United States High School Yearbooks by County
Malcolm R. Major
Malcolm R. Major, 69, U.S. Army and Air Force National Guard veteran and former Greenwich resident of Oxford, died on Jan. 6, 2010, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Major was born October 5, 1940 in Newton Heath, Manchester, England, son of the late Joseph and Eliza (Walsh) Major. In 1956 he and his family moved to the U.S., where they moved to Port Chester and later settled in Greenwich.
In the early 60s Major served in both the Army and Air Force National Guard achieving rank of staff sergeant.
He was very active in the Boys Scouts of America and helped organize the Port Chester Volunteer Ambulance Service.
In 1969 Major became a trooper for the Connecticut state police and served as treasurer for the State Police Union. After retiring in 1983, he coached children's soccer in Oxford, drove coach buses, managed several department stores and returned to school to receive his realtor's license. He moved to Oxford in 1976.
He is survived by Alice Eileen Yade Major, his wife of 45 years; his son, Kevin Major and wife, Holly, and children Megan and Kali of Naugatuck; his daughter, Kimberly DuBois and husband, Kyle, and their children Keith, Morgan and Amanda of Plymouth; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother, Clifford Major, and a sister, Audrey Galvin.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 11. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Diane Sandor Oestmann
Diane Sandor Oestmann, 56, Greenwich native and resident of Stamford, died on Jan. 9, 2010.
She was born in Greenwich on Sept. 15, 1953 to Edward and Mary Sandor. She was the wife of William Oestmann for 18 years.
Oestmann worked as a bookkeeper for Empire and Cats Transportation of Stamford as well as the Stamford Wrecking Company as an administrative assistant.
Oestmann is survived by a nephew, Patrick Fox of Glenville; a niece, Dawn Fox; and her best friend, Shirley Flynn. She was predeceased by a sister, Beverly Fox.
The family has requested that funeral services remain private.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Connecticut, 45 Ash St. East Hartford, CT 06108-3272. You may also leave an online condolence at www.castiglionefh.com.
Helen Morrison Thompson
Helen Morrison Thompson, 92, died on Jan. 3, 2010.
She was born on Sept. 26, 1917, to Roger and Alys Morrison of Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 30, 1941, she married
Grant McMillan Thompson, also of Cincinnati, and embarked with him on a 63-year marriage full of travel, adventure, family and a multitude of friends from Cincinnati to Old Greenwich to Vero Beach, Fla.
Thompson, who gave up a career in graphic art to become a full-time homemaker, loved all kinds of crafts, from needlework and decoupage to, later in life and with the help of her husband, miniature replicas of the rooms of her Connecticut house.
She was a member of the Junior League, a Candy Striper, and Brownie leader who instilled in the girls of Troop 42 the importance of the perfect hospital corner, a skill which earned them their housekeeping badges.
She is survived by her three children: Geoffrey Scott Thompson and his wife, Karyn Planett of Bradley, Calif.; Christie Thompson Sumner of Lincoln, Vt.; and Anne McMillan Thompson and her husband, Daniel Stannard of Burlington, Vt.
She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren, Whitman Thompson and Shannon Cleverley-Thompson of Rochester, N.Y., Christine Sumner and Dan Moran of Montpelier, Vt., Chad and Emily Sumner of South Hamilton, Mass., Travis and Sarah Sumner of Newburyport, Mass., Annie and Ryan Rossier of Vt. and Geoffrey and Dwight Stannard of Burlington, Vt.; and six great-grandchildren: Spencer and Ramsey Thompson, Will, Henry and Clara Sumner, and Lila Sumner. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and by her close friend Muffy Hensley of St. Louis, Mo.
She was predeceased by her husband, Grant; her sister, Laura Ann Baldwin of Cincinnati; and her son-in-law, William Sumner.
There are no formal visiting hours and the family will hold a private memorial at a later date.
Contributions in Thompson's name may be made, with her family's thanks, to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or at 800-272-3900.
Herbert Terrell Vaningen, Jr.
Herbert Terrell Vaningen Jr., 85, of Greenwich, died Jan. 8, 2010 at home.
He was born in Manhattan on Nov. 17, 1924 to Herbert and Jessica Bishop VanIngen.
VanIngen served in the U. S. Marine Corps and was a graduate of Yale University, Class of 1945.
He was also a member of the 1948 U. S. Olympic hockey team and an All American athlete in soccer and lacrosse.
VanIngen spent his career in advertising at The New York Times and Curtis Publishing.
He is survived by his wife, Harriet Judson VanIngen; four sons: Judson VanIngen of Greenwich, Scribner VanIngen, Terrell VanIngen III, and Langdon VanIngen, all of Darien. He was predeceased by his sisters, Ann Turner Black and Jane Turner.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 14 at Christ Church in Greenwich.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave. 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or to Greenwich Hospital Home Hospice, 5 Perryridge Road, Greenwich, CT 06830.
Carmella Bruno Urso
Carmella Bruno Urso, 96, of Winthrop, Maine and formerly of Greenwich, died on March 30, 2010 at Winthrop Manor.
She was born in Greenwich on Sept. 18, 1913 to Frank and Angelina Bruno. Carmella was educated in Greenwich schools, where she was a lifelong resident until four years ago when, to be closer to her son, Lou, she became a resident at Winthrop Manor.
In her earlier years, Urso enjoyed dancing with her husband before his passing several years ago.
She is survived by her son, Louis T. Urso, Jr. of Winthrop; two sisters, Mary Fujitani and Lillian Stolfi, both of Greenwich; her two grandchildren, Gary P. Urso and his wife, Michelle, and Kimberly Tuttle, both of Winthrop; as well as her three great-grandchildren: Savannah, Noah and Nicholas.
Urso was predeceased by her husband, Louis T. Urso, Sr., her three brothers and two sisters.
A celebration of Urso's life was held on April 7 at St. Agnes Church. Interment followed in St. Mary's cemetery in Greenwich.
Ellen Duncan Blanchard
Ellen Duncan Blanchard, 81, former Greenwich resident, died peacefully on Nov. 24, 2009 at The Arbors Community for Alzheimer's Care in Shelburne, Vt. .
She was born in New York City on Feb. 28, 1928 to Eleanor M. Duncan and architect Perry M. Duncan, both of Huntington, W. Va. and spent her childhood in Bronxville, N.Y.
Blanchard then attended Madeira School in McLean, Va., and Barnard College in Manhattan.
On Oct. 17, 1947 she married
Kimball Blanchard of Irvington, N.Y. and South Hero, Vt. and the couple settled in Greenwich in 1949, where they raised their four children.
They spent summers on Lake Champlain in South Hero, and in 1994 they moved to Burlington, Vt. to be closer to family.
Blanchard loved theater, film, music, and literature.
She was a dedicated volunteer in the Greenwich public school system who directed local musicals and tutored children with learning disabilities.
Blanchard also served on the Board of Education and championed creative teaching and learning.
Family and friends say she was happiest sharing deep conversation with family and friends of all ages and generations.
She was a mentor to many. Her door was always open and she delighted in surprise visits.
Family was the central focus of her life, they say. She was an extraordinary mother who raised her children with unconditional love and understanding.
She is survived by her husband, Kimball Blanchard of Burlington and South Hero; by her three children: Perry D. Blanchard of Charlotte, Vt. and South Hero; Maxine M. Blanchard of Burlington; Ellen K. Blanchard of Woods Hole, Mass.; and Erik C. Blanchard of Norwich, Vt.; and seven grandchildren: Kate, Daphne and Portia; Wesley and Renata; and Breton and Cooper.
She is also survived by her sister, Skipwith D. Ho of Wainscott, N.Y.; two sisters-in-law, Bet B. Bower of Southbury, and South Hero, and Marianne S. Blanchard of Key West, Fla. and South Hero; five nieces and nephews: Casey, Lee, Nina, Francesca, and Antonia; a nephew, Stephen; five great-nieces: Erin, Lily, Gussie, Julia, and Molly; four great-nephews: Cory, Robert, Robby, and Tyler; and a great niece and nephew, Will and Lucy.
A private celebration honoring Blanchard's life will be held next spring or summer.
The family wishies to extend its heartfelt thanks to everyone at The Arbors and at Armistead Caregiver Services who were involved with Ellen's care.
Memorial gifts may be made in Ellen's honor to The Flynn Theatre, c/o Paula Roberts, 153 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
