United States High School Yearbooks by County
Katharine C. Rossiter
Katharine Chadwick Rossiter, 98, of Bee Brook Road, Washington, Conn., died Tuesday at New Milford Hospital.
She was the wife of the late Ehrick W. Rossiter.
Born in Fall River, Mass., on Aug. 1, 1899, she was a daughter of James and Hanna Milne Chadwick. She spent her early life in Fall River.
Mrs. Rossiter graduated from the former Bennett Junior College in Millbrook, N.Y.
She had lived in Washington since 1925.
Mrs. Rossiter was a longtime member of the Washington Garden Club and of the Washington Golf Club where she had been, for a number of years, the club champion in the Ladies Division.
Surviving are a son, Thomas W. Rossiter of Needham, Mass., and two grandchildren, James L. Rossiter of Jeffersonville, Vt., and Page C. Rossiter of San Diego, Calif.
SERVICES: Saturday at 10 a.m., a graveside service will be conducted in the Washington Green Cemetery with the Rev. Robert L. Ficks III of St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington officiating.
Arrangements are by the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford.
Louise C. Tyler
Louise C. Tyler, 85, a retired kindergarten teacher in New Fairfield, died Monday at the Thornwald Home in Carlisle, Pa.
Mrs. Tyler, of Carlisle, was the wife of the late Howard Tyler.
Born in Herkimer, N.Y., March 21, 1912, she was a daughter of Dewey and Nell Henderson Carter.
Mrs. Tyler graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She also earned a master's degree from Columbia University.
Mrs. Tyler taught in New Fairfield for many years.
She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Carlisle and a volunteer for the public library there. In Mashpee, Mass., where she also had lived for a while, she was a volunteer for the adult care center and the library.
Surviving are a son, John D. Tyler of Carlisle, Pa.; a daughter, Cornelia Nickerson of Newville, Pa.; a brother, John H. Carter of New London, N.H.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box. 612, Carlisle, PA 17013.
SERVICES: Monday at 2 p.m., a memorial service will be conducted in St. John's Episcopal Church on the Square in Carlisle, Pa., with the Rev. Canon Mark A. Scheneman officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. A visitation will follow the memorial service at the church.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home, 219 North Hanover St., Carlisle, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.
Anna Tinger Huszar
Anna Tinger Huszar, 88, formerly of Danbury, died Monday at Columbia N.W. Regional Hospital in Margate, Fla.
Mrs. Huszar, of 1189 West River Road, Margate, was the wife of the late Joseph A. Huszar.
Born in New York City, March 4, 1909, she was a daughter of Matthew and Clara Reicher Tinger.
She had moved to Danbury in 1932 and had lived there until moving to Florida in 1970.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews, including Carolyn Stroup of Brookfield.
There are no calling hours.
SERVICES: Saturday at 10 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gregory the Great Church in Danbury. Burial will take place in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.
The Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.
Diane M. DeVito
Diane M. DeVito, 41, a teacher's aide in the North Salem school system, died Tuesday at Northern Westchester Hospital.
Mrs. DeVito, of Seven Oaks Lane, Brewster, N.Y., was the wife of Gary DeVito.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 27, 1955, she was a daughter of Eugene Slobodin of Mesa, Ariz., and the late Ruth Lesko Slobodin.
She graduated from John Jay High School in Brooklyn.
Mrs. DeVito had been employed by the North Salem school district for the past three years.
She was the leader of Girl Scout Troop #2245 of North Salem and was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield.
Besides her husband of 14 years, she is survived by a son, G. Michael DeVito, and a daughter, Kathryn Ruth DeVito, both of Brewster; a brother, Eugene Slobodin of Mahopac, N.Y.; and a niece.
Contributions in her memory may be made to I CAN Cancer Support Services, Peacock Alley, Suit 201, 1 Padanaram Road, Danbury, CT 06810.
CALLING HOURS: Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Terrace, Brewster, N.Y.
SERVICES: Monday at 10:30 a.m., a Mass will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield. Cremation services will be private.
John J. DiSiervi
John J. DiSiervi, 69, a market researcher and developer for area corporations, died July 29 at Danbury Hospital.
Mr. DiSiervi, of 12 Lyndenwood Drive, Brookfield, was the husband of Francesca von Sternberg DiSiervi.
Born in West Haven, May 14, 1928, he was a son of Philip and Concetta Parisi DiSiervi.
Mr. DiSiervi graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1953. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army.
Mr. DiSiervi had lived in Brookfield for five years.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Susan Condon of Brookfield and Patricia Buonocore of Madison, Conn.; a sister, Angela Moalli of Guilford, Conn.; and three grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 12 Byington Place, Norwalk, CT 06851.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Victory Church in West Haven. Burial took place in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven.
The West Haven Funeral Home, Savin Avenue, West Haven, was in charge of arrangements.
Saul Poliak
Saul Poliak, 92, a pioneer in the industrial exhibition field, a philanthropist, and a community activist in Redding, died Saturday at his home on Stimpaug Turnpike in Redding.
He was the husband of the late Janice Poliak, who died in 1989.
Born in Russia, Aug. 12, 1904, he was a son of Samuel and Celia Poliak. He emigrated to the United States in 1908, settling with his family in Colorado.
``He was one of the most remarkable men I ever met,'' said longtime friend, June Goodman of Danbury.
``Saul was a self-made man. He rose from nothing to become very successful,'' added a friend of 45 years, Helen Hermes of Redding. ``Mainly he was someone who everybody loved.''
Mr. Poliak was president of Clapp & Poliak Inc. of New York, a firm that produced industrial shows at its infancy, in the 1920s. He later became president of Kotch & Poliak.
His partner, Rita Kotch Burris of West Palm Beach, Fla., said Poliak was ``an innovative thinker and an outstanding entrepreneur.''
The Poliaks were major contributors to Danbury Hospital, according to John W. Hoffer, president of the hospital's development fund. Hoffer said Mr. Poliak was a supporter of the hospital's oncology program and the sleep lab program. The latter program is run by Poliak's longtime friend, Dr. Arthur Kotch.
``Saul Poliak was so kind, so gentle and intelligent ... that the world has lost a good human being,'' said Hoffer, his friend of 30 years. ``No one had anything bad to say about Saul,'' he added.
The Poliaks had once hosted the Danbury Hospital's Garden Party at their home, Hoffer said.
Among Mr. Poliak's other charitable contributions were major donations to his alma mater, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York. In 1983, the couple gave $3 million to the school to establish the Saul and Janice Poliak Center for the Study of First Amendment Issues. It became the country's first center to concentrate on the principles and applications of the First Amendment.
Mr. Poliak was a 1926 graduate of Columbia 's journalism school and for two years had served as a correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor in Mexico. He is the author of the book, ``Rebuilding the Sales Staff,'' published in 1945.
Columbia's journalism school administration released this statement upon Mr. Poliak's death: ``Both he and his late wife Janice issued in words and deeds their deep knowledge and appreciation of a free press.''
In addition, Mr. Poliak was a longtime supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
The Poliaks had moved to Redding in 1939 and quickly became active in the community. They were staunch supporters of the town's open space and preservation efforts.
Over the years, the Poliaks donated generously to the Redding Land Trust, which was established in 1967. According to The Redding Pilot, Mr. Poliak has willed 23 acres of his property to the Trust.
The Poliaks also were active in setting up conservation groups in Redding. He was a charter member and vice president of Redding Open Lands, Inc., established in 1969. He was also instrumental in helping the town to purchase Topstone Park in Redding.
Contributions in Mr. Poliak's memory may be made to Danbury Hospital Development Fund, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury 06810, or to the Connecticut Civil Liberties Foundation, c/o Bill Goodman, Shepard's Inc., 22 Henry St., Bethel, CT 06801.
The Columbia Graduate School of Journalism will conduct a memorial for Mr. Poliak in September, the date and time to be announced later.
Arrangements are by the Bouton Funeral Home, West Church Street, Georgetown.
Robert Underhill Sr.
Robert ``Pop'' Q. Underhill Sr., an outdoorsman who was active in family clubs and scouting, died Sunday at Moose Point State Park in Maine.
Mr. Underhill, of Danbury, was the husband of Marlene Anderson Underhill.
He was born in St. Augustine, Fla., a son of Frederick and Anne Quimby Underhill. He attended Henry Abbott Technical School in Danbury.
Following military service in the Air Force, Mr. Underhill was employed with Bard Parker for 19 years and Perkin Elmer for 12 years. He then worked with his family at Jewelry Designs for 10 years until his retirement.
Besides his wife, his survivors include two sons, Fred G. Underhill of Newtown and Robert Q. Underhill Jr. of Brookfield; a daughter, Holly Trocolly of Newtown; a sister, Nan Deuschelle of Danbury; a brother, Thomas Underhill of Danbury; and seven grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.
CALLING HOURS: Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Tomlinson Homestead, 336 Main St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Tomlinson Homestead with the Rev. Paul Ricard officiating.
Steven George
Steven George, 53, a communication engineer, died Monday at Sloan-Kettering Hospital, New York City.
Mr. George lived at 76-10 34th Ave., Jackson Heights, N.Y.
He was born in Hungary, June 23, 1944, a son of Yolanda Sipos George and the late Stephen George.
A graduate of Brooklyn Polytechnical Institute, he received a bachelor's degree in physics.
He was employed at Ascom TimePlex Co.
Besides his mother, Mr. George is survived by a son, Steven George Jr. of Danbury; two daughters, Diana Allwein of Newtown and Catherine George of Bethel; a brother, Andrew George of Monroe; and a grandson.
CALLING HOURS: Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown.
SERVICES: Thursday at 8 p.m., a memorial service at the Honan Funeral Home. Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.
William W. Finlay
William W. Finlay, 97, a retired aircraft manufacturer, died Saturday at Mediplex of Southbury.
Mr. Finlay, of 180 E Heritage Village, Southbury, was the husband of Natalie Curtis Finlay.
He was born in London, March 1, 1900, a son of William David and Ada Glocking Finlay.
Mr. Finlay was an aircraft manufacturer with the Curtiss Wright Company.
For many years, he volunteered with Connecticut Volunteer Service for the Blind and Handicapped, an organization that records books on tape for the blind and handicapped. Mr. Finlay was instrumental in founding that program at the Southbury Public Library.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a brother, Frederick Finlay of Ottawa, Canada; and two nephews.
Contributions in his memory may be made to CVSBH, c/o Southbury Public Library, Main Street South, Southbury 06488.
There are no calling hours. Funeral services will take place at he convenience of the family.
The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main Street North, Southbury is in charge of arrangements.
John J. Repko
John ``Jack'' J. Repko, 66, a lifelong Danbury resident, died Monday at his home at 17 Cedar St.
Mr. Repko was the husband of Dorothy M. Jacobsen Repko.
Born in Danbury on Nov. 13, 1930, he was a son of John J. and Anna Sadlon Repko.
He was a 1948 graduate of Danbury High School and received his bachelor's degree in 1952 from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.
Mr. Repko served in the U.S. Army in Japan.
Following his military service, he was employed for 20 years at Barden's in Danbury. He then worked as the East Coast representative for Allied Signal of Phoenix, Ariz., until his retirement in 1992.
Mr. Repko was a member for more than 50 years of the First Congregational Church of Danbury. He was a former member and former secretary of the Elks and was also a former member of the American Society of Quality Control.
Besides his wife, his survivors include a son, Keith Repko of Danbury; two daughters, Melody R. Surich of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Lauren A. Briganti of Bethel; and six grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury 06810, or Danbury Hospital Oncology Unit, Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury 06810.
CALLING HOURS: Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division St., Danbury.
SERVICES: Thursday at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow at the First Congregational Church of Danbury with the Rev. Mary Louise Howson officiating. Burial will take place in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury.
