be with her family.
She is survived by three daughters, Judith Columb of Southington, Deborah Gallo and her husband Guy of Stratford, and Patricia Malizia and her husband Vincent of New Milford; a son, James Gombos Jr. and his wife Bonnie of Norwalk; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister, Loretta Coppola of Stamford and Deerfield Beach, Fla.
A private burial will take place in Brattleboro, and a memorial service will be held in Connecticut at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Ashlar of Newtown, Toddy Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470.
Margaret Joyce, 85, mother of New Preston woman
Margaret L. Joyce, 85, of 201 Valley Drive, Pineville, La., formerly of 23 Terre Haute Road, Danbury, died Feb. 9 in Pineville. She was the wife of the late H. Norman Joyce.
Mrs. Joyce was born in Newtown Nov. 18, 1915, a daughter of the late Stephen and Etta (Gilbert) Stucklen.
She attended Newtown schools and was a retired inspector for the Barden Corporation of Danbury.
She resided in Pineville for the last seven years after moving there from Danbury. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Joyce is survived by a son, Paul of Pineville; a daughter, Karen Winters of New Preston; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to a charity of one’s own choice.
Matthew Flor IV, 29, was a Roxbury resident
Matthew Albert Wayne Flor IV, 29, of Roxbury died Feb. 21 at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, Calif.
Mr. Flor was born Nov. 26, 1971, in Encino, Calif., the son of Holly Flor of Roxbury and Albert Wayne Flor III of Santa Monica, Calif.
He graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford and attended Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
He was a software technician in California. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Marine Airwing VMA-212 as an electronic system technician on a F-18 Hornet.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his stepfather, Rudolph Mangels of Roxbury; a sister, Bradaigh of New York City; a maternal grandmother, Patricia Schuetz of Carson City, Nev.; and a paternal grandfather, Albert Wayne Flor Jr. of Friday Harbor, Wash.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Washington Hill Road, Washington, with the Rev. Robert Ficks officiating.
Interment will be in the Washington Green Cemetery, Washington in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Greenwoods Counseling Center, P.O. Box 1549, Litchfield, CT 06759-549; or to NAMI, P.O. Box 79972, Baltimore, MD 21279-0972.
Bella Vivieros, 85, aunt of New Milford woman
Bella Vivieros, 85, of Auburn Street, Danbury, died Feb. 26 at Mediplex of Danbury.
She was born in Fall River, Mass., daughter of the late Joseph Vivieros and Estelle Perry Vivieros Jaber. As a young girl, she moved to Danbury and attended Danbury schools.
Ms. Vivieros had been employed in the shipping department at Heli-Coil Corporation for 26 years, retiring in 1977.
She was a member of St. Gregory the Great Church.
She is survived by five nieces, Phyllis Steiner of St. Petersburg, Fla., Stella Koval of New Milford, Beverly Nickerson of Naugatuck and Renee Girard and Sandra Scalzo of Danbury; and several great nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gregory the Great Church today (Friday) at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Peter Cemetery.
There are no calling hours.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Living Trust of St. Gregory the Great Church, 85 Great Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811.
Doris Jajer, 71, had been local teacher’s aide
Doris (Williams) Jajer, 71, of 84 Park Lane Road, New Milford died Feb. 26 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of Martin A. Jajer.
Mrs. Jajer was born in Pawling, N.Y., March 5, 1929, a daughter of the late Oscar and Alice (Davidson) Williams.
She had at one time been a teacher’s aide at the former East Street Elementary School in New Milford.
Besides her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Gina M. Casper of Torrington, Marcie A. Thibodeau of New Milford and Kimberly M. Brasser of Redding; two brothers, Donald Williams of Southbury and Harry Williams of New Milford; two sisters, Betty Lucas of Ft. Clyde, Maine, and Shirley Stowe of Bulls Gap, Tenn.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Karen Nelson.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford handled arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the New Milford Hospital Columbia-Presbyterian Regional Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
Benjamin Slauson Jr., 79, father of New Milfordite
Benjamin A. Slauson Jr., 79, of Trumbull died Feb. 24 in Bridgeport Hospital. He was the husband of Gertrude (Woods) Slauson.
Mr. Slauson was born in Bridgeport and was a Trumbull resident for most of his life.
He was a retired tool and die maker for Remington Rand and General Electric.
Mr. Slauson was a World War II Army veteran and was stationed in the Pacific for five years. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star for heroism.
He was an animal lover and supporter of many humane society organizations.
Besides his wife, Mr. Slauson is survived by three sons, Charles of Stratford, Daniel of San Francisco and David of Trumbull; a daughter, Barbara Payne of New Milford; a brother, Bruce of Florida; a sister, Natalie Kamerzeo of Florida; three grandchildren, Kelly and Charles Slauson and Sarah Payne; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Benjamin A. Slauson III.
The Cyril F. Mullins Trumbull Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 455 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880.
Sylvester Pietras, 78, father of New Milford woman
Sylvester "Syl" Pietras, 78, of Valley Stream Drive, Danbury, died Feb. 20 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Doris (Berry) Pietras.
Mr. Pietras was born in Czastary, Poland, Nov. 13, 1922, son of the late Szyman and Antonina (Piec) Pietras.
He served with the Polish Navy under British command during World War II and received several citations for exemplary military service as a seaman.
He and his wife, Doris, whom he had met in Plymouth, England, moved to the United States in 1952. They lived in Yonkers, N.Y., prior to moving to Danbury in 1959.
Mr. Pietras had worked for 23 years at the Bird Imported Motors Auto Body Shop in Danbury and retired as shop manager. He was a member of the AARP.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Krystina Tinelli and her husband J. Michael of New Milford and Debra Nolan and her husband Mark of Danbury; a son, Michael of Brookfield; a brother. Peter of Danbury; four grandchildren, Kerrie Ann Doyle of Saco, Maine, Todd Tinelli of New Milford and Aubrey and Andrew Nolan of Danbury; a great-granddaughter, Sarah Doyle of Saco; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Julia Mazurkiecz of France and a brother, Anton of Poland.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, P.O. Box 950, Westport, CT 06881.
William Leviness, 48, native, Cortina Gardens owner
William R. Leviness, 48, of 15 Lake Road, Warren, died Feb. 21 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Margherita (Cortina) Leviness.
Mr. Leviness was born in New Milford Sept. 8, 1952, a son of William and Dorothy (Beatty) Leviness of Venice, Fla.
He was a graduate of New Milford High School, Class of 1971, and served in the United States Air Force from 1971 to 1975.
For a number of years he had been a self-employed stone mason contractor. Since 1991, with his wife, he had owned and operated Cortina Gardens in New Milford. He had lived in Warren since 1980.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, William of Washington and Christopher of Warren; a brother, Robert of Thomaston; and two sisters, Elizabeth Coolbeth of Warren and Barbara Parquette of Poultney, Vt.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Warren Ambulance, c/o the Warren Volunteer Fire Department, 11 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06757.
Cosimo Paparo, 44, leaves relatives in New Milford
Cosimo Ilario Paparo, 44, of 35 Well Ave., Danbury, died Feb. 24 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Joyce (Parnell) Paparo.
Mr. Paparo was born Oct. 30, 1956, in Kingwood, W.V., the son of Salvatore and Immacolata (Panetta) Paparo.
He moved to Danbury in 1959 and was a 1974 graduate of Danbury High School. He was employed as a mechanic for the Danbury Parks and Recreation Department for many years.
Mr. Paparo was a longtime member of the Phoenix Hose Co. and a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Danbury.
Besides his wife and parents of Danbury, he is survived by three daughters, Jillian, Gina and Nora; his faithful dog, Brandy, who always sat by his side during his illness; two brothers, Vincenzo and his wife Nancy of Daleville, Va., and Ilario and his wife Soheila of South Carolina; and three sisters, Diletta Chiera and her husband Carmelo of Danbury, Cecilia Mazza and her husband Cosimo of Brookfield and Gina Aiello and her husband Kenny of Brookfield.
He is also survived by his wife’s family, Chip and Deborah Esposito of Georgia, Charlie and Sherry Parnell of Kansas, Ginny and Randy Keeler of Danbury, Bob and Brian Parnell and his father-in-law, Charles Parnell, all of New Milford; 16 nieces and nephews; and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury handled arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Phoenix Hose Co., 14 Well Ave., Danbury, CT 06810.
