United States High School Yearbooks by County
Elizabeth A.Rowley
Elizabeth Anne Rowley, 30, daughter of Robert S. and Emily L. Rowley of Danbury, died on Wednesday evening, January 12, 2000 at the Hartford Hospital.
Beth was born in Norwalk, December 16, 1969 and resided in Ridgefield most of her life. She attended Ridgefield schools and graduated from Ridgefield High School-Class of 1987. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Charter Oak College in 1993 and was employed with Hudson Computer Consulting LTD of Ridgefield.
As a member of the Ridgefield High School, she was active in band and chorus. She was a member of the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church of Ridgefield and was active in youth activities.
For the past twenty-two years, Beth suffered from kidney failure, receiving transplants from her mother, father and sister, Victoria Higley.
Beth also lived with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease and was an active campaigner for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
In addition to her parents and sister, she is survived by her maternal grandmother, Ethelle Luque of Miami, Fla.; her paternal grandmother, Maybelle Rowley of Shelton; her brother-in-law, Rob Higley; her niece/goddaughter Amanda Higley and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will take place on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 207 Main Street, Ridgefield.
Burial will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Eileen F. Pitkin
Eileen F. Pitkin, 36, of Cornell Road, Danbury, formerly of Middletown, 36, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000.
Born and raised in Middletown, Nov. 3, 1963, she was a daughter of Thomas and Angela Markowski of Middletown. She attended Middletown schools.
She was employed by SBG Lithography Systems of Wilton for seven and a half years.
Survivors include a sister, Nadine Markowski of Middletown; her companion, Rick Fenton of Danbury; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Calling hours are Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church in Middletown. Burial will be in St. Sebastian Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association.
Mary K. (Van Pelt) McKinney
Mary K. (Van Pelt) McKinney, 79, of 51 Prospect Ridge, Ridgefield, died at Danbury Hospital on Thursday, January 13, 2000.
Born in Detroit, Michigan August 2, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Harvey and Kathleen (Leahy) Van Pelt. She was a graduate of Cooley High School in Detroit. She worked as an Office Manager of a physician's office for more than 25 years.
An avid bridge player, she attained "Life Master" status. She greatly enjoyed her association with the Brookfield Seniors Bridge Club.
She was the loving mother of Robert McKinney of Danbury and John McKinney of Englewood, Fla. and mother-in-law of Janice McKinney of Danbury; as well as a devoted grandmother of Erin, Lauren and Sarah.
Funeral services and burial will take place in Michigan. There will be no calling hours. The Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Immaculate High School Memorial Fund, 73 Southern Blvd., Danbury, CT 06810.
Timothy R. Brewer
Timothy R. Brewer, age 47, a Risk Manager for G.E. Capital in Danbury, died Wednesday January 12, 2000 in Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City. Mr. Brewer was the husband of Christine (Orzek) Brewer and resided at 203 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook.
He was born in Coronado, Calif. July 6, 1952, a son of Robert and Mary Jane (Whigham) Brewer of Jeanette, Pa. Mr. Brewer was a graduate of St. Vincent College, Greensburg, Pa. He was employed by G.E. Capital the past 22 years. He was a resident of Sandy Hook 12 years.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Brewer is survived by a son, Joseph R. Brewer of Sandy Hook; two daughters, Jennifer M. Brewer of Sandy Hook and Jillian L. Brewer of Monroeville, Pa.; two brothers, Ronald Brewer of Jeanette, Pa. and Jerry Brewer of Economy Boro, Pa.; his maternal grandmother, Thelma Whigham of Jeanette, Pa. and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 15, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. from the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown and at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may call Friday (today) from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to: The Transplant Living Center, 235 E. 95th St., Normandy Court, Apt. 1J, New York, NY 10128.
Frank Dillingham
Frank Dillingham, a nationally known restorer of fine musical instruments whose hobbies included building and restoring everything from antique guns to Bugatti racing cars, died January 2, 2000 in Miami. He was 76.
Mr. Dillingham's musical talents ran the spectrum. He served on the conservation staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he worked on harpsichords, violins and other instruments. He was an organ, piano and harpsichord technician in the major concert halls in New York, as well as for Connoisseur Society Records.
Dillingham was also and accomplished musician himself. He worked with Leonard Bernstein on the "Omnibus" show in the 1950's. He sang with New York Pro Musica Antiqua under Noah Greenberg, for whom he built a reproduction medieval regal (portativ organ), later used by Leopold Stokowski in a production of "Orfeo".
During World War II, he was a test pilot for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft before serving overseas. Prior to that, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
His education was unconventional. He was largely self-taught, having moved around extensively during his childhood. He attended the Art Students League in Manhattan, where he studied sculpture with Arthur Lee and painting with Edwin Dickinson. He taught a course in organology (the study of musical instruments) at the New School in Manhattan in the 1960s.
Later, after moving to Connecticut, his work centered on piano restoration. His instruments were highly esteemed by artists, including Andrew Wolf and David Allen Werhr, winner of the 1987 Santander Piano Competition in Spain. His pianos were noted for their clarity of sound and their unusual blending qualities with other instruments.
Dillingham's hobbies were as varied as his professional endeavors. He was an expert on restoration of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys as well as motorcycles, clocks, antiques and firearms. He once constructed a Bugatti in his Manhattan apartment. He built numerous reproductions of antique firearms, as well as six violins and two cellos. He also put his inventive skills to use on practical jokes: the son-in-law of Associate Justice John Marshall Harlan of the United States Supreme Court, he built him a battery-operated "Jiffy Adjudicator" designed to illuminate various decision possibilities with small white lights.
Dillingham's creative genius was always the source of great amusement to his family. He created a car known as the "Bathtub" out of an Austin Mini-minor that he towed from an auto salvage dump and enhanced with a powerful MG engine. The roofless car got its name from plugs he drilled in the floor to let out rain that accumulated in inclement weather.
His workshop at home was a testament to his wide-ranging skills and interests. At the time of his passing, the shop contained a homemade elephant gun, a partially finished replica of an antique harpsichord and a motorcycle he built out of spare parts.
Dillingham was born June 22, 1923 in Buffalo, N.Y. He died on January 2, 2000 in Miami, Fla. from injuries sustained in a car accident.
He is survived by his wife, Eve Harlan Dillingham of West Redding; two children, Kate Dillingham of New York and Maud Dillingham of Miami, Fla.; three stepchildren, Alice Newcomb (Danbury), John Newcomb (Milford) and Amelia Newcomb (Hingham, Mass.); and two grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will take place February 26 at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, Lyons Plains Road, Westport.
Mildred M. Turco
Mildred M. Turco, 81, of 13 Johns Road, Brookfield, died at Laurelwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Ridgefield on January 12, 2000. Mrs. Turco has previously lived with her daughter in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. one year prior to moving to the rehabilitation center.
She was the wife of the late Anthony J. Turco, who preceded her in death on February 23, 1976.
Born in Milton, N.Y. December 11, 1918, she was a daughter of Carmen Fasano and Josephine Forte.
Mrs. Turco was employed as a Floor Lady at the Kemp and Beatley Co. in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. She was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., where she was a member of the Altar Rosary Society and a member of the 3rd Order of St. Francis at Mt. Alvernia in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Mrs. Turco is survived by a daughter, Barbara Turco Joyce of Brookfield; a son, Peter Turco of Manhattan, N.Y.; a sister, Frances (Vee) Fredericks of Hernando, Fla.; a brother, Nicholas Cafaro of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; and one granddaughter, Karen Joyce of Brookfield. She was predeceased by a son, Michael Turco in 1977 and a brother, Joseph Cafaro in 1986.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Clinton St., Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Delehanty Funeral Home, 64 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie NY 12601.
Anthony A. Strippoli
Anthony A. Strippoli died January 13, 2000 at the Danbury Hospital at the age of 81. He was the husband of the late Maria (Soni) Strippoli and lived at 160 South Street in Danbury.
Mr. Strippoli was born in Corato, Italy June 12, 1918, son of the late Louis and Lucy (Musci) Strippoli and came to this country in 1929 settling in Danbury. He attended Danbury schools and St. Peter Church.
Mr. Strippoli was a World War II veteran serving in Central Africa, Tripoli and Anzio. After World War II he worked for the US Government and returned to this country in 1954. He was the owner-operator of Castro Convertible Retail Furniture Sales in Jacksonville, Fla. for 25 years and retired at the age of 60. He was a member of the American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, VFW and the Americo Vespucci Lodge.
He is survived by his daughters, Barbara Parks of Redding and Cheryl Bouchard of Monroe; his two grandchildren, Michael and Jennifer Bouchard of Monroe; his sister, Josephine Tartaglia of Danbury and nephew, Anthony Tartaglia of Brookfield; two nieces, Debra Stone of Suffield and Lucille Blessey of Brookfield as well as several great nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at St. Peter Church at 10:30 a.m. Cremation will follow at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Danbury on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Contributions may be made to Regional Hospice, 32 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Peter Serniak
Peter Serniak of Yonkers, N.Y. died on Wednesday, January 12, 2000 at age 84. Born on September 15, 1915 to Michael and Margaret (Churik) Serniak in Yonkers, N.Y. where he was raised and graduated from Saunders High School.
Mr. Serniak was a Plastic Molder for Otis Elevator for over 37 years, retiring in 1978. He also served his country during World War II, when he enlisted in the Army. He received the Purple Heart for being wounded twice in Italy. He also was a recipient of a Presidential Citation for his infantry involvement during the war.
On February 8, 1948 he married Alice Fesh in St. Nicholas Church in Danbury. She survives.
Mr. Serniak was a parishioner of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church and was an avid fisherman and golfer.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Peter of Southbury and was predeceased by Mildred Granith, Walter and Samuel Serniak.
Visiting hours will be at the Whalen & Ball Funeral Home, 168 Park Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. on Saturday, January 15th from 1 to 5 p.m. Parastias Services will be conducted on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
Kenneth Tarrant
Kenneth Tarrant, 66, a lifelong resident of Georgetown, died on Wednesday (Jan. 12) at Danbury Hospital after an extended illness. He was the husband of Patrice R. Tarrant.
Mr. Tarrant was born in Danbury on August 11, 1933, a son of the late Earl H. Tarrant (a former chief of the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company) and the late Pauline Stenberg Tarrant. For the past twenty-five years he had been employed at the Eaton Corporation in Bethel.
He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the United States Navy. Mr. Tarrant was a life member of the Georgetown Lions Club and also was a former member of the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company for twenty years.
In addition to his wife of forty-five years, he is survived by his children: Colleen McDaniel of Bethel; Kip R. Tarrant; Kevin (Moe) Tarrant and Cassie Plummer, both of Brookfield; and nine grandchildren.
Services are to be private.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Oncology Department at Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810.
Arrangements are by the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown.
Antonia B.Tulipani
Antonia "Toni" B. Tulipani, 81, of 70 Ramapoo Road, Ridgefield, died Friday at her home unexpectedly. She was the wife of Aldo A. Tulipani.
Mrs. Tulipani was born in Ridgefield on Oct. 11, 1918, a daughter of the late Charles and Adele Marconi Bedini. She attended Ridgefield schools and was a lifelong Ridgefield resident.
Mrs. Tulipani was an active member of St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield. There she was a member of St. Mary's Rosary Society and its Adoration Society. She also was a member of the Italian-American Ladies Mutual Aid Society and the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion. Mrs. Tulipani was active in catering in the Ridgefield area for many years.
Besides her husband, survivors included three daughters, Virginia Zaleta of Danbury, Irene M. Gray of Wilton and Patricia M. Becker of Hingham, MA. Two sisters: Ada Brunetti of Danbury and Nancy Bedini of New Milford. She was predeceased by a sister, Lena Costanzo. 9 grandchildren: Diane Hassan, Andrew Zaleta, Susan Zaleta, Donald Zaleta, all of Danbury, Karen Coghlan of Ridgefield, David Gray and Brian Gray of Wilton, Allison Becker and Robert Becker,c of Hingham, MA. 6 great-grandchildren also survive.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Ridgefield. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends will be received on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.
Contributions in Mrs. Tulipani's memory may be made to Meals-on-Wheels, 25 Gilbert St., Ridgefield, CT, or to the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
