Paul Arthur McKim died in his home on Feb. 1. He had been a resident of Darien since 2006 and had just reached his 90th birthday.

He was born in Milford to Arthur Wheatley McKim and Helen Agnes (Brennan) McKim. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Louisiana State University, ultimately earning his doctorate in chemical engineering. He later graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard.

He served two years in the US Navy during World War II as a Lieutenant. In 1945 he married Daisy Flora Brown and they later had a daughter, Meredith, who currently resides in Darien.

He followed a long career in the energy industry starting with 13 years at Ethyl Corporation in Louisiana. He then moved north to the Philadelphia area where he held various positions with Atlantic Richfield Corporation over a 16 year span, eventually becoming the president of its subsidiary ARCO/Polymers, Inc.

Among his professional affiliations was the World Petroleum Congress, where he served as chairman of the National Committee. During this period he resided in Bryn Mawr and was very involved in outside activities. These included board positions for the Franklin Institute Research Center, the Bryn Mawr Civic Association, the Philadelphia College of Art, and Agnes Irwin School. He was a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, the Merion Cricket Club and was an avid golfer at the Merion Golf Club. He was also an enthusiastic sailor, traveling to Toms River, N.J. on the weekends to enjoy his Mariner 39 sailboat.

In 1978, he and his wife moved south to Houston, where he joined Texas Eastern Corporation, eventually retiring in 1987 after serving as senior vice president.

After his wife passed, he moved north to Darien to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law Colin Dunne, and grandchildren Kevin, Thomas, and Julia. He was predeceased by his sister Eleanor McNeel.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m Monday, Feb. 11 at the First Congregational Church.

Memorial donations can be made to the Darien Public Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.

William Paul Rooney, 88, of Tinton Falls, NJ, beloved father and husband, passed away on February 1 in Long Branch.

William was born in Wilkes Barre, PA, and lived in Middletown for most of his life.
He entered the University of Notre Dame in 1942.  William left Notre Dame in 1943 to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He returned to Notre Dame in 1946 and graduated cum laude in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce.

William was a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1951 to 1979.  He was then employed by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation from 1979 until his retirement in 1994.

William was a Past Chairman of the New Jersey Shore Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He was also a long-time and active member of St. Mary’s Parish and a Past President of the Mater Dei PTA.  William was an avid runner and appreciated the importance of fitness throughout his life.

Surviving are his two daughters and sons-in-law, Diane Elizabeth and Dennis F. Bergeron Jr. of Green Brook, NJ, and Janet Duvall and John C. Traynor of New York, NY; his son and daughter-in-law, William H. and Mary M. Rooney of Darien, CT; and his grandchildren, Capt. Roy Bechtold, USMC, Laura Traynor, William K. Rooney, Austin Rooney, and John Rooney.

William was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth “Bette” D. Rooney and his parents, William and Ruth Rooney.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 8, from 5 to 7 pm  at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown.  A Funeral Liturgy will be offered Saturday, February 9, at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Chapel, 26 Leonardville Rd., Middletown. Burial will follow at

Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
For more information, to send condolences, or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.

Joan de Got Washburn Coyle, center, on her wedding day, with her husband, Eugene Francis Coyle on the right, and the late Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York, Mr. Coyle’s cousin, on the left, who performed the marriage ceremony.

Joan de Got Washburn Coyle, a Darien resident since 1966 and beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at Stamford Hospital. She was 86. She was the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Lawrence Washburn.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Eugene Francis Coyle; her daughters, Nancy Coyle-Downs and Laura Coyle; and her grandsons Connor, Hunter and Gannon Downs. She is survived by her brother Lawrence Washburn, and her sisters Nancy Van Voorhees, Cornelia Granger and Camilla Donnelly.  She was predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Diehle.

Joan was born on August 29, 1926 in New York City. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and graduated valedictorian of her class in 1944. She majored in English at Manhattanville College, class of 1948.

Joan Coyle, in the background on the set of the Mary Margaret McBride show, with McBride in center, flanked by Eleanor Roosevelt, on left and Harry Truman.

Her professional career embraced a host of journalistic endeavors. She ran the Public Relations Departments of Putnam Publishing, and the Mary Margaret McBride Show, which set the standard for modern talk radio. Joan recruited guests the caliber of Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Joan joined Time Inc., in 1956, where she met her future husband Gene. Joan’s first assignment was as Secretary to the Assistant Managing Editor Henry Grunwold, who went on to become Managing Editor and eventually Editor-In-Chief of all of Time, Inc. Upon retirement, he was appointed as Embassador to Austria.

Joan went on to be Picture Researcher in the World Section of Time, Inc. She left Time Inc. NY in 1962 to join her husband in helping to establish the Canadian edition of Time magazine and returned in 1966, when she joined the staff of the Darien News Review as Associate Editor. She joined Money magazine as Picture Editor in 1976-the first woman in the history of Time, Inc. to hold such a distinguished position. She retired in 1993 after suffering a series of debilitating strokes.

Joan was inducted into the “WHO’S WHO OF AMERICAN WOMEN”, in 1979.  She was also a long standing member of St. Thomas More Parish and of the Middlesex Club in Darien.

There was a visitation on Sunday, Feb. 10 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More R.C. Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas More R.C. Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT 06820.

lawrencefuneralhome.com

Sylvia Pegg, a Darien resident for 40 years, passed away at the age of 72 on Saturday February 9th at her home. Sylvia was a flight attendant for over fifty years.

Born in Mexico City in 1940 Sylvia immigrated to the United States in 1962. At the age of 18 Sylvia joined Mexicana Airlines and then at age 22 joined Pan American Airlines. After staying home and raising her children, Sylvia returned to flying in 1986. At the age of 46, Sylvia went back to pursue her passion to travel and make friends all over the world.
When Delta Airlines acquired Pan Am in 1991, Sylvia was chosen by Delta to be one of the few flight attendants to transition from Pan Am to Delta.

Sylvia was fluent in four languages and traveled extensively within Europe, especially Venice, Italy, her “home away from home.”

Sylvia retired from Delta last year and enjoyed surrounding herself with family and friends. Sylvia volunteered in the 1960’s to fly soldiers back and forth from Vietnam and then again in the 1990’s for the Desert Storm soldiers.

Sylvia fought a courageous battle with Ovarian Cancer for the past year and a half. During which time she continued to be an inspiration to those around her. She loved life and lived every day of her life to the fullest. She had a natural ability to light up a room with her presence.

Sylvia will always be remembered for her humor, laughter, overwhelming love, selflessness and love of life.  She will be greatly missed.

Sylvia is survived by her mother Leonor, her sister Lou and predeceased by her father Vincent and her sister Ceci.

She is also survived by her three children; son Tony (Jan) Pegg of Darien, daughter Carlota (Matt) Dormer of Boston, MA, and daughter Christina (Jerry) Marron of Trumbull.  She is survived by seven grandchildren; Stephanie & Trevor Pegg, Ella, JP, & Grayson Marron, and Boden  & Skyler Dormer.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16th at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1864 Post Road, Darien.  A private interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oncology Massage Therapy Program at Greenwich Hospital, c/o Greenwich Hospital Foundation, 35 River Road, Cos Cob, CT 06807. www.lawrencefuneralhome

Mr. F. Gerard McGrath, “Gerry”, a long-term Darien resident and respected financial executive, passed away peacefully on February 9th, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. Gerry, aged 73, was the son of the late Frank and Frances McGrath of Scarsdale, New York. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his three children – Mark, Kevin, and Maureen Ruckman and their spouses, nine grandchildren (Julieanne, Amanda, Caitlin, Rowan, Nora, Declan, Conor, Kieran, and Mia), and seven nieces and nephews.

Gerry received an A.B. Degree With Honors from the University of Notre Dame in 1961, and in 1965 he received an M.B.A. Degree With Distinction from Harvard Business School where he was also designated a Baker Scholar. From 1961 to 1963, he served as a First Lieutenant in U.S. Army Intelligence.

Prior to establishing McGrath & Company, a private investment banking firm in 1992, Gerry spent 25 years as an investment banker with four major firms – Blyth, Salomon Brothers, Dean Witter Reynolds, and Prudential Securities – capping his career in senior managerial and leadership positions. He negotiated and executed nearly two hundred merger, public offering, or private placement transactions, primarily for mid-sized companies, in the course of those years.

Gerry remained active on the Advisory Committee of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters for 25 years, serving as Chairman for many years.

He was also a member of the Astro-physics Board at Princeton University and was very active in his Harvard Business School Alumni Association.

In other areas of his life, Gerry served as Chairman of The St. Thomas More Finance Committee, Treasurer of the Darien Beautification Commission, and in a number of senior positions (mostly recently as Treasurer) on the Board of The University Club in New York. He also served as officer and director in several capacities, most recently as House Committee Chairman, at Wee Burn Country Club.

His family, friends, business acquaintances, and fellow board members will long remember Gerry for his wit, intelligence, modesty, and his unwavering support of the causes to which he donated his time, prodigious talents, and resources over the years.

Visitation hours will take place at the Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien, on Thursday, February 14, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, on February 15 at 10:30 A.M. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.

The family wishes to extend its deep gratitude to the chaplains, nurses, and other medical professionals in the Stamford Hospital Oncology Unit for their exceptional care and attention to Gerry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

- By the Family

Helen Cecile Ainson, 86, of Branford, died peacefully at Yale New Haven Hospital on February 5th, 2013. She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Raimund Ainson, 19 days earlier.

Helen was born in New York City in 1926 and lived her childhood in the years of the Great Depression. Valuable lessons were learned by her and her beloved brother Harris and sister Mildred.

She emerged from those dark days with a high school degree and classes completed at City College in psychology, merchandising, and retail. Helen became a modern day pioneer in women’s business by gaining the support and trust of local banks.

They had never seen a lady – with so much desire and conviction – ask for a small business loan. At 22 years of age she opened her first dress shop, bearing her name. From the East Side of Manhattan she became an upper echelon figure in the New York fashion industry.

In 1971, she opened the second “Helen Ainson” shop opened in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her daughter, Erica Jensen, opened a third store in Darien, Connecticut in 1977 which celebrated its 35th year this past October. Helen moved from the city to the suburbs, where she so proudly raised her children.

She loved the seashore, boating and the beach. With her passing the world lost a woman of integrity and dignity. She touched the hearts of all those she met. Helen Ainson was filled with poise, beauty and class.

She is survived by her daughter, Erica Jensen-Griffin and husband Jeffrey of Rowayton, Connecticut, her son Geoffrey Ainson and wife Diane of Branford, and four grandchildren, Brittany and Katrina Jensen and Danielle and John Ainson.

A private memorial service will be held at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 224 North Main Street, Branford.

Nancy A. Read, a former Darienite, and a Middlebury-educated native of Ilion, NY, who lived most of her life in Connecticut pursuing her passions of sailing, skiing, and community involvement, died February 5, 2013 at age 90.

Nancy was the daughter of the late E. Earl Read and Ruth (Platner) Read. She spent her final years in Tampa, FL, not to escape the cold but to embrace the closeness of family. She never married, yet she enjoyed the gift of a strong, life-long family bond with the Wetmores: Jean, Clay, Andy, Nancy, and Paul.

She was gregarious, adventurous, inventive, optimistic, confident, passionate about politics, and beyond all, the most loyal, devoted, and enduring friend. If you have been blessed to count Nancy as a friend, you understand the joy she brought. She was an only child who loved life and the people in it. She remembered her father to have said, “We have the perfect child; why would we want another?” We quite agree.

Online memories: nancyread.forevermissed.com

Kevin Stephen Keating Sr., 70, of Jupiter, Florida and Darien, CT passed away peacefully with his family by his side at his Florida home on February 8, 2013. Born April 23, 1942 in New York City, NY to Martin and Mary Keating from County Clare, Ireland. Kevin was one of eight children and grew up in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan and would always speak fondly of their family summers at Rockaway Beach. Kevin graduated from Fordham Prep in 1960 and continued on to receive diplomas from Manhattan College for chemical engineering, Columbia University for Masters in Chemical Engineering, St. John University Law School and NYU for tax law. Kevin had a 35 year career at Pfizer where he began as a chemical engineer and retired in 2000 as Assistant Treasurer.

Kevin met the love of his life, Nancy Fitzpatrick, in 1963 at a St. Patrick’s Day dance and they were married on August 20, 1966. After a wonderful honeymoon in Ireland, they settled on Long Island and started their family. In 1981, Kevin and Nancy moved to Darien, CT and retired to Jupiter, FL in 1999. In retirement Kevin enjoyed golf and fishing and traveling with his family. He was a member of Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter, FL where he served as President of the Men’s Golf Association and President of the Jonathan’s Island Homeowners Association as well as on the finance committee of the JL Golf Club. In Darien, Kevin was a member of the Country Club of Darien in Darien, CT and St. John Church in Darien, CT.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Nancy Keating of Jupiter, FL and Darien, CT, his two children and spouses, Barbara and John Alter, Kevin and Jennifer Keating of Darien, CT and his grandchildren, Jay, Brian, Catherine, Kaitlyn, Riley and Declan. He is also survived by his siblings Martin Keating, James Keating, Robert Keating, Margaret Volz and Paul Keating. He was predeceased by his parents, Martin and Mary Keating and his siblings Noreen Harris and John Keating.

The family received friends at Taylor & Modeen in Jupiter, FL on February 11, 2013 and a mass was held the following day at St. Patrick’s Church in Palm Beach Gardens. A memorial mass will be held at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Darien, CT on March 9, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Kevin has requested that donations be made to Manhattan College at manhattan.edu/giving/support-manhattan-college/ways-give.

- By the Family

Barbara “Bobbie” Franklin, 85, of Avon, CT, and wife of the late Martin Franklin, passed away Monday February 18, 2013. She was born on July 8, 1927 in Denver, CO. Before residing in Avon, she lived in Simsbury, CT, East Dorset, VT and Darien, CT.

Bobbie was an accomplished equestrian. As a child, she won numerous riding championships in her home state of Colorado. Later in life, she enjoyed passing on her love of horses and riding expertise to the children of East Dorset, VT. One of her most cherished memories was a week-long riding excursion through the countryside of Ireland, which she undertook while in her late 60’s.

Bobbie was a proud mother of three sons and a great supporter of their activities. From Darien High School hockey games and tennis matches to sailing regattas all over Long Island Sound, she was always there and always leading the cheers.

While her horses and her sons were a huge part of her life, her marriage with Marty was remarkable and remained strong for the forty years of their life together. They did not hide their affection for each other and everyone who saw them knew they had something special. Fifteen years after Marty’s death, Bobbie found love again with her friend Rich Rooney. They cared deeply for each other and were constant companions over her last 7 years.

Bobbie’s personality was responsible for her widespread popularity with all those fortunate enough to come in contact with her. She genuinely cared about others more than herself and made people feel better about themselves through their engagement with her.

She leaves three sons, Philip Franklin and his wife Melissa of Lake Forest, IL, Lindley Franklin and his wife Daryl of Darien, Steven Franklin and his wife Claudia of West Simsbury; and seven grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew, Whitney, Ryan, Sydney, Kevin and Amy. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by two sisters, Gigi Dunklee and Margo Robinson.

A memorial service will be held Monday, February 25, 2 p.m. at Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Rd., Avon, CT. Her family will receive friends from 1:30-2 p.m., at the funeral home, prior to the service. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations, in Bobbie’s memory, may be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter, Second Chance Animal Center, P.O.Box 620, Shaftsbury, VT 05262.

For online condolences, please visit carmonfuneralhome.com.

James A. Carlson, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away on Friday, Dec. 21, at St. Camillus Health Center in Stamford.  Carlson was born on Linden Avenue across from the stone four-family house on July 17, 1928. He was one of six children of the late Harry Sigfried and Frances Abbott Carlson.  He was 84.

Carlson and his family moved to Catalpa Terrace in the late 1930’s.  His father Harry was Manager of the A & P located on Linden Avenue and later owned his own grocery store next to the A&P. Carlson’s mother was a relative of the Crain/Bouton family which was very active in town politics.

Carlson suffered a serious brain injury playing football on Sept. 28, 1945 against Staples High School which left him semi-paralyzed, but he remained very involved and had a smile for everyone. Carlson married Elaine in Hollywood, Fla. where he owned and operated a concession stand which was his livelihood.

Carlson divorced and moved back to Darien where he has lived in the Old Town Hall senior housing apartments located on the Post Road in Darien.

Carlson was active with the Darien Old Timers Athletic Association where he served as president from 2008 to 2010.  He received the local honoree award in 1985.  In 2002, the Darien Old Timers Athletic Association established the James Carlson Award which has been given out yearly since then.  He was a former member of Noroton Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by a brother, Jon Carlson of Miami, Fla.; a sister, Jeanne Ofiero of Bethel, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was predeceased by a brother, Harry Carlson, Jr. and two sisters, Virginia Capone and Doris Trimmer.

A memorial service will be held at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Greg Doll from Noroton Presbyterian Church.  Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.

Memorial donations may be made to Darien Old Timers Athletic Association, P. O. Box 3, Darien, CT 06820.

A. Reid Cross, longtime resident of New Canaan, Connecticut, died of Lymphoma on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at Smilow Cancer Center, Yale-New Haven Hospital at the age of 85.

He was born December 31, 1927 in Stamford, the son of Arthur Reid Cross and Marjorie Davidson Cross of Darien. He attended Darien schools, graduating from Darien High School in 1945. He entered Bowdoin College, and after his freshman year he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy. He returned to Bowdoin and graduated in 1950. Recalled to active duty in the army, he attended Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of this tour of duty he went to work for Pitney Bowes in Stamford.

In 1955 he married Nancy Bechert of Stamford.

Taking a leave of absence from Pitney Bowes in 1965, he joined the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington D.C., where he served as Kenya Desk Officer and also attended Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He and his young family then moved to Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa for two years, where he served as Assistant Program Officer. In 1968 he returned to Pitney Bowes headquarters, where he held a number of executive positions, including a two year assignment in London, England. He retired in 1988 after 34 years with the company.

His community activities included a leadership role in the early years of the Stamford United Way, serving as a director and officer of several organizations in the field of mental health, and as a director of the Stamford chapter of the American Red Cross. He was active with the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, as well as serving as President of Interfaith of New Canaan. He was a longtime member of community bands in Darien, New Canaan, and Westport, playing the trombone. Additional interests included listening to classical music and gardening. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church of New Canaan.

He was a director of the former Citizen’s Savings Bank of Stamford and its successor, Gateway Bank.

In addition to his wife he is survived by their children Alison Hubley (Adam) of Madison, CT, Bruce Cross (Grace) of Rowayton, CT, Jeffrey Cross (Allison) of Wilton, CT, Martha Stewart (Glenn) of Madison, CT, and Susie Davidson (Bill) of Rancho Santa Fe, California. He is also survived by his grandchildren Stephanie Hubley, Ellie Hou, Justin and Ryan Cross, Dennis and Meggie Stewart, and Kelly and Andrew Davidson. He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Angela Hubley. Additional survivors include his sister Shirley Duff (Bill) of Lexington, MA, and cousin Mary Davidson of Westbury, New York.

The family will receive friends on Friday, March 1 from 4 to 7 pm at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan, 165 South Avenue.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 3 pm at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan, 165 South Avenue. A reception to follow.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Red Cross, New Canaan chapter, or to the United Methodist Church of New Canaan.

Hoyt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kevin P. Murphy, a 27-year Darien resident, died on March 4. He was 55.

Born on March 18, 1957, he was the son of Patricia D. Murphy and the late Vincent B. Murphy, Jr. of Far Hills, N.J.

Mr. Murphy was a Managing Director at Brooks, Houghton & Co., Inc., an investment and merchant banking firm in New York City. He received a BS degree from Yale University and a Master of Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

A loving husband, father of five, and brother, Mr. Murphy most cherished the time spent with family, especially when his children were all home together. He was an accomplished equestrian who enjoyed show jumping, polo, and field hunting. A member of the Middlesex Club tennis team, he often partnered with his son Kip or wife Jamey in club competitions. He planned to run the New York City Marathon for the third time in November with his daughter Haley, and loved nothing more than cheering on his children as they competed at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels.

Mr. Murphy was an avid history buff, reading and recounting stories of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. A devout Catholic, he attended Mass regularly and served as a catechism teacher at St. Thomas More Church in Darien. He previously served on the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic School Board. He was a member of the Yale Club in New York City.

Mr. Murphy will be remembered for his humor, intellect, loyalty, strength of character, and fierce love of family, friends, and Bruce Springsteen. He will be greatly missed.

Murphy is survived by his wife Jamey, whom he adored, and their five children, Cameron, Haley, Kevin, Jr. (“Kip”), Kendall, and Tim. He is also survived by his five siblings, Vincent Murphy III of Newtown, Penn., Patricia Stuebe of Rye, NY, Daniel Murphy of Darien, Michaela Hoag of Atherton, CA, and Karen Murphy of Far Hills, N.J., and more than 20 nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, on Friday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kevin P. Murphy Memorial Trust / P.O. Box 852, Darien CT 06820.

Walter F. Skerrett, a 39-year resident of Darien, CT passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at home. Born December 22, 1934 in Brooklyn, NY he was the son of the late Walter Francis & Yolanda Skerrett of Brooklyn, NY. He was 78 years of age.

Mr. Skerrett graduated from St. Peters College with a Bachelors of Science Degree. A decorated veteran, he was First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army: Artillery Surface to Air Guided Missiles, 1957-1961, 1st Operational NATO Air Defense Unit in 7th Army in Germany, 3rd Missile Battalion 71st Artillery, and received The Army Commendation Medal for developing and implementing the standard operating procedures used within the entirely new concept of an above ground NIKE-HERCULES site.

Mr. Skerrett is survived by his wife of 51 years Catherine Ann, his three children, Edward Skerrett of Darien, CT; Katherine Slinsky and her husband Richard Slinsky of Darien, CT; Susie Skerrett of Darien, CT; granddaughter Jessica Jean Skerrett and grandson Stephen James Skerrett of Milford, CT. He was predeceased in 2012 by his son Thomas Edward Skerrett.

Prior to moving to Connecticut, Mr. Skerrett was a stock broker for Merrill Lynch. Mr. Skerrett was the proprietor of The Puritan variety store in Darien from 1974 to 1978 which he ran with his family. Well known by townspeople during that time, he chatted with many people as they stopped in the shop on their way to and from the surrounding churches and schools. He loved history – particularly US military and that of Steeplechase Park/Coney Island, Brooklyn where he worked in the office while going to college. It was at Steeplechase where he met Catherine, the daughter of Manager, Jimmy Onorato. Most recently he was employed by Xerox Corp. He also instilled in his family a love of railroads, gardening and vintage radio programs.

Calling hours will be March 14th from 4 to 7 pm at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Road, Darien. A private family burial will take place at The State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mr. Skerrett’s memory to The Disabled American Veterans Organization, Attention: Gift Processing, P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 -http://www.dav.org or The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River Street, East Haven, CT 06512 or The Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.

Pauline Ellis Hornik died March 8, 2013. Paula was born in Plymouth, England, on June 25, 1922, and came to the United States when she was 16 months old. The daughter of Violet Willcocks Ellis and Reginald Ellis, she lived in Darien. As a graduate of Darien High School and IBM Business College, she worked for IBM in New York City and later for Electrolux in Old Greenwich as a Supervisor of the Computer Division.

Paula was married at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Darien, to Joseph Francis Hornik, who predeceased her. They were given property by her parents to build their home in West Norwalk. After their honeymoon, they moved into their newly-built home where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Paula enjoyed her friends and was a very generous person. She was extremely close to her brother, Clifton W. Ellis, of Darien, who also predeceased her. They enjoyed going to the Darien beach together and Paula loved to help at his antique shop in town.

Paula loved to travel, whether it was to Europe or through New England, and enjoyed going antiquing, working around her home, and watching the birds, turkeys and deer on her property.

Paula was survived by many good friends.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be sent to Masonicare Hospice, 74 Cheshire Road, PO Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492 or Waveny Care Center, 3 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.

Jackson, WY resident, Luke Stalker (Peter Stalker, IV), 21, son of Anne and Peter Stalker, III, died in an accidental fall in Paris, France Sunday, March 10^th.  Stalker was participating in the Geneva Study Abroad Program of Colgate University, where he was a Junior; double majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies and International Relations.

According to his parents, Luke arrived into the world very quickly on August 15, 1991 in Greenwich, CT.  Growing up in Darien and New Canaan, Luke attended New Canaan Country School through eighth grade.  His love of skiing, soccer, baseball and digging in the mud flats at low tide were the early stages of a lifelong love of the outdoors.  Luke’s love of languages stemmed from his parents who speak several.  He also was immersed in the Rockies through his participation and long connection to Sanborn Camps in Florissant, Co, where he started  as a camper at age 10, became an ‘outbacker’ at age 15, and a counselor between his freshman and sophomore years of college.

As Luke approached high school, his family moved to Jackson, WY in 2006 after skiing there for many years.  While hesitant at first due to the incredible difference in environment from the east, Luke quickly fell in love with all that Jackson had to offer, especially the small size and unique education he received at The Journeys School.  Always willing to try new adventures,  Luke strapped on his first pair of Nordic skis as a Freshman and by Junior year, finished 14th at States as well as competing for the Intermountain Division team.

Luke’s passion for international affairs began his sophomore year in high school with an initial trip to Chile to volunteer in a national park over his spring break.  The following year, Stalker devised his own semester abroad in Patagonia where he attended Colegio Puerto Natales, an international IB school.  He returned from this trip fluent in Spanish and used his knowledge of slang and nuance to challenge his high school Spanish teacher, amongst others.

Luke excelled at his studies which allowed him to matriculate at Colgate University in the fall of 2010.  Luke enjoyed life at Colgate and continued to explore new adventures:  skeet shooting as a PE requirement, joining Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and spearheading the Colgate chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.  At the end of his sophomore year, he declared his double major and applied for a place in the highly competitive Geneva Semester Abroad program.

Luke’s interest in politics, international relations and peace studies paralleled his inclusive, connector nature and his unselfish and humanistic view of the world.  His passion for living life well and challenging the norms impacted a wide swath of friends, family and acquaintances both in the United States and abroad.

Luke will live on in the hearts of his parents, Anne and Peter Stalker, his three sisters, Laura, Emily and Helen, and his grandparents, Debby and Peter Stalker, II.  A celebration of Luke’s life was held at the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools on Saturday, March 16^th.  A memorial service is scheduled for March 25^th at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. and an additional service is tentatively planned for mid-April in Jackson.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Luke Stalker Program for Global Initiatives c/o Teton Science Schools, Jackson, Wyoming.

Roger Bennett, a Darien resident since 1977, died on Tuesday, March 19 at Stamford Hospital.

Born April 2, 1937 in Kilskeery, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, he was the son of the late Frederick George and Rebecka Simpson Bennett. He was 75.

Mr. Bennett attended Kilskeery Primary School and Enniskillen Technical School in Northern Ireland. He was a farmer in Northern Ireland before he emigrated to the United States. He worked for Darien Asphalt Paving and for F.G.B. Construction until he retired.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jean Bennett; a sister Kyra Bothwell of Norwalk; a brother Henry of Portstewart, Northern Ireland and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his twin sister Claire Latimer in 2011.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road on Sunday, March 24  from 2 to 4 p.m.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 25  at 1 p.m. at the Noroton Presbyterian Chapel, 2011 Post Road, Darien. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Stamford Hospital, Bennett Cancer Center, c/o Stamford Health Foundation, 1351 Washington Blvd., Suite 202, Stamford, CT 06902. lawrencefuneralhome.com

Shannon Kane Dunleavy, of Darien, passed away on Wednesday morning, March 27 after a battle with brain cancer. She was 28.

Shannon was born June 26, 1984 in Stamford, Conn. She is the daughter of Martin and Marilyn Dunleavy. Raised in Darien, Shannon attended Darien High School before graduating from the University of Connecticut with a degree in psychology.

Among her many interests, Shannon was a talented writer, who could in one sentence break your heart, inspire you to change the world and make you smile wide. After her diagnosis in 2010, Shannon began writing a blog (shannondunleavy.netfoo.org) to share her experiences living with cancer: “the good and the bad.” Last year Shannon’s book idea, a memoir based off of her blog, won a publishing consultation at Darien Library’s Pitchapalooza competition.

A natural born advocate, Shannon used her experiences to raise public awareness about young adult cancer (Stupidcancer.org), healthcare reform and student loan debt. She also helped to start the Young Professional Friends of the Center in Stamford, a group that raises awareness about sexual assault amongst young adults. Shannon was recently honored by The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) as “A Woman of Inspiration”.

Shannon is survived by her parents, as well as sisters Kelly Ianniello of Atlanta, Georgia and Casey Dunleavy of Baltimore, Maryland, brother-in-law Dave Ianniello, and niece, Hailey Ianniello.

Always the life of the party, Shannon attended her own celebration of life on Saturday, February 23, in Darien. Family and friends gathered to share laughter and love while wearing shades of Shannon’s favorite color, green. There will be a private memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made at www.giveforward.com/supportthedunleavyfamily

Jonathan O’Herron, of Darien, Connecticut, and Woods Hole Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2013, after a short illness. John was born on October 28, 1929, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Helena (nee Coughlin) and S. John O’Herron. He attended Cranwell School in Lenox Massachusetts as a day student, then graduated from Williams College in 1951. He later attended Harvard Business School, where he received his MBA in 1957.

After college, Jonathan served briefly in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant JG. His professional career began at General Electric Company, followed by Buckeye Pipe Line Company where he rose to Executive Vice President. Crucial to his business career was his short time spent as Treasurer of Buckeye’s parent company, the Penn Central Transportation Company. He moved to the position at the behest of Felix Rohatyn of Lazard Freres & Co., as Lazard led Penn Central through its well known 1970 bankruptcy. Hired by Lazard soon thereafter, John’s business career is most remembered for his investment banking work there over forty years, most of the time as a Partner and Managing Director, positions that he never officially retired from. At Lazard, in addition to being involved in dozens of noteworthy mergers, acquisitions, and financings, he was known for always finding the time to serve as a mentor to many future investment bankers. He constantly stressed to them the importance of balancing work with their family life. His character stood out in the business community where he was held in universal high regard for his integrity, and his modest “salt of the earth” personality.

His family, along with his many friends, were his greatest devotion. He was never happier than when he was playing golf or dining with them at Woodway Country Club, in CT or Woods Hole Golf Club on Cape Cod. Also, Jonathan also was deeply committed to his faith and to giving to others who were less fortunate than he. Although his free time was scarce, his participation with the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York went beyond his formal role as Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee. According to Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, “In addition to everything else, we loved John for asking time and time again, what more was there that he could do.” John was a Trustee of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, Ct., New York Medical College, St. Joseph Medical Center in Stamford Ct., and the Inner-City Scholarship Fund of the Archdiocese of New York. He was also an integral member of The National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management. He was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II in 2004.

John also spent considerable time supporting education. He established two scholarship funds at Williams College (one under his mother’s name) and a scholarship fund at Fordham University. He spent 15 years as a Trustee, then as a Trustee Emeritus of Middlebury College, where he was secretly a supporter of the athletic teams, rivals to Williams. He and his family recently launched a new internship program for Middlebury students who commit to doing service for others. Also, out of gratitude for his children and grandchildren’s time at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, he established a scholarship fund and was a Trustee there for nine years.

John is survived by his son Jonathan O’Herron Jr., his daughters Anne Burleigh (Jon Burleigh) and Sarah Casey (C. Alec Casey), 11 adoring and adored grandchildren, and his brother William J. O’Herron. John’s wife of 48 years, Shirley, predeceased him in 2004.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held privately at St. John’s Church in Darien, followed by interment at Spring Grove Cemetery. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday April 10 at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Rd, Darien. The Rev. Gerald Blaszczak S.J. will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to: The O’Herron Family Foundation, PO Box 4816, Stamford, CT 06907.

Russell Pinto, a lifelong resident of the Stamford/Darien area, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Born April 19, 1967 in Stamford, he is the son of Sandra Pinto of Darien and the late Dominick Pinto. He was 45.

Russell was a graduate of Darien High School. He was a long time local pool contractor and an avid fisherman who loved the outdoors, cooking and traveling.

Beside his mother, he is survived by two brothers, Richard Pinto and his wife Sharon of Norwalk; Christopher Pinto of Darien; and two sisters, Debra Pinto DeLeo and her husband Ron of Monroe, CT and Pamela Pinto DeStefano and her husband Harrison of Wilton, CT. He is also survived by seven nieces, two nephews and his faithful dog, Tucker.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Friday, April 12, 2013 from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Connecticut Affiliate Inc., 5 Brookside Drive, P. O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492. lawrencefuneralhome.com

- By the Family

ELIZABETH N. TROY

Elizabeth Nichols Troy, 68, passed away April 3, from the long-term effects of the radiation therapy which had spared her life in 1969.

Raised in Cold Spring Harbor, L.I., and a four-decade resident of New Canaan, she was a 43-year survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and 10-year survivor of breast cancer. She emerged from extreme heart surgery in 2008 to provide us with five more years of her vibrant, loving self, now in the additional role of grandmother to two new adoring granddaughters.

Libby, as she was known, grew up in Laurel Hollow, L.I., where she was a tennis champion at the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club, and crewed with her father in Atlantic races. She attended East Woods School in Oyster Bay and was a 1965 graduate of Smith College.

In New York, she worked for Life magazine at Time, Inc., Rock Resorts in public relations, and Reader’s Digest as an editorial researcher. She was also a freelance writer and wrote reading-group guides for Random House.

She was happy to give up full-time work when her daughter, Robin, was born in 1974. She volunteered for many years with the Smith College Club, as secretary, publicity chair and book-sale volunteer, as Sunday-school teacher at St. Mark’s Church in New Canaan, and in various capacities at New Canaan Country School, Center School and West School. A lifelong devotee of literature, she was a founding and stalwart member of her beloved book group for more than 35 years.

A direct descendant of William Floyd, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a great-granddaughter of Cass Gilbert, architect of the Woolworth Building in New York City and the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., she was born to John Slocum Nichols and Jarvis Gilbert Nichols on Aug. 26, 1944.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Richard Hershey Troy; her daughter, Elizabeth D. “Robin” Troy; son-in-law Michael J. Stromberg; granddaughters, Elizabeth Quinn and Augusta Reed Stromberg, and siblings, John S. Nichols Jr. of Providence, R.I., Grosvenor G. Nichols of Sacramento, Calif., and Sarah K. Nichols of Greenwich. She was predeceased by her brother, Floyd G. Nichols of Denver, Colo.

She was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames and former member of the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club in Long Island and the Colony Club of New York. At the Country Club of New Canaan, she was a past chairman of the ladies’ paddle tennis team and member of the ladies’ tennis team.

To those of us who knew her well, she will always be our elegant, intelligent, giving partner, friend and mom, a fighter who lived with resilience and dignity and an acute awareness of the privilege of being alive.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan at 11 a.m.