United States High School Yearbooks by County
Wilson P. Ware
Wilson P. Ware, 84, a former resident of Sherman where he was involved in community activities for many years, died Sunday at his home in Heritage Village, Southbury.
Mr. Ware was the husband of Joyce C. Ware.
Born in New York City, June 11, 1913, he was a son of Arthur and Florence Ware.
He was a 1932 graduate of St. George's School, Newport, R.I. He then graduated from Yale University in 1936 and the Yale University School of Drama in 1939.
A veteran of World War II, he served with the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He was wounded during combat duty in Italy and was awarded a Bronze Star for organizing defenses against enemy counterattack while subjecting himself to intense artillery and mortar fire.
Mr. Ware moved to Sherman in 1951 and was an active member of The Sherman Players for many years.
In 1954, he joined the editorial board of The Sherman Sentinel and served for 25 years. He was editor for 11 years and drew the pen and ink sketches of Sherman scenes which appeared on many of The Sentinel's front pages. Mr. Ware's sketches have since been gathered into two collections with a third and final collection due to be published later this year. In 1991, he assembled and edited for The Sherman Historical Society a collection of articles, stories and poems that appeared in The Sentinel from 1947-1987.
During his years in Sherman, Mr. Ware served as chairman of the Beach Committee, the Town Planning Committee, the Sherman Library Board and the Sherman Town Hall Building Committee. For 20 years, he served as Sherman's probate judge. He was also secretary to the Sherman Community Development Plan Committee which worked toward the purchase of significant areas of land for town use and recreation.
Since moving to Heritage Village, he donated designs for the war memorial in front of Sherman's Old Town Hall.
During his career, Mr. Ware worked for the Boys Club of New York and the East Side Settlement House. He wrote, produced and designed scenery for plays. He also designed church furniture and both private houses and public buildings. He also participated in a Georgia-based land conservancy effort.
Between 1970 and 1986, he taught art and architecture at the Buxton School in Williamstown, Mass. Of all his activities, Mr. Ware said that teaching meant the most to him.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Arthur E. Coates; a granddaughter; and a step-grandson.
Contributions in his memory may be made to The Sherman Historical Society, Sherman 06784, or to the Buxton School, Stone Hill Road, Williamstown, MA 01267, or to Hospice at Home, Southbury VNA, 800 Main St., Southbury 06488.
A memorial service will be conducted at a later date.
The Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main Street South, Southbury, was in charge of cremation arrangements.
Mary I. Maser
Mary I. Maser, 87, a resident of Newtown since 1945, died Sunday at Danbury Hospital.
Mrs. Maser, of Nunnawauk Meadows, Newtown, was the wife of George L. Maser. Mr. and Mrs. Maser had lived on Flat Swamp Road for many years before moving to Nunnawauk Meadows.
She was born in New York City, Oct. 14, 1909, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George DeWitt.
In her earlier years, Mrs. Maser was employed as a telephone operator with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.
She was involved with the home demonstration program or the Fairfield County Extension Service for many years.
She was a member of St. Rose Church, the Newtown Homemakers Club, the Dodgingtown Fire Company Auxiliary, the Newtown Senior Center and the Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Association.
Mrs. Maser's only immediate survivor is her husband.
CALLING HOURS: Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown.
SERVICES: Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Honan Funeral Home; followed at 10:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rose Church. Burial will take place in Newtown Village Cemetery.
Bonnie Colleen Bebb
Bonnie Colleen Bebb, 33, a native of Danbury, died of a heart attack Aug. 7 at her home in Falcon, Colo.
She was the wife of Chris Lee Bebb.
Born in Danbury, Jan. 4, 1964, Mrs. Bebb was a daughter of Donald Taschereau of Tampa, Fla., and Barbara Cypher of Danbury. She graduated from Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pike's Peak Institute.
Mrs. Bebb was employed as a manager by Cub Foods in Colorado Springs. She also was a volunteer firefighter for the Falcon Fire Department.
She had lived in the Falcon area for the past 16 years.
Besides her husband of 14 years and her parents, she is survived by two sons, Christopher James and Carl Joseph, and two daughters, Tanya Lee and Tabitha Lynn, all of Falcon, Colo.; her maternal grandmother, Ruth Ashby of Danbury; her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Taschereau of Dunedin, Fla.; two brothers, Roger Pruneau of Danbury and Jack Taschereau of Florida; and three sisters, Donna Erickson of Colorado, Linda Pruneau-Sheehy of Danbury and Susan Taschereau of Florida, and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Falcon Fire Department, c/o Bonnie Bebb Memorial, 7030 N. Meridian Road, Falcon, CO 80831.
Memorial services were conducted in Falcon, Colo., and cremation took place by Alternative Funeral and Cremation of Falcon.
Angelo Azzolino
Angelo Azzolino, a retired chauffeur, died Thursday at Danbury Hospital.
Mr. Azzolino, of Danbury and formerly of Yonkers, N.Y., was the husband of Laura Teloso Azzolino.
Born in Bari, Italy, he was a son of Anthony and Madeline Romita Azzolino. He had lived in the United States most of his life.
He had been a career chauffeur and had been employed by Sullivan and Sons Trucking in Westchester County, N.Y. He was a member of Teamsters Local 456 in Elmsford, N.Y.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Anthony Azzolino of New Fairfield; a daughter, Lauratina Giannelli of Danbury; a brother, Albert Azzolino of Yonkers, N.Y.; and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Laurie Ann.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
CALLING HOURS: Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tomlinson Homestead, 336 Main St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Saturday at 9:30 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church in New Fairfield. Burial will take place Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Oakland Cemetery, Yonkers, N.Y.
Darwin G. Smith
Darwin G. Smith, 97, a retired inventor, died Thursday at his home, 14 Elizabeth St., Newtown.
He was the husband of the late Florence Armstrong Smith.
Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Oct. 5, 1899, he was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Smith.
For more than 50 years he had been employed as an inventor by Singer Sewing Machine Company in Bridgeport and later as a consultant for the company.
Mr. Smith was a veteran of World War I, serving with the U.S. Navy.
He was a resident of Newtown for 34 years.
Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Tomlinson of Troy, N.Y.; a granddaughter, Noel Santella of Sandy Hook; and several great-grandchildren, including Kim D'Amico and Lynne Bergeron, both of Newtown.
Contributions may be made to the Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury. CALLING HOURS: Friday from 6 to 9 p.m at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown.
Graveside services will be conducted at the Newtown Village Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Cremation will be in Mountain Grove Crematory of Bridgeport.
John Vidak
John Vidak, 57, a tool and die maker, died Tuesday at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn.
Mr. Vidak, of Bog Hollow Road, Wassiac, N.Y., was the husband of Linda Malumphy Vidak.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 26, 1940, he was a son of Matilda Vidak and the late John Vidak.
Mr. Vidak had been employed by the Berkshire Transformer Corporation for more than 16 years. He had lived in Wassiac for 20 years.
Besides his wife and mother, he is survived by a son, Jason Vidak of Wassiac, N.Y.; two brothers, Sandor Vidak and Louis Vidak, both of Florida; two grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
SERVICES: Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Sherman Congregational Church in Sherman with the Rev. L. Randall Thompson, minister, officiating.
Ruth E. Miller Smith
Funeral services for Ruth E. Miller Smith will be conducted Friday at 11 a.m. at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury. Burial will take place in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.
Mrs. Smith, 78, of Meriden Road in Waterbury and formerly of the Danbury-Bethel area for many years, died Monday at Waterbury Hospital. She was the wife of Ernest R. Smith.
Besides her husband, she is survived by four sons, Frederick R. Erickson and Charles E. Erickson, both of Danbury, Richard L. Erickson of Bethel and William J. Erickson of Redding, Calif.; two daughters, Donna R. Filous of Norfolk, Conn., and Eileen A. Norton of Waterbury; two step-daughters, Elsie Tiano of Sharon, Vt., and Nancy Drown of Naugatuck; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Robert N. Erickson.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Marie K. Baum
Marie Kauffman Baum, 88, a retired faculty member of the Cornwall Consolidated School in Cornwall, died Tuesday at The Kent, Specialty Care Facility, in Kent.
Ms. Baum formerly lived on Hickory Ledge Road in Kent, Conn.
Born in Reading, Pa., May 28, 1909, she was a daughter of Benjamin H. and Sadie Kauffman.
Ms. Baum graduated from Towson State University and earned a master's degree from Columbia University.
Survivors are a nephew, Stewart Kauffman of Lancaster, Pa., and a niece, Ethel Zellers of Reading, Pa.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Book of Remembrance at First Congregational Church of Kent, or to the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society.
CALLING HOURS: Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford.
Memorial services will be conducted at a time to be announced at the First Congregational Church of Kent with the Rev. Melinda Keck officiating. Burial will take place Saturday in Manomet Cemetery, Manomet, Mass.
Blanche H. Walls
Blanche Hopkins Walls, 92, of 22 Hospital Ave., Danbury, died Tuesday at Heritage Heights Care Center in Danbury.
She was the wife of the late George Walls.
Born in Danbury, April 7, 1905, she was a daughter of Byron and Georgina Murdock Hopkins. She attended Danbury schools.
Mrs. Walls leaves no immediate survivors.
There are no calling hours.
SERVICES: Monday at 1 p.m., graveside services will be conducted at Wooster Cemetery, Danbury.
George C. Dayton
George Charles Dayton, former comptroller of the Barden Corporation in Danbury, died Sunday in North Miami Hospital.
Mr. Dayton, of Key Biscayne, Fla., and Taylorsville, N.C., was the husband of Betty Hoad Dayton.
While a resident of Connecticut, he was chairman of the Redding School Board of Education, the senior warden of Christ Church of Redding and prosecutor for the town of Redding.
Mr. Dayton moved to Taylorsville in 1961 until his retirement in 1982.
While in North Carolina, Mr. Dayton served on the Taylorsville town board and business boards.
Besides his wife of 57 years, he is survived by two sons, James R. Dayton of Taylorsville, N.C., George C. Dayton Jr. of Kendall, Fla.; a brother, John H. Dayton of North Carolina; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at Van Orsdel Funeral Home in Coral Gables, Fla. Burial took place in Miami Memorial Park in Miami.
Stephen S. Kelly
Stephen S. Kelly, 89, a retired private investigator, died Saturday at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Kelly, of 70 Beach Hill Road, Bridgewater, was the husband of the late Emma Schuyler Kelly.
Born in New York City, Oct. 16, 1907, he was an Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Kelly had lived in Bridgewater for the past 27 years.
Surviving is a nephew, John E. Kelly of Moyock, N.C.
Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 11:30 a.m. in Woestina Cemetery in Rotterdam, N.Y.
Arrangements are by the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford.
Ruth E. Miller Smith
Ruth E. Miller Smith, 78, formerly of the Danbury-Bethel area for many years, died Monday at Waterbury Hospital.
Mrs. Smith, of 1798 Meriden Road, Waterbury, was the wife of Ernest R. Smith.
Born in Revloc, Pa., June 9, 1919, she was a daughter of William and Marion Gosaline Miller.
Mrs. Smith was a graduate of Carmel (N.Y) High School. She moved to Waterbury about 20 years ago.
Besides her husband, she is survived by four sons, Frederick R. and Charles E., both of Danbury, Richard L. of Bethel, and William J. of Redding, Calif.; two daughters, Donna R. Filous of Norfolk, and Eileen A. Norton of Waterbury; two step-daughters, Elsie Tiano of Sharon, Vt., and Nancy Drown of Naugatuck; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Robert N. Erickson.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492.
CALLING HOURS: Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Friday at 11 a.m. at the Green Funeral Home in Danbury. Burial will take place in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.
Susan E. Janutolo
Susan E. Sluti Janutolo, 90, a retired seamstress, died Wednesday at Danbury Hospital.
Mrs. Janutolo, of 51 Main St., Danbury, was the wife of the late Lorenzo A. Janutolo.
Born in Danbury, April 19, 1907, she was a daughter of Peter and Maria Anna Pastorak Sluti. She attended Danbury schools.
Mrs. Janutolo had been employed as a seamstress for the former Henry Dick & Sons Furniture Store in Danbury for more than 20 years.
A lifelong resident of Danbury, she was a member of St. Peter Church of Danbury.
Surviving are a son, Lorenzo J. Janutolo of Bethel; a daughter, Susan J. Haefner of East Hartford; a brother, George Sluti of Brookfield; a sister, Helena Stillson of Danbury; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 139 Puyster Ave., Beacon, NY 12508.
CALLING HOURS: Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Friday at 9:30 a.m. from the Green Funeral Home in Danbury to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Church in Danbury. Burial will take place in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.
