United States High School Yearbooks by County
Dolores Dorothy Bengivengo
Dolores Dorothy Bengivengo passed away Dec. 20, 2007, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She was born to the late Anna Palumbo Valentino and the late Raymond R. Valentino in Southington, Conn., on Oct. 22, 1926.
A resident of Hamden for most of her life, she was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Church and a past president of the church’s ladies league. For many years she filled several offices of the Cavenaugh Council of the Columbiettes, including that of president, and held the post of president of the Connecticut state chapter.
Dolores graduated Hamden High School and attended New York University before becoming a medical technician for Burt Laboratories and later for Eudow Laboratory. She is predeceased by her brother, Raymond Valentino Jr., and sister, Theresa Cozzolino. She is survived by her devoted husband of 45 years, Joseph Bengivengo, sisters Frances Volk of Branford, Ann Camarota of Marlboro, Mass., and Beverly Swan of Simsbury, as well as many nieces, nephews and grand- nieces and nephews.
Rosemary Ferrucci Cassidy
Rosemary Ferrucci Cassidy peacefully passed away on Dec. 11, 2007, at the Connecticut Hospice of Branford, surrounded by family and friends.
Born in New Haven, she was a lifelong resident of Hamden. She was predeceased by her father, Ralph Ferrucci. Surviving are her husband of 52 years, William Arthur Cassidy, and her mother, Rose Marone Ferrucci. Rosemary shared her life with her seven children, Kevin (Barbara) Cassidy, Sharon (Jim) Welch, Janet (Bill) Coughlin, Brian (LeAnn) Cassidy, David (Laura) Cassidy, Laura (Greg) Capuano and Leigh (Joe) Mangino. She had 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also surviving are her siblings and their spouses, Raffaello Ferrucci, Arlene Steinlauf, Catherine Ferrucci, Nancy Ferrucci (George Rigoulot), Michael Ferrucci (Beth MacArthur), and a sister-in-law Mary (George) Caulfield and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her family, Rosemary had many friends. She was a retired employee of the Hamden Board of Education. She was a member of the Hamden Women's Club as well as an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Church. Rosemary was also a member of the Irish American Community Center and Irish American Community Center Retirees. She loved to travel, garden and cook and was an avid reader. She will be truly missed by those who loved her.
The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the nursing staff at the Hospital of St. Raphael and at the Connecticut Hospice of Branford. In addition, the family extends a special thank you to Dr. Jeremy Kortmansky and his staff.
Margaret Arline Giampapa
Margaret Arline Giampapa passed away Dec. 17, 2007, at the Hospital of St. Raphael. She was 76. Born in Meriden, she was a lifelong resident of Hamden.
Mrs. Giampapa was a parishioner at St. Ann's Church in Hamden. She had a love for gardening, crocheting, doing puzzles and being with her children and grandchildren. Margaret was an avid fan of the UCONN Women's Basketball Team. A perfect way to describe Margaret was "small but mighty."
She was predeceased by her mother and father, Henry and Gertie Feegel; a brother, Robert Feegel; and a sister, Margie Miller. Surviving are her husband of 58 years, Anthony S. Giampapa Sr. They became true partners on Oct. 24, 1949. Also surviving are two sons and their wives, Anthony S. Jr. and Patricia Giampapa of North Carolina and Philip G. Sr. and Merri Giampapa of Connecticut; two daughters and their husbands, Patricia E. and Russell Kalbfeld of Illinois, and Virginia R. and Eugene Petersen of Connecticut; a sister-in-law Mary Feegel of Connecticut; a brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Evelyn Feegel of Maine, a sister-in-law Frances Fortuna of Connecticut, a sister-in-law Rose Downey of California, a brother-in-law and his wife, Joseph and Audrey Giampapa of South Carolina; eight grandchildren, Nicole Giampapa-Burrus and her husband, Jerry Burrus, Nadine Giampapa, Philip Giampapa Jr., Daniel Petersen, Alyssa Giampapa, Matthew Kalbfeld, Jeffrey Petersen and Noah Kalbfeld; two great-grandsons Cody Giampapa and Aiden Burrus; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Katharine B. “Kitty” Raban
Katharine “Kitty” Raban of Hamden passed peacefully away on Nov. 14, 2007, at the age of 98. Mrs. Raban was born Jan. 5, 1909, to the late David and Estella (Hoover) Barnett Sr., in Delta, Penn. She was the wife of the late Alfred M. Raban.
Kitty was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mrs. Raban is survived by her sons, William of Essex Junction, Vt., and Fred and wife, Susan, of Nashua, N.H.; two grandchildren, Kristin Whitworth and Meredith Paquette; three great grandchildren, Ryder Whitworth and Evan and Adam Paquette; two nephews, Robert Slater of Florida and David Barnett of Cheshire; as well as many nieces. She was predeceased by her daughter, Joan Raban, and two brothers, William and David Barnett Jr.
Nicholas A. Afragola
Nicholas (Nick) Anthony Afragola, 74, a longtime resident of Hamden, passed away at home on July 20, 2008, with his loving family by his side.
Nick was born on Dec. 7, 1933, to the late Jerry and Mary (Selitte) Afragola in New Haven. He graduated from Boardman Trade School of New Haven, was a communicant of Ascension Church and a past member of the Mix Volunteer Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Afragola, of Hamden; three daughters, Laura (Mike) Avery of North Haven and Sheri and Pamela Afragola both of Hamden; one sister, Carmel Walsh of Hamden; three grandchildren, Cody, Adam and Marissa Avery of North Haven; a nephew, Steven (Cathy) Walsh, and a niece, Sharon (Larry) Regan all of Hamden. He also leaves behind his good friend and caregiver, Shequitta McDuffie.
The family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, July 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Ave., before proceeding to Ascension Roman Catholic Church, 1050 Dunbar Hill Road, where the Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon. Interment will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park.
Theresa B. Schuster
Theresa B. Schuster passed away June 20, 2008, surrounded by her loving family and friends at her home in Hamden. She was 77.
She was born Dec. 17, 1930, in New Haven, to Clarance and Ethel Benson. Theresa graduated Hamden High School in 1949, and was a lifelong resident of Hamden.
Mrs. Schuster was a communicant at Blessed Sacrament Church. She was a comptroller for SNET in New Haven for 25 years. She was a very active woman involved with the New Haven Women's Club, the Elks of Hamden, the Irish-American Club of East Haven, the Telephone Pioneers Club and she volunteered at the Clelian Center in Hamden.
She was predeceased by her husband Herman M. Schuster in 2003, and a brother and sister-in-law, James (Betty) Benson.
Surviving are a son, Thomas M. Schuster of Hamden; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia S. (John) Buhalo of Philadelphia; a daughter, Kathleen M. Schuster of Hamden; a brother and sister-in-law, Joseph (Marie) Benson of Wallingford; a sister, Ethel Keogh; three grandchildren Michelle, Nicole and Kristen Buhalo; a great grandson, Marcus Skinner; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be June 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Ave. A mass will be offered Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Church. Interment will follow at St. Marys Cemetery, Hamden.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Theresa's name to the Clelian Center, 261 Benham St., Hamden, CT 06514, or the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.
Harvey R. Sommer
Harvey R. Sommer passed away June 16, 2008, at Saint Raphael's Hospital, New Haven. He was 85. Born in New Haven in June of 1922 to Sidney Sommer and Mary Cheh, Mr. Sommer was a lifelong resident of Hamden.
He graduated from MIT in 1944, during which he joined and served in the United States Navy during World War II. Mr. Sommer loved traveling and gourmet cooking. He was an avid golfer, and a true Renaissance man.
He was predeceased by his wife, Rosemary Doolan, in February of 2000, and his sister, Gwen Patrick.
Surviving are a son, Christopher Mark Sommer, a daughter, Nancy Sommer Nicholson of East Haven, a son-in-law, Timothy P. Nicholson of Branford, two grandchildren, Michael and Matthew Nicholson, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A memorial visitation will be held June 22 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Ave. A memorial service will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the World Wildlife Federation, 1401 19th Street, Huntsville, Texas 77340.
Annette Proto
Annette Proto, 83, wife of the late Frank Proto of Hamden, peacefully passed away June 13, 2008, at her home. She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Madeline Griego, sons Frank and Glenn (Kristiane) Proto and her eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Annette was the sister of the late Rose Crescenti, Carmella Apuzzo, James Esposito, Andrew Esposito, Michael Esposito, Pasquale Esposito, Joseph Esposito, Louis Esposito, Biaggio Esposito and Frank Esposito and had several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Ave., on June 16 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Friends and family will meet on June 17 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home before proceeding to Blessed Sacrament Church, where the Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may donate to the American Diabetes Association, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 105, Middletown, CT 06457, in Annette’s memory.
Helen M. (Binkoski) Haas
Helen M. Haas, 79, passed away June 11, 2008. Helen was born to the late Joseph and Pauline (Levenduski) Binkoski on June 22, 1928, in New Haven, where she resided until moving to Hamden 57 years ago.
Helen married
the late Henry Haas in 1947, and was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church. She is survived by her son, Frank (Denise) Haas of West Hartford, three daughters: Karen (David) Wojciechowski and Laura (Frank) DeStefano, all of Cheshire, and Bonnie (Roderick) McLennan of Guilford and her sister, Madeline Yuhas of East Haven.
Helen also leaves her grandchildren Melissa, Adam, Leah and Jessica, as well as many nieces, nephews and her cat, Columbo. She was predeceased by four brothers -- Victor, Joseph, Raymond and Teddy Binkoski.
The family will be receiving friends Sunday, June 15, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Ave. Friends and family will then gather on Monday, June 16, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home before proceeding to Blessed Sacrament Church, where the Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to VNA Services, Inc., 1100 Sherman Ave., Hamden, CT 06514.
