Obituaries – Aspetuck News

Bryan Gilbert Haven Thirkield

Bryan Gilbert Haven Thirkield, 47, of Trumbull, formerly of Weston, died unexectedly of a heart attack on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. He was 47.

Thirkield was born in Greenwich and grew up in Weston.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Bridgeport and worked in the medical field his entire career, most recently as a dental insurance liaison for Dentegra/Delta Dental.

He had a lifelong love of music and performed classical, jazz, and Big Band music. He was principal trombonist in several local orchestras and bands, most recently in the American Chamber Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of New Haven.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen Thirkield, and daughters, Sarah and Laura Thirkield. He is also survived by sister, Alison Thirkield, of Devon, Pa., and brother, Scott Thirkield, of Snoqualmie Pass, Wash.

He was predeceased by his father, Gilbert Haven Thirkield Jr., and his mother, Eugenia Baker Thirkield.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. The family requests that donations be made to the Bryan Thirkield Memorial Fund at Quimby Country, P.O. Box 20, Averill, VT 05901. For more information or to leave an online condolence, visit abriola.com.

—by the staff

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David Newton

David Newton, a Weston resident for 37 years, died at his home in Northampton, Mass., on June 9, 2015. He was 77.

Son of the actors Theodore Newton and Drina Hill, Newton spent his early years traveling between coasts, and summers growing up on his family’s working farm in southern Vermont.

He had a strong early progressive education and attended the Lawrenceville School and the University of Vermont.

Using his gift for design and a reverence for natural beauty, he built a home on five acres of hilltop woodland in Weston, where he and his wife Wendy lived until moving to Northampton in 2004.

While living in Weston, he founded his store in Westport — Wicker and Wood — and ran it for 20 years. It was the first contemporary furniture and design store in the area.

In 2002, David and Wendy Newton moved their sights to Northampton after spotting the empty space atop the recently restored 1920s Twin Cleaners building on North Street. Many have referred to Newton’s design of the loft as the standard for elegant residential living in the Pioneer Valley. Moving into the finished loft in August of 2004, the Newtons soon began to offer the large open area for nights of entertainment and education in support of their much-loved jazz music and various peace and rights causes in the Pioneer Valley.

A self-taught photographer, Newton lent his skills to many campaigns, including those of Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and City Councilor Ryan O’Donnell. Welcoming progressive luminaries such as Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards, journalist John Nichols, “peace mom” Cindy Sheehan, racial justice and union activist Bill Fletcher Jr., and actress Mimi Kennedy, funds were raised for causes dear to the Newtons, particularly the Progressive Democrats of America, guided by their close friend and mentor, Tim Carpenter.

Newton is survived by his wife of 49 years, Wendy Gailmor Newton; his daughter, Hillary Newton and her husband Daniel Seltzer; his son, Peter Newton and Peter’s wife Lidia Sudol; grandchildren Aidan and Emma Kaye and their father William Kaye; brother-in-law Jon Gailmor; half-brother Michael Ewing; a large, loving extended family in Vermont, and friends everywhere.

The Newton family has requested that in David’s memory, contributions be made to either Progressive Democrats of America at pdamerica.org or Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.

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George Meng-Yu Li died on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Rochester Minn. He was 92.

He was born on July 24, 1922, to Molin Li and Ruth Wei in Tientsin, China. He attended an all boys school where he excelled as a gymnast and a left wing hockey player. His hockey team was so successful that the school built an ice skating rink and formed a hockey camp. He went on to study at Yen Ching University, where he joined the hockey team and played coronet, trumpet and clarinet in the band. He was also an active member of Rho Psi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in economics.

At the end of the second World War, Li moved to New York and began working at the United Nations as a simultaneous interpreter. His work involved traveling to all parts of the world. His favorites included Geneva, Switzerland, and Nairobi, Kenya, where he lived for periods of time. He remained at the UN, adding Spanish to his fluency in Chinese, English and French, until his retirement in 1986.

He continued his studies with courses at Columbia and NYU, eventually earning his master’s degree from NYU in political science.

He married Sylvia Pi-Po Young in 1950 and they lived in the United Nations housing complex in Parkway Village until his move to Rochester, Minn., in 2007. He enjoyed cooking and traveling, but nothing more than being with his grandchildren, his family said.

Li is predeceased by his wife, Sylvia, his sisters, Ya Sheng, Ya Rung, Ya Fu, Ya Shu and Ya Yen. He is survived by his youngest sister, Ya Fen of Gainsville, Fla.; his daughter, Lucy (Bob) Kaiko of Weston; his son, James (Susan) Li of Rochester, Minn.; six grandchildren, Andrew Kaiko, Erik Kaiko (Megan), Daniel Li, Sophie Kaiko, Katie (Tim Ayotte) and Peter Kaiko.

A memorial service will be held on July 25 in Weston.

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Terrence Lallak

Terrence M. Lallak of Wilton died Sunday, June 14, 2015, in the small Weston cottage he shared with his wife, Susan E. Tom. He was 73.

Lallak was an architect and QA/QC Mentor at BIG — Bjarke Ingels Group — in New York City. Before joining BIG, Terry practiced architecture with Perkins & Will, VOA and Cannon Design in Chicago and New York City.

Born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to the late Frank and Irene Becker Lallak, Lallak grew up in his parents’ small drugstore, in the shadow of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.

He graduated from Ft. Wayne Central Catholic High School and Purdue University.

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and served both organizations as an officer and committee chair of the Chicago and New York City chapters.

He loved New York City, Wisconsin Badger football, the New York Yankees, oil painting, cupcakes, and his church community at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fairfield, his family said.

As an active parishioner at St. Paul’s, Lallak served as a liturgical assistant and lay Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Welcoming and Hospitality Ministry and the Men’s Group, and he prepared and served meals at San Lucas y San Pablo Episcopal Church in Bridgeport. He also conceived and implemented a rich array of projects for beautifying and improving the use of space at St. Paul’s.

In addition to his wife, Lallak is survived by his children, Mark C. Lallak, Sr. and his wife, Laurie, of South Natick, Mass.; and Jennifer Lallak Meyer and her husband, Stewart, of Cary, Ill; by his grandchildren, Mark C. Lallak, Jr. and Madison Meyer; and by his brother-in-law, Paul R. Tom.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, the Rev. F. Thomas Lallak.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, June 20, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fairfield with the Rev. Judith L. Rhodes officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for use in their ministries.

To send an online condolence, visit shaughnesseybanks.com.

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Evangeline Dillingham

Evangeline Harlan Dillingham, an accomplished pianist and the daughter of former Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, died June 14, 2015, in Hingham, Mass. She was 83.

A longtime resident of Weston, Dillingham was active throughout her life in the classical music community in Connecticut and New York. She helped to establish the Heida Hermanns International Competition, which recognizes outstanding talent of those aged 19-30, in Westport. She also founded The Meadow Ridge Concert Series in Redding.

She served on the board and as president of The Connecticut Alliance For Music and oversaw the creation of its educational outreach program, which brought professional artists to inner-city schools to engage children in classical music. She developed an opera series targeting young students in partnership with baritone Gregory Rahming.

Dillingham studied piano at The New England Conservatory and with composer and pianist David Barnett. She performed in a variety of professional ensembles in New England, including the Concorde Chamber Players. She taught piano privately and at the Westport School of Music. She was an active presence at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont.

She shared her love of music with the community at the Redding home shared with her late husband, Frank Dillingham, a restorer of fine keyboard instruments, designed specifically for the performance of music.

Dillingham, who grew up in New York and Weston, was both the daughter and the great-granddaughter of U.S. Supreme Court justices. Her great-grandfather, John Marshall Harlan, served on the Court from 1877-1911. The second John Marshall Harlan was appointed by President Eisenhower in 1955 and served on the Court through 1971.

Dillingham, who was an only child, attended the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, which was founded by her great aunt. After graduation, she attended Radcliffe College for one year before leaving to study at New England Conservatory.

Dillingham was divorced from her first husband, Wellington Ames Newcomb. She is survived by four daughters and one son: Alice Newcomb of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; John Newcomb of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Amelia Newcomb of Hingham, Mass.; Kate Dillingham of New York; and Maud Dillingham of Concord, Mass. She also had two grandchildren: Matt Trevithick and Harlan Trevithick.

A memorial service will be held at The Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, July 25 at 2 p.m. Donations in Evangeline Dillingham’s memory may be sent to: Connecticut Alliance of Music, 61 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06824; camusic.org/eve-dillingham-educational-outreach/ .

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Stephen Pierson, 83, of Riverside, Connecticut, beloved husband of Nancy Pierson, passed away on July 7, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in New York City on October 18, 1931, he was the son of the late Dr. Richard Norris Pierson and Dorothy Frances Stewart Pierson of New York City and Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

Stephen matriculated through The Buckley School in New York City and Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York. He attended Colgate University and pursued an accelerated program, achieving a political science degree after three years of study in 1953. Thereafter, he served in the United States Army in the Signal Corps during the Korean War and was posted to the Philippines.

After discharge, he attended Columbia Law School in New York City and graduated in 1958. He began his law career at Drury and Pierson in Stamford, Connecticut. He then formed the partnership of Pierson and Duel. The firm was expanded to become Pierson, Duel and Holland with offices in Darien, Stamford and Greenwich. He established his own private practice, Pierson Law Firm, in Darien, Connecticut.

He was appointed Town Counsel of Darien and one of his many accomplishments included successfully defending the town in the seminal Supreme Court case of school financing, Horton versus Meskill in 1977. That case ultimately led to Sheff versus O’Neill regarding educational equality in Connecticut school districts.

Stephen had a distinguished career, practicing law with intelligence, compassion, and a commitment to the community for over 50 years. He became a Justice of the Peace in 2003 in Greenwich and over the years joined numerous couples in matrimony. He especially enjoyed providing a service to the Hispanic community by being the only Justice of the Peace providing the service in Spanish.

Stephen had a lifelong passion for the arts and music. He enjoyed his time singing with various musical groups and choirs over the years. His love of the arts included extensive research and writing on the 19th century American sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Stephen was a longtime supporter of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was the great grandson of Robert de Forest and Emily Johnston de Forest, founders of the American Wing.

Stephen leaves behind his loving wife of 41 years, Nancy Gibbons Pierson, and his three daughters from his marriage to Anne Hathaway Griggs: Jennifer Pierson of New York City, Priscilla Pierson Ciraldo (Dana) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Stephanie Pierson Ugol (Jay) of Weston, Connecticut.

In addition to his wife and daughters, he leaves behind his step-children, Brad Stratton (Janelle) of Australia, Dana Stratton Gaccione (Marc) of Riverside, Connecticut, and Lara Stratton Linsenmeyer of Fairfield, Connecticut. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren: Tyler Stewart Ciraldo, Alexia, Micah, Hezekiah, Grace, John and Toby Stratton, Justin and Corinne Gaccione, Emma, Kelly and Alexey Linsenmeyer. He is survived by his two brothers, Reverend Stewart Pierson and Dr. Richard Norris Pierson, Jr. He was predeceased by his sister Frances Pierson Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on July 15, 2015, at First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the Friends of Greenwich Point (www.friendsofgreenwichpoint.org) and Friends of the Darien Library. For more information or to place an online condolence, www.coxeandgraziano.com

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Clement B. Malin

Clement “Clem” Biddle Malin, a 32-year resident of Weston, Connecticut, passed away on July 6, 2015 at Meadow Ridge in Redding after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. As a husband, a father, a friend and an energy executive he lived his life with grace, kindness, and a belief that diplomacy and calm could resolve any issue.

Clem was born on April 4, 1934, the middle son of Caroline Biddle Malin and Patrick Murphy Malin, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He inherited his desire to make the world a better place from his father, and his soft-spoken demeanor from his mother. When he was 11, his family moved to Oxford, England and he enrolled at Magdalen College in Oxford, where he developed his lifelong loves of history, all things British, and sport.

He graduated from Swarthmore (PA) High School in 1952 and matriculated at Dartmouth College that fall. At Dartmouth, he majored in International Relations, sang tenor in the Glee Club, joined Alpha Theta fraternity, and played soccer and lacrosse with distinction for “the college on the Hill,” earning six varsity letters and first-team All-American honors in lacrosse in 1955. On New Year’s Eve 1955, he had his first date with Ann Fleet, a Mount Holyoke College student, whom he married on October 26, 1957.

Upon his graduation from Dartmouth, Clem completed two years in the U.S. Army as a dental instructor in San Antonio. He then earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

In 1960, Clem joined Mobil Oil’s New York City office. Over the next 13 years, he completed international assignments in Italy, France, the Netherlands, and England. During the 1973-1974 oil crisis he joined the Federal Energy Administration, eventually receiving a presidential appointment as Assistant Administrator for International Energy Affairs. He traveled and worked tirelessly to represent his country with foreign governments across the world. Clem joined Texaco in 1978 and spent the balance of his career traveling the world to represent both his company and his country, becoming an industry expert in global warming. He retired as a vice president of international relations for Texaco in 1998.

Retirement brought new opportunities, including teaching a course on the Geopolitics of Oil at the University of Bridgeport, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in 2008. Clem was also a founding member of the Weston (CT) Lacrosse Club. “Coach Clem” taught a generation of players (and their parents) about the joys of athletic competition and the importance of sportsmanship. Additionally, Clem served as his Dartmouth alumni class president, served on various community organizations, and continued to enjoy music as a member of church and community singing groups. He also loved sailing on Lake Sunapee (NH) and Dog Pond (CT), barbequing on his Weber grill, and reading history books and the New York Times. He was thoughtful, caring, and most of all, a gentleman.

Clem and his wife Ann enjoyed 56 years of marriage before her passing in 2013. Theirs was a marriage of true partnership in every sense of the world. They fully supported each other’s professional and personal pursuits and were gracious co-hosts to friends and family. One could not imagine saying “Clem” without saying “and Ann” and vice versa.

Survivors include his sons Henry (Susan) of Plymouth MN and Thomas (Valerie) of Westport, CT, his grandchildren Andrew, Patrick, Madison, and Brandon, his brothers Robert (Gail) Malin of Summit, NJ and Randall (Connie) Malin of Rancho Santa Fe, CA along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dad’s caregivers for the past 21 months, particularly Maxine, Sophia, and Myrlande. They ensured that Dad enjoyed both company and compassion at all times.

A joint Celebration of Life for Clem and Ann Malin will be held at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, Connecticut at 1 p.m. on Saturday August 8, 2015. Donations can be made in Clem’s memory to Dartmouth College or a charity of the donor’s choice.

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Theodore Bikel

Longtime Wilton resident Theodore Bikel died of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 21, at the age of 91.

Bikel, who referred to himself as “a general practitioner in the world of the arts,” was known for his versatility.

He was a world-renowned actor, as well as a folksinger, guitarist, author, lecturer, raconteur, activist and arts advocate.

Bikel was born in Vienna, Austria, in May 1924, to Miriam and Josef Bikel, who were Jewish immigrants from Bukovina in Central Europe.

Following the Nazi occupation of Austria in 1938, Bikel and his parents fled to Palestine.

Bikel — who was fluent in Hebrew, Yiddish and German with a “respectable command of English and French,” according to bikel.com — had planned to study and teach comparative linguistics.

However, he was more drawn to theater and joined the Habimah Theatre as an apprentice actor in 1943.

In 1944, Bikel co-founded the Israeli Chamber Theatre, and in 1946, he entered London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduated with honors two years later.

Actor

In London, Bikel performed in Sir Laurence Oliver’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire and won acclaim playing the Russian Colonel in Peter Ustinov’s The Love of Four Colonels.

Known for creating the role of Baron von Trapp in the original Broadway production of The Sound of Music, Bikel’s roster of memorable Broadway performances also include:

• Tonight in Samarkand.

• The Rope Dancers.

• The Lark.

He starred in a number of other plays nationwide, according to bikel.com. In 1967, he began touring as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof — a role he played more than 2,000 times.

Bikel was twice nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award and had more than 150 roles in movies and television series, according to IMDB.com, including:

• The African Queen (1951).

• The Enemy Below (1957).

• The Defiant Ones (1958).

• The Blue Angel (1959).

• My Fair Lady (1964).

For his role as Sheriff Max Muller in The Defiant Ones, Bikel received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor, as well as a Laurel Awards nomination for top male supporting performance.

In April 2005, Bikel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Performance.

Folksinger

Bikel became a United States citizen in 1961. That same year, he founded the Newport Folk Festival. As a folksinger, Bikel maintained an active concert schedule throughout the country and abroad, according to bikel.com.

He sang folk songs in nearly 20 languages, all the while accompanying himself on guitar, mandolin, balalaika and harmonica.

As a folksinger, Bikel recorded a number of albums and performed on college campuses and in concert halls nationwide. He even performed at a benefit show at the Norwalk Jewish Community Center in 1981.

Activist and advocate

Bikel was active in the civil rights movement for many years, and was elected a delegate to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

Bikel also served as:

• Senior vice president of the American Jewish Congress.

• President of the Actors’ Equity Association (1973-1982).

• Member of the National Council on the Arts (1977-1982).

• Vice president of the International Federation of Actors (1981-1991).

• Board member of Amnesty International USA.

At the time of his death, Bikel had been the president of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4A’s) for more than years.

Family and Wilton

Bikel lived on Honey Hill Road in Wilton for many years with his second wife, Rita Weinberg Call, with whom he had two sons, until 2011.

While living in Wilton, Bikel often entertained here and nearby. He and his wife helped open the Wilton Arts Council’s Arts Festival ’79 by hosting a music- and art-filled preview gala at their home in 1979.

Bikel starred in Jeffrey Sweat’s The Value of Names as part of the Westport Arts Center’s Plays-in-Progress series in 1988. And he performed at the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County in Fairfield.

Bikel and Call divorced in 2008 and their Wilton home was sold three years later.

According to a 2012 Wilton Library press release, a “treasure trove of books” from the Bikel household helped supply the library’s 2012 Gigantic Book Sale fund-raiser.

Bikel is survived by his fourth wife, Aimee Ginsburg, sons Robert and Daniel, stepsons Zeev and Noam Ginsburg, and three grandchildren.

According to bikel.com, Bikel’s wish was that donations go to either The Actors Fund (actorsfund.org) or Mazon (mazon.org).

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Joseph R. Lametta, Sr., of Norwalk, husband of Katherine Italiano Lametta, died on Tuesday, July 14, at Norwalk Hospital. He was 89.

Born in Norwalk, on July 8, 1926, he was the son of the late Antonio and Carmella Piccarella Lametta and had been a lifelong Norwalk resident.

He was a World War II veteran having served in the United States Marine Corp. Along with his brother, James, he was the co-owner of Lametta Brothers Masonry Contractors.

After his discharge from the Marines in 1947, he started playing basketball locally with the Spring Hill Tigers Basketball Team. In the 1950’s and ’60’s many teams would try to sign the tall, high scoring Lametta.

In addition to basketball, he played softball and was an avid bowler. His bowling skills garnered him a sanctioned 300 game in 1976 while bowling with Anastasia Brother’s Bowling Team.

A life member of the Laurel Athletic Club, he began serving on the Board of Governors in 1972. He was elected vice-president and became president of the club, an office he held until 1976. He served on the Board of Directors for many years, most recently as Sergeant of Arms. In 1994, he celebrated his 25th anniversary in the club and became an Old Timer and Life Member.

A staunch supporter of the military and veterans, he was a member of the American Legion and a fixture in the Norwalk Memorial Day Parade along with his late brother Jimmy.

In addition to his wife Katherine, Mr. Lametta is survived by three children, Joseph R. Lametta, Jr. (wife Wendy) of Wilton and Weston’s Public Works Director; son Ronald of Newtown and daughter Patricia Goldbach (husband Kurt) of Newtown; four grandchildren, Matthew, Christine, Amy and Sara; three sisters: Connie Williams, Louise Scianna and Rose Burke and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated, Monday, July 20, at St. Phillip Roman Catholic Church, Norwalk. Interment followed in St. John Cemetery, Norwalk. Arrangements were by Collins Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675

—by the staff

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Carol Patricia Shaw

Carol Patricia Shaw of DeWitt, New York, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2015 at The Nottingham Retirement Community. She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Richard “Dick” Shaw on June 13, 2014.

Carol was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 14, 1925. She graduated from Purdue University in 1947, which is where she met her husband.

Carol raised her family of four boys in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. She and Dick retired to Great Barrington, Mass., where they enjoyed living in the Berkshire Mountains. In 1999, they moved to Manlius 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.

Carol is survived by her four sons, Doug, Steven (Susan), Craig (Lisa) and Dave (Carol); grandchildren, Clay, Whitney; Andrea, Christine; Jameson, Jordyn; Heather, Melissa, Lauren and Mark; and great granddaughter, Angeth.

Services will be private.

Carol’s family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Enriched Living and the Residential Health Care Facility staff at The Nottingham. Their dedication, care and compassion for Carol, provided her with comfort and dignity during this last stage of her life.

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

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

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Ken Butler

Kenneth Blaine Butler III, 57, of New Market, Md., formerly of Weston, died at home Wednesday, July 22, from brain cancer, with his family by his side.

He was the sister of Julie Butler of Jackson Hole, Wyo., a former longtime Weston resident.

Mr. Butler was born April 12, 1958, in Norwalk to the late Holly and Roger Butler of Weston. He grew up in Weston and attended the Weston schools, Rumsey Hall School in Washington Depot and The Forman School in Litchfield.

Mr. Butler moved to Stowe, Vt. in 1975 to work and ski, one of his many passions and talents. He began his career as a facilities manager and carpenter at Stoneybrook Condominiums in Stowe.

In 1987, he moved to Frederick, Md. and took a job with NVR Homes. During his 18-year tenure with NVR, Mr. Butler managed the construction of hundreds of homes in Frederick and Montgomery County, and in 1999, received the prestigious “Master Builder Award” from NVR Corporate Headquarters. In 2004, he decided to utilize his extensive knowledge and passion for homebuilding in his own business, Custom Carpentry Plus.

Mr. Butler was predeceased by his parents, Roger (1996) and Holly (2005). He is survived by his wife Debbie, of New Market, Md.; son Blaine Butler and son-in-law Michael Goff of Boston, Mass.; daughters Brooke and Faith of New Market, Md.; sister Julie Butler of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; brother-in-law Donald Edwards of Frederick, Md.; mother-in-law Shirley Edwards of Conway, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 30, at Mountain View Community Church, 8330 Fingerboard Road, Frederick, Md.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, at braintumor.org.

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John T. Brophy

John Thomas Brophy 76, of Weston, CT, died on July 26, 2015, at his Florida home after a long illness. Mr. Brophy was born on April 28, 1939, in Bergenfield, NJ. He was one of five children.

After receiving many accommodations in the Air Force, Mr. Brophy went on to earn a BA from Rutgers University.

Mr. Brophy went on to have a long and successful career in the insurance industry.

He was a partner in O’Rourke & Brophy, Senior Vice President of Johnson & Higgins in New York, for seven years, President and Founder of Westport Management Services in Westport, CT.

Prior to his illness, Mr. Brophy was an avid golfer. He was a member of The Connecticut Golf Club in Easton, CT.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 34 years, Sharon Granger Brophy, four daughters, Beth Kiesner, Maeve Smith, Colleen Brophy, and Maggie Eberhardt, and eight grandchildren. He is further survived by three sisters, Margaret Lunney Lewis, Grace Brophy, Helen Brophy, and his brother, Patrick Brophy, as well as, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service is being planned and will be announced.

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Alyson Williams, formerly of Weston and later in Westport, died peacefully July 19th, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Born in Worcester, Mass., and raised in Weston, Conn., she chose to live near her family and friends in Blackrock, where she could garden and smell the salt air.

Alyson Williams
1960-2015

She was the daughter of Cynthia Williams and the late Norman Williams, of Weston, and sister to Heather Williams of Westport, and Carrie Gilbertie of Stratford, and Brother in Laws Colin Walklet and Tom Gilbertie. She was the doting Aunt to Taylor Walklet, and Sarah and Grace Gilbertie. Alyson also leaves her longtime companion David Clogg of Blackrock, and his children Allison and Bryan Clogg, and she was a loving caregiver to Pita and Koda, her beloved animals. She was a best friend and soul sister to dozens.

She graduated from Weston High School in 1978, and Chamberlin College with a degree in Graphic Design. She worked in the graphic arts field for many years at the Westport News, and Sotheby’s International Realty in New York. She also designed logos for Atlantic Sail and Canvas in Fairfield.

Alyson’s love of music and friends defined her life. As a member of the greater Grateful Dead family, Alyson traveled, met and bonded with hundreds, many of which went on to become her lifelong friends and co-workers. It was only natural that Alyson would turn that love of music into a 25-plus-year career in the music industry. From art director at Dupree’s Diamond News, to Merch Manager at the Capitol Theatre, Aly always inspired others with her ‘get the job done’ attitude, self integrity and beautiful smile. Alyson used her eye for style and color in a career as a graphic artist. Countless thousands see and wear her designs today.

She was a founding member of the Gathering of the Vibes, and helped to name the annual event as well as design the iconic Terrapin logo. She was a tireless champion of other artists and craft vendors. She mentored, corroborated with, and occasionally chastised others to produce one of the most beautiful and successful Arts & Craft lines in the business.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 1:00 pm at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston.

Memorial donations in her name can be made to The Aspetuck Land Trust, P.O. Box 444, Westport, Ct. 06880, or www.aspetucklandtrust.org

—by the family

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Mildred Piazza, age 97 of Weston, the beloved wife of the late Dr. Louis R. Piazza, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 2, 2015. She was born in Passaic, NJ to the late Alfonse and Rosina Battiste.

She was a generous, thoughtful, engaging and elegant woman who left a lasting impression. She led by example and by love and wanted the best for everyone.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Patrice Kopas and her husband, Kenneth and Carina Silvestri and her husband, John all of Weston. She will also be missed by her beloved grandchildren, Christopher, Mark, Brianna, Michael and Christina; and sister-in-law, Bella Candaffio of Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Edward, Donald and Evelyn.

Friends are invited to greet her family on Thursday, August 6, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Rd. in Fairfield Center. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 7, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. directly at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 35 Norfield Rd. in Weston. Interment in Arlington National Cemetery will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Weston Senior Center, 9 School Road, Weston, CT 06883 or the Westport Library, 20 Jessup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.shaughnesseybanks.com/.

—by the family

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Alyson Williams

Alyson Williams, formerly of Weston and later in Westport, died peacefully July 19th, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Born in Worcester, Mass., and raised in Weston, Conn., she chose to live near her family and friends in Blackrock, where she could garden and smell the salt air.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 1:00 pm at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston.

Memorial donations in her name can be made to The Aspetuck Land Trust, P.O. Box 444, Westport, Ct. 06880, or www.aspetucklandtrust.org

—by the family

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JoAnne Cottrell Rueckert

JoAnne Cottrell Rueckert, 63, formerly of Weston and Westport, died on July 2, surrounded by her family at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Rueckert, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She is also survived by her three sisters: Diane Cottrell Grant of Jacksonville, Fla; Laura Gail Link (and brother-in-law James Link) of Hilton Head, S.C. and Trumbull; and Alva Joyce Perkins of Jacksonville, Fla. JoAnne was an adored aunt to ten nieces and nephews and eighteen great nieces and great nephews.

Born in Springfield, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Thomas Edward Cottrell and Laura Shethar Cottrell.

JoAnne was a graduate of Bradford Junior College and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University. She was a long time parishioner of Norfield Congregational Church in Weston. Since 2013 when she moved to Florida, she attended the Gardens Presbyterian Church in Palm Beach Gardens.

JoAnne’s generosity of spirit was evident all through her life. The joy of her life was to spend time with her family and friends and her precious dogs, Casey and Sammy. She loved going to the beach, traveling and being out on the water fishing with her husband, her parents, and her friends.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends who loved her dearly.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Victor Firman

Victor V. Firman, beloved son of William and Georgia Firman, died suddenly on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Victor, born Oct. 20, 1992, was a graduate of Weston High School and was completing his studies in clinical psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

While in high school, Victor spent his summers working at Peter’s Market in Weston and the Weston Department of Public Works.

In college, Victor completed internships in youth addiction rehabilitation at various clinics and hospitals and more recently at the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center.

Victor is survived by his parents, his sisters, Nikole and Rene Firman, and his grandparents, Vassilios and Athanasia Poulopoulos of Norwalk, as well as his uncle Gus Poulopoulos and family of Weston, and his aunt Melanie Firman Kelley and family of Boston, Mass.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Westport Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Victor Firman to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Connecticut, 576 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105.

—by the staff

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Alice Barreca

Alice Hazlehurst Barreca, 84, of Weston, passed away peacefully on Aug. 31. She was the beloved wife of Christopher A. Barreca, with whom she shared a wonderful 62 years.

Born May 13, 1931, in Hartford, Alice was the daughter of the late Harry Hazlehurst Jr. and the late Alice Peterson Hazlehurst, and sibling to the late Harry Hazlehurst, III.

Alice graduated in 1949 from McKinley (Technical) High School in Washington, D.C. She then accepted a full tuition scholarship to Boston University’s Sargent College of Physical Education. In college, Alice was Editor-in-Chief of the Hub, the Boston University yearbook. While working at the Hub, she met her future husband — the prior year’s Editor-in-Chief. Alice also was a member of the Scarlet Key, an activities-based honor society. In recognition of her academic record, dedication, and popularity, Alice became the second woman to garner the university newspaper’s coveted “Man of the Year” award in 1953.

In June 1953, Alice received her college diploma and a certificate as a physical therapist. Six months earlier, in December 1952, Alice received something just as noteworthy: a proposal for engagement from Christopher Barreca, which she happily accepted. During their first four decades of marriage, the couple lived in places far and wide: Pittsfield, Mass.; Weston, Conn.; Louisville, Ky.; and Winnetka, Ill. They eventually settled in Weston, to make their life together.

Ever the renaissance woman, Alice devoted herself to the community by participating in local organizations and institutions. In Weston, she was an active member of the Weston Garden Club, Emmanuel Church, the Pitch Pipers, PEO, the Aspetuck Valley Country Club, the Weston Historical Society, and the Benjamin Wildflower Garden. She was a Girl Scout leader and taught Sunday School. She and her husband entertained frequently, including hosting renowned New Year’s Day, Kentucky Derby, and other parties for the couple’s many friends and Christopher’s colleagues at General Electric, the Paul Hastings law firm, and the American Bar Association.

Alice remained committed to Boston University, serving on the Alumni Association’s Executive Board. At Boston University, a laboratory classroom, a rock-climbing wall, and crew boat now bear her name. Above all, Alice was dedicated to her family, imbuing her children and grandchildren with her passion for the outdoors, music, art, literature, and travel, including annual trips with the extended family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Alice is survived by her three children: Alice Dixon of Farmington, Conn.; Jennifer Barreca Culpepper of California, Maryland; and Christopher Barreca of Newhall, California. She also is survived by her five grandchildren: Jennifer Dixon, Brittany Culpepper, C.J. Culpepper, Alicia Barreca, and Manal Barreca; her sister-in-law, Marion Hazlehurst; and a loving extended family.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Alice’s memory to the Grand Teton Music Festival, at gtmf.org/support/, or by mail to GTMF, Attn: Anna Dobbins, Director of Development, 4015 N Lake Creek Drive #100, Wilson, WY 83014.

A celebration of Alice’s life will be held for family and friends at a later date.

—by the family

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Child actor Dickie Moore starred in the first sound adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist in 1933.

Dickie Moore, a child actor who grew up in the Hollywood studio system, and public relations executive married to actress Jane Powell, died Sept. 7, according to The New York Times. He was 89 and lived in Wilton.

From his debut in the 1927 silent feature The Beloved Rogue, Moore appeared in dozens of films — features and shorts — up to the age of 12. He appeared opposite many stars of the 1930s and 40s including Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus (1932), Paul Muni in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1932), and Gary Cooper in Sergeant York (1941). He also appeared in the Our Gang shorts from 1932-33.

As an actor, he was perhaps best known for giving Shirley Temple her first on-screen kiss in Miss Annie Rooney of 1942.

Moore’s acting career waned through the 40s and was over by the early 1950s.

He served in the Army near the end of World War II, and later worked in public relations. He started his own firm, Dick Moore & Associates in 1966.

He was born John Richard Moore Jr. in Los Angeles on Sept. 12, 1925.

He had been married twice before meeting Powell. She was one of the former child actors he interviewed for his 1984 book on growing up in the film business, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (But Don’t Have Sex or Take the Car). They married in 1988.

It was Moore who enticed Powell, who had spent most of her life on the West Coast, to move east. While living in New York City they searched for a home in the country.

“We just wanted to have it for a weekend house,” Powell told The Bulletin in 2012. “Its kind of different now. We are Connecticut residents.”

In addition to Powell, Moore is survived by a son, Kevin; a stepson, Geary; two stepdaughters, Lindsay and Suzanne; a sister, Pat Kingsley; and several grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

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John McAuliffe

John Francis ‘Jack’ McAuliffe died peacefully on Thursday, September 17, in Ridgefield, CT, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 77 years old.

Jack is survived by Kathi, his devoted wife of 52 years, their four children: Katie (Michael) Radcliff of Fayetteville, GA; Barbara of North Bridgeport, CT; Jennifer (partner Jeff Gianelli) of Reading, MA; and John (Caitlin) of Darien, CT; and three grandchildren: Sheehan, Jack, and Burke McAuliffe, all of Darien, CT.

He is also survived by his sister, Susan McAuliffe Brown of West Hartford, CT, and his brother, Paul McAuliffe of Boston, MA. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy McAuliffe Blake of Rockland, ME.

Jack was born in Boston, MA on May 5, 1938 to John F (Sr) and Hazel (Swan) McAuliffe. A graduate of the Boston Latin School, Boston College, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Jack played both hockey and golf at BLS and captained the golf team while at BC. He was also the 1956 New England Jr. Golf Champion.

It was while he was at Wharton that he met Kathi, a native of Philadelphia. They married in 1963 and soon after moved to Watertown, NY, as Jack began his career in sales and marketing, first with Lever Brothers and then with Pfizer and elsewhere. Job opportunities and their expanding family took them to homes in Brooklyn, NY; Westport and Weston, CT; and Montreal, PQ, Canada. Jack and Kathi also lived for many years in Georgetown, CT, where he was self employed in the financial services field.

A sports fanatic, Jack stayed true to his Boston roots, and was a lifelong fan of his beloved Red Sox, the Bruins, and the Patriots. Golf also remained an important part of his life, as did hockey, and he was an excellent skier. When it came to sports, Jack could not only do, he could also teach. He spent many years coaching youth hockey, both at Weston High School and Mid-Fairfield. Jack passed this love of sports on to his other passion, his family. He could often be seen on the sidelines, cheering his children on at the various athletic events in which they participated and enjoyed passing his knowledge of the sports he played on to them.

Jack will be remembered for his devotion to his family and his great sense of humor. He was ever the Boston Irishman, and had the quick wit that came with that.

A Memorial Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jack’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Laurel Ridge Health Care Center, 642 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield CT, 06877. We will remain forever grateful for the loving care that they provided to our husband and father in the final years of his life.

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