United States High School Yearbooks by County
Sylvia H. Griffith
Sylvia H. Griffith, 81, of Norwalk, died Dec. 28, in her home, while surrounded by her children, following an illness.
She was a resident of Norwalk since 1953.
Born on April 8, 1928 in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Alphons and Martha (Schenker) Hurzeler and grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y.
She was a 1949 graduate of the College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, N.J.
Prior to her marriage she worked at B. Altman in New York City. She spent 17 years as volunteer coordinator at S.T.A.R. (Society to Advance the Retarded). She also worked at RSVP, Christian Community Action and Daybreak Nursery and she enjoyed each position fully.
Griffith was an avid gardener, nature lover, and longtime member of Saint Jerome R.C. Church, serving on the Flower Committee and the Social Concerns Committee.
She especially loved the Norwalk Symphony and the Westport library. She volunteered for various causes over the years, most recently at Sunrise Assisted Living. She loved and helped many. Her friends and family were her greatest joys.
She is survived by two sons, Gregory and wife Heidi of Falcon, Colorado and Paul and wife Dorothy of Trumbull; one daughter Kate and husband Neil of Omaha, Neb.; eight grandchildren; three brothers Dr. Marc Hurzeler and wife Rosemary of Cheshire, Richard and wife Carol of Tyler, Texas and Phillip and wife Pat of Newburyport, Mass.; one sister, Suzie and her husband Carl, of New Rochelle, N.Y; many nieces and nephews, and former husband, Dr. James J. Griffith of Sarasota, Fla.
There will be Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at noon on Saturday in Saint Jerome R.C. Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk. Interment will be held privately. There are no calling hours.
Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to: Saint Jerome R.C. Church's Social Concerns Committee or the charity of one's choice.
The family has selected Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall St. to handle the arrangements.
Michael R. Harke
Michael R. Harke, 65, of Norwalk, died Dec. 23. He was the husband of Donna Tarzia Harke. Harke was born in Manhattan on April 13, 1944, son of the late Henry Harke and Iris Wales Harke.
After attending Pace University, he worked as an accountant and auditor before founding and operating a security business.
Harke was a former volunteer fireman in Norwalk and volunteered for various civic groups including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and St. Thomas the Apostle Church.
He had many hobbies including restoring classic cars, sailing and writing for historical journals. He was a member of the Sons of Italy, the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Connecticut and Sons of the American Revolution.
He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Kimberly, Michael and William Harke and their spouses; his two sisters Anne Marie Harke and Patricia Krankus, five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Harke.
The Magner Funeral Home in Norwalk handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Stroke Association, 9707 East Easter Lane, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
Robert "Wells" Jarboe
Robert "Wells" Jarboe, 82, of Norwalk, died Dec. 28 in Norwalk Hospital. He was the husband of Frances Hanlon Jarboe, whom he married
in St. Joseph Church, So. Norwalk, on Dec. 28, 1954.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Feb. 28, 1927, son of the late Vernon and Sadie Manning Jarboe, he was a Norwalk resident for 55 years. Jarboe served in the U. S. Navy starting in 1944, in the naval reserve, eventually becoming an active duty line officer [Lieut.] aboard the U. S. Intrepid [CVA-11], in the mid `50's. He also attended Brooklyn Poly Prep School and graduated from Brown University in 1947 with a B. S. in structural engineering, and furthered his education at Union College.
After the navy Jarboe worked in the construction field in New York City with the firm Gens -- Jarboe; joining Turner Construction in 1960. During his long career with Turner he worked on many large projects including Equitable Life headquarters and Penn Station/Madison Square Garden renovations.
Jarboe advanced in the company, becoming senior engineer for Turner's New York territory with responsibility over 50 engineers and many millions of dollars worth of projects. Representing Turner Construction, he chaired the United Way Tri-State Fundraising Campaign, for three years.
A devout man, Jarboe was a very active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. He served on and was president of the St. Thomas Home School Association, Central Catholic High School Operating Committee, president of Central Catholic H. S. Home School Association, and St. Thomas the Apostle Finance Committee.
Survivors in addition to his wife include nine sons: Mark Jarboe and his wife Jackie, of Montauk, N.Y.; John Jarboe and his wife Martha, of Naperville, Ill.; Paul Jarboe and his wife Marie, of Wilton; James Jarboe and his wife Cindy, of Trumbull; Philip Jarboe, of Los Angeles; Peter and his wife Mary and Christopher Jarboe, both of Norwalk; Stephen Jarboe and his wife Pam, of Groton, Mass.; and Matthew Jarboe and his wife Kim, of Danbury. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren; Nicholas, Clint, Katie, Paul, Daniel, Marianne, Jamie, Kevin, Jeffrey, Jackson, Max, Makinsey, Avery, Wyatt, and Sadie.
Jarboe is predeceased by a sister, Vernona Olsen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 9:30 a.m., in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Ave. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Norwalk with full military honors.
Memorial contributions are requested to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06855
Dorothy O'Connell Kerin
Dorothy O'Connell Kerin of Norwalk, wife of William J. Kerin, died Dec. 27 at Norwalk Hospital after a brief illness. Born in New Britain the daughter of the late Dr. Daniel Webster O'Connell and Helen Curtin O'Connell, she was a resident of Norwalk since 1963. She worked at Fafnir Ball Bearing during World War II and later worked as a medical secretary.
She was an accomplished tennis player and sang soprano in the Norwalk Community Choral Group for 40 years.
She was a homemaker in the true sense of the word and was a loving wife and mother. She cherished her family and shared her beautiful voice at family gatherings often accompanied by her brother James "Jimmy" on the piano.
Christmas was her favorite time of the year and she kept the spirit of the holiday throughout the year. She was an animal lover and had a special fondness for turtles.
She was very proud of her son Dr. Kevin Kerin and his wife Marybeth Durkin and adored her three grandchildren William Patrick Kerin, Kate Elizabeth Kerin and Brenna Madigan Kerin, all of Lyme, N. H.
She was predeceased by her three brothers; Dr. John O'Connell, James O'Connell and William O'Connell. In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by brother-in-law Dr. Robert Kerin, sister-in-law Claire Kerin, sister-in-law Dee O'Connell, numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 10:30 a.m.. in St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road in Norwalk. There will be no calling hours per request of the deceased. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk, CT 06851. The Collins Funeral Home at 92 East Avenue, Norwalk, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles (Charley) Mark Rochlin
Charles (Charley) Mark Rochlin, 24, of Westport, died Dec. 27.
He was born Sept. 14, 1985 in Norwalk and has been a lifelong resident of Westport. He attended Fairfield Prep for three years where he played competitive ice hockey and graduated from Staples High School June of 2003. He also attended the University of Colorado for three years. Following his time at the University of Colorado, Charley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in March of 2008. He completed a seven month tour in Iraq, returning home this past September and was currently stationed at camp Lejeune, N.C.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, G. Scott and Lucretia Rochlin of Westport; his mother, Michele Gougeon of Prescott, Ariz.; his three grandmothers, Lois Holly, Gayle Rochlin and Patricia Ingram and his great grandmother, Mary Proto. He is also survived by two brothers, Dylan Rochlin of Weatherford, Texas, Cannon Sorrenson of Prescott, Ariz.. and three sisters, Brittany, Kendall and Taylor Rochlin all of Westport, and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Arnold L. Rochlin.
In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or visit woundedwarriorproject.org for on line directions.
Mary K. Ryan
Mary K. Ryan, 85, of Norwalk, wife of the late George P. Ryan, died Dec. 23, at Norwalk Hospital. Born in Waterbury, the daughter of the late John and Margaret (Gavin) Kenney, she was a resident of Norwalk since 1959.
She was a retired tax collector for the City of Norwalk, and former president of the Tax Collectors Association of Fairfield County.
A loving and devoted family woman, she was also very involved with St. Matthews Church, Norwalk, where she was a Eucharistic Minister and daily communicant. Also a member of the Columbiettes, and the Marian Guild, she had served as an officer for the Council of Catholic Women. She was recognized by the late Pope John Paul II with the Papal honor, "Pro Ecclesia", as well as by Bishop Lori with the St. Augustine Medal. She had also served on the board of Catholic Charities in Norwalk.
Predeceased by her daughter Susan R. Wilhelm and son Thomas Ryan, she is survived by two sons, Msgr. Martin Ryan of New Fairfield, and Joseph Ryan of Norwalk, three grandchildren; Mark Wilhelm and his wife Nicole, Jason Wilhelm and his fiancée Denise Neyhart, and Erica Wilhelm; a cherished great-grandson Tyler Wilhelm and several other loving relatives.
Memorial donations may be directed to: Catholic Charities, PO Box 2025, Norwalk, CT 06851.
