Gerald J. Pacelli, a resident of Darien, died on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at home. Born on March 13, 1941 in Stamford, he was the son of the late Michael and Helen (Mishley) Pacelli. He was 73.

Mr. Pacelli was a member of the first graduating class of St. Mary’s School in Stamford and a graduate of Stamford High School in 1959. He was a long-time member of the Stamford Fire Department. He was a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #41 and coached Darien Little League, Darien Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth and Darien Junior Football League. A lover of sports, an avid hunter and fisherman, Mr. Pacelli was a devoted man who always put his family first.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Andrews Pacelli, two sons, Gerald Pacelli, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Norfolk, Va. and Christopher J. Pacelli of Darien as well as two grandchildren, Michael and Joseph Pacelli of Virginia and one great grandchild, R. Haven Pacelli also of Virginia. He is also survived by two sisters, Helen McDonald of Stamford and Evelyn McCormack of Woodbury, CT as well as many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Mr. Pacelli was predeceased by five brothers, Michael, John, Edward, Frank and Paul; two sisters, Elizabeth Granelli and Barbara Black as well as one nephew, Stephen Pacelli.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Friday, Sept. 12 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford on Monday, Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to Stamford Firefighters Local 786 Burn Foundation, Stamford Fire Headquarters, 2nd Floor, 629 Main Street, Stamford, CT 06901.

— by The Darien Times

Cornelia Reddington Meres, a resident of Stamford, died on Saturday, Sept. 6 at home. Born Dec. 7, 1922 in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late James and Catherine (Mahoney) Reddington. She was 91.

Mrs. Meres graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Katonah, N.Y. and Katherine Gibbs Business College and attended the University of Connecticut for two years, studying as a water color artist. She worked as an executive secretary at Hewitt Robbins Corporation in Stamford and was an administrative assistant at Westhill High School also in Stamford. She volunteered at the Center for Hope in Darien and the former St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Mrs. Meres is survived by her son, Lawrence R. Meres of North Salem, N.Y. and one sister, Honor P. Condit of Rensselar, NY. She is also survived by five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Lloyd M. Meres and two sons, Gary A. Meres and Lloyd R. Meres; and a sister, Joan M. Golden.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Rd., Darien from 9 to 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery, Darien.

Memorial donations may be to a charity of choice.

— by The Darien Times

Anne Meyjes Flanagan, a 47-year resident of Darien, died on Sept. 11 at Stamford Hospital after a long battle with a chronic illness. She was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1932 and grew up in nearby Grosse Pointe. She was the youngest of four children of Dr. Alfred and Katrina LaFerte. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and had a wide circle of wonderful friends, her family said.

She was always an active member of the Darien community. She ran the Royle School Book Fair for many years, including once when she was nine months pregnant. She coordinated the original capital campaign for Post 53 which enabled them to build their current headquarters. She was then recruited by Bud Doble to be one of the original Post 53 “day ladies” when the Post first started covering emergency ambulance calls 24 hours a day back in the 1980s. She also spent many years working in the development office of the Darien YWCA where she cherished her interactions with her co-workers.

A great athlete, one of her passions was playing tennis at the Tokeneke Club, where she was a long time member. Though always competitive, her true joy was spending time with her friends. Her countless friends were a great source of laughter, camaraderie and support, especially during her last years, her family said.

 She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Bill Flanagan, her devoted caretaker. She is also survived by her four children; Bobby Meyjes (Joan) of Darien, Julie Smith (Greg) of London, England, Catherine Meyjes of New Castle, New Hampshire, John Meyjes (Sarah) of Piedmont, California and 10 grand-children, Christine Smith, Caylie Smith, Campbell Smith, Annie Meyjes, Sam Meyjes, Matt Meyjes, Peter Gerrish, Willem Gerrish, Kate Meyjes and Jack Meyjes. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and one of her most cherished memories was watching the huge brood of cousins running around the fields and beaches of Block Island.

She is also survived by a brother, Daniel LaFerte (Gertie) of Michigan and a brother-in-law, Joe Hyde of New Hampshire. She was pre-deceased by a dear sister, Louise Hyde and brother, Fred LaFerte.

The family will have calling hours at Lawrence Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 19 from 5 to 8 and funeral services will be on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10:30 at St. Thomas More, her spiritual home for many decades.

 Memorial donations can be made in her name to Darien EMS Post 53, P.O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820 or the Darien YWCA 49 Old Kings Hwy N., Darien, CT 06820

— by The Darien Times

Robert R. Miller, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague and teacher died at his home in Norwalk on September 10, 2014 following a lengthy illness. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s on the Green Episcopal Church in Norwalk at 2 pm on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

Born in Flint, Michigan on June 8, 1929, Bob received BSEE and MSEE degrees in engineering and business from the University of Michigan in 1952. After a period working for General Electric, Bob decided to pursue a career in academia and enrolled at Stanford University where he was awarded a doctorate in business administration in 1964 as a participant in the prestigious Sloane Program.

Following his graduation from Stanford, he served as a member of the faculty at the University of Iowa for many years and later joined the faculties at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Houston. Dr. Miller ended his career in Washington, DC at the International Finance Corporation within the World Bank organization where he continued to work well into his 70s. He was the co-author of numerous texts and academic publications including several co-written with his wife, Dr. Janice J. Miller. He also contributed to several major research studies for the United States Congress.

Accompanied by his wife, Bob travelled extensively both professionally and for pleasure. Together, Bob and Jan made regular trips to destinations across the globe including several visits to China beginning in the early 1980s and multiple trips to Europe, Asia and South America.

Following retirement in 2002, Bob and Jan moved to Norwalk to be closer to their daughter and her family. Both Bob and Jan were active community volunteers and members of the senior community in Norwalk and Darien. In fact, even during the later stages of his illness, Bob continued his involvement in both Meals on Wheels and weekly events at the Darien Senior Center, particularly the Friday current events discussion group.

A man of conscience and integrity, Bob remained politically active throughout his adult life supporting a range of social and environmental causes and organizations including the ACLU, the AFSC and the Nature Conservancy. While strong and consistent in his convictions, he maintained an open and enquiring mind and encouraged debate and discourse. This openness, along with a dry and self-deprecating sense of humor, provided the foundation for his long and successful academic career and served as the basis for a diverse range of friendships.

Mr. Miller is survived by three children: Jonathan D. Miller of Silver Spring, Maryland, Jameson R. Miller of London, England, Meghan E. Alfen of Norwalk and eight grandchildren, Matthew, Michaela, Evan, and Zoe Miller, Jamie Hight Miller, and Caroline, Lukas, and Juliane Alfen. His death was preceded by his wife of 57 years, Janice J. Miller, in 2012 and a son, Jeffrey P. Miller in 2008.

— by the Family

Richard Appleton Hopkins, age 84, died peacefully at his home in Rowayton, Connecticut on August 19, 2014. Born on October 11 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, he was the son of John Milton and Doris Keyes Hopkins.

A 1951 graduate of Amherst College, Dick then served in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1955 with the rank of Lt.(jg). From 1955-1957, he attended Wharton Graduate School, University of Pennsylvania, graduating with an MBA degree.

Following five years with the Prudential Insurance Company, he began his many years with the Ford Foundation in New York City, retiring in 1995 from the position of Director of Fixed Income Investment.

He was a long-time member of The United Church of Rowayton where he served as a Deacon and Lay Moderator. He also served the wider United Church of Christ on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference and, nationally, on the Board for Homeland Ministries, the Pension Boards and the United Church Foundation.

Dick had been a member of the Fair Rent Commission of Norwalk and a Trustee of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina and Bangor Seminary in Maine. An avid photographer, he also enjoyed music (jazz and playing the piano) and traveling the world on the many cruises he and his wife took together.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Heather S. Hopkins, and his five children: David S. Hopkins, Deborah H. McNamara and her husband Thomas; James S. Hopkins; Jeffrey K. Hopkins and his wife Julie; Richard A. Hopkins, Jr. and his wife Sonja. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Carolyn, Lauren and Chelsea Clouse; Erin and Dylan Hopkins; Elshia and Richard A. Hopkins, III. Other survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, John Bradford and Hilary Hopkins, and his niece Susanna Leisher. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Bradford Streeter Hopkins; and his niece, Alyson Marie Hopkins.

There will be a Service of Thanksgiving and Praise for his life on Sunday, October 12th at 2:00 PM at The United Church of Rowayton.

Gifts in his memory may be made to The United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT 06853 or to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 535 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854.

— by the Family

Rosemarie Joosten, a long time resident of Darien, died on September 15 at Greenwich Woods after a lengthy illness. Born on Jan. 15, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri, she was raised in Chicago, Illinois. She was the elder of two children of Carl Martin and Katharina Riedel. Mrs. Joosten was a 1944 graduate of the University of Chicago.

Mrs. Joosten settled in Darien in 1951 with her family. After obtaining her master’s degree in special education at Fairfield University in 1972, Mrs. Joosten was active in starting a special education program in Darien. After moving to Goshen in 1981, she volunteered in the local hospice program in Northwestern Connecticut. As a deacon of the Church of Christ Congregational in Goshen, she was an active member of the Congregation participating in the choir and other activities. An avid gardener all her life, Rosemarie was a member of the Goshen Garden Club, bringing flower therapy into local nursing homes. She enjoyed expanding her world through travel as well as being together with her family and friends. Six years ago she moved back to Darien to be nearer to family.

Mrs. Joosten was a loving wife and devoted mother of three. She is survived by her daughter Helga Garland and her husband, Steven, of Hingham, Mass., her daughter, Christine Joosten of New York City and her son, Eric Joosten and his wife, Mar, of Darien. Rosemarie is beloved by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as her sister, Anita Locher of Germany. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Hugo Joosten.

A private burial service is planned. The family asks that donations in Mrs. Joosten’s memory be made to Church of Christ Congregational in Goshen.

— by The Darien Times

Patricia Lowman Dailey died on Sept. 26 surrounded by friends and family. She was born in Darien on April 11, 1957 and was a life-long resident of Darien.

Mrs. Dailey was in the inaugural class of Ox Ridge Elementary School in 1964, graduated from King Low Heywood School where she excelled at swimming and field hockey and studied in London before graduating from Hollins College in 1979.

Besides Darien, she lived in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong for more than 10 years. She travelled extensively throughout Asia from Beijing to Sydney, scuba diving in Borneo, sailing in Thailand and competing on any available tennis court.

She was employed in the fashion industry starting with Ralph Lauren’s Women’s Wear in New York and finished at JCrew in New Canaan.

She was a lifelong legacy member of Wee Burn Country Club where she played on numerous tennis and paddle tennis teams. She was a member of Larchmont Yacht Club and an active member of the race committee. Additionally she was a member of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Singapore Cricket Club. She played competitive tennis in several leagues around Fairfield and Westchester County.

She is survived by her husband Mark and their children, Alexander, Briton, Sarah, Christian, Malissa and Kate and her son-in-law, Doug Herling; mother Mary Lowman, brother John and wife Polly, brother Peter. She was predeceased by her father George Lowman of Darien.

She is also survived by her aunt Jean Lowman, cousins Nancy and Bob Labadie of New Canaan, Mary and Michael Moore of Darien, Lisa and Bill Aulet of Boston, and 17 nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Dailey’s funeral Mass will be held Thursday Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. at St. John Church, 1986 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 with a reception following at Wee Burn Beach Club, 6 Anchor Road, Rowayton, CT 06853. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery immediately following Mass.

Memorial donations can be made to either New Covenant House, 90 Fairfield Avenue, P. O. Box 10883, Stamford, CT 06904 or Feed My Starving Children, 401 93rd Avenue, NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

Hugh Cleland “Jerry’” Brewer, Jr., formerly of Wilton and Darien Connecticut, Twin Bridges, Montana, and Ocala, Florida, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on September 13.  He was 89.

Mr. Brewer graduated from Taft school in 1942 and attended Harvard College. He served in WWII, 75th Infantry Division, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His banking career began at First National City Bank (Citibank), where he worked for nearly thirty years; he retired in 1989 from the Bankers Trust Company. An avid sportsman, he was an accomplished fly fisherman, hunter, and a champion golfer. He was also a private pilot and a keen bridge player.

He was predeceased in 2005 by his wife of forty-nine years, Diana Burkett Brewer. He had five children: Hugh Cleland Brewer III; Daryln Brewer Hoffstot; Jeffrey Stott Brewer; Jennifer Brewer Giem; and David Mitchell Brewer, and twelve grandchildren.

Contributions may be made in his memory to: Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231,Washington, D.C. 20090-6231. 1-800-932-9541. www.smiletrain.org.

Raymond Alfred Pace, a resident of Stamford and a former longtime resident of Darien, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 in Stamford. Born in New Haven, CT on October 5, 1922, he was the son of the late Victor and Zenobia Pacapelli. He was 91.

Ray was one of the Greatest Generation. He worked his way to college, was drafted out of the Virginia Military Institute after D-Day and served in Patton’s Army. He married a beautiful French bride in Paris, Jacqueline Gambiez and raised a family in Stamford and Darien, CT. His descendants are spread across the country and the globe.

He is survived by his energetic and perceptive wife, Jacqueline; four children, Francine Scinto (Dan Scinto) of Santa Ana, CA; Cecile Windels (Dale Rosenberger) of Darien, CT; Christopher Pace (Melissa Duggan Pace) of Los Angeles, CA and Stephan Pace (Jill Pace) of Lake Forest, IL. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Madeleine Scinto of New York City; Danny Scinto of Hong Kong; Stephan Scinto of Los Angeles, CA, Elizabeth Pace of Los Angeles, CA; Maggie Pace of San Francisco, CA; Andrew Pace of Los Angeles; Katherine Windels of Darien, CT and Abigail Pace of Lake Forest, IL. Also surviving is his sister, Jean Scialabba of Hamden, CT and thirteen additional nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery, Darien.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-3443, phone number 877-435-7277, info@crs.org. lawrencefuneralhome.com

Michelle “Missy” Farmer Infante, age 59, of Norwalk, died suddenly on Oct. 3. Ms. Infante was born in Greenwich on Nov. 19, 1954 to the late Frank Infante and Alyce (Gillespie) Infante.

Ms. Infante grew up in Darien and attended the Darien school system and Peacham Academy in Vermont. She worked for many years as a home healthcare provider, living in both Vermont and Massachusetts before returning to Connecticut to be closer to family.  Ms. Infante’s passions were people, music and her grandchildren.

She had many friends throughout the country and enjoyed planning reunions that would bring people together to share stories and reconnect.

A lifelong hippie, Ms. Infante loved attending music festivals and would frequently go to local music programs. She is survived by her son, Jeremy Infante, his wife Sarah Parisi, and her two precious grandchildren, Elle and Jeremy, of Ansonia; brothers Steven Infante of Massachusetts and Peter Gillespie of Windsor; her sister Judee Beardsley and her partner Kim Sponza of Norwalk; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends up and down the East coast. Ms. Infante’s infectious laugh, boundless energy and genuine love for others will be sadly missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, 1986 Post Rd, Darien, with a celebration of Ms. Infante’s life to follow after the service.

— by The Darien Times

Elizabeth (Betty) Layda, a resident of Darien since 1956, passed away Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 at Brighton Gardens in Stamford. Born on Dec. 31, 1917 in Stamford, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Ott and Rose (Bolsegar) Seidel. She was 96.

Mrs. Layda graduated from Stamford High School and was a longtime parishioner of St. John Episcopal Church in Stamford.

She is survived by her three children, Deanna Raffaele and her husband Robert of Clearwater, Florida.; Betty Jane Conners and her husband Michael of Stamford; and Gary Layda and his wife Linda of Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law Patricia Layda of Canfield, Ohio; and 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Louis John Layda; a son Louis J. Layda and a sister Gretchen Betz.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Monday, Oct. 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park in Stamford.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford, CT 06901 or to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 535 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 101, Norwalk, CT 06854.

— by The Darien Times

Velma Boege Brindley (Vel), age 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2014 with her family.

She was a lifelong resident of Darien and was residing at Maplewood at Darien for the past two years. She was a graduate of Southside High School of Rockville Centre, New York and graduated from Bucknell University as a member of the Tri-Delta sorority and the New York Hospital of Cornell Nursing.

Vel was the daughter of Richard and Edna Boege of Garden City, New York. She was married to Audley Brindley Jr, also a Southside High School graduate, a Dartmouth College graduate, a member of the first team All American basketball team 1946-1947, played on the original New York Knicks team in 1950, and had a very successful advertising career before his death in 1957. Vel was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable basketball fan and enjoyed competition in all sports to the fullest.

She worked at Stamford Pediatrics for over 18 years before retiring. She was a lifelong legacy member of the Country Club of Darien where she captured numerous club championships in golf, tennis, and platform tennis. She will also be remember as the mother of “Bear” Brindley, the legendary Newfoundland dog who “graduated” from Darien High School.

She is survived by her brother, Richard Boege and his wife Pat and their children Glen, Jennifer, Mellissa, her sister-in-law, Marilyn Labé and her children Jim and wife Courtney Labé, Tom and wife Hyunsoon Labé, her children: Pam Lucas, David Brindley and his wife Maggie, her grandchildren, Mark and Meghan and AJ Lucas and his wife Amanda, and great grandchildren, Colton, and Chase.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 24th 2011, noon, at Noroton Presbyterian Church (Chapel)Post Road, Darien, CT. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, October 23rd, 6 to 8 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605 or The Connecticut Hospice Inc., 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405 (Attention: Development Office). www.lawrencefuneralhome.com.

Claire Corroon Shields, of New York, NY and Ocean Ridge, FL, died peacefully after an extended stay at Edgehill in Stamford, CT. Claire, born in Brooklyn, in 1916, was the daughter of Richard A. Corroon and Margaret Teaken Corroon of New York. Claire is one of nine children. Her father had started the Corroon and Black Company of New York, a well-known insurance and brokerage company, which went public and was ultimately listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Claire attended the Covent of Sacred Heart, Maplehurst, NY before entering Marymount College in Tarrytown. Claire had a great love of church and family. During the war she trained as a nurse and served with the American Red Cross in New York. For many years Claire was active with and served on the board of the Foundling Hospital in New York. As the matriarch of the  R. A. Corroon family of New York, and a well-loved mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many, Clair’s counsel was sought by and graciously given to so many.

Claire was a world traveler and especially loved entertaining in her New York and Florida homes. She was a gourmet cook and loved preparing elaborate dinners for her family and friends.

Claire is survived by her daughter, Judi McCarty of Darien, CT; her grandson Patrick C. McCarty of Barrington, RI; her granddaughter Meaghan Corroon Dresser of Saunderstown, RI; her great granddaughters Katie McCarty and Lily McCarty of Barrington, RI; and great grandson Charles Teaken Dresser of Saunderstown, RI.  She is also survived by her brother Jack, John A. Corroon of Harrison, NY; three step children, Joseph Shields of Palm Beach, FL; David Shields of New York, NY; and Helen Shields Guest of Palm Beach, FL; and nineteen nieces and nephews. Claire was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert McGowan Smith and Joseph Vincent Shields.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More R.C. Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to The Cottage, P. O. Box 2355, Darien, CT 06820. www.lawrencefuneralhome.com

— by the Family

Franciska “Gray” Vargha, a resident of Norwalk since 1969 passed away Saturday, Oct. 11 surrounded by her family. She was born on Dec. 9, 1930 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Mrs. Vargha escaped Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. After briefly living in Vienna, she emigrated to the United States and settled in Norwalk with her husband. Mrs. Vargha was employed by General Electric Credit Corporation for 25 years. She traveled, enjoyed opera, and was known for her exceptional cooking. Additionally, she spent endless weekends at her second home in Vermont. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her husband Victor Vargha, daughter Christine Newkirk from Darien, grand-daughter Katherine Newkirk from New York City, two brothers and one sister.

The family will receive friends and family at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. A church service will follow at St. John Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien at 1 p.m. The burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.

— by the Family

Daniel E. Lupton, 84, of Wilton, formerly a long-time resident of Darien, passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2014, at Norwalk Hospital. He was born on January 19, 1930, in Chicago, IL, to Daniel and Julia (Casselman) Lupton.

Dan grew up in Chicago, IL, where he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He then attended St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy (1952), a Baccalaureate (1954), a Masters (1955) and a Licentiate (1961) in Theology. In 1956 he was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest and served in several parishes in the Chicago area. During this time, he wrote, Guide to Reading the Bible, which was published in both the U.S. and England. Dan was selected, as one of the top young intellectuals in the country, to be part of the Pittsburgh Oratory Community.

In 1962, he resigned from the priesthood to pursue his truer calling. He married his beloved wife, Dorothy, in 1963 in Chicago, IL. After entering Indiana State Teachers College, he received an M.A. in Education in 1963. He then pursued his studies at the University of Chicago, where in 1967 he received a Ph.D. in Education, for which he was additionally awarded a special commendation for exemplary performance on his dissertation and oral examinations. His studies continued with the acquisition of an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago in 1969.

Dan began his career in management consulting and ultimately joined Towers, Perrin, Forster and Crosby, now known as Towers Watson, and remained there 21 years until he retired as V.P. and Principal. Post retirement, he became an Adjunct Professor at both the New School for Social Research and Mercy College in New York. In addition, he did volunteer work in Estonia for the International Executive Services Corps, a U.S. non-profit that sends consultants and experts to developing countries in need of managerial and technical expertise.

Dan’s educational and professional life was deeply satisfying, as was the time he spent away from the office. He enjoyed reading and classical music. However, all his pastimes and accomplishments paled in comparison to the joy he took in his 51-year union with his wife, Dorothy, and their family.

His parents, Daniel and Julia Lupton; his brothers, John and William Lupton; his nephew, Mark Lupton; and his grandniece, Eileen S. Lupton preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Lupton, of Wilton, CT, who was his primary and devoted caregiver, and his two daughters, Dana Lupton of Wilton, CT, Leslie Wentz of Blue Bell, PA, and his son-in-law, H. Beck Wentz III, as well as his three grandchildren, P. Decker Wentz, Quinn Leigh Lupton, and Finley Beck Wentz.

Dan is also survived by his nephew, Patrick Lupton, and his wife, Therese M. Lupton, and their children, as well as Laura Lupton, wife of his late nephew Mark Lupton, and their children.

A mass will be held Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Aloysius Catholic Church, 21 Cherry Street in New Canaan, CT. The family will be greeting friends and relatives directly following for lunch at 249 New Canaan Road, Wilton, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Daniel E. Lupton be made to the Family and Children’s Agency, 9 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850 or online at www.familyandchildrensagency.org .

Roger Carrington Howes, a resident of Darien, died on Aug. 31 in Darien. Born Dec. 12, 1924 in New Rochelle, N.Y., he was the son of the late Allen P. and Marian Hudson Howes. He was 89.

Mr. Howes graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. He was owner of Howes Real Estate and Appraisal Co. He served with the U.S. Navy from December 1942 to January 1946 as a signalman on the U.S.S. Clinton and U.S.S. Miller.

He was a member of the American Legion. Mr. Howes enjoyed fishing with his father’s friend, Albert Einstein, on Lake Kiwassa in New York when he was a teenager. He loved animals and wildlife — especially his large English Mastiff dogs. He also enjoyed gardening, refinishing furniture, photography and a good joke. Mr. Howes is survived by his wife, Mary Francis Lantry Howes; his two sons, Scott W. Howes and his wife Pamela Maestri-Howes of Easton; Mark K. Howes and his wife Karen L. Howes of Nunda, N.Y.; and two grandchildren, Jeffrey Howes and Kimberly McTarnathan. He was predeceased by his brother Allen Howes of Lake Forest, Ill.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at Union Memorial Church, 58 Church Street, Stamford.  Burial will be private.

— by The Darien Times

John A. Rikert, 87, of Darien, died on Sunday, Oct. 5 at St. Camillus Health Care Center in Stamford. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 8, 1927 to the late Emory and Bertha Monsees Rikert.

Mr. Rikert was a food chemist, having worked for General Foods, Standard Brands and Nabisco for 20 years before his retirement.

He then went on to work as a health inspector for the City of Stamford and the Town of Darien. Mr. Rikert was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army and was a member of River Hills Ski Club and Trout Unlimited.

Mr. Rikert is survived by his wife, Julie Sutherland Greene Rikert of Darien, son Darrell Rikert, daughter Jennifer Rikert Wolski, a brother Paul Rikert, step children Michael Greene, Kimberly Greene, several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his step daughter Jacqueline Bowers.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 11 at St. John’s RC Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien.

Burial will be private and there will be no calling hours.

The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford is handling the arrangements.

Memorial donations be made in John’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (CT Chapter), 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

— by The Darien Times

Velma Boege Brindley (Vel), age 90, born in Wood Haven, NY, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2014 with her family.

She was a lifelong resident of Darien and was residing at Maplewood at Darien for the past two years.

She was a graduate of Southside High School of Rockville Centre, New York and graduated from Bucknell University as a member of the Tri-Delta sorority and the New York Hospital of Cornell Nursing.

Vel was the daughter of Richard and Edna Boege of Garden City, New York. She was married to Audley Brindley Jr, also a Southside High School graduate, a Dartmouth College graduate, a member of the first team All American basketball team 1946-1947, played on the original New York Knicks team in 1950, and had a very successful advertising career before his death in 1957. Vel was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable basketball fan and enjoyed competition in all sports to the fullest.

She worked at Stamford Pediatrics for over 18 years before retiring.

She was a lifelong legacy member of the Country Club of Darien where she captured numerous club championships in golf, tennis, and platform tennis. She will also be remember as the mother of “Bear” Brindley, the legendary Newfoundland dog who “graduated” from Darien High School.

She is survived by her brother, Richard Boege and his wife Pat and their children Glen, Jennifer, Mellissa, her sister-in-law, Marilyn Labé and her children Jim and wife Courtney Labé, Tom and wife Hyunsoon Labé, her children: Pam Lucas, David Brindley and his wife Maggie, her grandchildren, Mark and Meghan and AJ Lucas and his wife Amanda, and great grandchildren, Colton, and Chase.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 24th, 12:00pm, at Noroton Presbyterian Church (Chapel), 2011 Post Road, Darien, CT. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, October 23rd, 6:00-8:00pm at Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605 or The Connecticut Hospice Inc., 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405 (Attention: Development Office). www.lawrencefuneralhome.com

— by the Family

Edith Balne Kalvaitis passed away peacefully at the age of 95, at her home in Darien, on Oct. 7. She was a 50-year resident of Darien.

Mrs. Kalvaitis was born on June 13, 1919 to the late Henry James and Sarah Louisa Balne. She was born and lived the first 30 years of her life in Mount Vernon, New York, and spent her childhood summers at her aunt and uncle’s farm on Olmstead Hill in Wilton, Connecticut. In her 20’s, she taught dancing to GIs at Fort Slocum, and met her future husband, Paul Kalvaitis, at a girlfriend’s Christmas tree decorating party. In 1950, they were married and lived in Port Chester, New York, before moving to Darien.

In the 1940s, before her marriage, Mrs. Kalvaitis enjoyed working in New York City as secretary to noted vitamin researcher Dr. Walter H. Eddy, and at Union Carbide, before leaving the workforce to raise her three boys. After resuming her career, she worked as an executive secretary at GTE Corporation World Headquarters in Stamford, until her retirement in 1985.

Mrs. Kalvaitis is survived by two sons, Robert D. Kalvaitis of Sierra Madre, California, and Ronald D. Kalvaitis of Harwinton, Connecticut. Mrs. Kalvaitis is also survived by two granddaughters (Shannon Kalvaitis Toma of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Cheryl Kalvaitis Fonti of Gloucester, Massachusetts), six great grandchildren, and a niece Jeanne Blair of Hardinsburg, Indiana.

Mrs. Kalvaitis is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Kalvaitis, and her son, Royal Kalvaitis.

Mrs. Kalvaitis was much loved by her family, and is remembered by her friends for her interest in handwriting analysis, her good humor and fun-loving character, her family. She spent her retirement years doing genealogies of both her and her husband’s families.

A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, Oct. 11. Memorial donations may be made to Post 53 Ambulance, P. O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820.

— by The Darien Times

Frederick Albert Gricius of New Canaan passed away peacefully on his 90th birthday, October 8, 2014, surrounded by those he loved. He is survived by: Patricia, his wife of 43 years; his daughter Kathleen from his first marriage to Dorothy Christofori, who died in 1969; his step-daughter Mary Neumann; his grandson James: James’s wife Sarah Neumann; and his beloved great-granddaughters, Emma Rose Neumann and Abigail Katherine Neumann. His daughter Joanne Gricius, a highly talented artist and photographer, suffered an untimely death in 2004. Fred served in the US Navy during World War II under the Pacific Theater of Operations as radio operator and anti-aircraft gunner on a PT boat. His Squadron 10 fought a successful campaign against Japanese shipping, supporting the US Army’s advance through New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1946. As a musical prodigy, Fred realized a lifelong dream when receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1950.

He then began a long and successful career teaching music to schoolchildren in Maine, New York and Cape Cod while receiving and Masters in Music from Boston University in 1956. He had a second career as a music therapist at the Brockton, Massachusetts VA Hospital.

We mourn his passing, but celebrate his life for his honor, decency and kindness which touched so many. We were enriched by his presence and are diminished by his passing. Rest in peace, Freddy.

Visiting hours and a service were 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday October 13th at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien.

A graveside service is scheduled at noon on October 14th at the Pine Hills Cemetery, West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or Person-to-Person, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 in Fred’s name.

— by the Family