Catherine “Cathy” Oberle, 72, of Rowayton,  died at her longtime home on Friday, July 28, after a long illness.

A resident of Rowayton since 1967, Ms. Oberle was born on Nov. 4, 1944 in Babylon, Long Island.  She attended The Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and graduated from Western Connecticut State University.  

Ms. Oberle  was a kindergarten teacher at Tokeneke School in Darien for 34 years.  She taught more than 1,000 students and had multiple generations of her pupils.  Known as the “Teddy Bear Teacher” for her collection of teddy bears, Ms. Oberle was beloved for her sweet nature and positive outlook.

She was active in St. John’s Church, the Darien Senior Center and other community groups.  

She is survived by her first cousins, Lawrence Kuhn of Long Island, Reverend Richard Kuhn and Maryann Carl.

A Mass of Christian Burial was  held on Monday, July 31, at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Burial will be private

Memorial donations may be made to St. John R. C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 or the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Avenue, Rowayton, CT 06853.

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Peter Greer Osgood, 76, of Sedgwick, Maine, died in peace Saturday, July 22, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine.

Mr. Osgood was born Dec. 26, 1940, in Waltham, Massachusetts,  to Katherine (Greer) and Ernest Osgood. With his younger brother Ernest, who predeceased him, he enjoyed the quintessential New England childhood in Sudbury, Massachusetts, filled with Boy Scout adventures and not a little mischief. He attended The Fenn School, Belmont Hill School and Lincoln-Sudbury High School from which he graduated in 1959.

After high school, Mr. Osgood enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Korea. While there as a 19 year old, he saw a need and, with support from his hometown of Sudbury, started an orphanage for children of war victims. Later, he served in Vietnam as an information officer. After discharge, Mr. Osgood attended Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, graduating in three years (1965) with a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism. Subsequently, he served as chairman of the Syracuse University communications advisory board.

Peter Osgood was a pioneer and leading authority in the field of global communications and investor relations. His 50-year career in public relations began in Boston with Newsome & Co., becoming a major shareholder and CEO. He was past director and national president of the National Investor Relations Institute and a member of the NIRI Roundtable, as well as former chairman and president of the Public Relations Society of America. After selling Newsome and assuming the presidency of Carl Byoir & Associates, Inc., he served as Byoir’s CEO.  When Byoir merged with Hill & Knowlton, Inc., Peter served as vice chairman international of H&K. He left the agency to found Osgood, O’Donnell and Walsh. At the end of his career, Mr. Osgood was owner of Osgood Global, Ltd, with a passport that reflected a lifetime of world travel.

Mr. Osgood’s skills as a strategic thinker benefited the many non-profit organizations for which he served. Most notably, over the course of his life he sat on the boards of the Joslin Diabetes Center, Junior Achievement Worldwide and the Business Council for the United Nations. As a director of The Sky Club, atop the then Pan Am Building, he enjoyed a chilled gimlet, followed by Dover sole, overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Professional accomplishments aside, Mr. Osgood loved skiing and sailing, building anything from a dollhouse to garden trellises, a postprandial hand of gin rummy with a cold Heineken — and, most of all, his family. He is survived by his wife, Carol, of Bridgeport and Sedgwick, Maine, two daughters and their spouses, Greer (Taryn) McCarthy of Darien, and Blaire (William) Bernard of Wenham, Massachusetts, two step-sons Brooks (Enzii) Jessup of Berkeley California, and Alex Jessup of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Osgood also leaves behind four adored grandchildren, Marley, Stewart, Osgood and Evelyn.

A private memorial service will take place in Connecticut in the fall.

— by the Family

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Family and friends mourn the loss of Katharine Gordon Wilson of Vero Beach, Florida and formerly Darien, who died peacefully on July 27, of complications from a stroke.

Born in 1920, at the base of Mt. Hood, Oregon, she was one of six children of Colin John Gordon and Katharine Forbes Jones. She is survived by her daughters, Schuyler Field and Holland Wilson and two sons, Kendrick R. Wilson, III and James F. Wilson and a brother, Theodore Gordon. Her husband Kendrick R. Wilson, Jr. predeceased her in 2008. 

Mrs. Wilson was a past trustee of Bennett College and Wee Burn Country Club and a long time member of Riomar Country Club, US Women’s Seniors and Westchester Fairfield Golf Association. She was a determined and avid athlete and excelled in golf, tennis, and trapshooting. Her passion for the outdoors, gardening and healthy living were an inspiration to all. Known as KK to her 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, she was a guiding force to her large family and beloved by many.  

A celebration of her life will be held Sept. 28, 11 a.m.  at St. Luke’s Church in Darien, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (fau.edu/hboi) or Person to Person (p2phelps.org)

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Rose M. Warren, 94, of Darien, CT, died at Stamford Hospital on Saturday, August 5, 2017 surrounded by family.  A resident of Darien since 1947, Rose was born on February 20, 1923 in Stamford, CT. In 1943 she married the love of her life, Joseph J. Warren, Jr.  Together they raised 6 children.

Rose was predeceased by her husband Joseph J. Warren, Jr., her mother Anna Ferullo Lombardo, her father Dominick Lombardo, her brother Nicholas Lombardo, and one grandchild Keith Richard Deverill.  She is survived by her children, Maryanne Rigo (George), Joseph R. Warren, Sr. (Pat Binder),  Ellen Deverill (Rick †), Nicholas Warren (Wanda Knott), Susan Anderson (Brad), and Richard Warren (Eileen Raffaele), 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.  Rose is also survived by her sister Mary Plant, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Rose worked as a secretary in a law office; a receptionist and laboratory assistant in several Doctor’s offices; and as a Medical Transcriptionist for Stamford Hospital.  She also spent incalculable hours working as a volunteer at St. John R.C. Church and the Darien Senior Center.  She taught numerous people how to do a seemingly endless variety of crafts including painting and stained-glass work.  Her ability to create beauty from things most people would never give a second thought to was legendary and ensured that anyone who spent time with Rose would always come away with a treasure and a wealth of stories to tell.  It never occurred to Rose that someone was either too young or too old to enjoy a creative experience, so anyone that came into her home or her class would come away excited and ready to create more.

Amidst all her other passions nothing could keep her away from UCONN Women’s Basketball. When her team was playing everything else was put on hold and all sorts of snacks would appear.  She and her friends would watch and cheer with a passion that led the uninitiated to truly believe the team could hear them through the television.

The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Thursday, August 10, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John R. C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 or the Noroton Volunteer Fire Department, 1873 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820. 

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Paul Oren Shaw Marden of Ivoryton, CT, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 9, 2017. He was surrounded by his wife Barbara of 56 years, and their three children, Emily Jewett, Paul Marden and Sarah Whitney.

Paul was born on June 4, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, son of Paul and Virginia Marden. Shortly after, the family moved to Cairo, Egypt until he left to attend The Stowe School in Stowe, Buckinghamshire England. After graduation he attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH where he excelled in soccer, squash and track.

Upon graduating Exeter he earned his BA from The University of Michigan and later attended UCONN.

In his business life, he proudly worked at The New Yorker Magazine where he had a 25 year career in its’ marketing and advertising departments. He and his wife Barbara raised their three children in Darien, CT where they participated in many different activities that spanned from volunteer positions with the Board of Education, Town government and Youth Soccer programs. Together they shared a love of racquet sports, both paddle and tennis.

Paul also shared a love of the water, where sailing was one of his favorite pastimes. Upon retirement Paul and Barbie moved to Ponte Vedra Beach FL and participated in volunteer activities, the most beloved of which was running the Readers Aloud program.

In 2005, they moved to Ivoryton, CT where he introduced the Readers Aloud program to Essex Elementary School and its’ after school Chess Program.

Additionally, he volunteered at The Florence Griswold Museum, The Essex Land Trust and FISH. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their three children, Emily Jewett, of Old Lyme, CT and her husband Harry, their son Paul Marden of Franklin Lakes, NJ and his wife Karen and daughter Sarah Whitney of Essex, CT and her husband Palmer. Between them there are seven grandchildren, Harry and Lindsey Jewett, Thomas, Andrew and Meredith Marden and Madison and Shepard Whitney.

He is also survived by his two sisters, Caroline Delves of Oxfordshire, England and Sandra Marden of Durango, CO.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to: Essex Elementary School Foundation: PO Box 882 Essex, CT 06426

— by the Family

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Starr E. Brinckerhoff, 46, a long-time resident of Darien CT, and most recently Sandgate Vermont, passed away August 11, 2017. Born in New York City on October 1, 1970, Starr was the son of Starr E. Brinckerhoff, Sr. and Sherrard Ralli, growing up and attending school in Darien, and graduating from Darien High School.

The owner and operator of Starr Landscaping company for 26 years in CT & VT, Starr took great pride in his work and customers’ properties. He found great joy in simple tasks like cutting the lawn around his beloved Sandgate home.    Starr was passionate about many things, including music by his beloved Grateful Dead, skiing, fishing, dirt bike riding and long cruises on his Harley Davidson. Above all else, he adored his daughter Isobella (Bella) with whom he spent countless hours in play and developing their mutual love of art. Starr is survived by his wife Jaaini (Graham) Brinckerhoff of Sandgate, daughter Isobella, his father Starr E. Brinckerhoff, Sr and his step-mother Sandra Brinckerhoff, sister Laura Brinckerhoff and her fiancé Wylie Sawyer of Norwalk, CT. He is also survived by brother-in-law Hudson Graham and his sister-in-law Leia Graham of Brisbane, Australia, step-brothers Andrew Mawicke of Singapore and Fritz Mawicke of Basalt, CA, step-sister Adele Roy of Ann Arbor, MI and much loved nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother Sherrard Brinckerhoff who died in 1984. At the request of the family, funeral services will be private.

To send the family personal email condolences please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.comThe family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home 34 Park Place Manchester Center, VT.

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George Blackwell Cammann, son of Katharine Blackwell and Frederic Almy Cammann, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 15th at home.

George was born on January 27, 1926 in New York City. After attending St. Marks School, he served as a Navy corpsman during WWII, and graduated from Cornell University (BMA’50). George spent the majority of his career at Pan American World Airways and a decade at Northwest Airlines. Upon retirement, he volunteered at  IESC and  Norwalk Hospital.

He actively served in the life of Noroton Presbyterian Church, including singing with his strong tenor voice in the choir in his later years. A member of the Tokeneke Club in Darien for 55 years, George was an enthusiastic competitor in his Sunfish on Long Island Sound or on the tennis courts. Equally at ease on alpine or nordic skis, George was noted for his skilled horsemanship at Elkhorn Ranch South in Arizona and Elkhorn Ranch Montana. His greatest pleasure came with good friends and tight lines fly fishing at Megantic, Potatuck, and on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers.

George is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy Colway Cammann; his daughter Amy Cammann Cholnoky and her husband John of Darien, CT and Big Sky, MT;  son Thomas Rhody Cammann and his wife Bonnie of Huntington Beach, CA;  grandchildren JB, Kari, and Robbie Cholnoky, and Matthew (Andrea) and Sarah Cammann; and his brother Frederic Gallatin Cammann.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 1 at 11am, Noroton Presbyterian Church, Darien, CT. Contributions in George’s memory may be sent to Bennett Cancer Center, Stamford, CT or The Open Door Shelter, Norwalk, CT.

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Spencer Lloyd Plehaty,LtCdr USNR (Ret), age 92, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado, with his nearest family by his side.  Spencer was born October 23, 1924, in White Plains, NY, to Carl (Sr.) and Svea (Grape) Plehaty.  Spencer was never married, and was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Svea, and his older brother, Carl W. Plehaty, Jr. He is survived by his nephew Carl W. Plehaty, III, of Erie, CO, sister-in-law Phyllis Plehaty of Boulder, CO, and cousins Barbara (Grape) Seymour of Dallas, TX, Jerry Grape, of Beacon, NY, and Karin Skola of Lehigh Acres, FL.

Spencer graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT in 1948 with a B.A. in Math and Physics, and New York University, New York, in 1953 with an M.E.E. in Electronics.

He served his country during World War II as an Ensign in UDT-4, training in underwater demolition, reconnaissance, and mine disposal at Ft. Pierce, FL.  After the war was over, he transferred to USNR, attaining the rank of Lt. Commander before retiring in 1970. He frequently attended reunions of the UDT SEAL Association as late as 1998.

His working career consisted of three years as an applied physicist with US Naval Ordnance Lab and many years as Senior Systems Engineer with Norden, Div. United Aircraft Corp.

Spencer resided in Darien, CT, for most of his adult life, and served faithfully on the Darien Representative Town Meeting for many years. As often as the weather would allow, he made the trek out to Colorado to be with family for Christmas, and indulged in traditional Swedish dinners. His fondest wish in later years was to move to Erie to be with his closest family members. Sadly, ”Uncle Penn” left us all too soon shortly after arriving at his new home in Boulder, Colorado.

Cremation has been handled by Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, Longmont, CO, and inurnment is in the family plot at Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan, CT.

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William B. Robbins, 94, Morehead City, died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at Carteret Health Care, Morehead City, North Carolina.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Robbins is survived by his daughter Pamela R. Phillips and her husband, Walter, of Newport, and son Thayer B. Robbins and his wife Martha, of Darien, Conn.; grandchildren Kristin R. Wood and husband, Garrett, Leland; Jennifer Evans and husband, Michael, Wilmington; Mary S. Robbins, Chapel Hill; Rebecca S. Robbins and William G. Robbins, New York City, and one great-granddaughter, Savannah Wood, of Leland.

Mr. Robbins was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, of 68 years in 2015, his parents, Elizabeth B. Robbins and Charles F. Robbins, and his brothers, Walt and Charlie.

Born Aug. 20, 1922, in Orange, N.J., Mr. Robbins was graduated from the Choate School, Wallingford, Conn., attended the Babson Institute of Business Administration in 1941-42 before being commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he instructed pilots in flying the B-24 Liberator for the duration of World War II.

In 1945, following the war, with help from his father, he established Chatham Laboratories Inc. in Whippany, N.J., which developed the first household powdered bleach approved for sale by A&P Grocery stores.

In the late 1950’s he joined Young & Rubicam Advertising in New York City as an account supervisor, working on General Foods, Procter & Gamble and the Borden Co. At that time the Robbins moved from Chatham, N.J. to Darien, CT., where the lived until 1974. The Robbins were active members of the Noroton Presbyterian Church, where Mr. Robbins served as an elder. In 1958 they joined the Wee Burn Country Club, and retained this membership until 1974 when they moved to North Carolina.

In 1969, he joined Hardee’s Food Systems, Rocky Mount, as vice president and director of marketing. Developing a marketing department, he helped build Hardee’s from 169 franchises in nine Southeastern states to over 600 in 36 states.

Leaving Hardee’s in 1974, he and his wife were among the first residents of Pine Knoll Shores where they had built a house on the ocean in 1973. Subsequently, they purchased a home in Green Valley, Ariz., migrating seasonally. Selling these homes in 1988, they bought a house in Alburg, VT., on Lake Champlain, and began a seasonal migration between North Carolina and Vermont until finally settling in Morehead City in 2014.

Mr. Robbins received an honorary degree from Babson in 1995. He was the great nephew of A.G. Spalding, of baseball and sporting goods fame and was an avid golfer. He was very active in bringing Teen Challenge, a faith-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, to the state of Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Noroton Presbyterian Church, Darien, CT. 06820.

— by the Family

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Edward J. Hamernick of Norwalk, 87, a long-time resident of Darien, died peacefully at home on Friday, Aug. 25, after a long illness. He was born in 1930 in Stamford, the son of Peter and Katherine (Teplica) Hamernick.

He was a veteran of the Korean conflict, having served with the U.S. Marines, and a retired letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. He will be buried with military honors.

Mr. Hamernick was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy (Tirpak) Hamernick, and is survived by four children: Donald E. Hamernick and his wife Mary of Cape Canaveral, Florida; Richard J. Hamernick and his wife Joy of Darien; Donna Gabordi and her husband Bob of Melbourne, Florida; and Marianne Cooper of Norwalk; and 16 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1 at the Edward Lawrence Funeral home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.

Memorial donations may be sent to VITAS, 99 Hawley Lane, Suite 1204, Stratford, CT 06614.

— by The Darien Times

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James P. Albert, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away on August 22nd at Stamford Hospital at the age of 77.  He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 21, 1940 to Elwin and Kathryn (Damm) Albert.  He grew up in several cities in the Midwest, spending summers working on the family farm in Utica, Minnesota.  He graduated from high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan before leaving for New York City where he lived until moving to Darien in 1976.

Jim started his career at Equitable Life as the computer programming profession was getting underway.  Over a long career in computing, Jim wrote systems programs and managed services for major corporations such as Bankers Trust, Time Inc., and CBS where he met his wife, Lois Schneider.   As the computer field expanded, Jim moved into telecommunications and did network design and implementation globally.  His work cut across many fields including entertainment, banking, insurance, health-care, and technology.

Jim was an ardent bicyclist.  For many years, he and his friends would ride seventy-five miles each weekend thru the hills of Fairfield and Westchester counties.  In the 1970s, he participated in state competitions and represented Connecticut in the Nationals in Milwaukee in 1979.

With retirement, Jim spent much of his time volunteering with local social services organizations.  He invested more time in his art and expanded from acrylics to wood sculptures and drawings like the one above.  In particular, he enjoyed creating wooden watermelon slices out of trees from his property for guests that visited his home for one of his scrumptious meals.  People would always leave with leftovers and a memento that brought smiles to their faces.

In addition to his immediate family of Lois and Kendra, Jim is survived by his sisters Sandy Rider (Bob) and Sue Lawrence (Phil), brother Gene Albert (Barbara), his brother and sister-in-law Seth and Susan Mason, many nieces, nephews, and great friends.  

There will be a gathering to celebrate Jim’s life on Saturday, September 9th, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the meeting room of The First Congregational Church in Darien.  In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Open Door Shelter, 4 Merritt Street, Norwalk, CT  06854 http://www.opendoorshelter.org/donations/ or the Electronic Frontier Foundation (defending your rights in the digital world) 815 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 https://supporters.eff.org/donate

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After Aug. 31, 2017, all obituaries and death notices in our papers and on our websites are published for a fee. This information will be published exactly as provided by the funeral home or family. The obituaries can include an optional photo insertion. Death notices do not include a photo.

The cost for a death notice is $50 for each newspaper and can be up to 350 characters. A 2,500-character obituary with an optional photo costs $250 for each newspaper. An obituary of up to 5,000 characters with an optional photo is $500 for each newspaper.

Obits may be submitted via hersamsecure.com/obit.

Questions can be directed to Sharon Cappetta at obits@han.network.

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Margaret Duff van den Heuvel

Margaret Duff van den Heuvel died peacefully on August 27, 2017 after a brief illness.

She was born in 1920 in Pennsylvania to the Rev. and Mrs. George M. Duff and in 1922 the family moved to Riverdale, NY where her father pastored the Riverdale Presbyterian Church for 31 years. Her uncle, James H. Duff, was both governor and senator of Pennsylvania. Margaret’s education included Horace Mann for Girls in New York City and Mount Holyoke College (Class of 1941).

During WWII, Margaret joined the Waves. She was stationed in the Navy Department in Washington DC for over 3 years, retiring with the rank of Full Lieutenant. In 1947 she married Stanley van den Heuvel. In 1960 the family moved to Darien, CT to the house where she lived for the rest of her life. Margaret became involved in many community activities. She participated in a neighborhood Bible study group for over 50 years and was a regular volunteer with the DCA Thrift Shop.

She is survived by children Susan Padgett (Randy) of Davis, CA, John of Darien, and Elizabeth Ehrgood of Lebanon, PA; her beloved grandchildren Mike Padgett (Allie), Dan Ehrgood (Coni), Ben Ehrgood, and Peter Ehrgood (Carrie) and 3 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held on Saturday, October 7, at 11:00 am at the Noroton Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. The service will be followed by a reception at the church. Gifts in Margaret’s memory may be made to the Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.

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Robert Paul Lavigne

Robert Paul Lavigne, age 81, of Norwalk, Conn., entered into eternal life on September 4, 2017, in his home surrounded by loving family members and friends. He was the loving husband of Jack English. They met at The Napoleon Club in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day of 1973. For 44 years they shared a vibrant life together.

Born in Lowell, Mass. on October 5, 1935, he was the son of Maurice and Delia (Chevalier) Lavigne.

He graduated from Winnicunett High School in Hampton, New Hampshire. Bob attended Dennison University, graduated from Massachusetts College of Art, and earned his master’s degree from St. Joseph College.

His teaching career spanned 32 years. He started teaching in 1960 at Middlesex Junior High and moved onto Darien High where he taught in his beloved “D5” for 9 years. His memory will be preserved by the hundreds of hearts his touched as an educator.

Bob had a true zest for life as can be seen in his numerous hobbies and interests which included: gardening, floral arranging, photography, antiquing, faux finishing, serigraphy, Zumba, aerobics, and reading. He could often be seen on Wednesdays at Sardi’s before attending a Broadway matinee.

In 2001 Bob and Jack adopted their beloved standard poodle, Napoleon who they pampered for 14 years. Bob and Jack spent many winters in Fort Lauderdale and also loved their numerous trips throughout Europe.

Bob was a member of St. Matthew’s Church in Norwalk, Conn.; the Tri-State Hosta Society, The Sons of Italy, numerous art and educational organizations, and served on the Broad River Homes Board of Director.

Bob is survived by his brother Norman of California, numerous family members, and countless friends whose lives he touched. He was predeceased by his brother Richard of Bethel, Conn.

Family will receive guests on Sunday, September 10, from 4-7 p.m. at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, September 11 at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Avenue, Norwalk.

Donations may be made to Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County who provided outstanding care during Bob’s illness. Their address is 761 Main Avenue, Suite 114, Norwalk, CT 06851.

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James A. Yates

James A. Yates, a longtime resident of Pound Ridge, NY, passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, after a short illness. He was 63 years old.

Born October 8, 1953, and raised in Darien, CT, Jim was the son of the late Joseph F. and Kathryn Shirley L’Hommedieu Yates.

As a young boy, he was an avid skier and enjoyed spending time in Vermont at the family’s vacation home. In high school, he was a talented musician, artist, and craftsman.

After high school, Jim and his brother John took over the family business. They continued to run Yates Builders, the contracting and building company their father founded in the 1940s. Together they built and remodeled over 100 homes. Jim could fix anything and always enjoyed helping others. In his free time, he loved to go fishing.

Jim was a lifelong lover of classic rock music and science fiction. He especially loved the Beatles and Pink Floyd and had fond memories of hitchhiking to Woodstock when he was a teenager. Jim saw the original Star Wars movie three times on the day it was released at the theater in 1977. He was an even bigger Star Trek fan and considered himself a “Trekkie.”

Jim was the loving and attentive father of five children, including two autistic boys. He dedicated most of the last 25 years caring for his sons and advocating for the disabled.

Yates was predeceased by his son Robert, his brother Joseph Yates, his sister Judith Yates, and his brother Jerry Yates. He is survived by four children: Emily Yates of Darien, CT, Abigail Yates of Los Angeles, CA, Ian Yates and Dylan Yates; three siblings: Joann Sarner of Pound Ridge, NY, John Yates of Southbury, CT, and Jeffrey Yates of Bethel, CT. He was beloved by his niece and nephews. In addition, he leaves a granddaughter, Annabel Jones of Darien, CT.

Yates will be buried at St John’s Cemetery in Norwalk, CT, on Friday, September 15, 2017, at 1 pm. All are welcome to attend the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Autism Speaks. www.autismspeaks.org.

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Jon Stephen Schoen of Darien, CT, and Nantucket, MA was born in Washington DC on December 26th, 1960, the son of the late James and Anne Schoen.

He attended Good Counsel High School and played football for Boston College where he was a four-year starter and standout with a program that went from 0-11 to playing in what is now the Capital One Bowl during his senior year. He finished his collegiate career ranked 7th in all-time receiving yards for BC and was awarded the Thomas Scanlon Award as the Scholar Athlete of his senior class. After graduating, he signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was also drafted by the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. Jon had better things in mind and began his MBA at Carroll School of Business three weeks into the fall season.

Jon began his professional life with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, working on the 85th floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. In light of the ’93 terrorist bombings he switched career paths and took an offer from Morgan Stanley where he soon found a second family and culture that matched his work ethic and moral compass. As a Managing Director for almost two decades, he was the antithesis of the typically described Wall Street executive. Jon found young talent by simply judging people for their integrity, moral character, and work ethic. He initiated several philanthropic activities at the firm by volunteering in a Lower East Side soup kitchen and offering his time with rooftop garden initiatives. He volunteered after Hurricane Sandy, walking from apartment to apartment in Coney Island handing out food and necessities.

Personally, Jon never met a Catholic charity or school he couldn’t help. He donated generously to Kolbe Cathedral Catholic in Boston. He was an enthusiastic proponent of Teach For America, and funded the first Girls Lacrosse Program in College Park, Georgia. Jon coached youth basketball at St. Stephens of Hungary on the Upper East Side for the past 5 years of his life, in the midst of his health battle. He anticipated retiring and working full-time in a school setting.

In his community, Jon offered his time to the Special Olympics. He was a catechist at St. Thomas More where he and Patricia raised their 3 children. Jon was integral in the Blue Wave Pride Organization, now the Darien Athletic Foundation. He helped raise and gave generously to the beautification of the Darien High School facilities, where he proudly watched his three children compete in football, lacrosse, soccer, track, and swimming for over 15 years.

His generosity and loyalty to all things Blue Wave, Harvard, Georgetown and Stanford will not be forgotten. Most Importantly, Jon never forgot the school that gave him the chance to succeed. He endowed two full scholarships in the BC Athletic department. Jon had 100 season tickets for Boston College Football, using all of them for one game each year and donating the remainder to a local charity to enjoy.

In recent years, Jon raised thousands of dollars for cancer research and his diagnosis did not slow him down from continuing to do the things that he loved. He biked 200 miles with his children in the Pan Mass Challenge the past three years. Jon also biked Mt. Ventoux while battling his disease near the end of his life.

Most important about Jon was his faith and ability to tell his children how much he loved them. He was their biggest fan, counselor, confidant and shoulder to lean on. From day one, Jon was an incredibly loyal and loving husband for 34 years. He fell instantly in love with his wife, Patricia after meeting in the back seat of a car on campus. His loss is devastating but his spirit will live on through his family. Jon is survived by his wife Patricia, children Tara Schoen Moss and son-in-law Erik Moss, of NYC, his son Jon Jr. of Los Angeles, his daughter Dillon Rose of Darien, his brother and sisters Timothy, Robin, and Kelly, his O’Hagan siblings, John Jr., Michael, Gary, Jane, Donald, Brian, Elizabeth, Christopher and Theresa as well as many nieces and nephews.

His funeral service will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Darien at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. He will be laid to rest privately with his family on Nantucket, Mass.

In lieu of gifts you are welcome to donate to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in care of Susan F. Slovin, MD, PhD.

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Edward “Ed” J. Delaney

Edward “Ed” J. Delaney passed peacefully at the age of 93 on August 23, 2017, at his home in Atascadero, CA where he recently moved from San Luis Obispo, CA.

He is predeceased by his parents Edward J. Delaney and Marie Josephine Leary in Boston, MA., his first wife, Marie Rose Dever & his grandson, Craig Edward Delaney.

He proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard in WWII aboard the LST170 (Landing Ship Tank) in the Pacific war front. He saw combat action aboard the LST in a number of naval battles and landings in the South Pacific from 1942-1945. After the war, Ed married his neighborhood sweetheart, Marie Rose Dever, and had 2 sons, Edward “Ed” and Michael “Mike.” They eventually moved to New York where he began a new career with Standard Oil Company. They then moved to Yorktown Heights, NY in 1954 where they settled to raise their family.

In 1958, Ed left the “Office World” and purchased the Esso Station (later Exxon) in downtown Yorktown Heights, NY which he operated for many years. In 1978, he sold his business. Ed & Marie retired to Pinehurst, North Carolina and later to Tavares, Florida. They both loved to play golf and travelled the world. Upon his wife’s death in July 1991, he moved to California and settled in San Luis Obispo to be closer to his brother & sisters. It was there where he met and married his ‘Angel from Heaven’ Shirley Ann Petersen in 1994. Together Ed and Shirley established their own business called ‘Quality Caregivers’ which they managed successfully for 20 years. Ed continued his love of playing golf & enjoyed taking the ‘Crystal Cruises’ with Shirley.

Ed was a passionate fan (with a capital ‘P’) of the Red Sox and the New England Patriots. If there was a televised game (even reruns), you know he will be sitting on his favorite chair and cheering them on! He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Shirley Ann Delaney, his sons Edward J. Delaney (Gail), and Michael J. Delaney (Maricel) and his 5 beautiful grandchildren, Cara Delaney-Cleaver (Matt), Caitlin, Kevin, Casey & Kylerose Delaney.

Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Church, in Darien CT on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.; reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please send a check to “CENTRAL COAST HOSPICE,” 253 Granada Drive, Suite: D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Please add a note: “IN MEMORY OF EDWARD J. DELANEY.”

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Come join in the celebration of Starr E. “Chip” Brinckerhoff’s life and share memories on Saturday, Sept 16, at 3 p.m., in the Star Light Lobby of Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post  Road, Darien.

Park in the back lot, and enter through the back doors.

All are welcome.

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Cynthia Dillman Bornhuetter, 82, a longtime past resident of Darien, died peacefully in her sleep on September 7 after a brave fight against breast cancer.

She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June 20, 1935, grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, and graduated from the School of Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, she lived in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

Cindy loved people and always tried to see the best in them. Her motto to her grandchildren was “always be friendly.” She also loved Darien and was an active volunteer and member of the community when she lived here. She was a longtime member of The Country Club of Darien where she loved to play golf. She also enjoyed traveling with her family and was an inspirational mentor to her grandsons.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Skip Bornhuetter and Cathy Boisvert, and daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Paul Gridley, and two grandsons, Danny and Willie Gridley.

A private burial service will be held on Thursday, September 14 at the Spring Grove Cemetery.

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Todd Lee Kolb, 86, of Ridgefield, CT., died September 13, 2017 at Danbury Hospital, Danbury, Connecticut.

Todd was born in Paterson, New Jersey, son of the late Lee Robert Kolb and Barbara Struppmann Kolb.

He graduated from Shaker Heights High School in Ohio in 1949. He received the Bill Stern Award as Cleveland’s outstanding high school athlete. He graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations. He excelled in both football and lacrosse and was honorable mention All-American and Captain of the Cornell Lacrosse team.

Todd served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army in the Quartermaster Corp in Berlin, Germany in the early ’50s.

He worked for Union Carbide Corporation for 30 years, 23 years in the Carbon Products Division and seven in the Pan American Subsidiary as Vice President and General Manager. Following his retirement from Union Carbide, he was a Certified Business Intermediary in the Danbury area for seven years.

Todd was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Roman Catholic Church where he served as a lector. He was a member of the Ridgefield Senior Men’s Golf Club and served on the Ridgefield town golf committee.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Louise Keyes Kolb in 2005, and his second wife, Nancy Sokolowski Kolb in 2015.

Todd is survived by one son, Michael Kolb of Bethel, CT, two daughters, Molly Roffman (Andrew) of Yonkers, NY and their children, Otis and Ben and Nancy (Ray) Cook of North Redington Beach, FL and their children, Lauren and Grant, one nephew, Chris (Caroline) Kolb of Morris Plains, NJ, and their children, Grace, Sam, Kate and Liam.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 11 a.m., at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, CT. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ridgefield. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, check donations may be made to Cornell Football Association, 6321 Porter Road, Suite 8, Sarasota, FL 34240-9611.

Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield is in charge of funeral arrangements.

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