United States High School Yearbooks by County
Eugene Charles Katan
Eugene Charles Katan, 40, of Danbury died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 20, 1999 at Danbury Hospital.
He was born in Danbury, Conn. on December 22, 1958, the son of the late Charles H. and Marjorie M. (Keene) Katan of Danbury. He graduated from Danbury High School in 1976. He worked at Tuxedo Junction in Danbury as an entertainment booking agent for six years. He had been currently working as a service technician for Wagner pools in Bridgeport.
Mr. Katan is survived by a son, Christopher C. Katan of Danbury; a daughter, Michele M. Katan of Danbury; his fiancee, Victoria Baskay of Danbury; two sisters, Patricia A. Mosley of Essex Junction, Vt. and Pamela A. Katan of Denver, Colo.; two nephews, Michael and James Mosley of Essex Junction, Vt.; and an aunt, Sally Crawford of Danbury.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, 8 p.m., in the Hull Home, 60 Division Street, Danbury with the Rev. Clare M. Ingham officiating. Cremation will take place at Connecticut Crematory in Stamford, Conn.
Family will receive friends on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hull Home.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Eugene Katan will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 1999 in St. Gregory's Church in Danbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Katan's College Fund for Eugene's children's future educational goals, c/o Fleet Bank, 343 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
Joseph Maximo, Sr.
Joseph "Maxie" Maximo, Sr., age 80, passed away on June 16, 1999 at his Simi Valley, California residence. He was born in Rhode Island, lived in Danbury, Connecticut in his early years, and had been a resident of Simi Valley for most of his adult life. He was employed for Rockwell International for 33 years as a machinist. He was a member of V.F.W. and had served in the Army in W.W.II. He had many interests and hobbies, fishing, boating, golfing, dancing, gardening and traveling in the United States and Europe. Maxie was a real handyman who could fix anything. He will be greatly missed.
Survivors: daughter & son-in-law, Joleta and James Lock of Simi Valley, son & daughter-in-law, Joseph & Sue Maximo of San Diego, CA, son Ronald James Maximo of Sacramento, CA, daughter & son-in-law, Maria and Robert Espinoza of Simi Valley, sisters, Celeste Pina of Danbury, CT, Linda Sorenson & Connie Gaffery, both of Windsor Locks, CT. Brother, Tony Maximo of Danbury, CT. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many nieces & nephews.
Family services were held in Newhall, CA with burial in Eternal Valley Memorial Park.
Joseph F. Kalina
Joseph F. Kalina, 77, of Florham Park, N.J., died Tuesday June 22nd at Morristown Memorial Hospital of complications from a stroke.
He was born May 9, 1922 in Reading, PA, son of the late Joseph Francis Kalina and the late Mary Veronica Janosy.
He moved to Florham Park from Madison, NJ in 1968.
Mr. Kalina earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Penn State University in 1942, after which he did research for the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships. He earned an MA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, after serving in the US Navy during World War II.
Mr. Kalina had an uncommonly diverse background in technology and communications. From 1947-1949, he worked at DuPont as an engineer in plastics and fiber production. Later, he was a research executive at Collins & Aikman, a leading textile manufacturer.
In 1977, he retired from McGraw Hill where he held a senior position for Chemical Week, Modern Plastics and Modern Packaging magazines since 1953. He then joined G&A Communications, Inc., a major New York City public relations company. As Vice President and Technical/Industrial Director, he supervised the technical and industrial areas of all G&A Accounts.
Following his retirement from G&A in 1988, Mr. Kalina was a consultant to numerous petroleum and chemical companies. He was able to pursue his hobbies playing the piano and listening to classical music. He also loved playing with his grandchildren and being an active member of the Senior Citizen's Center in Florham Park.
He was the beloved husband of Celeste Fischer Kalina, loving father of Margaret K. Blake and her husband Bob of New Milford, CT; Joseph F. Kalina, Jr. and his wife Kim of Mt. Tabor; and Jan Kalina and her husband Tom Butynski of Nairobi, Kenya. Brother of Mary Kalina, the late Violet Kalina, and the late Elizabeth Galletta. He is also survived by four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held at Holy Family Church, 1 Lloyd Avenue, Florham Park on Friday, June 25th at 10:00 AM. A private interment will be held at the family plot in Pennsylvania. Friends and relatives may call at the Wm. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main Street, in Chatham, NJ, on Thursday June 24th from 7-9 pm.
Those who wish may contribute in his memory to the Florham Park Ambulance Squad, 111 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932.
Carmela M.Diamond
Carmela M. (Primiani) Diamond, age 74, of New Fairfield, CT, wife of Allan Diamond, died at Danbury Hospital on Wednesday, June 23, 1999.
She was born in Italy, April 7, 1925, a daughter of the late Giovanni & Antoinetta (DiBiase) Primiani.
Mrs. Diamond was a member of St. Edward the Confessor Church, New Fairfield.
Besides her husband, her survivors include a daughter, Loretta and her husband Robert Bernholc of LI, NY; a son, Robert and his companion Michael Fevola of NY, NY; four grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Alyssa & Eric.; 3 brothers, Salvatore of Florida, Bernard of Douglaston, Queens, NY, and Peter of Brick, NJ; her twin sister Jean Ferrari of New Fairfield, CT; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Edward the Confessor Church on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Entombment will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery, Putnam Valley, NY.
Friends will be received at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Thursday and Friday from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m.
William J. Benincasa
William J. Benincasa, 66, of 76 Liberty Street, Danbury died Tuesday morning, June 22, 1999 at Danbury Hospital after being stricken ill at his home on Monday night.
Mr. Benincasa was born in Danbury on March 22, 1933, a son of the late Betty and Caetano Cordeiro and the late Desadario Benincasa. He attended Danbury schools and served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. He served in the National Guard for 16 years, attaining the rank of master sergeant.
Mr. Benincasa joined the Danbury Police Department in 1957 and retired in 1975 as a sergeant. He was an expert marksman and a member of the first police scuba diving team in Danbury.
After early retirement, Mr. Benincasa established several local businesses, most recently a carpet installation service for the Danbury area.
He was a member of the Beckerle Hose Company, a member of the Vespucci Lodge, the Elks Lodge, the Concordia Society, the Moose Lodge and the Danbury PBA.
Mr. Benincasa was a generous spirit always known to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Survivors include three sons, Robert J., David J. and Scott D., all of Danbury; one daughter, Debra J. Davis of Oil City, Pa.; one brother, Ralph Benincasa of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; one sister, Betty Lopes of Danbury; two grandchildren, Casey and Bryan Davis of Oil City, Pa.; and two former wives, Aurora Manoni Benincasa and Phylliss Corrow Benincasa, both of Danbury. Mr. Benincasa was predeceased by his brother, Caetano Cordeiro Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter's Church in Danbury. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Friends will be received on Thursday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-11 Granville Ave., Danbury.
Contributions may be made to the Danbury PBA, 120 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the Dorothy Day Hospitality House, 11 Spring St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Joan M. Dumas
Virginia Beach, Va. Joan McCafferty Dumas, 78, died on Sunday June 20, 1999 after a long illness. She is the wife of the late William J. Dumas of Rye, NY. Surviving are her 3 children, Michael and Jules of Virginia Beach, VA and Celeste Dumas Whamond of Danbury, Connecticut and 6 grandchildren. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday, July 1st, 1999 at 11 AM at her former parish in Rye, NY.
Richard R. Rahikka
Richard R. Rahikka, age 77, husband of Janice (Hull) Rahikka of 31 The Boulevard, Newtown, died Tuesday June 22, 1999 in the Danbury Hospital. He was born in Port Chester, NY, Sept. 8, 1921 son of the late Toivo and Aune Rahikka.
A carpenter by trade he was a member of Local 210 of the Carpenters Union. During World War II he served in the US Army.
He is survived, besides his wife, by 1 son Mark Rahikka of Tuckahoe, NY.
Private funeral services will be held Friday at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown. Cremation Mountain Grove Crematory. There are no calling hours.
Contributions may be made to Americares, 161 Cherry St., New Canaan, CT 06840.
Robert A. Prinz
Robert A. Prinz, of 134 Long Meadow Hill Rd., Brookfield, died unexpectedly on June 21, 1999 in Stamford, New York. Mr. Prinz was born in Danbury, CT July 24, 1920 son of the late Rudolph and Lorring Prinz and was the husband of the late Edna Swensen. He received his education in Danbury and graduated from the Danbury High School Class of 1939. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Mr. Prinz worked as a Salesman for Republic Foil Co. for 30 years and retired in 1980. Upon his retirement he became self-employed as a Master Golf Club maker. He was a member of St. Joseph Church in Brookfield, The Brookfield Volunteer Fire Dept., The Elks Club, The American Legion, Trout Unlimited and the Professional Golf Club Makers Society.
He is survived by 3 sons; Robert A. Jr. of Redwood City Ca., John E. of Briarcliff Manor, NY, and Roger P. of Brookfield. Two daughters: Debra Prinz-Okada of LaHaina Hawaii, and Melinda Crews of Westport CT. One brother; Raymond Prinz of Bethel CT and two sisters Eleanor Barhite of Bethel, and Dorothy McGee of Wisconsin. He was predeceased by his first wife, Alice Ferry Prinz.
Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph Church Brookfield with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Cremation took place at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Rd. Brookfield on Fri. from 6 to 9pm.
Contributions in his memory can be made to the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Dept. Pocono Rd. Brookfield CT 06804.
Dolores K. Macknight
The death of Dolores K. Macknight, 76, of Meadowbrook Road in Brookfield, Conn. occurred at her home on Thursday, June 24, 1999. She was the wife of Joseph A. Macknight.
Born in Elizabeth, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Frank and Cecelia Dumas Krasa. She moved to Union, N.J., where she was educated. Her marriage to Mr. Macknight took place in Union on September 13, 1947. They moved from New Jersey to Danbury in 1954 and to Brookfield in 1956.
Mrs. Macknight had been employed as a real estate agent for Goodfellow Ashmore Agency in Danbury and for Marie White Real Estate in Brookfield. She later worked as a travel agent for the Holton Travel Agency in Danbury and at Waldenbooks, also in Danbury, retiring in 1985.
She was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield, Council of Catholic Women, of which she was a past president, Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, of which she was also a past president, was 4-H leader, Girl Scout leader and den mother for the Boy Scouts. Mrs. Macknight was an accomplished flutist and a member of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra. An avid reader and opera lover, she held season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera for several years. She was a devoted mother and grandmother.
Besides her husband, she is survived by five children, Joseph A. Macknight Jr. of Southwick, Mass., Kathleen M. Barta of Wallingford, Conn., Eileen E. Yeates of Houston, Texas, Mary Ann Palmer of Brookfield, Conn. and Kevin M. Macknight of Newtown, Conn.; a sister, Gloria Gildersleeve of Tinton Falls, N.J.; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one nephew and three nieces. Mrs. Macknight was predeceased by a sister, Frances Saltinas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield.
There are no calling hours.
The Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to St. Joseph's Church, 163 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.
Helen L. Rzanca
Helen L. Krupski Rzanca, age 86, of Stratford, Conn. died on Thursday, June 24, 1999 in Bridgeport Hospital.
Born in Bridgeport, she was a resident of Stratford for 48 years. Mrs. Rzanca was a retired salesperson at D.M. Read Company and was the widow of Walter Rzanca.
Survivors include her beloved daughter, Carole Bednarik and her husband Allan of Trumbull, Conn.; two grandchildren, Michael Bednarik of Trumbull and Mary Beth Kohlmann and her husband David of Brookfield, Conn.; two sisters, Adele Jarusinsky and her husband John of Stratford, Conn. and Hedy Broccoli of Trumbull; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 10:45 a.m., in the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, Conn. and at 11:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church, Stratford with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Trumbull.
Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Dr. Myron Walzak
Dr. Myron Walzak, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, physician, urologist and teacher died on June 23, 1999.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 17, 1930. He was awarded a full scholarship to Yale University and completed his undergraduate education in three years. He then attended Yale School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1955. He subsequently completed his urology residency at Cornell University-New York Hospital.
During the Vietnam conflict, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Polk, La. and Fort Myers, Wash. He then became associate professor of urology at the University of Virginia Medical School in Charlottesville, Va. Dr. Walzak later accepted a position with Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, Neb. He founded the medical school's Department of Urology and served as its chairman for 10 years.
In 1981 he was recruited by the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Conn. to serve as a professor and chairman of the Division of Urology. While serving in this position Dr. Walzak accomplished his greatest professional feats.
As its head, Dr. Walzak strengthened and further developed the University of Connecticut urology residency program, making it one of the best and most sought-after programs in the nation. He spearheaded the establishment of the Kidney Stone Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center. This institution was the first of its kind in the state.
He became closely involved with Help the Children and operated on children with urologic malformations from different parts of the world. Upon his 1996 retirement from the chairmanship, he was bestowed the honor of Professor Emeritus of Surgery in Urology. He also held the presidency of the New England Section of the American Academy of Urology.
Despite his retirement, he continued to serve on the faculty as an attending urologist, both at the University of Connecticut Health Center and the VA New England Health Care System. Dr. Walzak was deeply devoted to both the care of his beloved patients and the education and guidance of the urology residents he so much loved and respected. His professorial dedication extended across the nation as he trained over 40 urology residents, and across the Atlantic as he sponsored three Egyptian urologists in obtaining their M.D. thesis.
Dr. Walzak was preceded in death by Mary C. Provan Walzak, with whom he raised eight children.
He is survived by his wife, Yolanda M. Pena, M.D.; his only sister, Betty Jane Sachara and her husband Gene and their three children of Gilroy, Calif.; and eight children and their spouses and 15 grandchildren, the oldest of whom graduated from the University of Chicago in June, 1999 and the youngest of whom was born on April 18, 1999, Kevin and Toni Walzak and their four sons of Milwaukee, Wis., Keith Walzak and his two children of Tucson, Ariz., Katherine and Jim Comstock and their five children of Virginia Beach, Va., Christine and Jim Gerkin and their two children from Richmond, Va., Myron Paul III and Lisa Walzak and their son of Collinsville, Conn., Mary Alexandra Schmit and her daughter of Oceanside, Calif., Maura and Louie Gioiele of Torrington, Conn., and Michael Walzak of Breckenridge, Colo. He is also survived by 11 cousins in the Cleveland, Ohio area and a cousin from Fort William, Scotland.
Dr. Walzak was a true, pure spirit who we all had the great honor and blessing of having as part of our lives. His personal and professional achievements were undertaken with a rarely found composite of dignity, honesty, honor, truth, respect, love and devotion. His memory will live on in perpetuity through the Myron P. Walzak Jr., M.D. Visiting Professorship to which donations can be made in lieu of kind gifts of flowers. These may be sent to the UConn Foundation/Walzak Fund and mailed to: The UConn Foundation, MC 4032, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06034-4032.
Friends may call on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike, Canton, Conn.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, 10 a.m., in St. Ann's Church, Avon, Conn. with The Most Reverend Roger Schwietz, OMI, bishop of Duluth, Minn. officiating. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven, Conn.
