United States High School Yearbooks by County
Sotero Rivera
Sotero Rivera, 76, of Lake Ave., Danbury, husband of Maria (Marerro) Rivera, died at Mediplex Health Care Center, Danbury on January 20, 1999.
He was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico on April 22, 1922, son of the late Robustino and Carmen (Alvarado) Rivera.
Mr. Rivera served 22 years with the U.S. Army. He served during World War II and Korea. He attained the rank of Sgt. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Occupation of Japan Medal, Korean Service Medal with three bronze Service Stars and one Overseas Bar. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he was a self-employed plumber. He resided in the Bronx, N.Y. until moving to Danbury in 1981.
Besides his wife, survivors include four sons, Edwin of New Milford, and Hector, Sotero the Second and Carlos, all of Danbury; three daughters, Maria Aviles, Mayda Rivera and Carmen Rivera, all of Danbury; a brother, Victor Rivera of Puerto Rico; 38 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the First Assembly of God Church, Brookfield on Friday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.
The family received friends at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Thursday evening.
Contributions may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, One St. Jude Place Building, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148-0552.
Vincent A. Brink
Vincent A. Brink, 81, of Anderson Ave., Milford, beloved husband of Olga Schaeffer Brink, died Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven after a brief illness.
He was born in Danbury, Conn. on August 27, 1917, son of the late Harry and Muriel Bailey Brink. He was a resident of West Haven before moving to Milford 35 years ago.
Mr. Brink was a secretary for Conrail for more than 36 years until retiring in 1978. He was a member of the Railroad Clerks Union and the First Congregational Church of West Haven.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Brink is survived by a daughter, Cathy Jo Steskla of Milford and Phoenix, Ariz.; a stepson, William F. Conklin of Hamden; 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Ellen Phelan.
Services will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford. Interment will be in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury.
Friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Maryann S. Darnell
Maryann S. Darnell, 70, wife of Richard J. Darnell, of 46 Pondcrest Road, Danbury, died at her residence on Thursday morning, January 21, 1999.
She was born in the Bronx, N.Y., September 19, 1928, daughter of the late Donald G. and Dorothy (McKee) Stebbins. She was a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, Bronx, N.Y. She then received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
Mrs. Darnell had been a Danbury resident since 1977 and had worked for many years as an electrical engineer for the RCA Corporation and for the Boeing Corporation. She was a 24-year member of the American Association of University Women, past president of the Danbury branch and past treasurer of the Connecticut state branch. In 1989 she received Danbury Branch "Named Gift Award" for the A.A.U.W. and in 1993 received the Connecticut State "Named Gift Award" for the A.A.U.W. Educational Foundation.
Mrs. Darnell was a volunteer instructor for the gifted program in math at the King Street Elementary School. She was also an avid bridge player and skier.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Quin Darnell of Long Beach, N.Y.; a daughter, Amy Darnell of Waterbury; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Diane Stebbins of Utica, N.Y.; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Robert Graffius of Glen Rocks, N.J. and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, Danbury on Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Contributions may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Hal Johnston
Hal Johnston, 72, a resident of New Fairfield since 1970, died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, January 20, 1999.
Mr. Johnston, of Karen Drive, New Fairfield, was the husband of Carol (Coblentz) Johnston.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 28, 1926, a son of Harold W. and Sarah (Johnson) Johnston.
Mr. Johnston was a veteran of World War II and served in the United States Army. He received a B.A. in Journalism at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. He worked as an advertising agent executive for 30 years and was most recently employed at Grolier.
Mr. Johnston was a member of the Christ Church on Quaker Hill in Pawling, New York, a charter member of the New Fairfield Jaycees, a J.C.I. Senator -3248 in Connecticut and Ohio and a member of BPAA.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Jeffrey of New Fairfield, Hal of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and Todd Johnston of Portland, Connecticut; a daughter, Valerie Bennett of Erie, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Neil of Savannah, Georgia and Bruce Johnston of Olalla, Washington; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Christ Church, Quaker Hill, Pawling, New York 12564.
A Memorial Service will be conducted on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Christ Church on Quaker Hill, Pawling.
The New Fairfield Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Henry F. Becker, 'Mr. Bridgewater'
Henry F. (Hank) Becker, 86, beloved husband of Jane Readyoff Becker, died peacefully at his home in Bridgewater, Conn. on Thursday, January 21, 1999.
One of the town's most well-known public figures, he was first selectman from 1967 to 1979. He was a primary initiator of the town hall renovation, the construction of off-street parking and the development of a 34-acre recreational area. He was a strong supporter of the regional school concept, which he felt benefited Bridgewater.
"I enjoyed being of some service to the town and donating whatever talent I have to serving the people of Bridgewater," Mr. Becker said in 1979, when reflecting upon his 12 years as the town's chief executive and his four years as selectman before that.
He then promised to be around to help the new first selectman during the transition. "I will stay involved as a citizen because I'm still interested. But I won't try to exert any of my feelings or pressure," Mr. Becker said, winking. "I've had my day."
Mr. Becker was born in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., July 3, 1912, a son of the late Edward and Sophie Schlichting Becker. He had lived in Bridgewater since 1956, moving from Bellmore, N.Y. Mr. Becker, in his early years had been a singer with the Fred Waring Glee Club. He had been a soloist for many area churches and synagogues, as well as singing at many community events, especially the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Bridgewater.
He had been a landscape gardener and for many years had owned and operated Meadowview Nursery in Bridgewater. He also operated Bridgewater Realty as a sideline out of his home for many years.
He was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church in New Milford and a member of the Bridgewater Grange and the Bridgewater Historical Society. He was a devoted fan of his grandchildren's sports teams.
He is survived by his wife, Jane, of 57 years; a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Dan Storrs; and two grandchildren, Ben and Whitney Storrs, all of Bridgewater. Also surviving are a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Florence Trutner of Riverhead, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Edith Readyoff of Bridgewater; and several nephews and one niece. He was predeceased by a daughter, Judith Becker.
Funeral services will be on Monday, 9 a.m., from the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford to St. Francis Xavier Church, New Milford at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in South Cemetery, Bridgewater in the spring.
Friends may call at Lillis Funeral Home on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Bridgewater Scholarship Committee, c/o Margaret Ford, Bridgewater Town Hall, Bridgewater, CT 06752 or to the New Milford Visiting Nurse Assn., 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Marie Ebel Carlson
Marie Ebel Carlson, 82, a resident of Georgetown for 62 years, died on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at the Bethel Health Care Center. She was the wife of the late Walfred V. Carlson, who died in 1995.
Mrs. Carlson was born in the Bronx, N.Y. on March 14, 1916, a daughter of the late William and Mary Jones Ebel.
During World War II, she worked at the Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill in Georgetown and later assisted in the care of children for many families in the local area.
Mrs. Carlson was a communicant at Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown and was a founding member and past president of its Rosary Society.
Survivors include her two sons, Walter Carlson of Newtown and Ronald Carlson of Georgetown; one daughter, Susan Wiston of New Milford; two sisters, Lillian Meyer and Madeline Bonelli, both of Long Island; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, Church St., Georgetown. the Rev. M. Joseph Joaquin, Pastor, will officiate. The interment will follow in Branchville Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Friends may call at the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church St., Georgetown on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Carlson may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Fairfield County Chapter, 611 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880.
Virginia G. Malone
Virginia G. Malone, 67, of East Swanzey, N.H., died January 20, 1999 in Lebanon, N.H.
She was born and raised in New York City and Katonah, N.Y. and lived many years in Georgetown, Conn. before moving to East Swanzey in 1975.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Robert I. Malone, and six children, including Mary Deluca of Redding, Conn.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, 10 a.m., at St. Bernard Church in Keene, N.H. Calling hours are Friday, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro St., Keene, N.H.
Contributions may be made to the N.H. Diabetes Assn., 29 Canal St., Manchester, N.H. 03101.
Ernest Parmalee
Ernest Parmalee, age 86, of Norwalk, CT, died at Norwalk Hospital on Jan. 15, 1999.
He was born in New Milford, CT, April 30, 1912, a son of the late Ernest & Leta (Parmaley) Parmalee, Sr.
Mr. Parmalee is survived by a brother, Henry of Bethel; 2 sisters, Dorothy Lengel of Florida and Fannie Dreback of Louisiana; and several nieces & nephews.
Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.
Cremation Services of Western CT, 55 Main St., Danbury is in charge of arrangements.
There are no calling hours.
Andrew DiPietro
Andrew DiPietro, age 81, of Norwalk, died Wednesday at the Norwalk Hospital. He was the husband of Chiara Benincasa DiPietro.
Born in Norwalk in February of 1917, Mr. DiPietro was the son of the late Joseph and Mary Mastrianna DiPietro. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a WWII Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army. Mr. DiPietro was also a member of the St. Ann Club and the American Legion.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Mrs. Michael (Mary-Ann) Cardillo of Redding and Gloria DiPietro of Norwalk, 2 sons, Joseph DiPietro of Redding and Andrew DiPietro of Greenland, N.H., 2 sisters, Fannie Santella of Norwalk and Lena Febbraio of Westport, 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 23, 9 A.M. at St. Joseph's Church, 85 S. Main St., S. Norwalk with interment to follow at St. John Cemetery, Norwalk. Friends may call at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk, on Friday from 3-5 and 7-9 P.M. Contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Church.
James G. Ritchie
A Memorial Service will be held in memory of James G. Ritchie on Sunday, January 24, 1999 at 2:30 p.m. at The Salvation Army, 15 Foster Street, Danbury. The service will be open to the public. Colonels William and Marilyn Francis will be officiating the service.
James Ritchie passed away on January 6, 1999 in Gilroy, California. Prior to moving to California, he was a resident of Danbury. As a youth he attended The Salvation Army.
Elizabeth M. Bruno
Elizabeth Marian Bruno, 84, of Bethel, Conn., died Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at Mediplex of Danbury. She was the widow of Dominic Bruno.
Mrs. Bruno was born in New York, N.Y. on April 8, 1914, a daughter of the late Angelo and Bridget Guarenti. She was raised in the Bronx and after her marriage to Dominic, they moved to Bethel in May, 1952. Mrs. Bruno was a saleswoman for Rite-Aid Pharmacy and then for 19 years at McCrory's. She enjoyed reading, especially biographies.
She is survived by a daughter, MaryAnn Marino of Bethel, Conn. and a sister, Marguerita Reilly of Lemington, Vt. She was predeceased by a sister, Sue Guarenti.
A Prayer Service will be held on Monday, January 25, 1999 at 11 a.m. at the Bethel Funeral Home, 215 Greenwood Ave., Bethel. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Bethel.
The family will receive friends on Monday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Oneida Lee Russell
Lee Russell, 74, a Redding resident for 46 years, died on Thursday, January 21, 1999 at her home after a courageous struggle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Captain John Joseph "Jack" Russell, who died in 1995.
Mrs. Russell was born in Kansas City, Kansas on June 4, 1924, a daughter of the late Earl D. and Edith L. White Favinger.
Lee was a lovely lady who had been a fashion model when she was younger and later a fashion designer. Mrs. Russell was a past president of the Sacred Heart Church's Rosary Society and for years she was a volunteer worker at Danbury Hospital Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center. She loved golf and was active in the Breakfast Belles Bowling League.
Lee was a loving mother who is survived by her two sons, David E. Russell of Annapolis, Md. and Linwood I. Russell of Troy, Mich.; three daughters, Deborah L. Russell of Lafayette, Calif., Theresa A. Cavoretto of Monkton, Vt. and Jacqueline L. Russell of Redding; one brother, Earl Favinger of California; one sister, Janet Wombolt of Texas; 12 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, Church St., Georgetown. The Rev. M. Joseph Joaquin will officiate. The interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Friends may call at the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church St., Georgetown on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Russell may be made to Mid-Fairfield Hospice, c/o Nursing and Home Care, P.O. Box 489, Wilton, CT 06897.
Esther P. Priest
Esther P. Priest, 82, formerly of Stratford, CT, died at the Heritage Heights Nursing Home in Danbury on Thursday morning.
She was born in Stratford, CT, September 11, 1916, daughter of the late Albert & Martha (Stolenski) Radwick. She had been a Stratford area resident most of her life, prior to moving to Danbury in 1986.
Mrs. Priest is survived by a daughter, Vivien Cheeseman of Danbury; a son, William Priest of Stratford; a sister, madeline Asbjornsen of Moorehead City, NC; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Dore Bristol in 1997.
Funeral Services will be held at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. Burial will take place in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck, in the spring. Friends may call the Green Funeral Home on Monday between noon and 1 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the Nursing Staff Support Fund at Heritage Heights Nursing Home, 22 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810.
Maryann S. Darnell
Maryann S. Darnell, 70, wife of Richard J. Darnell, of 46 Pondcrest Road, Danbury, died at her residence on Thursday morning, January 21, 1999.
She was born in the Bronx, N.Y., September 19, 1928, daughter of the late Donald G. and Dorothy (McKenna) Stebbins. She was a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, Bronx, N.Y. She then received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physics from Hunter College, NYC, and received her Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
Mrs. Darnell had been a Danbury resident since 1977 and had worked for many years as an electrical engineer for the RCA Corporation and for the Boeing Corporation. She was a 24-year member of the American Association of University Women, past president of the Danbury branch and past treasurer of the Connecticut state branch. In 1989 she received Danbury Branch "Named Gift Award" for the A.A.U.W. and in 1993 received the Connecticut State "Named Gift Award" for the A.A.U.W. Educational Foundation.
Mrs. Darnell was a volunteer instructor for the gifted program in math at the King Street Elementary School. She was also an avid bridge player and skier.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Qin Darnell of Long Beach, N.Y.; a daughter, Amy Darnell of Waterbury; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Diane Stebbins of Utica, N.Y.; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Robert Graffius of Glen Rocks, N.J. and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, Danbury on Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Contributions may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Evelyn M. Pendergast
Evelyn M. Pendergast, age 93, wife of the late John Pendergast of 22 Evergreen Road, Sandy Hook, died January 22 in Ashlar of Newtown.
She was born in Newtown Dec. 1, 1905, daughter of the late Frederick & Mary (Qubick) Bresson. A lifelong resident of Newtown, she was a graduate of Bridgeport Hospital of Nursing. A private duty nurse early in her career, she took care of Newtown's benefactor Mary Hawley during her final illness. During World War II she worked at the Danbury Hospital. She later worked at the Southbury Training School. She is a member of St. Rose Church and a former 4-H Club leader.
She is survived by 2 sons, John Pendergast Jr. & Fred Pendergast Sr., both of Sandy Hook; 2 daughters, Evelyn (Evie) Andrejczyk of Monroe & Eileen Garlichs of Clifton, VA; 1 brother, Francis Bresson of Sandy Hook; 3 sisters, Elsie Coughlin of Danbury, Anna Maye & Mary Maye, both of Newtown; 27 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday Jan. 25, 10:00 a.m., from the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown, and at 10:30 at St. Rose Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at St. Rose Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday 3 to 5 and 7 and 9:00 p.m.
Contributions may be made to St. Rose School, 40 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470.
Lydia Behrens Ruopp
The death of Lydia Behrens Ruopp, 84, of 46 Hawleyville Road, Hawleyville, CT, occurred at her home Thursday with her family at her bedside. She was the wife of Theodore Ruopp.
She was born in Gleason, Wisconsin, 1 of 11 children, September 19, 1914, daughter of Gustav P. and Mary Niemeyer Behrens. She lived later in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where she received her education and was a graduate of High School.
Mrs. Ruopp moved to Danbury in 1951 and to Hawleyville in 1984.
She and Mr. Ruopp were married August 2, 1947, and celebrated 51 years of marriage. During World War II she worked as a secretary for the Armed Services Commission and later for her husband's company, Sipperly Artesian Well Co. Her later years were devoted to her home and family.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and was very active in its Women's Club and other related church organizations.
Besides her husband, she is survived by 4 children, Kathleen Ruopp of Chicago, Ill., James Ruopp of Hawleyville, Jerry Ruopp of New Fairfield and Fibian Judith Ruopp of Alberquerque, New Mexico; 2 brothers, Herbert Behrens of Laurel Hill, New Jersey, and Ralph Behrens of Alexandria, Va.; 2 sisters, Elvira Nelson of Schaumburg, Ill., and Mildred Miller of Blue Springs, MO, 8 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church Monday morning at 11:00 with the Rev. Daniel Wehmeier, pastor, officiating.
Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Danbury, Sunday from 3 to 7:00 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Anna & George Ruopp Memorial Fund of Immanuel Lutheran Church or to the Women's Service Club of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 26 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
