United States High School Yearbooks by County
Barbara E. Benson
Barbara E. Benson, 65, a registered nurse and occupational therapist and the sister of Shirley Hall of Danbury, died Feb. 8 in Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
Mrs. Benson, of Wingdale, N.Y., was the wife of Van Ness Benson Sr.
She was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., June 19, 1932, a daughter of James Richard and Letha Ellis. She was a 1950 graduate of the Pawling Central School District, a graduate of the Krissler Business Institute and the Harlem Valley School of Nursing.
Before her 1984 retirement, Mrs. Benson worked for more than 20 years in the occupational therapy department at the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center.
She was a member of the Pawling Methodist Church.
Besides her husband and sister, Mrs. Benson is survived by a son, Van Ness Benson Jr. of San Diego, Calif.; two daughters, April Marie Riviera of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Rosemary E. Benson of White Plains, N.Y.; two grandchildren; and a nephew and several nieces.
Burial took place in South Dover Cemetery, Wingdale, N.Y.
William Hickok
William Blaine Hickok, 44, a resident of New Milford for the past 24 years, died Tuesday at his home at 55 Bel-Air Drive.
Mr. Hickok was born in Danbury, Nov. 13, 1953, a son of Marilyn Worth and the late Gordon D. Hickok.
Besides his mother, Mr. Hickok is survived by his fiancee, Karen Chmelko of New Milford; a daughter, Ryan Jean Maestri of Waterbury; two brothers, Gordon Hickok of Brewster and Albert J. Hickok of Orlando, Fla.; six sisters, Donna H. Doughty of Cleveland, Ga., Diana Northrope of Glover, Vt., Luella MacDonald of East Windsor, Conn., Susan Masse of New Milford, Cheryl Vannoni of Cleveland, Ohio, and Tonya Hickok of Barre, Vt.; two grandchildren; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
CALLING HOURS: Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the Hull Funeral Home with the Rev. Clare Ingham officiating. Graveside services will be conducted Saturday at 10 a.m. in Elmwood Cemetery, Bethel.
Shirley Pregler
Shirley Mae Pregler, 72, a former New Milford resident, died Tuesday in Lighthouse Point, Fla.
Mrs. Pregler was the wife of the late John A. Pregler.
She was born in Stamford, Conn., Aug. 25, 1925, a daughter of Pedro and Mable Barrenechea.
Mrs. Pregler moved to New Milford in 1962 and worked at New Milford Hospital for many years.
While living in Florida, she was active in the Methodist Church.
Her survivors include three daughters, Diane Leonard of Danbury, Kathy Pregler of Coral Springs, Fla., and Susan Pregler of Waterbury; a son, John Pregler of Coral Springs; a brother, Roy Barrenechea of Vero Beach, Fla.; several grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in Mrs. Pregler's memory may be made to the New Milford Methodist Church.
SERVICES: Saturday at 4 p.m., a memorial service at the New Milford Methodist Church with the Rev. Wayne Lavender officiating.'
Margaret M. Lord
Margaret M. Lord, 73, a retired waitress, died Sunday at her home in Patterson.
A resident of Patterson for the past 10 months, Mrs. Lord previously lived in Nanuet, N.Y., for 41 years. She was the wife of the late Ernest J. Lord.
She was born in New City, N.Y., Sept. 3, 1924, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine Tuciarone Squillini.
Before her retirement in 1993, Mrs. Lord was a waitress for more than 20 years at the Bear Mountain Inn in Bear Mountain, N.,Y. She then worked for more than five years at the Dellwood Country Club in New City, N.Y.
She was a member of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church in Nanuet.
Mrs. Lord is survived by a son, Michael Lord of Stony Point, N.Y.; a daughter, Susan D'Apice with whom she made her home in Patterson; seven brothers, Benjamin, Gerald, and Michael Squillini, all of West Haverstraw, N.Y., Jack and Thomas Squillini, both of Haverstraw, N.Y., and James and Vincent Squillini, both of Stony Point; five sisters, Catherine Gokey and Dolores Curran, both of Stony Point, Mary Ann Drexler and Virginia D'Ambrosia, both of Haverstraw, and Ann Maset of Highland Falls, N.Y.; and seven grandchildren.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Hospice of Northern Westchester and Putnam, 43 Kensico Ave., Mt. Kisco, N.Y. 10549.
There are no calling hours.
SERVICES: Saturday at 11 a.m., a Memorial Mass at St. Anthony's Church, Nanuet. Cremation was private.
The Dwyer Funeral Home, South Street, Patterson is in charge of arrangements.
Mariangela Alagna
Mariangela Alagna, 82, a native of Italy and a resident of Newtown since 1978, died Wednesday at the Bethel Health Care Center.
Mrs. Alagna, of 84 Huntington Road, Newtown, was the wife of Anthony Alagna.
She was born in Calabria, Italy, Jan. 6, 1916, a daughter of Pietro and Rossa Malena Parao. She came to the United States in 1958.
Mrs. Alagna was a dressmaker in Italy and the United States.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Frank Alagna of Trumbull, and Peter Alagna of Newtown; two daughters, Nella Pavia and Rosa Pavia, both of Newtown; three brothers in Italy; two sisters in Italy and a sister in Argentina; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Contributions in Mrs. Alagna's memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, Conn. 06450.
CALLING HOURS: Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown.
SERVICES: Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Honan Funeral Home; followed at 10 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rose Church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.'
Virginia M. Dolan
Virginia M. Dolan, 72, a retired postmaster at the Hawleyville Post Office, died Tuesday at her home.
Mrs. Dolan, of Hawleyville Road, Newtown, was the wife of George W. Dolan.
She was born in Elmhurst, N.Y., Sept. 5, 1925, a daughter of Frank and Mary Gassert. She was a graduate of Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.
A resident of Hawleyville since 1955, Mrs. Dolan went to work at the Hawleyville Post Office in 1964. She was appointed postmaster in 1979 and retired in 1992. She was previously employed for 10 years by Dun & Bradstreet in New York City.
She was a member of St. Rose Church, the Hawleyville Fire Company Auxiliary, and the National Association of Postmasters.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Dolan is survived by a daughter, Mary Griffin of Southbury; a brother, Francis Gassert of Jamesport, L.I., N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury 06810.
CALLING HOURS: Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown.
SERVICES: Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Honan Funeral Home; followed at 10 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rose Church. Burial will take place in St. Rose Cemetery.
Susan Primus
Susan Primus, 38, a letter carrier for the Southbury Post Office for the past eight years, died Tuesday at her home in Bethlehem, Conn.
Miss Primus lived at 38 Sunny Ridge Road in Bethlehem. She was the fiancee of Richard Kelly, of Bethlehem.
She was born in Waterbury, April 25, 1959, a daughter of Ann Murphy Primus of East Hartford and the late Furlan V. Primus.
Miss Primus was an artisan at Richard Morgan's Painted Bird and a member of Sacred Heart Church in Southbury.
Besides her mother and fiance, Miss Primus is survived by two brothers, Geoffrey Primus of Manchester, and Furlan Primus of Waterbury; and five sisters, Marianne Brumley of Woodbury, Marcia Colley of Southbury, Linda Primus of Manchester, and Janet Crawley and Zedra Primus, both of Oklahoma.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bethlehem Volunteer Ambulance Association, Bethlehem 06751, or to the Southbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 1002, Southbury 06488.
CALLING HOURS: Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main Street North, Southbury.
SERVICES: Friday at 10 a.m., a Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Southbury. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Harold Zucca Sr.
Harold L. Zucca Sr., retired proprietor of the former Danbury Home Appliances Inc., died yesterday at Glen Hill Convalescent Center, Danbury. He was 84.
Mr. Zucca was the husband of Helen Biehl Zucca of Lambert Lane, Brookfield.
He was born in Danbury, Feb. 23, 1914, a son of Oreste and Julia Kinney Zucca. During his youth, he lived on Patch Street in Danbury and he graduated from Danbury public schools. Before and throughout World War II, he was employed by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio, an industry vital to the war effort. He worked in New Rochelle, N.Y., and Bridgeport. After the war he returned to Danbury and founded his appliance store as a General Electric distributor in 1947. He retired in 1976. A Brookfield resident for many years, he owned farm property on Long Meadow Hill Road and lived in Candlewood Shores before recently moving back to Brookfield. He also had a winter home in Pompano Beach, Fla.
He was a golf enthusiast who won many tournaments as a member of Ridgewood Country Club. In later years he played with the Men's Club and the Senior Citizens at Richter Park, also in Danbury. He was a member of Lions International, in both New Rochelle, N.Y., and Danbury
Besides his wife of more than 63 years, he is survived by four sons, Harold L. Jr. of Brookfield, Dennis E. and Richard J., both of New Milford, and John O. of Palm Bay, Fla.; a sister, Dorothy Petrie of Palm Coast, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury 06810; or the New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, Route 202, New Milford 06776.
Private funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Tomlinson Homestead of Danbury.
Dominic Soldano
Dominic Soldano of Patterson, N.Y., died Wednesday at Westchester County Medical Center, Mount Pleasant, N.Y. He was 70.
Mr. Soldano was the husband of Susan Marra Soldano.
He was born Sept. 8, 1927, a son of Salvatore and Jenny Messina Soldano. He was born, educated and spent most of his life in the Bronx, N.Y. He also married there on Oct. 10, 1954. He was a mechanic at Mabstoa in New York City for 18 years until retiring in 1993. He spent the past 19 years in Patterson, where he was a member of Sacred Heart Church. He was a World War II Navy veteran.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Joseph Soldano of Brewster, N.Y., Anthony Soldano of Ridgefield; and a grandson.
CALLING HOURS: Today, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Ave., Brewster.
SERVICES: Tomorrow, 9:45 a.m., Sacred Heart Church, Patterson, the Rev. Ralph LaBelle officiating. Burial in St. Lawrence O'Toole Cemetery, Brewster.
Elsie Mae Backus
Elsie Mae Backus of Southbury Training School died Sunday at Danbury Hospital. She was 78.
Mrs. Backus was born in Bridgeport, Dec. 23, 1919, a daughter of the late Henry and Clara Robotham Backus. She lived at the training school for many years.
SERVICES: Memorial service, Monday, 1:30 p.m., Cottage 36 of Southbury Training School, Southbury. Graveside service, Monday, 2:45 p.m., New North Cemetery, Woodbury. Arrangements by Carpino Funeral Home of Southbury.'
Edwin Kolwicz
Edwin C. Kolwicz died Wednesday at his Bethel home at the age of 80.
Mr. Kolwicz was the husband of Alice Fandher Kolwicz.
He was born in Bridgeport, Sept. 14, 1917, a son of Walter and Cecilia Kolwicz. He graduated from Danbury schools, and the Old Hawleyville Road resident moved to Bethel 59 years ago. He worked as a meat cutter at the Village Market in Wilton for 20 years, and after retiring, worked as a courier for eight years for the Danbury Savings & Loan Association. He was active in the Housatonic Valley Antique Car Club and was a member of St. Thomas Episcopalian Church and the Masonic Eureka Lodge, both in Bethel.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, James E. of Columbus, Ohio, Richard H. of Bethel and Kenneth R. of Brookfield; three brothers, Louis of Fort Kent, Maine, Emil of Cleveland, Ohio, and Victor of Danbury; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Hanahoe Clinic, Main Street, Danbury 06810.
CALLING HOURS: Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m., Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Monday, 11 a.m., St. Thomas Church, Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, the Rev. David Pople, rector, officiating. Burial in Elmwood Cemetery, Bethel.
Barbara Grover
Barbara B. Grover of 7 Carpenter Close, Ridgefield, died Tuesday at Bridgeport Hospital. She was 80.
Mrs. Grover was the widow of Robert C. Grover, who died in 1983.
She was born in West Point, N.Y., April 11, 1917, a daughter of the late Walter J. and Anna Bradshaw. She was a graduate of Columbia University Teachers College.
A longtime resident of the Ridgefield/Wilton area, she was a former member of the Wilton Garden Club, a life member and past president of the Wilton Playshop and a member of St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield.
Survivors include two daughters, Betsy Grover McGrath of Bridgeport and Nancy M. Grover of Boynton Beach, Fla.; a sister, Dorothy Bavaro of Highland Falls, N.Y.; and a grandson.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford 06492.
CALLING HOURS: Monday, 5 to 8 p.m., Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.
SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., St. Mary's Church, Ridgefield. Burial follows, Hillside Cemetery, Wilton.
Conrad Sponberg
Conrad A. Sponberg of Gilbert Street, Ridgefield, died yesterday at Hancock Hall in Danbury. He was 71.
Mr. Sponberg was the husband of Mary T. Halloran Sponberg.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 12, 1927, a son of Conrad and Clara Sponberg. He worked for 33 years with the Lewis Fry Corp. in New York City, retiring in 1984. He was a member of the Ridgefield OWLS, a senior citizens club, and St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a sister, Wilwa Sponberg of Queens, N.Y., and several nieces and nephews.
CALLING HOURS: Monday, 4 to 7 p.m., Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.
SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, 1 p.m., St. Mary's Church, Ridgefield. Burial follows in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends are asked to omit flowers; mass cards in his memory are welcome.'
