Weston students at Ridgefield Academy were among those who welcomed Olympic luger Tucker West of Ridgefield. From left are Westonites Audrey Braun, Roxane Chopin, (Tucker West), Rosie Eykyn, Audrey Brennan, and Will Berger.

Ridgefield Academy welcomed Olympic luger Tucker West to campus on Monday, March 3, to share his Olympic journey.

Mr. West, an 18-year-old Ridgefield resident, told the students that he set a goal to achieve his Olympic dream at a very young age, and worked diligently toward that goal for the past 12 years. He cited goal setting, hard work, determination, and great support as reasons for his success.

Mr. West was the second fastest American luger at the Sochi games.

Ridgefield Academy band students honored Mr. West by performing the Olympic theme, and many others read notes of thanks and inspiration, and lit an “Olympic torch” to signify the way in which Mr. West has kept the Olympic dream alive for all children.

Ridgefield Academy is an independent preK-8 school, with students from throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Surrounded by his loving family, Dexter A. Picozzi of Redding passed away peacefully on March 8, 2014, at the age of 93.

Born in Providence, RI on July 9, 1920, to Anthony and Antonetta Conte Picozzi, he went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island in 1942. First in his class of 219 Engineering students, Dexter was accepted to MIT Graduate School but World War II intervened.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served as an Aviation Electronics Technician. During his military tenure he met his beloved wife, Dorothy, at a USO dance. Married in 1948 they spent their years in suburban Boston and Fairfield County raising a family until she passed away in 1992.

Dexter also had one brother, Raymond, an author and Department Chair in the Theatre program at Rhode Island College, who died in 2011.

Dexter spent his entire career in the Engineering industry working first in Minutemen Missile technology but then switching to commercial and defense aircraft manufacturing. Most of his professional life was spent working for the Avco Lycoming/Textron Corporation where he held several upper level executive positions until retirement in 1991.

He is survived by three children, Alan of Wilton, CT and his wife Barbara, Susan Sullivan of Redding, CT and her husband, Brian and John of Stratford, CT along with five grandchildren, Maria and Steven Picozzi plus, Sean, Katie and Keri Sullivan.

He was, perhaps, most proud of his efforts as an advocate for the progressive care of Autistic and other cognitively disabled residents in Connecticut. He served as VP/Treasurer of FORCONN and President of the parent’s group of the Grasso Regional center. In both of these positions, he spent considerable time lobbying state legislators on behalf of these developmentally challenged citizens.

Participating in church activities was also an important part of his life. At St. Francis Assisi in Weston, he filled the roles of lector and Treasurer of the parish Round Table and enjoyed his bible study classes. In 2001 he was given the honor of the Spirit of St. Francis Award.

In his leisure time, he loved talking politics, watching movies and keeping close tabs on Notre Dame Football and the New York Yankees. And, he was renowned in the family for his Holiday cooking contributions, particularly the mashed potatoes and chocolate cake.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Weston. Internment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Norwalk. Prior to that, friends are invited to pay their respects at the Bouton Funeral home in Georgetown from 4-8PM on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services at 95 Merritt  Boulevard in Trumbull CT 06611 (stvinceentsspecialneeds.org – click on lower left corner).

Dorothea (Dottie) Hazard passed away peacefully on March 17, 2014, surrounded by her loving children, Rick Hazard, Carolyn Warner Gropper and Donald Hazard. In addition to her children, she is survived by 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Dottie lived in Weston for 47 years and taught in the Westport elementary schools of Hillspoint and Greens Farms Elementary. She will be remembered as a kind and always patient teacher who filled her classroom with enthusiasm and contagious optimism, always striving to help students to learn and stretch their abilities. Her love of outdoors was evidenced in her constant bringing of science to the classroom (her favorite subject). Her creative artistic skills and love of music through piano playing were shared with her students and continued to be enjoyed as an important part of her life.

She grew up in southern California and graduated from the University of Redlands. At the university she met a fellow student from New Jersey and future husband, Richard (Dick) Hazard, a budding, and eventually career Chemical Engineer for Texaco. He brought her back East where they lived together for 55 years until his death in 1998.

Some of Dottie’s passions included tennis, golf, gardening and travel. She continued to play both tennis and golf until the age of 90, a goal of which she was extremely proud.

Dottie was as active member of PEO, the Westport Historical Society, the Gardening Club and the church choir and educational program.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the United Methodist Church of Westport/Weston, 49 Weston Rd., Westport, CT 06880.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations are requested to be sent to Parkinson’s Disease Research, Columbia University Medical Center, Attention Matt Reals, Office of Development, 100 Haven Avenue, Suite 29D, New York, NY 10032.

Sue Wolf

Sue Wolf, editor of the Redding Pilot since 1995, died Friday, March 28 at Danbury Hospital after battling lung cancer.

Ms. Wolf was born on May 8, 1945 in Childress, Texas. She grew up in Madison, Ind., and attended the University of Indiana and received a degree in government with a minor in economics.

She started her career as a teacher before moving into the field of journalism. Before taking the editor position at The Redding Pilot, Ms. Wolf was the editor of the now defunct Bethel Home News from 1978 until the fall of 1995.

Ms. Wolf has more than 35 press association awards for general excellence, editorial pages, environmental reporting and feature writing.

Her life was her family and friends. She reached out to people and they became her friends and her friends were her life.

She is survived by her partner David Rosenbluh of Bethel, Conn., and her children Stephanie Phillips and her husband Chris Phillips and their two children Eric, 15 and Kyle, 11 of  Portola Hills, CA.; her son Brian Wolf and his girlfriend Trish Muccigrasso of New Milford; her mother Lillian McCloskey of Madison, Ind.; her sister Sharon Schoenstein of Port Orange, Fla. and her son Dean Clapham of Indianapolis, Ind.

She is also survived by her Mr. Rosenbluh’s children Diane Cotter and her sons Sean and Robert, and David Rosenbluh, Jr., and Bobby and Jean Rosenbluh and their son Bob Rosenbluh.

She is predeceased by her father John Schoenstein and nephew John Clapham.

Ms. Wolf was a member of the American Legion Auxilory and Subvette-ettes in New Paltz, N.Y.

Services are yet to be finalized but in lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Jude Hospital.

Richard J. Walkoff

Richard J. Walkoff, husband of Gloria Samowitz Walkoff of Westport, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. He was 86. Born in Norwalk April 21, 1927, he was the son of the late Harry and Pauline Landstein Walkoff.

Richard was a graduate of Norwalk High School, Class of 1945. He served in the Army during WWII and graduated from the Columbia University School of Pharmacy.

He became a registered pharmacist and was the owner of Richard’s Pharmacy in Norwalk for more than 40 years.

Under his high school yearbook picture it read: “Richard is going to be a pharmacist one day and we know his store will be a busy one.” After his family, his greatest devotion was to his pharmacy and customers, his family said.

In addition to Gloria, his wife of 55 years, he is survived by his three daughters, Lynn Walkoff and her husband Robert Machson of Weston; Judy Walkoff and her husband Marc Landy of Westport; and Diane Walkoff and her husband Stephen Drucker of Eau Claire, Wisc. He is also survived by his grandchildren Danielle Marshak, Scarlett Machson, Montana Machson, Daniel Landy, Ben Drucker and Athena Drucker; by his sister Elaine Arnow and her husband Dr. Ernest Arnow of Westport; by his brother Dr. Charles Walkoff and his wife Tammy Walkoff of Florida; and by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 28, 2014.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to: Congregation Beth El, 109 East Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851.

Charles Niewenhous

Charles F. Niewenhous of Weston, CT, and Truro, MA, beloved husband of Andrea, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Weston, surrounded by family on March 27th after a long and courageous struggle with Parkinson Disease.

Charles, (Chuck), was born in New Rochelle, NY, on Jan. 26, 1924. As a youth he attended boarding schools in Germany and Canada. At the age of five, Chuck was given his first camera, beginning a lifelong love and pursuit of photography.

After returning to New Rochelle in 1934, he completed his primary education and began studies at New York University. At the beginning of WW ll he transferred to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to participate in the war effort, graduating under an accelerated program with a Third Mate’s license in 1943. He saw service in the Merchant Marine on Liberty ships in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Pacific, returning home after the war ended.

He took many photographs during the war, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki not long after the atomic bombs were dropped. Later, he worked as a professional photographer for the U.S. Flag shipping companies. After coming ashore, he continued as a freelance photographer, as well as on assignments from “Ripley’s Believe It or Not,” Studio One, and Alexander’s Department Stores.

He gave up professional photography and moved to Weston, where he became a successful developer and builder.

In 1997 he married the love of his life, Andrea, who encouraged him to share his photographs publicly. They were featured at shows in Fairfield County and Truro, MA. He was the author of Sixty Years — A Photographic Journey, a book of 127 of his most compelling photographs from around the world, which was published in 2005.

Chuck was a kind, gentle, and generous person who had an abiding trust in people and a deep love of animals. He was the quintessential gentleman. Besides his wife he is survived by her children, Timothy, Tiffany and Tammy and their families, his sister Cecile, niece Sherrie and her family, brother-in-law Steve and his wife Sally, and several other nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Tuesday April 1, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 208 Newtown Avenue in Norwalk. The family will receive guests at the church from 11 to 12. Funeral services will begin at 12 noon. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Wilton.

The arrangements are under the direction of Bouton Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County or the National Parkinson Foundation.

—by the family

Irving Lee Cannon

Irving Lee Cannon of Weston, CT, age 81, died at home on March 21st, 2014, surrounded by family. He was the son of the late Helen and Paul Cannon of Lakehurst, NJ and was predeceased by his sister Barbara Cannon Rolstad of Naples, FL.

Irv graduated from the University of Michigan in 1955 with a degree in Business Administration and was an avid Wolverine fan thereafter. At Michigan, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity where he developed lifelong friendships.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through the ROTC program and earned his wings in 1957. He served three years in the Air Force, a portion of which was at Phalsbourg Airforce Base in France where he developed an interest in learning the French language as well as the history and culture of the country.

After completing his military career, he became a co-pilot with American Airlines and shortly thereafter was promoted to captain. He retired in 1993 after 34 years in a job he truly loved. Having achieved the highest level of seniority in his role at American, he spent the year prior to retirement flying the 747 from New York to Paris where he was able to practice his French and enjoy the city he loved.

Irv was a warm, loving husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend. He had a wit all his own, was curious, intelligent and kind. He truly was the quintessential captain in every aspect and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Wilson Cannon, two sons, Mark Livingston Cannon (his wife, Margaret) of Weston, Scott Wagner Cannon of Fairfield, a daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Cannon of Weston, two grandchildren, Elizabeth Leigh Cannon, and John Wilson Cannon of Weston, his sister Marlene Cannon Fisher and her husband, Roger, of New Providence, NJ.

A memorial service will be held on May 3rd at 11A.M. at the Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, CT in celebration of his life.

William Joseph Hollis, Jr.

Mr. William Joseph Hollis, Jr., 87,  formerly of Weston, Ct., died peacefully on April 10, 2014, in Charlottesville, Va., while surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Sept 2, 1926, in Louisville, Ky. His parents were William Joseph Hollis, Sr., and Irene (Ritter) Hollis.

Bill graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1947, and received  a Masters of Science from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1953.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

He began his career at Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, and the family later moved to Weston, Ct. in 1968 when he worked for American Can Company. He was an active member of Norfield Congregational Church.

He was an avid golfer, and was a member of Aspetuck Valley Country Club in Weston, Ct.  where he served as President from 1982-83.

After retiring, Bill taught Business Administration at Pace University in White Plains. He and his wife Trish moved to Sarasota, Fl. in 1989, and resided at the Meadows Country Club where he also served as President. Three years ago, they relocated to Charlottesville to live closer to their children.

Bill will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and always had a smile for everyone. He loved the out-of-doors, animals, and especially birds. He was always the life of the party, and shared his joy for life with everyone he ever met.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patricia (Trish)  Collins Hollis, and his four children,  Marci, and her husband Ralph of Ashland, Ma., Janet, of Charlottesville, Va., Kim and her husband Doug of Keedysville, Md., and Bill Jr. and his wife Beth of Fairfield, Ct.

Dad Dad will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Brendan Beers, Cameron Beers, Hollis Salway, Lindsay Miller, Christopher Hicks, Sarah Hollis, William Hollis III,  and Andrew Hollis, and great grandchildren, Chloe, Emerson, Ruby Lyn, Jude, Sadie, and Jo-Rae.

Services will be private.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com

—by the family

Roland Bourne Milmore of Vernon Hills, Ill., a former Weston resident, died suddenly on the evening of April 13 while vacationing in Florida.

The death was reported Friday afternoon by his sister Susan Milmore Grimshaw.

Born Dec. 2,1959, he was the son of the late Thomas and Eleanor (Bourne) Milmore and grew up in Weston, where he graduated with the class of 1977. He attended Southern and Central Connecticut State Colleges and he was employed in the hospitality business as a banquet manager.

Married three times, he is survived by his wife, Melissa Matthews and daughter Morgan Milmore, both of Naperville, Ill., and his son Michael Milmore of Astoria, N.Y. His surviving siblings include his sister, Susan Milmore Grimshaw of Milford, N.J., and brothers Thomas A. Milmore Jr of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Kevin W. Milmore of Fairfield, as well as six nieces and nephews. He also leaves a companion, Maureen Heckelsburg of Vernon Hills, Ill.

There are no immediate plans for a memorial service. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).

Born to Explore with Richard Wiese has been honored with three Daytime Emmy award nominations. From left, Born to Explore’s co-executive producer, Andy Ames of Redding, and Richard Wiese and Mercedes Velgot of Weston, executive producers.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced that Born to Explore with Richard Wiese has earned three Emmy nominations as part of the 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards.

The weekly travel/adventure series is featured on Litton’s Weekend Adventure and airs Saturday mornings on ABC stations coast to coast.

Born to Explore with Richard Wiese was recognized with nominations in three categories:

• Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle/Travel Program.

• Outstanding Special Class Writing.

• Outstanding Directing in a Lifestyle/Culinary/Travel Program.

“We’re a small group,” said Mr. Wiese. “Every year, we continue to refine and improve the show, thanks to strong, collaborative teamwork at every step of the production process. I feel fortunate to work with such talented professionals and to compete with top-quality productions done with much bigger budgets. We’re grateful for the support of our viewers.”

The Born to Explore production team is locally based, with offices in Westport. Host and executive producer Richard Wiese lives in Weston, as does executive producer Mercedes Velgot. Co-executive producer Andrew Ames lives in Redding.

“We travel the world to produce inspirational television programs which capture the wonder of our planet from its wildlife to its diverse cultures,” said Ms. Velgot. “We are thrilled by these nominations and the recognition of our peers.”

The Emmy nominations come on the heels of the series winning 11 Telly Awards last month and its second consecutive Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Award in January.

In 2012 and 2013, the series earned three Daytime Emmy nominations and won the 2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Cinematography.

The 41st Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards gala will be held on June 20 in Los Angeles.

The highly successful first two seasons of Born to Explore with Richard Wiese averaged 1.4 million U.S. viewers every week.

The series is now in its third season on ABC and may also be seen on American Forces Network (AFN), a worldwide broadcast network that serves American service men and women and their families overseas.

Lucie McKinney with her husband. U.S. Rep. Stewart B. McKinney, with President Ronald Reagan. (Photo from Fairfield RTC Facebook page)

Lucie McKinney of Westport, widow of U.S. Rep. Stewart B. McKinney, and mother of state Sen. John McKinney, died Saturday, May 10. She was 80.

Ms. McKinney was an outspoken AIDS activist after the death of her husband from the disease in 1987.

“The Fairfield RTC mourns the loss of Lucie McKinney, mother of Senator John McKinney. Please keep the McKinney family in your thoughts and prayers. She was an amazing women who lived an amazing life. Rest in peace with Stewart …. you will be missed,” The Fairfield Republican Town Committee posted on Facebook.

Sen. McKinney, who represents Weston in the 28th Senate District, is seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination for the November election.

U.S. Rep. Stewart B. McKinney represented the Fourth Congressional District from 1971 until his death in 1987.

Mary Farley

“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.”

Mary W. Farley, beloved mother of Mickey Austin of Weston, died peacefully surrounded by her family in Gulf Stream, Florida on May 8, 2014. Mary was a beautiful, vibrant and gracious lady, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a friend to many. She spent many happy years visiting Weston and getting to know many friends in our community. She will be greatly missed by all.

Mary was born on August 19, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA and married Jim Farley, the love of her life, in February 1952. They shared a wonderful, prosperous life filled with family, friends, adventures and lots of love and laughter. Mary was a warm and loving matriarch to her entire family. She brought an open heart, kindness, gentleness and an easy smile to everyone she met. Her classiness, strength of character, dignity and great faith served her well in good times and challenging times, and she was admired by many.

Mary was an avid golfer, gardener and world traveler; she loved walking the beach and her generous and joyous nature made her a willing volunteer.

She was the beloved wife of James B. Farley, who predeceased her; the loving mother of James Farley (Julia), Mickey Farley-Austin (Robin), Connie O’Connor (Tim), and Scott Farley (Sue); the adoring grandmother of Conor and Erin Farley, James Austin, Katie, Kelly, Michael, and Sean O’Connor and Patrick Farley; the dear sister of Shirley Chrobak and Darlene Hallam (Andy), and sister in law to Bernie Carroll, Roseanne Sansoni and special aunt to many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service is planned for Wednesday, May 28, at 11:00 a.m. at St Vincent Ferrar Church, 840 George Bush Blvd. in Delray Beach, FL 33483.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: St. Vincent Ferrar Church or Hospice by the Sea, Inc. 1531 W. Palmetto Park Road Boca Raton, FL 33486.

Ms. Carol A. Moore, 88, a 65-year resident of Weston, CT passed away peacefully at Norwalk Hospital on Monday, May 12, 2014.

Carol was born in Watertown, CT on December 25, 1925 and was the daughter of the late Robert and Isabella (Bormolini) Moore.

Carol graduated Wheelock College with a BA in 1948 and then went on to get her Masters degree in education.

She taught in Weston for 35 years and retired in 1983. She ran the local Girl Scout Camp for many years. She loved to travel, with England being her favorite destination; she also loved to feed the wild turkeys and deer at her home in Weston.

Carol is survived by many loving cousins and friends. In addition to her parents, Carol was pre deceased by one brother, Robert Moore, and her sister, Louise Gillies.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Carol at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, May 19th at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, 49 Weston Road, Westport, CT.

Contributions in memory of Carol may be made to the Weston Public Library 56 Norfield Road Weston CT. The Harding Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Beverly Lopez

Beverly Lopez of Weston died May 9, 2014. He was 92.

He was born in Pelham, N.Y. in 1922.

Mr. Lopez was a renowned artist, known for his painting, sculpture and commercial art work. He received many awards for his artwork.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lopez worked under the tutelage of his mother, Grace Lopez, and artists James Earl Frazier and Berthold Nebele. He worked as a commercial artist for numerous companies, including Grinnel Lithographers, Scafa Tournabene, and the Danbury Mint.

In 1952, E. Roland Harriman commissioned Mr. Lopez to sculpt pieces for the Goshen Hall of Fame of the Trotter Museum in Goshen, N.Y. The relationship between Mr Lopez and the hall of fame continued for the next 62 years, with more than 60 horses, drivers, and owners’ sculptures now on display. Mr. Lopez received the Pinnacle Award from the Hall of Fame in acknowledgement of his lifelong contribution to horses.

He was the son of renowned artist/sculptress Grace Farrington Watt Lopez and Preferred Havana Cigar Manufacturer Manuel Lopez. His grandfather, Thomas Lister Watt, was a famous horseman and breeder in New York City and his great grandfather was Archibald Watt, legendary mid-19th Century New York City real estate mogul, Shetland pony importer and patriarch of the Watt/Pinkney family. His aunt, Annie Watt Keator, deceased, was a long-time Weston benefactor and resident.

Mr. Lopez is predeceased by his brother Bruce M. Lopez and his sister Grace Watt Lopez Lawrence.

He is survived by six nieces and nephews including Sandra Lopez Salerno of Easton, Laurie Lopez of Harwinton, Lloyd H Lawrence of Edgecomb, Maine, Marguerite L. Lawrence of San Francisco, Calif., Grace Watt Lawrence Harding of Irving, Texas, and Margo Lawrence Labau of Raleigh, N.C.

He is also survived by his sister-in-law Sandra M. Lopez of Easton, 16 great-nieces and nephews, and 40 great-great nieces and nephews.

Friends may greet the family on Monday May 19, 2014 in Norwalk’s Hoyt Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street from 4 to 7p.m., with the Reverend Shelly Timber officiating. Entombment will take place on Tuesday in Woodlawn Mausoleum in Bronx, N.Y, next to his mother Grace Watt Lopez. Visit norwalkfh.com for more information.

Lawrence Jack Moore, 88, of Austin, Texas, father of Jane Moore of Weston, died May 12, 2014.

Mr. Moore was born in Brown County, Texas, Jan. 24, 1926; a fifth generation Texan, he was the son of Lawrence Houston Moore and Lena Grantham Moore.

Mr. Moore graduated from Brownwood High School, John Tarleton Agricultural College, and  from the University of Texas School of Law, LLB, in 1949. He attended Columbia University Graduate School of Business Administration in 1977.

Mr. Moore served in the Army from 1944-46, in the 86th Infantry Division in the United States, Europe and the Pacific.

Mr. Moore had a private law practice Balinger, Texas. He was employed by Texaco, Inc. as an attorney in Houston and New York (1957-69) and as associate general counsel in New York (1970-79). He worked for Caltex Petroleum Corporation as vice president and general counsel in New York and Dallas (1979-89). Mr. Moore retired from Caltex in 1989 and became a member of Johnson & Gibbs, P.C., in Austin and Houston (1989-91).

Mr. Moore married Eloise Camille Dickinson in Brownwood, Texas, on May 24, 1947. His wife predeceased him in 2001.

Mr. Moore is survived by three children, John of Colorado; Jim and wife, Cathy, of Oklahoma; Jane and husband John of Weston; six grandchildren, Lindsay, Catie, Johnny, Jackie, Elizabeth and Peter; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Cathy, Eva, and Caroline, and sister-in-law, Julie; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at First United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas on Saturday, May 17. Gifts in Mr. Moore’s memory may be made to The Jack Moore Endowment for Neurosciences at the Brain and Spine Center at University Medical Center Brackenridge, payable to The Seton Fund, 1201 West 38th Street, Austin, Texas, 78705.

Helene A. Weatherill died at Yale New Haven Hospital on May 15, 2014, following a short illness. She was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Charles and E. Helene (Franz) Parker on July 27, 1926. She was married in 1956 to the late Peter Weatherill.

She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1943 and in 1947 graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the year it became a university. She went to work at Sullivan and Cromwell, a law firm in New York City. After further studies at Pace University, she became the head librarian at Sullivan and Cromwell. She retired after many years in that position.

She was a long time resident of Weston, CT. She was active on the library board, the board of the Historical Society, the Council of Aging, Devil’s Den Nature Center and worked at the polls. She was a long time active member of the Norfield Congregational Church in Weston. She served as their clerk for several years and was active in the archives, soup kitchen, church fair and bell choir.

She enjoyed traveling, especially on the water. She sailed to Europe on the QE2 and through the Panama Canal. She loved gardening and reading, especially history and biography. She went to lots of concerts and other musical events in New York City and many other places. She enjoyed the lectures on music and history at Ashlar Village where she most recently lived and helped in their library. She was an avid fan of UConn basketball, especially the girl’s teams. She was always eager to learn new things and liked to gather with her family and many friends.

Her parents, her husband and a brother, Charles Parker Jr., died earlier. She is survived by another brother, John Parker, of Scarborough, Maine, and his family and four cousins and their families. We and all her many friends will miss her.

Burial in the Memorial Garden at Norfield Church will take place later in the summer.

Donations in her memory could be made to Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Road, Weston, CT 06883.

Richard H. Shaw

Richard H. “Dick” Shaw of Fayetteville, NY passed away peacefully on June 13, 2014, at Crouse Hospital. Dick was born in Cleveland, OH on September 21, 1924. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1947 and received his PhD in Philosophy in 1959.

Dick raised his family in Yorktown Heights, NY, where he served as president of the Yorktown School Board for many years. He worked for IBM for over 25 years in quality control management.

He retired to Great Barrington, MA, where he and his beloved wife Carol enjoyed living in the Berkshire Mountains. In 1999, they moved to Manlius, NY, to be closer to family. Carol and Dick shared endless interests including traveling the country, playing bridge, square dancing, and most of all, painting and drawing.

Dick is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carol; his sons, Doug, Steven (Susan), Craig (Lisa) and Dave (Carol); and grandchildren, Clay, Whitney; Andrea, Christine; Jameson, Jordyn; Heather, Melissa, Lauren and Mark.

Services will be private.

Contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Central New York, 7066 Interstate Island Rd., Syracuse, NY 13209 or the Palliative Care Service at Crouse Hospital, 736 Irving Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210.

For a guest book, please visit: www.SCHEPPFAMILY.com

William George Rhines, 86, of Wells, Maine, died Saturday, June 21, 2014, of complications following a stroke.

Mr. Rhines was born on June 9, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Robert and Genevieve Rhines.

He grew up in Goffstown, New Hampshire; served in the U.S. Naval Air Force; and held degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Newark College of Engineering, New York University Law School and the University of Southern Maine.

Mr. Rhines lived in Wells for 30 years. He was active in St. George’s Episcopal Church in York Harbor and St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunk, and was instrumental in the formation of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and the Laudholm Trust.

Before moving to Wells, Mr. Rhines and his family lived in Weston, Connecticut for 20 years. During that time, he was general counsel to the Huyck Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut and maintained a private law practice, specializing in patents.

He served as chairman of the Weston Historic District Commission, worked with the Nature Conservancy and served as Weston Little League Commissioner. He was active in Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Kiwanis Club. He was an accomplished potter, painter, clockmaker, gardener and student of many subjects, most recently spending his leisure time in the study and creation of religious icons.

Mr. Rhines is survived by: his beloved wife of 63 years, Joanne Nelson Rhines; six children, Rosemary Rhines Berwald of Campbell, California, Rebecca Rhines Huckabay and her husband George of Bethesda, Maryland, William Rhines Jr. and his wife Linda of Wells, Annamarie Rhines Corrales and her husband Fernando of Arlington, Virginia, Peter Rhines and his wife Holly of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and Mark Rhines and his wife Elizabeth of Charlotte, North Carolina; and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 138 York St., Kennebunk on Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, 3121 Hotel Road, Auburn, ME 04210, www.gsfb.org.

Robert William Obrecht died on June 29, 2014, at Meadow Ridge in Redding, Connecticut. He was 92. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Edith Flynn Obrecht and by his parents William Obrecht, Harriet Petronek Obrecht and Ella Riggle Obrecht, as well as his brothers Erwin and Eldon Obrecht.

Robert was born in Rolfe, Iowa, on February 7, 1922. He was a proud graduate of the Iowa public school system and received his B.A. from the University of Iowa. Robert served in World War II as a Second Lieutenant in the 69th Tank Battalion of the 69th Armored Division and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Upon completion of active military duty he attended Columbia University School of Law and received his L.L.B. in 1949.

The majority of his career was spent in the Law Department of what is now Exxon Corporation.

A long time resident of Fairfield County Connecticut, Robert served on the Board of Education of the Weston Public Schools and was very active in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Westport, where he served on the Board and taught Sunday School. He was an active member of every community in which he lived.

He is survived by his son, Robert William Obrecht, Jr., of Brooklyn, New York, his daughter Caroline E. Obrecht of Providence, Rhode Island, and her husband Paul Cantor and his daughter Susan F. Obrecht-Granger and her husband Rod Granger of Manhattan, New York, and by his four grandchildren: Nicholas and Sarah Cantor and Adam and Dylan Granger.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 19th at 11:00 AM at Meadow Ridge, 100 Redding Road, Redding, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Fortune Society, 29-76 Northern Blvd. Queens, NY, 11101.

John L. Seigenthaler, Jr.

John Lawrence Seigenthaler, Jr., a Tennessee newspaperman and activist, died peacefully today at his Nashville home surrounded by his family. He was 86.

He was the father of John Michael Seigenthaler of Weston, a broadcast journalist with Al Jazeera America, and former weekend anchor for NBC News.

Upon his father’s passing, Mr. Seigenthaler said,

“We thank my father’s many friends across the country for their love and support. Like them, we will miss him dearly. He was proud of his hometown, Nashville, and grateful for the opportunity to share his energy and passion with this community. We celebrate his life — his devotion to social justice, his advocacy of human rights, and his enduring loyalty to friends and family.”

John Lawrence Seigenthaler, Jr., was born on July 27, 1927, to Mary Brew and John L. Seigenthaler, the oldest of eight children.

He grew up in Nashville, served three years in the Air Force, and began his career in journalism as a cub reporter for his hometown newspaper, The Tennessean.

He soon became known as a reporter who could sniff out the news. In 1953, he investigated a man who had disappeared from Nashville 22 years earlier, and found him living in Texas. He won a National Headliner award for that story.

Mr. Seigenthaler’s stories about corruption inside the Teamster’s union led to congressional hearings and the impeachment of a Tennessee judge.

While working on a newspaper assignment, he met entertainer Dolores Watson, whom he married in 1955.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Seigenthaler answered the call for public service and went to work for Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

In 1962, he returned to journalism and became the editor of The Tennessean. He became its publisher in 1973, and chairman in 1982. He retired as the newspaper’s chairman emeritus in 1991.

Doing double duty, Mr. Seigenthaler was the founding editorial director for USA Today from 1982 to 1991. In announcing his appointment, Gannett president Allen Neuharth called Mr. Seigenthaler “one of the most thoughtful and respected editors in America.”

In 1986, Middle Tennessee State University established the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies, honoring his “lifelong commitment to free expression values.”

Mr. Seigenthaler served on the board of directors for the American Society of Newspaper Editors, and from 1988 to 1989 was its president.

After retiring from the newspaper business, he founded the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, saying, “It is my hope that this center at Vanderbilt University will help promote appreciation and understanding for those values so vital in a democratic society.”

The center serves as a forum for dialog about First Amendment issues, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

Mr. Seigenthaler is survived by his wife Dolores, son John and his wife Kerry, and grandson Jack.

Funeral services for Mr. Seigenthaler include a visitation on Sunday, July 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the John Seigenthaler Center, 1207 18th Ave. S., in Nashville. It is open to the public.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 14, at 10 a.m., at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave. in Nashville. It is open to the public.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either the Room in the Inn, 705 Drexel St., Nashville, TN, 37203, or The First Amendment Center, 1207 18th Ave. S #200, Nashville, TN, 37212.

A full story on Mr. Seigenthaler will be featured in next Thursday’s issue of The Weston Forum.