WTIC
Alumni Site
In
Memory of and Designed by Bill Clede
OBITS
Ken
Allen:
From Bill Hennessey: "Ken Allen
died this morning (12/09/2006) at 1AM – at a hospice room in The
Lutheran Home, Southbury. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s
for the past few years, following a highly successful career as a
free-lancer, CBS Staff Announcer, and long-ago member of the WTIC
family. Some alumni will remember his 2004 visit to The Arch
Street Tavern for one of the Monday night get-togethers. He
was a handsome and superbly-accomplished performer, a truly “gentle”
man, and an all-around good guy."
Ken was a Massachusetts native who played football at
Framingham High in the late 1940s, worked at WKOX, and then entered the
U.S. Army, serving in Korea at AFRS (Armed Forces Radio).
Upon discharge, he resumed his full-time career at WTEN in Albany,
moving to WTIC in 1959. While there, he accompanied
Bob Segal as a delegate from the Boston Local at a national AFTRA
Convention in Detroit, along with Jack Chase, Bill Hahn, Bill Hennessey
and others.
Later, Ken gambled on free-lancing (and won big!) by becoming the
on-air TV spokesperson for New England Tel & Tel, appearing
weekly on WBZ-TV commercials. In his off-hours he’d roam the
streets of NYC, auditioning and gaining acceptance there in the
advertising community. As an adjunct, he became a Staff
Announcer at the CBS Network while continuing to ply the free-lance
trade.
Ken’s many successes provided a comfortable life for him and his
family, with homes in Stamford and Darien. His professional
activities declined with the onset of Alzheimers about 4 years ago, and
he eventually was confined to Assisted Living facilities in Newtown and
Southbury (Conn.). Tragically, the horrors of that disease
entailed total loss of ability-to-read -- the key strength to his
considerable talents.
His legacy includes the fact that one of his sons (Jeff) followed his
footsteps and was also at CBS, NYC… and is now a newsman at WINS.
C.
Edward
Anderson: Ed
was an announcer at WTIC AM FM TV3
for 37 years. He was on the Jean Colbert Show, Sports Talk, Mind Your
Manners, and weekend
news casts on television. Ed died April 30, 2002 in Hartford Hospital
at age 85.
A Newington resident for 50 years, Ed sang in the choir at
Church of Christ
Congregational. He was an Army veteran of World War II serving with the
508th military
police unit. He entertained the alumni group at the 1997 reunion with
his version of
covering then President
Johnson's attendance at the New England
Governor's Conference at Bradley International Airport.
Note from Lou Palmer: It's
with great sadness that I read about the passing of one of the truly
good guys--Ed
Anderson. All of us, I'm sure, have fond memories of Ed.
My most vivid goes back to 1967, my first year as an
announcer with WTIC Radio.
For those who remember, 1967 was the year of the "Impossible
Dream" when
the Red Sox won a pennant.
On October 5, the company sent any of us who had anything to
do with sports to a
World Series game---game two at Fenway Park. The Red Sox had
already lost the opener
2 to 1 to the Cardinals so Game Two was a very important one.
I sat next to Ed,
whose view of the game, unfortunately, was obscured by one of the many
pillars that
support the roof of the stadium. Our seats were not exactly
box seats to be sure.
Fortunately my view of the game was unobstructed and I
sometimes had to tell Ed
exactly what happened on plays he couldn't see. We were in
deep right field where I
can recall looking down on Roger Maris playing right for the Cardinals
and
"Hawk" Harrelson for the Sox.
The day in October 1967 was an historic one. Jim
Lonborg, pitching on only
two days' rest, pitched a one-hitter as the Red Sox beat the Redbirds
5-0. The only
hit of the game was a double off the Green Monster Wall by Julian
Javier.
The next day Ed devoted his five minute Sports Talk feature
on the afternoon drive
time show to the "greatest one hitter in World Series history
that I never
saw", mentioning his limited view of the action at Fenway
Park. I'm sure Ed
always remembered that too, just as those of us who worked with him
will always remember
Ed with great fondness. A gentle man and a very a kind
man. Those qualities
came out in abundance when Ed was among the many announcers who became
"Ranger
Andy" for a day, a week, a month, or even longer. He will be
missed. -- Lou
Palmer
Note from
Dick Bertel: Ed Anderson was one of
my very favorite people at WTIC. He was my mentor on the very first day
I started working
for the station. It was Sunday morning, May 13, 1956. Ed was on duty in
the old announce
studio adjacent to Master Control in the Grove Street building. Of
course, he was a young
man, then - in his late thirties, as I recall. He welcomed me warmly
and did his best to
reassure me and put me at ease. He was great.
I knew he was a good announcer - all you had to do was
listen, and of course, he
made a great foil for Jean Colbert every afternoon. I didn’t realize
the extent of
his talent, however, until December 31st, 1956,
the day of the Cathedral fire.
His description of that holocaust was unbelievable. I knew right then
and there that I had
a long way to go before I could ever hope to fit into his shoes.
No wonder we all look back fondly at ‘TIC. It was people
like Ed that made it
so wonderful and so memorable. Thanks, Ed. -- Dick Bertel Back
Bob Arel Robert. L. Arel, 71, of Deland, Fla. died on June 4, 2003. An Army veteran, he was an announcer at WTIC Radio and Television in Hartford, Conn. before moving to Florida in 1961. A freelance announcer for many years, he worked with several companies as a technical writer, curriculum developer, and training analyst. He also sang in the chorus of the Orlando Opera Company. His wife, Jo-Ann, survives.
This is from the Middlebury College Alumni Magazine and contributed to us by Bill Hennessey who added:
Samuel
V.
Balnius: Sam, 76, of Vero
Beach, Fla. died
Nov. 1, 1993 at Indian River Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born Feb. 28,
1917 in Hartford, Conn. He was a radio engineer for WKNB in New
Britain, Conn., and WTIC
in Hartford.
The Vero Brach newspaper listed his survivors as, his wife
of 51 years, Anne,
(passed away in 2000). Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Kopcsak of
White Stone, Va.; a
son, Charles A. Balnius of Vero Beach; five sisters, Bertha Jedziniak
of Windsor Locks,
Conn. (who passed away in 1998), Ida Faber of Glastonbury, Conn., (who
passed away in
2001), Sue Srokowski of Windsor, Conn., Rose Ostrowski of South
Windsor, Conn., and Lucy
Michalman of Bloomfield, Conn., and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at 3 p.m. Thursday at
St. Catherine Catholic
Church, Broad Brook, Conn. Internment was at St. Catherine Cemetery.
Dick
Bertel remembered Sam. "Sam was a
perfectionist when it came to broadcasting. Sam would cue up a
reel-to-reel tape for
airplay and then check it over and over again to make sure that it was
still properly cued
up. He was always a pleasure to work with. He would carry out your
production instructions
to the letter and always give you the very best he had in him. Sam had
a way of making
everything we ever did in radio seem important. As a result he always
brought out the best
in me, even if we were only doing some kind of ten minute music fill.
Sam represented
quality of the highest order and I was very proud to work with him." Back
Milt Barlow: Milton F. Barlow, 98, of Newington died Saturday, (March 28, 2009) at Hartford Hospital. He lived a long and distinguished life. A native of Stafford, he lived in Newington for over 55 years. He was a well known and well respected weatherman, having served in Boston, Caribou, Pittsburgh and Hartford. In the mid-fifties he help found the Travelers Weather Service. He was seen on Channel 3, Hartford and was Bob Steele's weatherman on WTIC for many years. He was an avid fisherman, loved his vegetable garden as was a devoted follower of the New York Yankees. His wife Sylvia predeceased him in 1997. He was the beloved father of his daughter Jean and son-in-law Robert Hafner of Simsbury; his son and daughter-in-law Milton G. and Cynthia Barlow of Eastford; six grandsons and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Robert Barlow of Fayetteville, GA. Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m. in the Elmwood Community Church, 26 Newington Road, West Hartford conducted by Reverands Robert Woodward and Mason Ellison. Burial will be in West Stafford Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Elmwood Community Church. The Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, West Hartford has charge of the funeral. (From the Hartford Courant, March 30, 2009). Back
Dana
Bate:Dana
Bate (aka D.B.) passed from this earth in the early morning hours of
July 28, 2013. He had been hospitalized in Bristol, Pennsylvania for a
couple weeks. Dana himself summed up his life in his Blog profile~
"I am an actor and
broadcaster. I am grateful to have spent my life in the arts. Now I
also write and paint. I am humbly trying to overcome selfishness, it's
effects and regrets. I read history, philosophy, psychology and
religion. My desire is to share what I have with the world while trying
to make sense of a difficult life and enjoying the journey, no rituals,
no rules, no summations."
Dana had several
Blogs, they included; Vagabond Journeys, Vagabond Tales, Vagabond
Jottings, Vagabond Leaves and The Brian Saga.
I had the pleasure of
many phone conversations with Dana over the years and I can tell you he
had a deep, rich voice... suitable for any Shakespeare play and a
slight east coast accent.
Dana, D.B. The
Vagabond~you will be missed. Back
Tribute submitted by
Linda S. Shook
Courtesy of SILENT KEYBOARDS -
J-LAND AND BLOGGER ANGELS
Philip
Becker: Started in
radio in New York City. Came to Hartford in his 20s and joined WTIC in
1933. He was the
"News Voice" of Hartford, presenting all the daily newscasts from 8 am
to 3 pm.
Phil died December 6, 2001.
During World War II, he spent 4 1/2 years in the Army in
charge of American
Expeditionary Radio Stations in Iran. He later worked for National Cash
Register and Pratt
& Whitney where he was a manager in the publications
department. He continued working
in retirement for Connecticut Bank & Trust. He is survived by
his wife Sibyl. Back
John
Birchard: Veteran
broadcaster-writer John Birchard died August 22, 2017 at home in Silver
Spring MD at the age of 81.
A
Vermont native Mr. Birchard enlisted in the U-S Air Force following
graduation from high school in Shoreham, VT.
After
his discharge in 1958, he attended the University of Alabama, where he
earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio & TV. He returned to New
England, where he worked for radio stations WCCC and WTIC in
Hartford, CT. He hosted jazz programs at both Hartford stations and was
honored by the jazz community for his efforts.
He
then moved to WELI in New Haven, Ct where he led a popular talk show
from 1970 to 1978. Mr. Birchard also served as Master of Ceremonies for
the Quinnipiac Intercollegiate Jazz Festival, for jazz concerts at Yale
University and for the Hartford Jazz Society.
Leaving
WELI to become a freelance broadcaster-writer in 1978, he wrote
articles for AutoWeek, the Hartford Courant Sunday Magazine,
Connecticut Magazine and others. In 1981, he was auto racing reporter
for Enterprise Radio, history’s first all-sports radio network. He
later wrote a book about his Enterprise experience. During 1984-85, he
was play-by-play announcer for sports car races on ESPN and public
address announcer for Indy car races at the Meadowlands Complex in New
Jersey.
He
returned to radio as news director of WAVZ and WKCI in New Haven, CT in
1986 and then in 1993 Mr. Birchard joined the Voice of America in
Washington, DC as an international radio news broadcaster and
automotive reporter where he remained until his retirement in
2008.
In
2010 he published the book “Jock Around the Clock” on his days with
Enterprise Radio. In 2012, he launched the internet jazz program
CyberJazzToday.
Mr.
Birchard married Donna Kelley of New Haven, CT. A previous marriage to
Karen Litton of Hartford, CT ended in divorce. Neither marriage
produced children.
Mr. Birchard is survived by his wife Donna, his younger brother Roy Birchard of Davenport, IA, as well as several cousins. His remains will be cremated and his ashes buried in East Shoreham Cemetery in his hometown of Shoreham, VT. Back
Lynn Boscher: Our focused, selfless, fun-loving father, Lynn F. Boscher, 76, passed away at home on February 12, 2019 surrounded by his family. Born December 1, 1942, in Rochester, NY, he was the son of the late George and Ruth (Wegner) Boscher. Lynn proudly served in the United States Air Force, stationed at Westover AFB. In 1967, he married the love of his life, the former Mary Joyce Marth, and moved to Westfield. Lynn spent the majority of his working years running the family business – Travel Bureau of Westfield. He retired as the Executive Director for the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Westfield, serving twice as president. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, where he served as a lector. Lynn could be counted on to help out wherever needed – St Mary’s PTO, Westfield Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, board member for ARRHA, City Councilor for Westfield, and hosting foreign exchange students. He made many friends in the community and enjoyed many adventures around the world. When retirement rolled in, Lynn was not one to sit on the sidelines. He used his passion for photography to help document many events in Westfield and surrounding towns for the newspapers. His camera travelled everywhere with him and captured amazing memories. Anyone who knew Lynn knows that he loved to be with his family and friends. He enjoyed and celebrated life’s little moments: Pig roasts at Mill Street, time in Humarock with his grandkids, or travelling the globe with family and friends by his side. Any day was a good day for a party. Lynn leaves his beloved wife of 51 years, Mary (Marth) Boscher; his children, Michael (Marion) Boscher of Westfield, Edward Boscher of Belchertown, Kerry (Thomas) Butler of West Springfield, and Mary (Robert) Hartmann of Agawam; treasured grandchildren, Emily and Kyle Butler and Caiden and Carson Boscher; siblings, Keith (Susan) Boscher of Wichita KS, Marvis Boscher of Lafayette IN, Gary (Pat) Struck of Rochester NY, Gail (Wayne) Winert of Rochester NY, and Ed (Sandi) Marth of St. Charles, IL; and many loving nieces, nephews, and relatives. Lynn was preceded in death by his son Paul Boscher in 2015. Calling hours will be Tuesday, February 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield. The funeral for Lynn will be held on Wednesday, February 20 at 8:30 am from the funeral home and A Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett St., Westfield, MA will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Burial with Military Honors will follow at the MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam, MA. Memorial donations may be made to Rotary Club of Westfield Special Projects - PO Box 754, Westfield, MA 01086 or to St Mary’s Church – 30 Bartlett St, Westfield, MA 01085. firtionadams.com Back
Joseph Bourret:
June 4, 1929 - August 28, 2022
The Rev. Joseph E. Bourret, 93, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, died August 28, 2022, at home. Born in Providence, Rhode Island to the late Nelson George and Helen (Nystrom) Bourret, he was raised in Cranston, Rhode Island. A 1954 honors graduate of Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas and a 1958 graduate of Augustana Seminary, Rock Island, Illinois, he funded his education working as a carpenter, sign painter, and as a radio broadcaster at WOC, Davenport, Iowa. Ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1958, he served as pastor of several congregations in New Hampshire and Connecticut, continuing to serve the Church throughout his retirement. In 2006, he was named Pastor Emeritus of Concordia Lutheran Church in Manchester, Connecticut. In addition to his vocation in the Church, he worked in solar construction and radio broadcasting (WTIC and WKSS, Hartford). His many interests included woodworking, sailing, gardening, classical music, reading, and crosswords. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Nelson, Jr. and Mary DeFanti. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Patricia Konze Bourret; four children: Kristine (James Garofolo), Steven (Susan), Rebecca (Jeffrey Kinney), and Jon; six grandchildren: Jacob Kinney (Shanna Adrian), Michelle (Mark), Samuel Kinney (Morgan Hilliard), David Garofolo (Kaleigh Cragan), Hannah Kinney (Sammie Nichols), and Philip Garofolo; a sister, Elizabeth Robison; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cherished friends. A memorial service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, 40 Pitkin St., Manchester, Connecticut, at 11:00 a.m. on September 16, 2022, with calling hours from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on September 15 and one hour before the service, also at Concordia Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (lstc.edu) or the ELCA World Hunger Appeal (community.elca.org/elcaworldhunger) For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.
Published by Hartford Courant on Sep. 4, 2022.
Back
Mary Bowe: Mary E. (Chaponis) Bowe, 101, passed away on December 24, 2020, at her home in Ottawa, IL.
Due
to current State of Illinois guidelines, a celebration of life will be
held at a later date. Burial will be at Saint Mary Cemetery in New
Britain, CT. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral
Home in Ottawa.
Mary was born on March 25, 1919, in
New Britain, CT to Joseph and Mary (Babinskas) Chaponis. After living
through the Great Depression with her parents, Mary graduated from high
school and ventured into the business world. Among other endeavors, she
directed a Lithuanian choral group. She became a sound engineer at WTIC
radio in Hartford, CT, providing sound effects for several radio shows
that her future husband wrote, announced, and produced. She married
George W. Bowe on March 15, 1947 in Kingston, New York. Once their
daughters were in school, she embarked on a new
profession-banking-becoming a vice president at Connecticut National
Bank. After retiring from banking and after her husband passed away,
she moved to Ottawa, and soon began volunteering at Community Hospital
of Ottawa, devoting more than 5000 volunteer hours in the gift shop and
as treasurer of CHO benefits including the Holiday House Walk and
Bazaar. She was also a member of St. Columba Church. Mary was a devoted
wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as a UCONN
Women's Basketball Team super fan!
She is survived by two daughters,
Debby (Michael) Reagan, of Ottawa, IL and Sheila Sitomer, of Boston,
MA; four grandchildren, Terry (Jaime) Reagan, of Kennewick, WA, Dan
(Emilie) Reagan, of Durham, NH, Margaret (Jacob) Jeffries, of Carmel,
IN, and Hayden Sitomer, of Los Angeles, CA; and eight
greatgrandchildren, Lilly, William, Connor, Margaret Ryan, Catherine,
and Sophie Reagan, and Finnegan and Maxwell Jeffries.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, and a sister, Virginia Chaponis.
Memorials may be directed to: OSF
St. Elizabeth Auxiliary
(https://www.osfhealthcare.org/saint-elizabeth/giving/auxiliary/,
Ottawa YMCA (https://www.ottawaymca.org/), or the Illinois Valley PADS
(https://ivpads.com).
You may sign the online guestbook
and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and
Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433 Back
Ted Brassard: Ted went to the VOA in 1979 and retired from there in 1984, right after his wife died. He briefly retired to Palm Bay, FL, but migrated back to Putnam, CT in 1985 and passed away in June 1994 at the home of his son Ted, Jr., in upstate NY. He is interred at his home town of Putnam, CT next to his wife Dorothy. (Courtesy of Barbara Ann Brassard Sullivan, Frederick, MD, Ted's Daughter). Back
Ida
Burbank: An officer of the
former Broadcast Plaza Inc. and
past president of
the Business and Professional Women's Club of Hartford Inc., Ida
Burbank died Friday, July
15, 1994, at Hartford Hospital. A West Hartford resident, she worked
for the Travelers
Corp. and for Broadcast Plaza Inc., the Travelers subsidiary that ran
WTIC radio and
television.
At Broadcast Plaza, she was secretary to the president. In
1967 she was named
assistant secretary of the board of directors the first woman to become
an officer of the
corporation. She retired in the late 1970s. She had belonged to the
Business and
Professional Women's Club for 35 years, serving as president of the
Soroptomist Club of
Hartford.
Miss Burbank was a lifelong lover of opera, and attended
many performances, said
her grandniece, Jeid Gagliardi of Farmington. "Her career was very
important and she
took it very seriously, but she was well liked also," Gagliardi said.
"The calls
I've been getting have been amazing. She was kind of the matriarch of
WTIC, the matriarch
of our family." Back
Yolanda Carrera Our strongminded, intelligent and beautiful Yolanda Carrera, 83, of Windsor, CT, beloved mother and grandmother, entered into the home of her eternal Savior on July 17, 2022. She was born in Havana, Cuba, to the late Pedro and Angelica Sainz on June 14, 1939. Yolanda was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, Godmother and friend. She is survived by her three children: Gabriel Carrera and his wife Gabriela, David Carrera and his wife Aidith, and Susana Carrera and her husband Steven Niezgorski. Yolanda was blessed by the birth of her five grandchildren: Sebastian Carrera, Gabriela Contreras, Savanna Lee Petrunti, Hunter Niezgorski, and Benicio Carrera. She is also survived by her Goddaughter Joanna Santana, her husband Braulio, son Julian, sister-in-law Angela "Mimi" Espinoza, son-in-law Lenny Petrunti, niece Lisa McAlees and her sons Ace and Max, and her forever "partner in crime" Ada Vega who was there for her during the good and bad. She often referred to Ada as her sister. Where you saw one, you saw the other. She adored her Argentinian cousins Christina and Raul Auger and their visits to Windsor. She was predeceased by her younger brother Pedrito Sainz, her sister-in-law Minerva McAlees and husband George, and the incredible father of her children Justo "Pepe" Carrera. Yolanda Carrera immigrated to the United States in 1961 with only three dresses and a change of underwear. That was all she could carry fleeing the Castro regime in Cuba. After ten months in Miami, she and her husband were resettled in Windsor by the national Catholic Relief Fund, and sponsored by St. Gabriel's Church. "My life began when I came to Connecticut" she once told The Hartford Courant in a 1983 interview. Yolanda started her career as a social worker in the Hartford welfare department. For five years she got to know the Hispanic community and its concerns. During that time, she gave birth to twins, and returned to work only to be given "more paperwork than social work" according to that same interview. In 1970, she pitched a public affairs program to WTIC Channel 3 but was met with the response "we will call you if we need you." Three years later in 1973, Channel 3 offered her a part-time job to create a 9 minute Hispanic community calendar show. Only six months later that effort turned into a 30 minute weekly show entitled "Barrio." When the station was sold and became WFSB-TV in 1975, Yolanda was promoted to Director of Community Affairs and her show Barrio was extended to one hour. Yolanda would be the first female Hispanic to hold a Director's position, not only hosting a weekly TV show but also directing and producing the show. Yolanda used the Barrio stage to tackle issues in the Hispanic community including women's rights, fighting racism, and helping race relations during the riots of the late 1970's in Hartford. She marched on the state capitol, won awards for her activism, and was the voice for the Hispanic community in Hartford. She brought in star power interviewing such celebrities as Erick Estrada, Jose Feliciano, Tito Fuentes, Celia Cruz and many more. She was a voice for a Hispanic community that had been underrepresented for years. She drew praise from lawmakers, the Governor and Senators alike, helping to establish Hartford as one of the top Hispanic communities in the Nation. In 1979, she travelled back to Cuba to cover a basketball game between Trinity College and a Cuban National Team. This woman had no fear returning to a country she fled to avoid communism. She traced her steps back to her childhood neighborhood, to the front steps of her grade school, and even said hello to her teachers who were still there. All this while Cuban Communist troops armed with rifles followed and harassed her throughout the entire trip. She didn't care; she faced her fears to show how Castro had destroyed her island home. She was honored at dinners for her work, became president of the Hartford Lioness club and a founding member, always remembering where she came from and the Hispanic community she served. Yolanda's contribution to the Hispanic community was not just in Hartford, but New England-wide, and was widely acknowledged that her tv show "Barrio" was the primary vehicle. Her late best friend and coworker Elijah Young said it best, "she usually gets what she goes after. " Yolanda Carrera, whose career spanned decades in the spotlight, passed peacefully surrounded by her family. There was no press, there was no fanfare. She went quietly and on her terms. Her legacy, whether you see it or not, is still alive in Hartford. The thriving Hispanic community that she loved has a proud voice and the social issues that affected so many are now a mainstream topic of discussion. Yolanda Carrera and others like her made this possible. For this we honor her and her legacy. May God bless her beautiful soul. A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. Services will be private. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 701 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To leave an online message of condolence for her family, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com. Back
Published by Hartford Courant on Jul. 24, 2022.Mary
Howarth Cass: Mary
Howarth Cass, 95, of Killingworth, formerly of Guilford and Hartford,
died in late summer at the hospice at Middlesex Hospital. Mary was born
on Easter Sunday, April 8, 1917, the daughter of the late Benjamin
Howarth and Mary Baker Howarth. She was pre-deceased by her husband
Robert Vanese Cass, her brothers Robert, Earl, Frederick, Percy,
Ernest, Walter, Warren (Dutch) and Raymond (Skip) Howarth and her
sisters Florence Dixon, Katherine Sadler and Ethel MacGregor. She was
the valedictorian of her graduating class at Larsen College, now
Quinnipiac College. She worked at WTIC, Traveler's Insurance, Monsanto
and Yale Child Study Center. Mary is survived by her daughters - Nancy
Cass Taboada and her husband Gilbert of Killingworth, and Robin Cass
Kelly and her husband Fran�ois Desilio of New York, NY and Old
Saybrook; her grandchildren Avalon Cass Taboada, Alisha Vanese Taboada
and Allegra Skye Kelly; and three generations of nieces and nephews.
A private service and a graveside
service were held in Killingworth, CT. She will be in our hearts
forever. Back
Published
in the Hartford Courant on December 23, 2012
Rose Marie (Tarvaian) Cistulli: Rose
Marie (Tarvaian) Cistulli 90, of Newington, CT lost her battle with
cancer and COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Rose Marie was born May
17, 1929 in Marseille, France. As a world-class trained vocalist, her
passions were singing on stage, her true love husband and family. Rose
Marie was educated as a vocalist in NYC, and in media at the CT School
of Broadcasting. She worked at WTIC as an assistant to the radio legend
Bob Steele. She sang in plays, on radio & TV, in dinner clubs,
choirs and more, also with Cubby Clark, Sonny Costanzo, and many Big
Band National greats. In her own words ""I had fun."" Her stage life
was also spent as the Joe & Rose Marie Cistulli Quartet. Joe and
Rose began making music together when she was 17 and continued until
Joe passed. She joins her husband Joseph D. Cistulli Jr., who preceded
her in death in 2002. A beloved and adored singer, cook, character,
wife, and mother, she leaves behind her children, Donna Marie Cistulli
of New Britain, CT, Joseph G. Cistulli of Howell, MI, a poet &
artist son C.C. Arshagra, and Michael D. Cistulli of New Britain CT.
along with her 2 grandchildren, Nancy and Joseph G. Cistulli, Isabella
Mary-Rose and Dante Vincenzo of Howell, MI.
Due to the current situation, a graveside service will be held St.
Mary's Cemetery on May 5 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a gofundme has
been set up to help pay for Rose Marie's funeral expenses. The Paul A.
Shaker Funeral Home, 764 Farmington Ave., New Britain, CT has charge of
arrangements. For online condolences, please visit
SHAKERFUNERALHOME.COM (Back)
Published in New
Britain Herald on May 2, 2020
Bill Clede: Emile
W. "Bill" Clede, Jr. 75, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of Lois
(Stone) Clede, died Monday (June 16, 2003) at Hartford Hospital. Born
in Ft. Worth, TX, he was the son of the late Emile W. and Evangeline
(Hagler) Clede and spent his early career in the Washington, DC area
before moving to Connecticut. He attended Augusta Military Academy in
Ft. Defiance, VA and graduated from the University of Maryland majoring
in Spanish and Law Enforcement. In his early career he was employed by
the NRA. He was the former Outdoor Editor at the Hartford Times during
the 1960s and later served as Outdoor and Environmental Director at
both WTIC Radio and TV3. He later held various public relations
positions in the firearms industry. Since 1985 he was a free lance
writer in law enforcement and authored five books in various law
enforcement subjects. He was a ham radio operator with the call sign of
K 1 A H and a licensed small aircraft pilot. He was the former
president of both the Outdoor Writers Assn. of America and the New
England Outdoor Writers Assn. and was a founder of the Mason-Dixon
Outdoor Writers Assn. The funeral is Friday at 10 a.m. at the D'Esopo
Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield with the Rev. T.
Michael McDowell officiating. Burial will be in Westfield Cemetery,
Danielson, at the convenience of the family . Calling hours are
Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel. Memorial
contributions may be made to American Heart Assn., 2550 US Highway 1
North Brunswick, NJ 08902. For on-line expressions of sympathy please
visit www.desopo.com
Published in The
Hartford Courant on June 18, 2003 Back
Jean
Colbert:
Jean Colbert Martineau
was host of a talk show on WTIC-AM for
almost 30 years. She had interviewed such figures as Albert Einstein,
Helen Keller, and
Winston Churchill. She died at the University of Connecticut Health
Center in Farming on
September 5, 1995 after a short illness.
"The Jean Colbert Show" ran Monday through Saturday at 10
am. It featured
live and taped interviews. Her favorites are reported to be Eleanor
Roosevelt and Pope
Pious XII.
Especially popular were her Saturday broadcasts from the
former Parkview Hilton
that combined interviews and fashion shows.
Her career at WTIC began in 1947 as director of women's
activities. Previously, she
had hosted radio shows in Philadelphia, Cleveland and New York City,
where she had been
one of the first female sportscasters in the country.
She was a member of the Overseas Press Club and
International Association of Women
in Radio and Television. She was a trustee of the Goodspeed Opera
foundation for more than
20 years. After retiring from WTIC, she volunteered for the Connecticut
Radio Information
Services (CRIS), doing a weekly half-hour program for visually
handicapped people.
Back
Robert
Corbin
On
Tuesday, (June 19, 2007) Robert L. Corbin, 74, a resident of the
Enfield community for over 45 years, passed into eternal life after an
extended illness. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Olsen) Corbin of
53 years and his daughters, Bonnie Devine of Jefferson, Georgia; Brenda
Denno and her husband, Kevin of Burlington; and Beverly Corbin and her
husband, Ernest Corbin, Jr. of Enfield. Also surviving are his
brothers, Ernest Corbin, Sr. of Jupiter, FL and Clinton Corbin of West
Springfield, MA; and his sister, Jeanne Dwight of E. Windsor. He was
predeceased by his brother; Stanley Corbin of Martinez, GA. Bob was
born in West Springfield, MA to Gilbert and Blanche (Bates) Corbin, but
was raised by his maternal grandparents Ernest and Mina Bates from an
early age. Bob loved life and was very much a people person. He was
blessed by many close and loyal friends. He served in the U.S. Army
during the Korean War and was very proud of his military service. He
was involved in many activities throughout his life. His membership as
a Freemason spanned over 50 years. Bob was member of the Composite
Lodge #28 A.F. & A.M. and was a Past Master of the Euclid Lodge
#109 A.F. & A.M.. He was also was a member of the Melha Temple
A.A.O.N.M.S. and the Legion of Honor in Springfield. He was chairman of
the Enfield Republican Town Committee and served on various town
committees and boards as well as serving as a Justice of the Peace.
After the Army, he studied communications and became a radio announcer
for WMMB in North Adams, MA, and several other area stations before
becoming an account executive with WTIC in Hartford. Bob retired from
Asnuntuck Community College as the Director of Personnel in 1991. Bob
was above all a family man always making time for his wife and
daughters and his grandchildren, Corbin Sharp of FL; Kirstin Abell of
New York, NY; Christopher Abell of Wethersfield; Ernest Corbin III of
Enfield, Robert Corbin II of Enfield, and Matthew Denno of Burlington.
He loved visiting the Charlestown Breechway in Rhode Island and taking
trips with his family. His family would like to thank Dr. Darshan Shah
and his staff and all the doctors and nurses at Evergreen Health Care
Center and Johnson Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care during
his last days. Funeral services will be held at the Leete-Stevens
Enfield Chapels, 61 South Rd., on Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m. Burial
will private. Relatives and friends may call on the family, Thursday
evening from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. A Masonic Service will be
held on Thursday evening at 6:30. Memorial contributions in Bob's
memory may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 516 Carew
Street, Springfield, CT. 01104. For directions or to leave an online
expression of sympathy, please visit: www.leeteste vens.com.
Back
Published in the Hartford Courant on 6/20/20
Howard Corey: Passed away October 21, 2020. Click here for memorial.
Rocky Coxx: Roland Miclette, 80, of Vernon, died May 6, 2004.
Roland "Rocky" Miclette had two identities, two lives that rarely intersected. By day, he worked at a company that made parachutes for the military, where he printed brochures and sales material.
In the evenings and on weekends, he was Rocky Coxx, part of the Cowboy Caravan, a country-and-western band that played Lake Compounce, fairgrounds, clubs and just about any place that enjoyed toe-tapping, passionate thigh-slapping music. Rocky played bass and sang. His older brother Gerard Miclette, known professionally as Slim Coxx, was the band leader and played fiddle.
The brothers apparently inherited their musical skills from their father, George Miclette of Vermont, a self-taught fiddler. His lively jigs and intricate foot-tapping rhythms have been copied, but never duplicated, by his three sons, six grandsons and one great- grandson, all musicians.
George Miclette worked in many of the New Deal programs formed to combat unemployment, and after his wife died, their younger children went to live with relatives.
Rocky moved in with Slim but joined the Navy in his late teens. He served four years, mostly in the Pacific, where he was part of the Leyte Gulf assault and the battle of the Coral Sea. After his discharge, he returned to Vermont and joined Slim's band, the Kentucky Ramblers. The group played at barn dances, fairs, parades and over the local radio station. They sometimes had gigs in movie theaters on Saturday afternoons before the picture shows began.
The Ramblers' growing reputation became known to the Down Homers, a nationally popular country-and-western band that at one time featured Bill Haley, who later performed with the Comets, and Kenny Roberts, known as "the king of the yodelers."
The brothers were offered a job with the Down Homers, but they were reluctant to leave Vermont and move to Connecticut.
Never thinking the band would meet their demands, the brothers asked for the ridiculous sum of $200 a week in wages.
"They said OK, which is how Slim and Rocky got down to Connecticut," said Rocky Miclette Jr., who lives in Delaware.
The Down Homers appeared on popular television shows, including the "Ted Mack Amateur Hour," the Arthur Godfrey show and at Madison Square Garden in New York. They also broadcast coast-to-coast on WTIC radio. The Miclette brothers worked by day, and their alter egos, the Coxx brothers, played music on weekends.
By the late '40s, the Down Homers had dissolved, and the brothers were playing Lake Compounce every Sunday afternoon and evening in Slim's band, the Cowboy Caravan. As Slim's five sons grew, they joined the band, as did Rocky Jr. and the Miclettes' brother Maurice.
At that time, "The Lake" was a homey, friendly place; concerts were free, and families could spend all day listening to music, swimming and watching children play. Sometimes local bands would appear with the Coxx brothers, and new Nashville groups would gain practice playing the amusement park.
"It was a great time in our lives," said Paul Miclette, Slim's oldest son, who, like his four brothers, is a musician. "We enjoyed it immensely." The band also played hundreds of gigs in small towns across Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts: American Legion halls, Granges and band shells on town greens. They met notables in the entertainment world, including Hank Williams Jr., Danny Kaye and George Jones.
Rocky and his brothers were self-taught and could not read music. They listened, they improvised, they composed and above all, they performed.
"Slim was like a Bob Hope," said Rocky Miclette Jr. "He was the consummate entertainer. Nothing could ruffle him." Rocky and the band performed old favorites: "Your Cheatin' Heart," "The Key Is in the Mailbox" and "Orange Blossom," an instrumental.
At one of the early Vermont concerts, Rocky began talking to a fan, Terry Viens, whom he later married. Rocky was tall, blue-eyed, good-natured and told corny jokes. When he played, he wore a Western shirt, cowboy boots, a string tie and a Stetson.
"I
inherited
his silliness, his klutziness, his love of junk food and, thank God,
his metabolism," said his daughter, Dee Sweeney. She also
absorbed her dad's motto: "Humor is the key to getting through life.
"Terry Viens Miclette died in 1997, and besides their two children, Rocky Miclette is survived by his second wife, Carlene Martin Miclette, and five grandchildren. One grandson, Travis Sweeney, 17, is carrying on the family tradition with a band called Escape Generation. He has hopes to be a rock star.
In 1998, Slim and Rocky were inducted into the Connecticut and the New England Country Music Hall of Fame. They played their signature song, "Golly, Gosh, Oh Gee," which they composed.
Slim died in 1999, after the brothers had played together for almost 60 years. The younger generation -- Slim's five sons and Rocky Jr. -- hope to hire a hall and gather some of the old-timers for a concert in honor of the Coxx brothers.
"I'd
love to
see everybody playing," said Rocky Jr. Back
By
Anne M. Hamilton, Special to the Hartford Courant May 30. 2004.
Slim Coxx: Gerard A. Miclette was a Downhomer under this stage name, and he continued to sing until the day he died. He entertained at Lake Compounce for over 37 years without missing one Sunday. He attended the 1999 WTIC Alumni Reunion On October 2 and announced proudly that he was still running the Manchester Driving Academy at age 84. On October 13 he passed away at Hartford Hospital. Back
Joe
Crowley: Joseph F. Crowley, 83, of New Britain, died
Thursday Night (Sept. 17, 2020) at his home. Born January 7, 1937 to
Joseph A, and Anna Reynolds Crowley in New Britain. He attended St.
Thomas Seminary, graduated from New Britain Senior High School and
attended Georgetown University and the University of Hartford. He
served as a New Britain police officer before joining the Hartford
Times where he was a crime and court reporter. He later joined the
staff of WTIC Radio and TV where he served as an on-air reporter,
writer and news producer. During that time, he covered every major
crime story and criminal trial in Connecticut and New England. He also
served as a guest instructor at the Connecticut Municipal Police
Training Academy in Meriden, Ct. Following that, he served as director
of the Public Information Office of the Connecticut State Police and as
executive assistant to the state police commissioner. He found time to
return to New Britain and assist in training and supervising an
auxiliary police unit that included a volunteer police rescue squad
that won several awards and state-wide competitions. He closed his
career as the director of Public Affairs at New Britain General
Hospital. He served on the parish councils of the churches he attended.
He called himself the "oldest alter boy" and lastly served as a
Eucharistic Minister at St Katherine Drexel Parish. Joseph is survived
by his wife Elizabeth (Wolny) Crowley; his children, Kevin Crowley and
his wife Lisa, Thomas Crowley and his wife Jackie, Maureen Bracco,
Timothy Crowley and his wife Lauren, Christine Youmans and her husband
Erik, John Crowley, and Kathleen Tartt and her husband Jason, his
grandchildren, who were his world, Samantha Colangelo, Tyler and Andrew
Crowley, Christopher and Alex Bracco, and Adam, Ayyub, Bilal, Safiyyah
and Ibrahim Tartt and his great grandson, Calvin Bracco. He also leaves
his sisters Joanne Casey and husband Gerald and MaryEllen Kindelan and
husband Davey and many nieces and nephews. He had many friends that
were important to him, especially Mary and Frank Rich. Family and
friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial Friday (Sept. 25,
2020) at 10:00 AM at Saint Katharine Drexel Parish (St. Jerome Church)
1010 Slater Road New Britain. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's
Cemetery, Bristol. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be sent Saint Katharine Parish 1010 Slater Rd. New
Britain, CT 06053 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 20
Batterson Park Rd. Farmington, CT 06032. To send a condolence, please
visit www.FarrellFuneralHome.com.
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in The New Britain Herald on Sep. 22, 2020. Back
Denise D'Ascenzo: WFSB-TV Newscaster. Honorary Member of WTIC Alumni. Click Here for More Info
Arnold Dean: Arnold D'Angelo," passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, (December 8, 2012). Arnold was 82. Born in Cortland, NY to Frank and Mary D'Angelo, Arnold graduated from Syracuse University after his radio career had already started. He began broadcasting in 1948 at age 18 at WKRT and later at WHEN in Upstate NY. Arnold moved to WTIC in Hartford in 1965, his dream job. Arnold's broadcasting career spanned over 60 years in both radio and television and he covered virtually every format, including news, sports (sports broadcasts for: The Greater Hartford Open (40+ years); The Hartford Whalers; UCONN Basketball & Football; The Hartford Knights and others), children's shows (The Ranger Andy Show), big band music (Sunday Showcase, The Plaza Show, The Dean's List), and finally as the beloved "Dean of Sports" (Talk) at WTIC radio for over 30 years. Along the way, Arnold was awarded, and/or inducted into, the Sportscasters Hall of Fame, Connecticut's Sportscaster of the Year (repeatedly) and also recognized for many exceptional broadcasts by the National Sportscasters - Sportswriters Assoc. Arnold was associated with several charities and tirelessly assisted The Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and The Nutmeg State Games. He also generously gave his time to various local sports organizations and charitable work, including the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame and the Middletown Sports Charity Dinner. Arnold, who was well known in the region as "The Dean of Sports" to his fans, will be greatly missed by his many listeners, but most of all by his family. Arnold was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a role model on how to live life. He leaves behind his children Arnold, Jr. Mary Rondini, and Richard, daughters-in-law Dena and Carol; and grandchildren Anthony Rondini, Jenna, Nicole, Samantha and Nicholas. Arnold tenderly cared for his wife Helen, who passed away in 2011, after her struggle with cancer. Arnold lost his brother Bob and sister Anita Corrente earlier in life.
Larry deBear:
Larrye deBear of Cromwell, has retired for the seventh time, this time from life, on April 2, 2023.
Born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, son of Edward and Augusta deBear, and a graduate of Northwestern University,
he had retired previously from WFSB-TV after 17 years as a broadcast journalist,
from Connecticut state government after 12 years as press secretary to Governors Ella T. Grasso and William A. O'Neill,
from Northeast Utilities where he worked for nine years in corporate communications, from the Rocky Hill Town Council after four terms,
as Chairman of the Rocky Hill Economic Development Commission after two terms,
and as a realtor in Old Lyme and Greater Hartford. While a resident of Old Lyme,
he served for six years as chairman of the town's Economic Development Commission.
As a resident of Rocky Hill, he was a member of the Rocky Hill Democratic Town Committee and the Rocky Hill Chamber of Commerce.
He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife Carol (on March 22, 2020) after 33 years of marriage.
He is survived by four children: David deBear of Mullica Hill, New Jersey and his spouse Mary Lynn McKenzie,
Joanna deBear of Cheshire and her husband David Hajdasz, Marye Ellen Valentine of Walnut Creek, California,
and Peter deBear of New Gloucester, Maine, and his wife Misty; two stepdaughters: Mary Woods of Newington and her husband Stephen,
and Nancy Guerrera of Rocky Hill and her husband Antonio; twelve grandchildren and step grandchildren,
and five great grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his stepdaughter, Jacquelyn Peterson of West Hartford.
He will be laid to rest privately beside Carol in the Church of Christ, Congregational Memorial Garden, Newington.
There will be no calling hours. Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington,
is serving his family. To share your sympathy, please visit us at www.duksa.net.
Please celebrate Larrye and his amazing life as you see fit.
Published by Hartford Courant on Apr. 9, 2023.
Dennis House Blog Comment about Larrye's Passing
Back
DELANEY,
Linda-Lu (Lawton):
Linda-Lu Delaney (Lawton), 70, of South Windsor, died Saturday (May 17,
2008) at Hartford Hospital. She is survived by her husband of 36 years,
J. Douglas Delaney. She lived in the Hartford area for 50 years and
resided in South Windsor for the past 32 years. Linda-Lu retired from
the law firm of Day, Berry and Howard. Born in Chester, WV, on August
29, 1937, the daughter of the late Frank Y. and Virginia B. Lawton, she
is survived by a sister, Lenna Lockhart, of East Liverpool, OH, and
brothers Thomas and Joseph Lawton, of Chester, WV. A brother, David
Lawton, predeceased her. The family expresses its deepest gratitude to
the Hartford Hospital Transplant and Bliss 7 East Intensive Care units
for their dedicated care throughout the years and in Linda-Lu's final
days. A memorial service and burial will be held in West Virginia. In
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the
PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation.
From the Hartford
Courant. Back
John F. DeLisa: John retired from WTIC in 1971 after 44 years with the station. He was Supervisor of Recorded Commercials. He passed away September 30, 2000 at age 87. Back
Ed Derry: TV construction and maintenance. Died June 5, 1992. Back
Harold Dorschug: Harold A. Dorschug was Chief Engineer for WTIC AM FM TV3, then vice president of Engineering Research and Development. After he retired in 1978, he moved from West Hartford to Cape Cod. He passed away at age 86 on September 13, 1999 in Cape Cod Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Buzzard's Bay MA. He served in the Navy during World War II and was an avid Amateur radio operator, earning W8AST at age 16. He became W1AST. He was one of the two engineers on duty in Master Control the night of Orson Welles' famous 1938 broadcast of "The War of the Worlds", and was a member of the first CBS television remote crew. Back
DOUGHTY,
Leonard A.
Leonard A. Doughty, passed quietly away at home on October 24, 2009. He
was the son of the late Elsie May Coppen and Everett Doughty, born and
raised in West Hartford. Radio and television were the theme of his
life. In 1930, at age 12, he received his amateur radio operating
license, a nationwide record of the youngest to do so. His call letters
were W1GZC. He retired from Travelers Broadcasting Co. where he was in
charge of the radio and TV transmitting equipment on Avon Mountain. In
the early days of television, he made a TV set from component parts to
his own design. It was a central point for the neighbors to gather to
watch the Wednesday night fights. As an avid fisherman, he flawlessly
tied flies; many to his own patterns. He would walk miles to fish a
small stream overgrown with bushes for brook trout. Besides fishing, he
studied astronomy and viewed the heavens through a home-made four-inch
refracting telescope with an astronomical mount. Photography was
another accomplished past time of his. After waiting many years he
married his childhood sweetheart, Pearl J. Woran. Mr. Doughty is
survived by his wife Pearl; four stepdaughters, Judy Deegan of Florida,
Jean McNeil of Massachusetts, Joyce Thomas of Middletown, CT, Essie and
Ronnie Clifton of Wyoming; and six grandchildren. He also leaves a
brother, Robert; a nephew, Richard; a niece, Adrian; and a grandnephew
and grandniece, all of West Hartford. Mr. Doughty will be deeply missed
by all who knew and loved him. A funeral service will be at Fairview
Cemetery, West Hartford, on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 11 a.m. There
are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the
charity of donor's choice.
<According
to Len's nephew Stephen there are apparently errors in the obituary.
Stephen was not mentioned, and all the children mentioned are
step-children.>
Taylor
& Modeen Funeral Home, West
Hartford has care of arrangements. Back
Published in
Hartford
Courant on October 28, 2009
Robert
M.
Downes,
"Downsey": There is a very
understated obituary in the Hartford Courant this morning, one that
outlines the life of a
great man, but fails to add detail. I am not finding fault with the
approach, I praise it
as typical of the family from which it came, a reflection of the man
himself.
Bob Downes was never one to blow his own horn, never one to
call attention to
himself. For his entire life, forty four years of which were devoted to
maintaining the
quality of the reputation of WTIC Radio, Bob Downes deflected attention
and credit to
others.
Bob was there to allay my fears that first morning at WTIC
as I found myself thrust
into the middle of the most prominent radio show in New England
history. He was the
mainstay behind the Bob Steele Show.
He was the man at the controls for most of the Steele years,
right up to the final
sign-off of the show in its original form. Every morning during the
legendary run of that
great program the name of Bob Downes was heard by the hundreds of
thousands of listeners
who regularly tuned in for the word for the day, the weather around the
world and the
corny jokes, but Bob Downes's voice was never heard.
It was never his way, he was unique to this business,
without ego. He never wanted
the spotlight, he just kept it shining on others. Almost as much as
Steele himself, Bob
Downes was the driving force behind that show. Known by many simply as
"Downsey", I could rarely bring myself to call him anything but Bob,
out of
respect for the man, a respect I felt from the moment I met him, a
respect he never asked
for but always quietly commanded.
It can accurately be said that one never really worked at
WTIC unless they worked
with Bob Downes. He was everything the reputation of this radio station
was built on.
Class and dignity, trust and respect, a quiet, workmanlike approach to
the job, a day to
day determination that the job would be done at its highest level and
the audience would
be served as it is our responsibility to serve it.
In retirement Bob retreated from the spotlight he avoided
during his career and
quietly lived out his life with his wife Ann and a loving family. To
meet him during his
career you would never know he was one of the most respected and
influential people in
Connecticut radio, in retirement he preferred that few were aware of
the stature he once
held.
He was a constant, there at his post in the Bob Steele
control room every morning,
flawlessly performing the awesome duty of bringing the region's largest
audience it's most
important program, perhaps the closest friend in the business Steele
himself ever had, a
man Steele certainly trusted more than any other.
Bob Downes passed away yesterday morning (July 26, 2001)
following a long illness.
He was eighty one years old. He was WTIC Radio, as much as anyone the
reason the station
attained it's great standing. He's a man I loved, and will continue to
love, dearly.
(Scott Gray Commentary, July 27, 2001) Back
Gladys
Schwab
Drew:
Gladys
(Schwab) Drew died at Avery Heights, Hartford, on Friday (December 19,
2003). She and her late husband, Dr. Bernard T. Drew were married for
64 years. Her parents, Miriam Knies Schwab and the Rev. Benjamin T.
Schwab, were missionaries in Tokyo, Japan, where Mrs. Drew was born on
October 2, 1914. Her family moved back to the United States when she
was 5 1/2 years old. She graduated from high school in Pierre, SD when
she was 16 years old and went on to graduate from Yankton College in
South Dakota, where she was Executive Secretary to the Dean and
Registrar. After graduation she worked at Chicago Theological Seminary
where she met her husband. They were married on June 27, 1937 in Sioux
Rapids, IA. As a minister's wife, Mrs. Drew was very active in church
and volunteer work, tutoring and clubs. She was also involved in
parent-teacher organizations and functions of the private schools
attended by her children. She worked for Frank Atwood of WTIC Radio and
was Executive Secretary to Dr. Vincent B. Coffin, the first Chancellor
of the University of Hartford. She also worked at Connecticut General
Life Insurance Company (CIGNA), retiring in 1976. She was a member of
the College Club of Hartford as well as the Asylum Hill Congregational
Church of which her husband was Senior Minister for 24 years, from
1949-1973. Mrs. Drew is survived by two children, Linda Jo Shaw of New
Market, NH, and Richard A. Drew and his wife, Sandra of Hillsborough,
CA. She also leaves five grandchildren, J. Christopher Drew and wife
Kimberley Kiesewetter of San Francisco, CA; Robert T. Drew and wife
Jeanise Eisenman of Windsor, CA; Benjamin T. Drew and wife Erin Roeder
of Concord, CA, Kimberly Varney and husband Nathan of York, ME, and
David M. Shaw of Somerville, MA. She had five great grandchildren. She
is also survived by two brothers, Dwight L. Schwab and his wife Ann of
Vancouver, WA and Galen P. Schwab and his wife Maxine of Stockton, CA.
A brother, Ward W. Schwab; and a sister, Dorothy K. Johnson predeceased
her. A memorial service will be held at Asylum Hill Congregational
Church, 814 Asylum Avenue at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 7. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Asylum Hill
Congregational Church, Hartford, CT 06105 for the maintenance of Drew
Hall. The James T. Pratt Funeral Service in Wethersfield is serving the
family.
Published in the
Hartford Courant on 12/26/2003.
Back
Robert
F. Dwyer: Robert
F. Dwyer of Vernon, beloved husband of the late Arlene B. Dwyer entered
into eternity Friday, March 11, 2011. He was born August 5, 1924 in
Providence, RI to the late William and Ellen “Nell” Dwyer. His
introduction into a photo journalism career began with his enlistment
in the United States Army in October 1941. Bob served his country
proudly October 1941 through December 1946 in WWII on the European and
Pacific Theaters. After the war ended, he remained in service in
Germany until 1956. He returned to the U.S. with his wife and son in
1956 and separated from the U.S. Army in November 1957. He reenlisted
in the Connecticut Army National Guard from August 1962 through May
1963. In September 1965, while employed with then WTIC-TV, he
photographed the Vietnam War. Bob received many photographic awards
including the NPPA Burt Williams Award for his filming of the 1962
Hartford Hospital fire. Bob believed the greatest reward in his career
was after being inspired by his coverage of the civilian plight in the
Central Highlands of Vietnam, WTIC started a campaign drive to help.
WTIC's "Baby Bundles" campaign sent thousands of supplies to affected
areas and eventually led to building a hospital in An Khe. Bob’s
dedication to veterans included his position as the past commander of
Anderson-Shea VFW Post 2046, Past Commander of Varca-Lechausse DAV
Chapter 17, Past Chief of Staff, Connecticut State Department DAV
serving under the late Elwood Lechausse 1999-2000 and most recently the
Manchester Veterans Council. Bob enjoyed his exciting career, it led
him to photograph many celebrities, politicians and cover the news with
Gayle King for ten years. In addition to his wife and parents, Bob is
predeceased by his son Michael, a brother William and his sister Helen.
He is survived by his niece Dru Shockley, many caring friends and two
special children Rebecca and Ben Hansen who will miss "Papa" dearly.
Services for Bob will be held Monday, March 28, 2011 at Holmes Funeral
Home 400 Main Street Manchester, starting with calling hours from 10-11
am followed by the Manchester DAV and VFW Ceremonies at 11 am. Burial
will follow with full military honors in St. Bernard's Cemetery,
Rockville. Memorial contributions in Bob's memory may be made to the
DAV or VFW, 608 East Center Street, Manchester, Ct. 06040, For
directions to the funeral home or to sign the online guest book please
visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com. Back
In
1955 expanded its operations on the sixth floor of the Travelers Tower
to
include a television station. Eaton became the television station's
first news director.
In 1973 when Channel 3 was sold, Eaton stayed on with the station's new
incarnation as
WFSB. "He felt there was more opportunity in television news than radio
news,"
said his son Howard of Newington. "He really believed that your TV
anchor should be a
journalist, a newsman."
Retired in 1985, Eaton worked as a consultant, helping to
set up stations in
Virginia and Florida. He had led his son Robert into the business. "I
wound up
working as a runner at WTIC television in high school. There wasn't
much of a shot of
avoiding the career," said Robert, now senior vice president and
managing editor of
ESPN.
Eaton is survived by his wife Jenna. His first wife, Roberta
Eaton, lives in
Wethersfield. His daughter, Janet Walker, lives in North Carolina.Back
George Ehrlich: The epitome of the traditional Sports Director, that's how I describe George Ehrlich. Announcers including Bob Arel, Arnold Dean, Don Robertson, Floyd Richards and certainly others worked with George doing color for his sports coverage. I remember he was bitter that he had no input to sports programming decisions. He left WTIC while we were in the Gold Building and went with WINF in Manchester. He continued doing a sports talk show there and also did play-by-play for the Univ. of Hartford Hawks basketball team -- ALL of whom attended his funeral. Dee Rowe gave the eulogy, by the way, and it was so moving that Bill Hennessey wrote to him asking for a transcript. But Dee responded that he had ad-libbed the whole thing! (It was so touching that the full-house of mourners was brought to awestruck attention.) George passed away probably in the late 1970s. Back
Bob Ellsworth: Click Here
John
Erikson: John
Henry Erikson passed away November 27, 2010 in Roswell, Ga., at the age
of
74. He had a lifelong passion for weather, the study of complex
systems, the writing of Kurt Vonnegut, and many types of music.
Born
March 2, 1934, Mr. Erikson graduated from New York University in 1957
with a BA in Meteorology. He served in the United States Air Force as a
meteorologist from 1957 to 1963, leaving as a 1st Lieutenant. Mr.
Erikson then worked for many years as a meteorologist with the
Travelers' Weather Service in Hartford, Conn. His children eagerly
awaited his appearances on television, as he used radar to track
Santa's progress from the North Pole. After retiring from the Weather
Service in 1984, he returned to his family home in Rye, where he lived
until recently.
He
is survived by his former wife, Ann Erikson of Marlborough, Conn.; son
John M. Erikson and wife Jan of Tolland, Conn.; son Lawrence C. Erikson
of Marlborough, Conn.; daughter Keelin M. Erikson of Hartford, Conn.;
daughter Julie Ann White and husband Derrell of Alpharetta, Ga.; son
Thomas G. Erikson and wife Aimee of Marlborough, Conn.; fourteen
grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Mr. Erikson was predeceased by
his mother, Alice Bird Erikson, a lifelong resident of Rye, and father
Carl John Erikson of Brooklyn. Donations
may be made in his name to the Salvation Army. A
memorial service to celebrate Mr. Erikson's life will be held at
Christ's Church December 13 at 1 p.m. A reception will follow
immediately. For more information, please contact Doug Carey at
967-1139. Back
John Ferguson:
Dear
John,
You
were born May 7, 1929, in Southbridge, Massachusetts, to John and Hilda
(Fuller) Ferguson. You passed away at home Oct. 5, 2018 (your
daughter's birthday). You married Jane Lockwood June 17, 1950, in East
Norwalk. We had four children: Jack (Susan), Jill (deceased), Jay
(Dana), and Jerry; three grandchildren: Curtis (Laura), Matt (Sarah),
and Sara Meyer (Nicholas); two great-grandchildren, Miles and Aaron.
Your extended family includes the Hanson family and the Coderre nephews
and their families.
We
will all miss you - a kind and gentle man.
Love
from all,
Your
wife, Jane
There
will be no calling hours and burial will be private.
Memorial
gifts may be made to the Friends of South Windsor Public Library, 1550
Sullivan Ave., South Windsor, CT 06074.
Published
in Journal Inquirer from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, 2018 Back
Ken Garee:
Kenneth C. Garee, 85, of Ashford CT, passed away Monday, November 14, 2022. He was born and raised in Williamsport, PA, the son of the late John and Hope (Donnelly) Garee. Ken attended Penn State and received his degree in meteorology in 1960. He served as a research meteorologist in the US Army from 1962 to 1964 at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM. He then moved to Connecticut and worked at the Travelers Weather Service, forecasting and reporting the weather on WTIC radio and Channel 3 WFSB. He was a proud member of the American Meteorological Society. After his career in meteorology, Ken returned to school to learn computer programming and was employed by the Travelers Insurance Company until retirement. Ken was a member of the Freemasons, American Legion, and was active in the Lake Chaffee Association and the Town of Ashford, where he lived for 35 years. He attended the Westford Congregational Church. He enjoyed sports, especially college football and basketball. Ken enjoyed working on his home, and was always tinkering on a variety of projects. He enjoyed observing nature from his home on Lake Chaffee. There were always fun and engaging discussions of all things weather related. Ken was a kind man, very sharp, and always quick with humor, no matter what the circumstances. He adored his grandsons and was very proud of them. He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Labrencis, daughter and son in law, Karen and Richard Layman, and grandsons Nathan and Ryan Layman. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, Jeanne Rachal, Allen Garee and Muriel Garee Corrado. Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family from 10 to 11 AM with a prayer service following at 11 AM on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Rd. (Rte. 195) Tolland, CT. Burial will follow at Westford Hill Cemetery in Ashford CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ashford Volunteer Fire Dept, PO Box 1, Ashford, CT 06278. For online condolences please visit: www.pietrasfuneralhome.com
Back
Jane M. Giarrosso:,
75, of Port Richey,
passed away November 16, 2003 at Regional Medical Center at Bayonet
Point Hospital in Hudson. She was born in Hartford, Conn. and had been
in Florida since 1992, when she moved from Syracuse, N.Y. She was a
retired office manager in Radio and Television. She was of the Catholic
faith. She was a member of Magnolia Valley Golf Club in New Port
Richey. She is survived by a daughter, Marna Bergmann of Glastonbury,
Conn.; five grandchildren; and eight stepchildren in Syracuse, N.Y.
National Cremation Society.
Published
in
the TBO.com on
11/18/2003 from the Tampa Tribune
Back
Paul Gionfriddo: Paul
J. Gionfriddo 84, of Boynton Beach Florida, formally of Wethersfield,
Ct. passed away on April 2,2018. Born to Giuseppe and Concetta
(Buccheri) Gionfriddo in Hartford Ct. Upon graduating from Wethersfield
High School he went on to the University of Connecticut where he began
his career in broadcasting. After college he joined the Army where he
served in Europe then when honorably discharged he was determined to
make radio and the emerging television his career. Paul quickly found a
job at WNBC-TV the new channel 30 in West Hartford. He went on to
become a radio producer at WTIC in Hartford. Eventually moved to
Hollywood California where he became a columnist then went on to motion
pictures as a writer. Later he moved to Florida where he was hired by
the States Department of Labor as a counselor for "Project
Independence" until his retirement in 1999. He is survived by sons
Jeffrey Gionfriddo, his wife Carol-Ann of Port St. Lucie Florida, Kevin
Gionfriddo of California, grandsons Anthony and Nicholas of
Connecticut. Predeceased by his parents, brother Sal A.Gregg and
daughter Kimberly Gionfriddo. Burial will take place on Monday April 9,
2018 at the South Florida National Cemetery with full military honors
in Lake Worth Florida. Back
Donald Gorman:
Donald L. Gorman, 87, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of 62 years to
Mary (Moroney) Gorman, passed away peacefully Friday (February 4, 2011)
with his family by his side. Born December 21, 1923, and raised in
Hartford, he was the son of the late William & Beatrice (Callahan)
Gorman. Don graduated from Weaver High School in 1942 where he pitched
for the school baseball team. Upon graduation, he joined the US Army,
serving during WWII in China and India. He attended Ohio
University, graduating in 1949 with a degree with honors in Journalism.
Don and his new wife moved to Hartford, where Don worked for WTIC as a
news editor. In 1954 he and his wife established the Yankee Flyer, a
weekly advertising newspaper in the Bloomfield, Simsbury, and
Farmington areas. It has remained family owned and operated for over a
half century. He was a member and past president of the Simsbury
Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Wethersfield Country
Club for over forty years. Second to his family, Don had a passion for
golf and Dixieland music. He was fond of saying he only played golf on
days that ended in "d-a-y." Along with his wife Mary, Don will be
fondly remembered by his loving family, son and daughter-in-law, Matt
and Lorri Gorman, of Pelham, NY; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and
Rick Hughto, of Wellesley, MA; sister Rita Connelly, of Glastonbury;
nine adoring grandchildren, Mary Kate, Bill, Annie, and Jimmy Hughto,
Katie, Bobby, Mickey, Kelly, and Trish Gorman; many nieces and nephews;
and not to be forgotten, his second family at the Yankee Flyer. Mass of
Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 9 at 10 a.m. at
the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St. Wethersfield. Interment
will follow in Village Cemetery, Marsh St., Old Wethersfield. The
family will receive friends and relatives at the Farley-Sullivan
Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield,. Tuesday, February 8, 2011
from 5-8 p.m. To extend online expressions of sympathy, or for further
information, please visit farleysullivan.com. Back
Edward J. Gracyalny:
Edward J. Gracyalny, 81, of Manchester, beloved
husband for 57 years of Anne-Louise (Mello) Gracyalny died on Friday
(September 1, 2006.) He was born on April 29, 1925 in Warren, RI son of
the late John and Julia (Bartosewitz) Gracyalny. He graduated in 1942
from LaSalle Academy in Providence and attended Capitol Radio Institute
in Washington, D.C. and earned his television engineer license. He was
a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Army in Europe. He
worked as a television engineer at WJAR in Providence and then for 29
years at WTIC (WFSB) in Hartford until his retirement in 1986. In
addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children; Anne E.
Green and her husband Bill Green Jr. of Vernon, Mary L. Gracyalny of
Manchester, and John C. Gracyalny of Brookdale, CA. He is also survived
by his grandson, Paul Callen of Pinellas Park, FL and his aunt,
Wilhelmina Camara of Manchester. Ed was an avid reader and gardener who
loved to share with his family and friends the flowers, vegetables, and
fruits of his gardens and orchard. He enjoyed traveling with his wife
especially the many cruises they shared over the past several years. A
memorial Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate his life will be held on
Saturday, September 9 at 11 a.m. at St. James Church, 896 Main St,
Manchester. The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester has care of
arrangements. The family requests no flowers. Memorial donations maybe
made to the Protectors of Animals, Inc., PO Box 24, South Glastonbury,
CT 06073.
Published
in
The Hartford Courant 9/3/2006.
Back
Jack Guckin: John R. “Jack” Guckin was one of the most prolific and creative directors at Channel 3. Jack was born September 16th, 1930 in New Haven. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1953 with a degree in English. It was his involvement with the campus radio station while at UConn that charted his career course. Jack headed for New York where he did commercial film editing and camera work at WPIX.
In June of 1957 Jack married Lois, his beloved wife of more than 30 years. When he heard that Channel 3 in Hartford was about to go on the air he applied for a job as cameraman, knowing that he would have the opportunity to grow with the new station. Within a short time he became a director, which allowed his creativity to flourish. He directed the “Saturday Dance Party” hosted by Brad Davis as well as the major newscasts and, of course, “The Ranger Andy Show.”
However, it was as the director of “Perception” with Dick Bertel that his considerable talent really had a chance to shine. He wrote and produced, among other shows, “The Story of Benedict Arnold”, a drama which included not only uniformed members of the Governor’s Horse Guard but an actual horse, on whose back rode an actor portraying the infamous Arnold shouting “Charge.”.
Jack was behind the camera again in the early ‘60s for live coverage of the Yale – Harvard Regatta, this time from a helicopter, a highly innovative technical achievement for the time.
He worked closely with producer Dick Ahles and reporter John Sablon on the documentary series “What’s Happening”, probing into stories designed to challenge the status quo of news reporting in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.
Jack continued to work for Channel 3 until his retirement in June, 1988. He looked forward to finally using his talent and experience on a free lance basis. Sadly, six weeks later, while directing a movie in Boston, Jack suffered a fatal heart attack.
Jack loved
the music of New
Orleans. At his funeral a jazz band played
the familiar dirges as hundreds of mourners paid their final respects.
Then, one by one, his friends shared precious memories of their good
friend. . When they were finished, the band, in celebration of Jack’s
life, broke into a rousing rendition of “When the Saints go Marching
In”. Jack would have loved it.
Courtesy of Dick Bertel Back
Jerry
Haber:
. Gerald
"Jerry" Raymond Haber, 76, of New Britain, passed away March 11, 2011
at New Britain General Hospital. Jerry was born in New Haven, CT on
June 9, 1934, son of the late Mark and Irene Bernstein Haber.
Prior
to Jerry's retirement, he worked at United Technologies, Pratt &
Whitney & Sikorsky Aircraft as a Photographer/Audio Visual
Marketing Technologist; and prior to UTC he worked at Channel 3 in
Hartford, as a film editor and on air projectionist. Jerry created and
was director of the 16mm Cinema Club at WTIC and entertained such film
greats as Frederic March, Mel Torme, Dennis Morgan, Katherine Hepburn,
Ruby Keeler, and many others. Jerry was a film historian who collected
16mm silent and black and white movies from the 20's through the 40's,
posters, press books, magazines and film memorabilia.
Jerry
was a member of the Syracuse Film Festival, The Motion Picture
Association, and the Sons of the Desert (Laurel & Hardy Club).
Surviving
family is his daughter Natalie Irene Haber of Bloomfield, CT, his
brother Andrew Haber of Atlanta, GA, his dear friend Penny Broberg of
Glouster, MA and his former wife and friend Grace Winnick Williams. He
also leaves cousins, other relatives and dear friends. Jerry was
predeceased by his son, Gary Stuart Haber of Sunnyvale, CA.
Graveside
services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15 at Temple Beth Torah
Memorial Park, Jordan Lane Ext. off the Berlin Turnpike in
Wethersfield. Memorial donations may be made to "Our Companions
Domestic Animal Sanctuary", P.O. Box 673 Bloomfield, CT 06002. For
online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
Published in The
Hartford Courant on March 14, 2011 Back
Bill
Hanson:
Western's Public Radio and
all of its
listeners lost a dear friend today, April 4, 2000. Bill Hanson died on
Tuesday at a
Bowling Green hospital following a long illness.
Although he was confined to the hospital, his
popular nightly program,
MOONLIGHT SERENADE, continued on tape to be a favorite with listeners
throughout the
region. Bill Hanson was indeed a broadcasting professional. His career
began in 1951 as an
NBC page in New York City. There he used his wonderful voice and the
guidance of NBC
professionals to develop his style.
In his career, Bill worked in Boston, Massachusetts as the
host of the American
Airlines classic MUSIC THROUGH THE NIGHT. In the mid-1960's, he joined
the staff of WTIC
radio and television in Hartford, Connecticut. There he hosted numerous
radio programs and
served as a television news anchor. In the late 70's, Bill moved to the
NBC television
affiliate in the Hartford market as a news anchor. His career then led
him to Washington,
DC where he spent a number of years as an international program host
for the Voice of
America. He retired from VOA in 1990 and joined the WKYU-FM staff that
August, bringing
with him a style and voice that quickly earned him and his MOONLIGHT
SERENADE a very
special part of our service.
In March of 1999, as he was celebrating his 72nd year, Bill
decided to retire from
fulltime announcing once more, but stayed on in a part-time capacity to
produce and host
MOONLIGHT SERENADE. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time,
but we are sure you
join all of our public broadcasting staff and our Western Kentucky
University family in
extending our most profound sympathy to Bill's wife, Shirley, his
daughter Paula, sons
Mark and Greg, and his family. Bill Hanson brought a very special
something to not only
Kentuckians, but listeners around the world. (From Dave Wilkinson)
Back
William Haskell
COLEBROOK - (Published around 12/15/2022) William Haskell, of Pondwood Farm, passed away recently at age 89 at his home with his loved ones at his side.
William was born and raised in Bradford, Pa., and Stamford. He attended The Kent School (Kent, Conn.) and Mercersburg Academy (Pa.).
He earned his B.A. at Yale and his M.S. at the Columbia University School of Journalism. William took a leave of absence from Yale to serve
three years with the Green Berets (77th Special Forces), U.S. Army Airborne.
William was a man of letters and loved reading, mostly nonfiction (he devoured The New York Times every single day and would regularly
consult the Encyclopedia Brittanica). He loved words and writing and spent the majority of his journalism career writing for the
Torrington Register, where he covered court proceedings and produced a popular weekly column Hill Country letter. Working at the Register
allowed him to maintain a bucolic lifestyle at his large property, Pondwood Farm, in North Colebrook.
Before working at the Register, he worked for newspapers from New Zealand to Nantucket, with stints in broadcast news at WTIC in Hartford
and in Manhattan for news units of CBS, NBC, ABC. He preferred print journalism and one of his favorite assignments was for Science magazine,
who deployed him to Antarctica to cover a story.
His favorite pastime after retirement was cutting firewood and sitting on the terrace overlooking the pond where he could
observe nature unfolding before his keen eyes.
William was a fan of wildlife and nature, and especially a fan of crows and ravens that he raised and cared for.
He also enjoyed riding motorcycles, hunting, and traveling the world.
William Haskell is survived by his loving partner, Marcia Evans, and his loving children, Anne and Ben Haskell,
Ben’s wife Jill, and his four grandchildren Kate, Morgan, Adam and Laura.
A memorial service will be June 24 at the Church in the Wildwood, North Colebrook. Contact cowhaskies@gmail.com for information.
Donations are gratefully accepted at the nonprofit Aton Forest Inc., P.O. Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06098.
Back
Herman Heinze: Mr. Herman
D. Heinze of Wartburg, TN, formerly of
West Hartford, passed away peacefully Friday, (November 18, 2005) in
the Life Care Center of Morgan County. He was preceded in death by his
beloved wife, Betty Jane Heinze; parents, Hildegard and Herbert Heinze.
Survived by a brother, Bernhard Heinze of Ontario, Canada; a son,
Austin and wife Elaine S. Cooley of Houston, TX; as well as his dear
friends, Angela Brewster of Wartburg, Rhonda Biddle of Wartburg and
Faye Deaderick of Lancing. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the
Alzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated. Funeral services were
held Friday, November 18, 4 p.m. at Schubert Funeral Home, Wartburg, TN
with Rev. Clay Mulford officiating. You will be greatly missed, may he
rest in peace.
Published in the Hartford Courant
Back
Everett "Shorty Cook" Hinderer: Everett "Shorty Cook" Hinderer, 87, of Fort Wayne, owner/operator of Music Manor since 1959, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2002, at Hospice Home of Northeast Indiana.The Bremen native was founder/musician of Shorty Cook and The Downhomers. Surviving are his wife, Millie; a daughter, Karen Persen of Palm Springs, Calif.; stepdaughters Marilyn Daffron and Karen Sciriha, both of Taylor, Mich., and Barbara Jeffery of Fort Wayne; a son, Larry of Texarkana, Ark.; stepsons Robert Kirtley... Back
James Hopkins: James
E. Hopkins, 92, of Granby, husband of the late Mildred (Wallace)
Hopkins, died Friday, November 11, 2016 at Apple Rehab in Avon. He was
born April 6, 1924 in Hartford, son of the late William F. and Ruth
(Wisner) Hopkins. He served in the Navy during World War II, earning
several medals, including four battle stars for his service aboard the
USS Curtiss in the South Pacific. A graduate of Hamline University, he
received his Bachelors Degree after completing his military service. In
1956 he married Millie and the couple subsequently moved to Simsbury,
where they raised their four children. Jim and Millie were active
members of the community, serving on numerous Town boards and
commissions. For many years, Jim was a member of St. Mary's Church in
Simsbury and, more recently, St. Therese Church in Granby. An
advertising and public relations executive, Jim founded Hopkins &
Associates in 1971 and operated the firm until his retirement. He loved
the beach, especially the Connecticut shoreline. Having spent summers
growing up at Point O' Woods, Jim continued to enjoy visiting there
during his retirement, with his long-time companion, Phyllis MacMillan.
He is survived by his daughter, Kim Hennig of West Simsbury; his sons
Mark Hopkins of West Simsbury, Brett Hopkins and wife Teresa of
Clearwater, FL and Craig Hopkins and wife Monica of Newton, NC; his
grandchildren, Kyle Hennig of Simsbury, Kendra Potalivo and husband
Mike of Philadelphia, PA, Kelsey Darch of Hoboken, NJ, Darcy Mauke and
husband Chris of West Simsbury, Cori Hopkins of Essex, MA, Erin Hopkins
of Unionville and Jamie Hopkins of Newport Richie, FL; his great
grandchildren, Grace and Parker Mauke and Lily and Keira Hopkins as
well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his
brothers, William and Richard, his wife Millie, his companion Phyllis
MacMillan, his daughter-in-law Janice (Gilbert) Hopkins and his
granddaughter Paige Katherine Hopkins. Friends may call at the Vincent
Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Monday, November 14th
from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held
at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 15th at St. Mary's Church, 942
Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial with military honors will follow
in Simsbury Cemetery. Back
Published
in
The Hartford Courant on Aug. 5, 2009
Dr.
George
Marvel Howe: Bill Clede said:
Director
of the old
Traveler's Weather Service, George passed away February 12, 2003 of New
London, New Hampshire at age 77. He was
predeceased by his first
wife, Carolyn Rogers Howe, in 1966.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Janet W. Howe of Wilmot, NH;
daughter Sandra St.
George of Anchorage AK; stepson W. Ward Nipper III of Chicago IL;
stepdaughter Susan
Nipper of San Diego CA; and sister Ruth Howe Chamberlain of Vero Beach
FL.
George and I once discussed doing a packaged ski show,
features and ski reports
which we'd sell to other stations for them to inject their own local
host. Then Debra Kent
started doing the same thing on TV.. George left Travelers before
anything came to
fruition. He moved to Michigan, as I recall, then we lost track of him
until we saw his
obit in the Hartford Courant on 2/14/03. Back
Richard Huntley: Richard "Dick" Gordon Huntley, 89, of Wethersfield, CT, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 5th, 2014, with his family at his side. He was born on December 11th, 1924, in Boston to Ricarda (Christiansen) and Alfred V. Huntley Jr., grew up in Milton, MA, and went to Milton High School and Vermont Academy. He attended Dartmouth College and Brown University, from which he graduated with a BA degree in 1948. During World War II, he was on active service in the US Naval Reserve, then commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy, serving aboard the USS Salvager in 1946-47. Dick joined the staff of WBZ-TV Boston in 1949, where he directed some of the first telecasts of Boston Bruins games. He helped erect the first television broadcasting towers at WWOR-TV in Worcester, MA and at WCAX-TV in Burlington, VT. In 1957 he joined WTIC-TV (later WFSB) in Hartford, where he worked as Program Manager and Director of Production. In 1975, Dick formed his own company, Dick Huntley Video, and was one of the first independent producers to use the then-new mobile videotape cameras in the field. His producing work took him to far-flung places and he enjoyed shooting throughout Europe, South America and Asia. As a young man he was a member of the Sea Scouts and worked on Cape Cod, where he nurtured a passion for the ocean and all things nautical. Richard also loved the summers of his youth spent in Berlin, NH, exploring the White Mountains. With his family, he shared his passion for those special places and all outdoor activities, leading them on many hiking, skiing, and camping adventures throughout New England. An aficionado of sports cars, he competed in rally races in the 1950s and owned a variety of MGs, Porsches, and Renaults over the years. With his wife Sonia he enjoyed traveling throughout California, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and especially France. Richard shared his pleasure of knowledge freely and loved the Boston Red Sox, history, geography, polar exploration, literature, music, and games of all kinds. He taught English as a Second Language with the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford for 25 years, a cause close to his heart. He was a proud member of the Sons of Norway and traveled to Iceland to honor the reenactment of the Voyage of Long Ships. Richard is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sonia L. Huntley, his children, Dr. Richard Huntley, Jr. and his wife Joanne of Westport, Rebecca Huntley of East Hartland, Kristen Huntley of New York City, David Huntley and his wife Laura McGrath of Sudbury, MA, John Huntley and his wife Blakely of Southport, NC, and Mark Huntley of New York City, and their mother, Lynn (Davis) Huntley; his sister, Joan Rugani, of Marshfield, MA, and nine grandchildren, Matthew, Brett, Ryan, Peter, Megan, Olivia, Henry, Sadie, and Noah. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 19th at 11:00 am, with reception to follow, at the Wethersfield Historical Society's Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, 200 Main St., Wethersfield, CT. Donations in Richard's memory may be made to Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (http://lvgh.org/donate/). Back
Bernadine
Janco: Bernadine
B. Janco, 89, of South Windsor, beloved wife of the late Anthony S.
Janco, Sr., passed away peacefully on February 21, 2019 surrounded by
her loving family. She was born on August 10, 1929, in Eagle Lake,
Maine; daughter of the late Bernard and Cecile (Pinette) O'Brien.
Bernadine was a resident of South Windsor since 1970, and after
retirement moved to Englewood, FL, eventually returning back to her
home in South Windsor. She lived a beautiful life filled with love,
cooking, sewing, quilting, bowling and dancing. She'd float on the
dance floor, as if no one was watching, with a smile from ear to ear.
Bernie put her amazing talents together with the Women's Club in
Florida to fundraise for underprivileged children and often modeled at
charitable events. Among many different occupations, Bernie secured a
position with WTIC, in the traffic department, programming commercial
air time for many years. Above all Bernie was completely devoted to her
family, often the life of the gatherings at all holidays, especially
the home built, with love, by the family on a lake in Washington,
NH.She is survived by two children, Cheryl Mader of South Windsor and
Anthony S. Janco, Jr., and his wife Kathryn of Hudson, NH; five
grandchildren, Nicholas Mader and his wife Sarah of Broad Brook,
Christopher Mader and his wife Catherine of Hebron, Jennifer Kirk and
her husband Benjamin of Simsbury, Stephen Janco and his wife Kelly of
Windham, NH, Kyle Janco of Nashua, NH; 12 great-grandchildren, Evan ,
Emelia, Damien, Isabella, Trevor, James, Ellie, Ethan, Everett, Ryan,
Kate, and Noah, a brother Carroll Dubay of Dexter, ME and a sister
Charlene Welch of Sudbury, MA. along with several nieces and nephews.
Bernadine was predeceased by a son, Arthur E. LeBlanc, a sister-in law,
Sharon Dubay, and a brother-in-law, Thomas Welch.Relatives and friends
may join the family for visiting hours on Sunday, March 17, 2019 from
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Samsel and Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road,
South Windsor, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday,
March 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi, 673 Ellington
Road, South Windsor, CT. Burial will follow in East Cemetery,
Manchester. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Bernadine's memory
may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite
4B, Southington, CT 06489. Bernadine's family would like to extend
their sincerest thanks to the staff at Woodlake at Tolland for the
dedicated and compassionate care they provided over the past four
years. "There are four kinds of people in the world, those who have
been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be
caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver." Great job Woodlake
caregivers! Please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online
expressions of sympathy. Back
Published in The
Hartford Courant on Mar. 11, 2019
Bruce Kern: The words below were read on
the air shortly after the station
learned of his death. Close family friends immortalized the words in
calligraphy for his
family. The words are reprinted below with the family’s permission.
"Bruce Kern was and is part and parcel of the WTIC legend.
It has been my good
fortune to serve with WTIC since 1929 and, in all the years since,…no
man or woman
has joined our staff who served WTIC with greater dedication and
integrity than Bruce
Kern. He came with WTIC in 1936, and immediately his sense of
perfection and courteous
gentle manner impressed not only his associates, but all those we did
business with.
Advertisers vied with one another to have Bruce handle their
commercials on the air. His
God given manly voice—sonorous, resonant and honest—is now stilled, but
all of
you and all of us will long remember it and the man. His voice will
always ring in our
ears and help still the sorrow in our minds and hearts." (Leonard J.
Patricelli)
Robert Bruce Kern, a good friend. Bruce was an actor with
the WTIC Playhouse (The
Guy Hedlund Players) when I first met him in 1936. I had just joined
WTIC as an announcer
and Bruce became a member of the staff the following year, so our
careers sort of
developed together and we were always good friends. On the air, Bruce
was a model of
decorum. Off the air he was a warm and witty personality and his laugh
was something to
remember. He was an announcer of the old school, demanding perfection
from himself. His
deep, rich voice and his insistence on correct pronunciation and
precise enunciation were
known to all who heard him on Radio and TV newscasts, classical music
broadcasts and other
kinds of shows. He was another Milton Cross when he announced that the
orchestra
would’ now play Cavallaria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni.’ He was as
impeccable
in his appearance as he was in his speech—a ‘fun’ guy who was also as
dignified as a judge or a member of parliament. In a work, Bruce Kern
was a
professional—all the way. His thousands of friends and fans are
saddened by his
passing; we’ll miss him. (Bob Steele)
"In memory of Bruce Kern…known for his voice by his
listeners…known
for his heart by his friends. (William M. Savitt) Back
Jean
Tucker Kravsow: Jean
Tucker Kravsow, of Bloomfield and Naples Florida, wife of the late
Irving M. Kravsow, beloved sister and aunt died Monday December 15. She
was born on July 10 in Worcester Massachusetts to the late Edward J.
Tucker and Agnes Mara Tucker; Jean was a graduate of Classical High
School and Clark University. Jean's life was filled
with adventure and her career took her to many places, doing things
that most women of her era never had the opportunity to do. While
attending a dance with her sister at the Statler Hotel, in Boston,
across the street from the Coconut Grove Nightclub fire on November 28,
1942 Jean was one of many individuals pressed into service that long
and cold night by Boston Fire and Police personnel to help comfort and
transport scores of victims of the inferno. She spent a winter skiing
in Aspen and sailed on the Andrea Doria. Jean worked for several years
as a journalist at the Worcester Telegram, the Manchester (NH) Union
Leader, the Catholic Free Press, and the Springfield Republican before
coming to Hartford in the early 1960's to join the Hartford Courant.
During her years at the Courant, she covered stories in locations from
Hartford to halfway around the world. She traveled to Pakistan in 1963
to report on First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's visit to that nation. Jean
was the Courant's civil rights reporter throughout the 1960's,
detailing those issues for her readers wherever the story took her. She
reported from the March on Washington and in Selma, and the funeral of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and highlighted discrimination in housing
and employment in Greater Hartford during those tumultuous years. In
the early 1970's she joined Hartford's CBS affiliate, now known as
WFSB, as a television news reporter. During her time there, she also
worked as an anchor and as Editorial Director. Not content to sit
around after she retired, Jean became a volunteer at the American
School for the Deaf and a docent at the Wadsworth Athenaeum. In Naples,
she volunteered by teaching English.
Jean is survived by
her brothers Donald S. Tucker and his wife Marguerite of Wilmington Ma,
Edward J. Tucker, Jr of Naples FL and Robert N. Tucker of Vernon, CT
and her brother in law Philip Kravsow and his wife Midge and her
sisters in law, Elaine Schultz and Frances Greenblatt. In addition, she
is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews and grand nieces and
nephews. She was predeceased by her sister and brother in law Agnes and
Paul McGrath and her sister in law Madeline Tucker and her brothers in
law Morris Schultz and Edward Greenblatt.
A Memorial Mass of
Christian Burial will be held at the Church of St. Timothy, 1116 North
Main Street in West Hartford on December 27 at 10:00. Burial will
follow in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. Her family will receive
friends at the church, prior to the Mass from 9-10 am. Ladd Turkington
& Carmon Funeral Home in Vernon has care of the arrangements.
Please visit us at www.carmfuneralhome.com for online condolences and
guest book. Back
- See more at:
http://www.carmonfuneralhome.com/obituary/Jean-C.-Tucker-Kravsow/Bloomfield-CT/1462007#sthash.UkwoScK0.dpuf
Lew Krause: Llewellyn Peter Francis Krause, 61, died Dec. 5, 1997 after attending the WTIC Alumni Reunion in October. He began as an account executive for WTIC Radio in 1960, and moved to WTIC TV3 in 1968. He spent his last years working at Hopkins Advertising in New London. Back
Larry Kenfield: Lawrence F. Kenfield spent 40 years at WTIC Radio as supervisor of music. He retired in 1970. He attended the 1997 WTIC Alumni Reunion but asked Brian Hartnett to pick him up and take him home. He did not attend in 1999. He died October 26, 1999 at age 89 at Avery Heights in Hartford. Back
Paul
Kuntz: Paul
George Kuntz
Sr., a veteran television and radio
newsman, died
Friday July 23, 1982 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford. Kuntz, 52,
was
Bloomfield's director of community
relations at the time of his
death. He had lived at 60 Sheffield
Drive, Windsor. Born in Erie, Pa.,
Kuntz earned bachelor's and
master's degrees in journalism from
Northwestern University before
coming to Hartford
in 1954 as radio and television news
editor for WTICAM-FM TV. He became
trews director in 1966 and, when the
station
was sold in 1974, became news director of WTIC
AM-FM. Kuntz
was hired by Bloomfield in 1978 after several
community groups
suggested the town hire a public relations
representative to combat the
community's poor image. His job was to
promote all aspects
of living in Bloomfield throughJ advertisements, brochures and press
releases and to coordinate publicity for several town agencies. ''He
did a super job," town Personnel Director Adele Wright said Friday.
Kuntz is survived by his wife, the former Marie Westbrook; a son, Paul
G. Kuntz Jr. of Windsor; five daughters, Lisa Kuntz, Amy Kuntz and
Barbara Kuntz, all of Windsor, Catherine K. Jourdan of Windsor Locks
and Nancy K. Ryan of Wayne, Pa.; a sister, Barbara Teubert ofErie, Pa.,
and one grandchild. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and.
7-9 p.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home, 6 Poquonock Ave., Windsor. The
funeral mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Gabriel's Church,
Broad Street, Windsor, with burial at Veterans Memorial Cemeteryin
Windsor. Back
Published
in the
Hartford Courant on July 24, 1982
John
Carl
LaBella: Memories 96.7
(KMEO) morning drive
host John LaBella was killed Monday morning (March 4, 2002) in a freak
accident on
Interstate 30 in Dallas. A truck traveling westbound was in the middle
lane of I-30 when
part of a forklift assembly it was carrying caught the top of the Fort
Worth Avenue
Bridge, Dallas police Lt. John Branton said. The forklift assembly was
ripped off and
struck LaBella’s eastbound vehicle, killing him, Branton said.
LaBella had been a morning drive radio fixture in
Dallas/Fort Worth for more than
20 years. LaBella got his start at WWUH at the University of Hartford,
then moved across town where he hosted a morning music show at WTIC FM
from the mid-1980s
to 1991 and had
worked at several Dallas-area stations before joining KMEO when that
station went on the
air in 1998. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
"The load was taller than the bridge," said Kenneth Shirley,
assistant
area engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation. "We’ve got
signs on
the bridge and on the road giving fair warning. He (the truck driver)
didn’t follow
the advisory." Back
Ruth H. Latamore: The co-creator and producer of "What in the World," passed away at age 90 on December 5, 2002 at her home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A long-time Newington resident, her travel quiz show ran on WTIC-TV3, holding its prime-time slot and same sponsors, the electric companies of New England, for its entire 20 year run. Ruth is survived by her nephew George B. Latamore of Springfield, Virginia and grand-nephew Andrew B. Latamore of Keene, New Hampshire. Back
Jack
Lenhoff:
John Carey (Jack) Lennhoff died Sunday, (June 6, 2010). The son of
Moses J. and Ellen Carey Lennhoff, he was born on Nov. 5, 1925. He was
predeceased by his brother, Charles, and sister, Helen Lennhoff King.
He attended St. Joseph Cathedral School and Hartford Public High
School, class of 1943. He was further educated at the College of the
Holy Cross, entering in 1946, aided by the recommendation of fellow
alumnus Thomas J. Quirk, his high school principal. He graduated in
1950. Jack was introduced to broadcasting by his parents, although at
the time, no one suspected the then 4 year old singer would spend the
better part of his life in various capacities in radio and television.
After several years as a performer with the "Daddy Couch Young Folks
Program" on WDRC until his voice changed, Jack became the youngest
announcer the country at WDRC. In 1943, he joined the US Army and
served as a gunnery instructor until discharged in 1946, just in time
to enter college where his extracurricular work included the campus
radio station, part-time work at WAAB, Worcester, and summer stints at
WLCR, Torrington. On a gorgeous February 20, 1954, his life began anew
when he married Jeanne Catherine Danaher at the Cathedral of St. Joseph
where they were both baptized and confirmed. They became and remain
best friends and together they raised and nurtured Ellen Lennhoff Sears
of Amesbury, MA, John Danaher Lennhoff and his wife Nancy, and Michael
Christopher Lennhoff and his wife Heidi, whom have rewarded them with
six glorious grandchildren, Amy Munankarmi of Boston, Christopher
Michael Lennhoff, Kevin William Lennhoff and Allyson Carey Lennhoff of
Fairfield, and Forrest James Lennhoff and Ethan Stone Lennhoff of N.
Andover, MA. He returned to the army during the Korean War serving as a
writer-producer in the Psychological Warfare Section at Radio Tokyo.
After discharge he wrote motion picture scripts for Aetna Life
&
Casualty for a time and joined WTIC AM FM TV until he was given the
opportunity to join what is now Connecticut Public Broadcasting. He
started as Director of Development before the first station was on the
air and later became Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until
his retirement. Jack had a difficult time adjusting to inactivity and a
few weeks later joined Imagineers, the leading property management
company in Connecticut where his financial experience has been put to
good use. After leaving WTIC, Jack maintained his membership in the
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen
Actors Guild doing commercial and voice over work as well as occasional
appearances on syndicated TV shows. For more than 25 years he wrote a
broadcast review column under the pseudonym John Clare for the Catholic
Transcript, a weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Hartford. He was
an adjunct instructor in communications for the University of Hartford
until 1986. He has been active in his churches as a CCD teacher and
lector at St. Justin, Hartford, and St. Peter Claver, West Hartford,
serving on the parish council including one term as chairman. In 2000,
he was recognized by the Boston Chapter, National Association of
Television Arts and Sciences with a Silver Circle Award for more than
25 years of service in the profession. Jack will be dearly missed by
all of his family and friends who are blessed to have known and loved
him. Friends are invited to join Jack's family at the celebration of
his Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday June 9th at 10 a.m. in the
Church of St. Peter Claver 47 Pleasant St. West Hartford. Burial will
follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are
TODAY from 4-7 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West
Hartford, CT. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Francis
Hospital ICU, 114 Woodland St. Hartford, CT 06105. Online remembrances
may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com
Published in The
Hartford Courant on June 8, 2010
Roberta "Babs"
Liverant: Babs
Liverant, Oriental rug
and knitting instructor and administrative assistant,
passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Hartford Hospital
after a brief illness. She was born on May 2, 1934, in Norwich and was
a daughter of the late Pauline (Rader) Russell and Robert Russell. She
is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Robyn Liverant Marquis and
Roger Marquis of New York City and her granddaughter Paige Marquis. She
is also survived by her brother, Larry Russell of Mexico City, and
sister, Sandy Gartin of New York City, as well as several cousins,
nieces and nephews. She lived in Glastonbury since 1970. Babs attended
Mitchell College and UCONN. Her early career began as a secretary at
WMAQ-TV in Chicago and lead to work at NBC-TV in New York where she was
the executive secretary to Jack Paar, the host of the "Tonight Show,"
among other positions. She was an office manager at WPOP-AM and the
manager of the Radio Traffic Department at WTIC-AM in Hartford. A
talented craftswoman, she learned to make Oriental rugs and exhibited
at fine arts and crafts shows in Connecticut since 1983 and at the
annual Hartford Flower Show while teaching classes statewide. In the
1990s, she was the administrative assistant at two Glastonbury-based
financial planning offices and since 2002, she held that position at
HARC's Birth to Three Program. She loved organizing Broadway theater
trips, attending Whalers games, watching UCONN basketball and tending
her garden. Her greatest joy came from helping others and in watching
her beloved Paige grow. A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m.
on Monday, August 26, 2019, at The Glastonbury Boathouse, 252 Welles
St., Glastonbury, CT, with Rabbi Marci Bellows officiating. The family
will receive relatives and friends immediately following the service
until 4:00 p.m. In Babs's memory her family requests that an act of
kindness be done in her honor or a donation be made to the .
Arrangements were entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. To
sign the guest book for Babs, please visit online at
www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm
From
Bill Hennessey: People may not have known, but Babs was a secretary to
Jack Paar before she married and moved to Connecticut. At 'TIC,
she managed the Radio Traffice Department along with the late Annie
McAfee, and they were both a constant source of fun and laughter.
Babs
husband, Phil Liverant, ran a nationally-famous antique business in
Colchester (which may still be in operation, although Phil died many
years ago). Babs was a close friend of Gayle King and provided
school transportation rfor Gayle's kids when they lived in
Glastonbury.
Babs
was also a frequent attendee at 'TIC Reunions at The Officers' Club,
but contact has been lost since then. She was short, cute, and
bright. A very nice gal. Back
Published
in The
Hartford Courant on July 24, 2019
Joseph
A. Lorrain: Passed
Away Oct. 29,
1991.
According to Bill Hennessey: "Joe Lorrain owned/operated a TV repair
business in Hartford prior to joining WTIC at-or-around the launch of
TV/3. He was one of the "founding fathers" of the new crew of
technicians who ran TV broadcast operations; a quiet, efficient,
capable guy who could fix anything. I had the pleasure of knowing
him from my pre-Travelers days and can attest to his employment and
abilities. " Back
Barbara
(Cope) Lounder: Barbara
(Cope) Lounder, 78, passed away Saturday, April 17, 2010. She was the
daughter of the late John C. and Aloise (Fries) Cope.
Barbara
had been employed by Imo Industries where she was a secretary in the
Purchasing Department. She was a member of AARP where she organized
trips; she was a member of the Berlin Senior Center, a member of Saint
Paul Church and an active participant in the Ladies Guild and served
the church as a counter and as a member of the church choir.
She
is survived by a daughter, Kathleen Meighan and her husband, Patrick,
of Hudson, N.H.; a son, David B. Lounder of Kensington, Conn..; two
sisters, Mary Cutler and her husband, Myron, of Bristol, Conn., Susanna
Melanson and her husband, Richard, of Bristol; one grandchild Richard
Meighan of N.H. and several nieces and nephews.
Friends
and family are invited to call Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m.
at the Berlin Memorial Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Kensington.
Services
will be Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home
followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Saint Paul Church,
Alling Street, Kensington.
Burial
in South Kensington Burial Grounds will follow.Back
Paul E. Lucas: "Paul E. Lucas, 73; Was Radio
"Uncle Ezra"
New Britain, Conn. (UPI) - A funeral will be held Friday for Paul E.
Lucas, Sr., 72, widely known by WTIC radio listeners years ago.
Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, Lucas lived in New Britain since 1934. For 45
years he was a radio announcer and public relations executive for WTIC,
retiring in 1969.
He died Wednesday in a convalescent home at age 72.
One of Lucas' radio names was "Uncle Ezra". He also was the New England
Voice editor of the Wrightville Clarion Show, which was presented in
three segments over WPIX, New
York, in 1953.
Another of his roles was that of Seth Parker, in "Seth Parker Singing
School" in 1929 and 1930.
(Preceding transcribed from poorly legible newspaper article). Back
Don MacGovern:
James Donald MacGovern, 85, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of
Patricia H. MacGovern, passed away after a short illness on April 17th.
Born in Hartford on March 4, 1925, he was the son of John Donald and
Edith T. MacGovern. He graduated from Enfield High School, proudly
served his country during World War II in the US Army and graduated
from UCONN upon his return. Don worked for several years at WTIC Radio
before retiring as General Sales Manager in 1977. He was an avid sports
fan who followed all Wethersfield High School and UCONN sports along
with his beloved NY Giants and NY Yankees. Don was predeceased by his
daughter Sally M. Cormier, his sister Elinor Burney and her husband
Don. Don leaves behind his daughter Susan L. MacGovern, his son Craig
D. MacGovern and his wife Lisa, his brother Warren MacGovern and his
wife Joyce, and his son-in-law Ron Cormier. He also leaves behind his
grandchildren Dawn Wind and her husband Kevin, Chris Cormier and his
wife Maria, Tim Beebe and John and James MacGovern. In addition he
leaves great grandchildren Andrew, Cody and Devon Smith, KJ Wind and
Corrina and Arianna Uliano as well as a loving family of in-laws,
nieces, nephews and cousins. He will also miss his special breakfast
friends: Brother Bud, Mill Mason and Cephas Gagne. Special thanks to
the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center along with Dr. Timothy Hong and
his nurse Donna. Thanks also to all the nurses and caregivers at the
Salmon Brook Center and the Masonicare Hospice. A Celebration of Life
Service will take place on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the
D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. The family
will receive relatives and friends from 9-10 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Village Cemetery in Old Wethersfield. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society , P.O.
Box 5025, Wallingford, CT 06492-7525. For on-line expressions of
sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com Back
Published in The
Hartford Courant on April 27, 2010
Kathryn
"Kay" (Dimlow) Mahony: Kathryn
"Kay" (Dimlow) Mahoney, age 95, of Manchester, loving wife for 61 years
to Frederick L. Mahoney, died Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, at a local
convalescent home.
Kay was born
in Broad Brook on Aug. 31, 1919, daughter of Edward J. and Mae
(Bresnahan) Dimlow, and had resided in Manchester since 1955. She was a
graduate of the former Ellsworth Memorial High School in South Windsor
and the former McKeown Secretarial School in Hartford. Prior to
retiring in 1984, she was employed in the executive department at the
Travelers Insurance Company for 20 years. Previously she had been
employed at WTIC Radio and WTIC Channel 3 for more than 20 years.
Kay was a
member of MCCOAA (Manchester Community College Older Adults
Association), Irish-American Club, and Traveler's Retiree's Club, and
was a communicant of St. Bridget Church. She had been a member of the
Junior Women's Club and the League of Women Voters of Hartford, and
served as an air raid warden during World War II.
Besides her
husband she is survived by several nieces and nephews. Kay was
predeceased by two brothers, Edward J. Dimlow and Sgt. Gordon Dimlow
who was killed during World War II; and her lifelong friends, Evelyn
Foley, Barbara Daly, and Anne Crowley.
A memorial
Mass of resurrection will be celebrated Monday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. at
St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St., Manchester. There are no
calling hours.
Memorial
contributions may be made to the St. Bridget School Fund, 74 Main St.,
Manchester, CT 06042.
Holmes Funeral
Home has care of arrangements.
Published in
Journal Inquirer from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20, 2014 Back
Article in
the Hartford Courant 11/28/2014
Bill Marks: William R. Marks, Jr. 88, of St. Augustine FL, died September 18, 2001. He had served WTIC Radio production department for 32 years before he retired. A long time amateur radio operator, Bill had the call signs W1DEF then W1AP. He enjoyed playing the concert tuba and, in Florida, spent 13 years with the "Recycles", an orchestra of older musicians who entertained children and adults. Bill and his wife, Irene, were married for 63 years. Back
Art
Masthay: Arthur
Masthay, 85, of Avon, beloved husband of Donna (Mohr) Masthay, died
Wednesday, (April 17, 2013). Born and raised in Southington, son of the
late Arthur and Anna (Bartusewicz) Masthay, he graduated from the
former Lewis High School Class of 1945. He then served in the US Navy
both in WW II and The Korean War. Arthur was an electronic engineer who
was employed by Channel 3, WFSB for 38 years, before retiring in 1995.
He was a ham radio operator with the call sign W1 IUZ. Besides his wife
Donna, he leaves three sons, Dr. Robert Masthay and his wife Connie of
Arvada, CO, Alan Masthay of Avon and Brian Masthay and his wife Melissa
of Broadbrook; and a daughter, Joyce Lange and her husband John of
Granby; a brother, Carl Masthay of St. Louis, MO; a sister, Shirley
Norrie of Old Saybrook; and five grandchildren, Morgan Petrelli, Ethan
Lange, Molly, Jamie, and Allison Masthay. He was predeceased by a
brother, Edward Masthay and a sister, Dorothy Bishop. His
family will receive friends Sunday, April 21, 3-6 p.m. at the Carmon
Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. A
funeral service will be held Monday, April 22, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the
Carmon Funeral Home, Avon followed by burial in Oak Hill Cemetery,
Southington. Donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO
BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. For online condolences, please visit
www.carmonfuneralhome.com. Back
Robert
Maxwell: Robert
Maxwell, 90, a harpist and a Local 802 member since 1938, died last
Feb. 7, 2012. Born Max Rosen, he and his two brothers, Abe Rosen
(1916-2007) and Myor Rosen (1917-2009), all played the harp
professionally. Mr. Maxwell was born in New York City. Neither of his
parents had been involved in music, but at age 10 he began playing the
harp. In high school, he won a scholarship to Juilliard. At age 17, he
became the youngest member of the National Symphony Orchestra. He also
gave solo performances in both New York and Los Angeles. Among the
conductors he performed under were Arturo Toscanini and Serge
Koussevitsky. During World War II, Mr. Maxwell enlisted and performed
in the well-known Coast Guard band led by Rudy Vall�e, giving him the
opportunity to play harp in a popular music context. Later, Mr. Maxwell
entered a contest on radio station KFI in Los Angeles, failing to make
the finals but winning second prize. This led to many appearances on
radio, television, and in the movies, including one summer as
replacement for Frank Sinatra on the CBS network. Mr. Maxwell was
also a composer. “Little Dipper,” “Ebb Tide” and “Shangri-La” were
three of his better-known pieces. Another of his songs, “Solfeggio,”
performed by Mr. Maxwell’s orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers,
gained unexpected fame as the theme for Ernie Kovacs’ regular comedy
skit called “The Nairobi Trio.” Mr. Maxwell is survived by his wife
June, daughter Carla, and grandchildren Vanessa and Omar Guerrero. Back
-Obituary
Courtesy of Associated Musicians of Greater New York
Joseph P. McGuinness:
Joseph P. McGuinness,
76, of West Hartford, the husband of Anne (Clark) McGuinness, died
Wednesday, (June 8, 2005) at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Born in
New Haven, the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth (O'Rourke)
McGuinness, he had made his home in West Hartford the past 38 years.
Joe was a graduate of St. Peter's Grammar School, James Hillhouse High
School in New Haven, where he excelled on the baseball field, and the
University of Connecticut, playing baseball and football. He also
served as president of Beta Sigma Gamma fraternity at UCONN. He was a
Marine Corps veteran. Mr. McGuinness was in his 45th year of employment
with WTIC Radio, working as an advertising account executive. He was
active in his community and his church. He was a past state president
of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, former chairman of the West Hartford
3rd District Republican Party, a longtime member of the West Hartford
Board of Assessors, the West Hartford Republican Town Committee, the CT
Veterans Memorial Committee in West Hartford, and the UCONN Alumni
Association. Joe was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and
served as a lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas the Apostle
Church. Along with his wife, he is survived by his three children and
their families, Paul McGuinness and his wife, Andrea of Holyoke, MA and
their children, Emily, Megan, and Kara; Theresa (McGuinness) Hollon,
her husband, Jack and their children, Jane and Bridget, and Peter
McGuinness and his wife, Joan Levinstein of New York City, NY. Calling
hours are Friday from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906
Farmington Ave., West Hartford. The funeral will be Saturday, June 11
beginning with the celebration of his Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
at 10 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West
Hartford, and followed by burial in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford.
Donations in his memory may be made to New Hope Manor, 48 Hartford Rd.,
Manchester, CT 06040. Online remembrances and messages of sympathy may
be made at
www.molloyfuneralhome.com.
Back
Courtesy of the www.courant.com
June 9, 2005
Bill
Mill: William
(Bill) Mill of Vineyard Haven, MA, pre-deceased by his beloved wife
Muriel (Sue), died October 31st (2015) at the Martha's Vineyard
Hospital surrounded by his family. Thanks are due to Father Nagle and
the staff of Martha's Vineyard Hospital for the comfort they provided
him.
A
resident of the island for the last seventeen years, he greatly enjoyed
his retirement in Vineyard Haven and membership in the Scottish
Society, and gave back by serving on the Martha's Vineyard Airport
Commission, among other volunteer positions.
He
was a U.S. Army veteran (2nd Lieutenant, 82nd Airborne), paratroop and
weapons instructor, race car builder and driver, airplane pilot,
accomplished storyteller and practical joker, and loving father of six.
He
began his working career as a news reporter, bridging the historical
transition from radio to black-and-white video to the invention of
color TV. Serving simultaneously as his own cameraman, photographer,
reporter, and anchor on evening broadcasts, he became a fixture on the
Connecticut news scene from Channel 30 to Channel 3 (WTIC, later WFSB).
Bill was the only Connecticut reporter to be requested by Malcolm X for
an exclusive interview. He later served Governor Ella Grasso, becoming
her director of communications for several state agencies. Governors
Meskill and O'Neill, Senator Abraham Ribicoff, and numerous other state
and national politicians considered him a personal friend.
A
lifelong train enthusiast who built his own extraordinarily detailed
model railroads, he volunteered his editorial services for many years
to "Railroadiana Express" magazine and earned a national reputation as
an authority on all aspects of the field, particularly silver and china.
He
leaves behind six children, Susan and Robert Mill of Vineyard Haven,
William Mill and his wife Cheryl of Middletown, CT, Robin Stufano and
her husband Vincent of Chesterfield, VA, Deborah Mill of Old Saybrook,
CT, and Donald Mill and his wife Wendy of Old Saybrook, CT, along with
eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren who cherish the
memories of every moment he shared with them. He also sadly leaves a
dog Duncan, who is likewise heartbroken. Back
Ross Miller: A voice familiar to radio listeners for nearly 50 years was stilled on June 6, 1996. A broadcast pioneer, Ross was a member of the Catholic Actors Guild, an officer of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, and a member of the Screen Actors Guide. After joining the station as an announcer in 1943, he retired in 1993 as Vice President of WTIC AM 1080. Ross, the Musical Boss, as a loyal listener dubbed him, brought many innovations to the station. He hosted the Capital Region Conference of Churches weekly broadcast, The Aging Process", and introduced the weekly Sabbath Message. Back
Jan Miner: Jan Miner played Madge the Manicurist in an age of blissful, new-and-improved consumer disbelief. Madge came about in a time when Madison Avenue conspired to fool diners at fine restaurants by having their coffee secretly replaced by Folgers, to make Mother Nature think margarine was butter, and to surreptitiously dunk women's hands in Palmolive dish soap.
"You're soaking in it" was Madge's trademark line, first uttered in a television commercial in 1966. Miner played Madge until 1992, outlasting even the original Colgate-Palmolive contract with the Ted Bates advertising agency that created her.
Miner, who died Sunday (02/15/2004) in Bethel, Conn., at age 86, enjoyed a long career as a serious stage and film actress, but she never played down or tried to escape her Madgeness.
She recognized and enjoyed the permanent spot Madge reserved for her in TV pop-cultdom, in addition to the royalty payments. She was one of those few Americans who make the ultimate sacrifice of likeness and personality to become unforgettable commercial mascots; consequently she would never walk through an airport again without hearing "You're soaking in it." (International airports, too: To Germans, Madge was called Tilly. The French knew her as Francoise. Miner read Madge's lines phonetically in different languages.)
Madge also made for excellent and lasting camp: Gay men of three decades have especially enjoyed telling one another, Madgelike, just how much "you're soaking in it," whether "it" was a metaphor for something emotional, political, fashionable or simply circumstantial. It's a gentle reminder that things aren't quite what they seem, Miss Thing. It's comeuppance. It's surprise. You think you're above all that, but you're soaking in it. Madge knows.
According to a Web site called TV Acres, which devotes itself to such trivia, the talkative, fictional Madge worked in "Salon East Beauty Parlor," where she put her lady customers' hands in a shallow bowl secretly filled with green, sudsy Palmolive. As Madge prattled on about how "Palmolive softens hands while you do dishes," the customer would predictably express doubt, and therefore had to be told:
"You're soaking in it."
Sometimes they'd gasp and start to pull their hands out, and Madge would coax them back in, saying relax, relax. You'd been punk'd by Madge, tricked into having such soft hands.
Repeat shtick for 26 more years, off and on. No one can explain why this commercial worked for so long, or to what degree anyone loved Madge. (More than Rosie? Less than Mr. Whipple?) She transmitted some of the sassy broad feel of her era -- Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, Jo Anne Worley, the strong women wisecrackers of sketch comedy and cocktail parties. But we never got to hear the rest of her gossip and knowledge. What else did Madge have to tell us?
Miner studied under Lee Strasberg and did repeat seasons of Shakespeare festivals. She played Gertrude Stein on stage in the 1980s, and into her old age was still working (among her last credits is an episode of "Law & Order" in 1994).
But Miner would always be Madge. Audiences attending plays in which she was cast would gasp -- "Madge!" -- when she walked on stage. A&W root beer once persuaded her in 1991 to moonlight as Madge for an ironic ad campaign that had her soaking her hand in a mug of root beer. She was a soaker, soaking in it on cue. She told the Boston Globe in 1987 that she was lucky to have been Madge, that landing a role in a commercial is like a "present from heaven for actors. Did you know that only 10 percent of all actors earn over $10,000 a year?"
As Madge,
Miner was set for life. One line, one little commercial job, turning
into something people would always remember, yelling "Hey, Madge,"
wherever she'd go. Waving at her with their dry, flaky hands.
By
Hank Stuever
Washington Post
Staff Writer
Wednesday,
February 18, 2004; Page C01 Back
Fran
Mulcahy:
Mulcahy, Frances L., 98, of Harwichport, passed away on June 28, 2015.
Frances was born, raised and educated in Hartford, CT by her dear
parents the late James and Harriet Louise (Rollo) Mulcahy. Frances
graduated from St. Joseph College, W. Hartford, CT in 1937 and went on
to work for over 40 years for Travelers radio and television stations
in Hartford. She was also the corporate secretary of WTIC, AM/FM/TV and
the Ten Eighty Corporation. Always eagerly learning and enjoying her
passion in broadcasting. In 1980, Frances retired and moved to
Harwichport and became a devout member of Holy Trinity Church, W.
Harwich. She is pre-deceased by her sister Mary H. Mulcahy.
A Funeral Mass
in Frances' honor will be held on Friday, July 3, 2015 at Holy Trinity
Church, 246 Main Street, W. Harwich at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow on
Monday, July 6, 2015 at St. Mary's Cemetery in East Hartford, CT. Back
Bruce Murray:
Donald Bruce Murray, Jr., 84, of Burlington, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 1st, 2021. Born January 16th, 1937 in Norwalk,
he was the son of the late Donald Bruce and Charlotte (Jarvis) Murray, Sr. Bruce attended Colby College before enlisting in the United States Navy.
Prior to retiring, he was a Photography Editor for WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford for many years. He worked on the PM Magazine, the news,
entertainment show and shot many local features. Bruce enjoyed reading about trains as well as riding them, classical music, traveling, outdoor activities
and most of all, he loved photography. He also greatly enjoyed "cousins" weekends in New Hampshire. Bruce is survived by his cousins and many friends.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bruce's memory may be made to Channel 3 Kids Camp, 73 Times Farm Road, Andover, CT 06232.
Arrangements are being handled by
The Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc.
180 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT
www.ahernfuneralhome.com.
Back
Steve Myers: Was Chief Engineer in charge of studio construction at Grove Street. Back
Meet the Cardinals'
Spring Training Official Scorer (Video)
Lou & Arnold Broadcasting a UCONN Basketball Game
Louis Puma, age 83, entered into eternal heavenly rest on Friday, October 18, 2019. He was born on November 5, 1935 in Newark, NJ to Luigi and Tina (Pastena) Puma. He attended Barringer High School (Class of 1953) in Newark and Seton Hall University (Class of 1957) in South Orange, NJ. After two seasons playing minor league baseball for the New York Giants and Chicago White Sox organizations, he began his career in broadcasting and raising his family. On September 28, 1958, he married Angela Avallone. Together they had four children. When he went to work for WTIC Radio and TV in Hartford, CT in 1967, he was given the air name Lou Palmer. Before that he began his career as a radio announcer for two small radio stations in Nebraska. In his last year of playing professional baseball, the White Sox organization wanted to send him from the Class C Northern League to the Class D Nebraska State League. Instead of accepting the demotion, he asked for his release. So when he had his first job offer in radio come up in Hastings, Nebraska he thought it was fate that he should go back there afterall. He only stayed there for one year and then came back to work for WJLK in Asbury Park, NJ for eight years. Lou uprooted his family again to Connecticut to take the job at WTIC, where he handled a variety of duties including his own show where he played music from the era of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, to play-by-play of the University of Connecticut basketball and football games, to morning sports reporter on the famous and long running Bob Steele Show. Lou would get the biggest break of his career when he left WTIC in 1978 to go to work for ESPN, an all-sports network which at the time was an unknown, start up company that planned on going on the air the following year to a national audience. Lou was hired by ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen as the first sportscaster for the network. Bill was confident that Lou’s knowledge of sports and experience in the business would help build the network into prominence. From 1979-1985, Lou co-hosted the network’s signature show called Sportscenter, which still runs today. He would also be assigned to cover numerous sporting events throughout those same years; mostly in baseball and golf, but all sports. He was also one of the driving forces behind the network’s original baseball show, Inside Baseball, a pre-cursor to its currently long running program, Baseball Tonight. Lou moved his family to Wellington, FL in 1986, a place he loved right from the beginning. He began his career in free lance broadcasting. That same year, he would commute on weekends to host a show on WFAN in New York, the nation’s first all sports radio station. Among many other ventures, Lou did play-by-play of the University of Miami baseball games, a weekly Florida Marlins highlight show for the Sunshine Network, many golf tournaments for various networks, and the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. From 1998-2019, Lou was the official scorer for the St.Louis Cardinals during Spring Training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, FL. During that same period, he was the P.A. Announcer for Florida State League games at the same ballpark. He formed a long standing 3-man team behind the microphone that included long time friends and local legends John Frost and the late Dick Sanford. Lou would start up an amateur baseball league called the NABA in 1992, which he ran until 2018. He poured everything he had into this league and was so proud to provide an outlet for so many baseball fans like him to be able to participate in the game they loved. His family was always the most import thing in his life. But to those who knew Lou, it was not difficult to know that his biggest passion was the game of baseball. He once said that Babe Ruth was right in Ruth’s famous speech at Yankee Stadium in saying that baseball was the only “real” game. But baseball was just one of the many passions he had in life. Although too many to mention, he always loved vacations at the Jersey Shore, particularly Seaside Heights and Wildwood. A devout Catholic and a man of great faith, God was always the centerpiece of everything he stood for. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Angie; daughter Valerie Beaulieu (and her husband Dan) of Wellington, FL; son Lou Puma (and his wife Robin) of Greenacres, FL; daughter Patty Conrad of Delray Beach, FL. Lou was preceded in death by his daughter Linda. He also leaves five grandchildren; Louis Puma (of Greenacres, FL), Amy Puma (of Greenacres, FL), Danny Beaulieu (and his wife Jordan) of Wellington, FL; Steven Beaulieu (and his wife Robyn) of Fort Worth, TX); and Kristina Conrad (of Smyrna, TN), five great grand children; Caleb Beaulieu (of Wellington, FL), Silas Beaulieu (of Wellington, FL), Oliver Beaulieu (of Fort Worth, TX), Juneau Beaulieu (Fort Worth, TX) and Aria Workman (of Smyrna, TN). He was preceded in death by two brothers (Joseph and Anthony). He leaves a sister Johanna Gonzalez (of Toms River, NJ), and many in laws, nieces, and nephews. Funeral services will be private. Back
Leonard Patricelli: Click here for Obit
David Patterson: David
was born on November 9, 1948 and passed away on Thursday, October 10,
2013. David was a resident of Southington, Connecticut at the time of
passing. David was married to Christine. Back
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday October 14, 2013 at
10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer St.,
Southington. Burial will follow in South End Cemetery, Southington.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday October 13, 2013 from 2 ' 5 p.m.
at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Back
Norm
Peters (Polman): Norman
Polman, 84 years of age, who was professionally known as Norm Peters,
originally of Hartford CT, passed away Wednesday, April 9, after a
sudden stroke this past weekend. He was a long time resident of
Newington Connecticut and more recently resided in the summer in West
Hartford, CT and as a winter residence in Delray Beach, Fla. Born
in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late Samuel H. and Ida
(Laschever) Polman. He served in the US Army during the Korean
Conflict, where he was stationed in Sapporo, Japan and then graduated
from Emerson College with a degree in Communication and Broadcasting.
His
professional journey began with his dream for broadcasting and achieved
a successful long career working for approximately twelve years at WTIC
AM-FM-TV / WFSB-TV Channel 3 in Hartford, CT and for six years at
WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield, MA. His responsibilities at times
included the producing, writing and reporting of newscasts, in addition
to being a television news anchorman. His extensive background spanned
a period of more than thirty years. In addition to his broadcasting
background, he was a consultant in the audio/visual field, having
written, produced and narrated for recording studios and clients in
both Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1985 he was appointed Public
Information Officer for the Adjutant General of the CT Army National
Guard and then at the CT Motor Vehicle Department before retiring in
1994. He also donated his personal time to the development of the
Newington Community Television Public Access Channel for Cable TV.
Norman was a member of
Temple Sinai of Newington, the Mended Hearts Organization, the West
Hartford Regents and formerly of CRIS Radio. He was a passionate
supporter of UCONN Basketball, both the Men's and Women's teams &
the Boston Red Sox.
He leaves his wife,
Zelda (Goldfarb) Polman of 12 Years, and was predeceased by his first
wife, Marlene (Koppel) Polman of 46 years. He is survived by his two
children, Robert Polman and his wife Linda of Kensington, CT and Larry
Polman and his wife Barb of Aurora, CO as well as his 3 grandchildren,
Ian, Jared and Kayla Polman as well as his step children, Jay, Eliot,
and Donna Gershman, his brother, Ronald Polman and his wife Janet of
Sarasota, FL, and is predeceased by his sister Thelma (Polman)
Glasband. He will be sorely missed by his family and those who knew him.
Funeral services will
be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 13, 2014 in the Sanctuary of Temple
Sinai, 41 West Hartford Rd., Newington, CT with Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett
officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Sinai Memorial Park, which
is located behind the Temple. A memorial period will be observed on
Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the
Mended Hearts Organization at www.mendedhearts.org . Arrangements are
entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information,
directions, or to sign the guest book for Norman, please visit online
at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.
Back
Ernie
Peterson: Ernest H.
Peterson, of Old
Pawson Rd., Branford died suddenly in Yale, N.H. Hospital Saturday,
(December 27, 2003), husband of the late Marion (Zahnleiter) Peterson
and father of Cynthia Scalora of Newington, E. Theodore "Ted" Peterson
of Branford and Scott W. Peterson of Florida; brother of Marjorie
Spauling of Massachusetts; grandfather of Larissa Foster and her
husband, Seth, Jeffrey and Jessica Peterson, Megan and Erin Reilly;
great grandfather of Ryan Foster and Trevor Reilly. Mr. Peterson was
born in Hartford, August 18, 1918 son of the late Ernest T. and Eva
Peterson. He was before his retirement and after 36 years of service,
Vice President and station manager of the radio station WTIC. He was
later an employee of the Shoreline Newspapers for several years. He was
a resident of West Hartford for many years before moving to Branford 30
years ago. He was a former Branford Police Commissioner and a member of
the Republican Town Committee. He was a Army Air Corps. Veteran of
World War II and was a Prisoner of War. He was a member of the American
Legion and the Hartford Rotary Club. Services will be held in The First
Congregation Church of Branford, Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Friends
may call at The Curtis-Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 69 So. Main St.,
Branford on the Green Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. Burial in Center Cemetery,
Branford. Memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimers Assoc.
850 Mix Ave., Hamden 06514 or the charity of one's
choice.
Published in
the Hartford Courant on 12/29/2003
Back
Lanny
Pike: Pike,
Lawrence F. "Lanny" Born to Eternal Life, Tuesday, January 20, 2015,
age 100 years. Beloved husband of the late Florence (nee Staska).
Beloved special friend for 21 years of Jill Ann (Larry) Wolf. Fond
uncle of Patricia (David) Fekete and Michael (Claudia) Riley. Further
survived by great-nieces, great-nephews and other friends. Visitation
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 3:00 PM until time of Service at 4:00 PM
at LUTHER MANOR FAITH AND EDUCATION CENTER, 4545 N. 92nd Street,
Wauwatosa. Entombment Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee. In lieu of
flowers, memorials to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church appreciated.
Lawrence Frederick Pike was born on May 14, 1914 in Rockland, Maine to
Elisha and Florence Pike. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force,
serving his country for 4 1/2 years. Lanny, which he chose as his radio
moniker, was a pioneer in Milwaukee television and was the first staff
director of WTMJ when only a few hundred TV sets were in operation.
Drawing on his Air Force radio show writer/producer background, he went
on to become program manager at WJBK-TV in Detroit. Later in his
broadcast career, Lanny served as a TV and radio consultant to
Travelers Insurance Co. in Hartford, CT. where he helped secure the
license for Channel #3. He ended his career in 1979 at the University
of St. Joseph, West Hartford, CT. He moved here shortly thereafter and
was a member of the American Legion Post #449 and the D.A.V. He loved
to write poetry, listen to Big Band music, keep his mind sharp with
crossword puzzles and was an avid Green Bay Packer and Boston Red Sox
fan. Lanny will always be remembered for his catchphrase, "In God we
trust; all others must pay cash." The survivors wish to thank Luther
Manor's second floor health center and hospice staff for their
exemplary care. Back
Published
in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Jan. 25, 2015
A
Memorial service will be held at a later date. Additional information
at www.memorialfuneralhome.com.
Published in
Newport Daily News from
Jan. 6 to Jan. 8, 2020
Arlane (Ross) Podeswa: Passed away October 19, 2020. See memories of Arlane HERE.
John Pohorylo:
John T. Pohorylo, 97, formerly of Enfield and Suffield, husband of the late Wanda (Pawelec) Pohorylo, entered into eternal peace Monday,
Jan. 10, 2022 at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. Born and raised in Enfield, John was one of twelve children of the late
John and Sophie (Kwapier) Pohorylo. He was a communicant of St. Adalbert Church before moving to Suffield where he became a
the John Maciolek Post #154 American Legion. Following his service, he was employed as a Television Engineer for WFSB for 27 years
before retiring. John enjoyed playing cards, and loved driving to the track with his brother Ray to watch either the horses or dogs
race in New Hampshire. He is survived by two daughters, Carol Dietz and her husband Michael of Prospect, CT, Elaine Hill and her husband
Malcolm of San Diego,CA, a brother, Raymond Pohorylo of Enfield, four grandchildren, Monica Hill, Malcolm Hill, Jr, Eric Dietz and Patrick Dietz.
He also leaves many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. Besides his wife Wanda, John was predeceased by two brothers,
Edward and Stanley Pohorylo, and eight sisters, Josephine Niemic, May Poirek, Stasia Frigon, Stella Kowal, Francis Bourque, Felice Pohorylo,
Agnes Pohorylo and Jean Campbell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday Jan. 15, 2022 at St. Adalbert Church of St. Raymond of
Penafort Parish, 90 Alden Ave., Enfield, CT (Please meet at Church). Military Honors will follow the Mass. Burial will be private and held at the family's
convenience. Donations in John's memory may be made to the John Maciolek Post #154 American Legion, PO Box 154, Enfield, CT 06083.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com Back
Published by Hartford Courant on Jan. 12, 2022.
Chuck Renaud:
Mr. Charles E. "Chuck" Renaud, 79, of Newport, Rhode Island, passed away on
December 29, 2019. He was the husband of Linda (Rowell) Renaud of
Newport. Chuck was born on June 1, 1940, in Concord, NH to Charles
Renaud and Clairvine (Crevier) Renaud. As a young man, he served in the
National Guard and was stationed at Ft Dix, NJ during the Cuban Missile
Crisis. He worked as a producer for WTIC Radio for several years. He
retired after a 30-year career in Estate Planning, as owner of North
East Financial Group in Newport. Charles is survived by his wife Linda
and two children, Christopher Renaud of Chaplin, CT, and Elizabeth
Renaud of Old Lyme, CT. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Sarah
and Katie Renaud, and Charles and Elias Sahadi.Back
John Reno :
John P. Reno, 80, of Farmington, CT died on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. He was
the son of the late Nicholas and Mary Reno of Waterbury, CT. An early
interest in aeronautics and amateur radio led to service with the Civil
Air Patrol and the USAF Strategic Air Command. After graduating from
the Ward School of Electronics at the University of Hartford, John led
a long and distinguished career in broadcasting. He was hired by WTIC
radio and was part of the pioneering team at Channel 3 WFSB where he
eventually became Chief Engineer. Later he worked in telecommunications
at Travelers. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League and a
life member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. In retirement John
worked at Middlewoods of Farmington. At home he was known for his love
of gardening, photography and model trains. John is dearly remembered
by all who knew him, and is survived by his loving wife Patricia; two
children, Alison Leeds and her husband David of Farmington, CT, Timothy
Reno and his wife Andrea of Colonie, NY; three grandsons, Joshua and
Nicholas Leeds, and William Reno. He is predeceased by his brother,
Nicholas Reno of Waterbury, CT. Following a private burial there will
be a Memorial Mass on Monday, June 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family
Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Rd., West Hartford, CT, 06107. In
lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John's name may be made to Holy
Family Passionist Retreat Center. Arrangements are being handled by The
Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc. For online condolences to the family, please
visit Ahearn
Funeral Home. Back
Rusty
Rogers: Russell
H. Kempton, aka Rusty Rogers, of New Harbor, passed away peacefully in
the afternoon, August 9, 2013, at home with his wife Patricia (Patty)
and
faithful black cat Kitty at his side. Born in Portland, Maine, on
January 22, 1923, Rusty was the son of
William R. Kempton, devoted
teacher and a principal of the Bristol High School, and Daisy Mae Mears
Kempton. Rusty was the youngest of three children. He was pre-deceased
by his sister, Shirley Osier, of New Harbor, and his brother, Robert,
of Florida.
Published in The Hartford
Courant, May
31, 2014
Floyd
Richards:Floyd
F. Richards, 91, formerly of Wethersfield and Glastonbury, CT passed
away Tuesday, (August 16, 2011) in Southport NC. He was born March 5,
1920 to
Amelia and Alfred Richards and spent his youth in Farmington New
Hampshire. He was a proud 1942 graduate of the University of Notre
Dame. Floyd spent his working career in Hartford first with WTIC in a
varied career from Strictly Sports to the Hap Richards show and then
with Pratt and Whitney in communications. He also taught public
speaking for many years starting at Hillyer College through the
University of Hartford and then at Middlesex Community College. As the
father of three daughters he had his 10 year pin from the Girl Scouts.
When his family was young he enjoyed sailing in Long Island Sound and
was a member Power Squadron accomplishing the rank of Navigator. With
his children grown he returned to golf and was a member of Glastonbury
Hills Golf club, then Wethersfield Golf Club and until recently Legacy
Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He was predeceased by his first
wife and mother of his daughters Katherine (Petey) Richards, his
youngest daughter, Diana (Dee Dee) Richards O'Neill, and his second
wife Eleanor Scranton. He leaves two surviving daughters, Denise R.
York and her husband Tom of Southport, NC, and Donna Richards of
Glastonbury; five grandchildren, Michael York and his wife Leslie of
Wilmington NC, Kathryn (Katie) O'Neill McCartney and her husband George
of Hoboken, NJ, Daniel O'Neill of Glastonbury, Erin O'Neill of
Middletown and Luke O'Neill of Glastonbury; and one great granddaughter
Fiona Dee McCartney of Hoboken, NJ. There will be a private ceremony at
the family's discretion. Memorial donations may be made to Notre Dame
Bands P.O. Box 1023,Notre Dame, ID 46556 or the charity of donor's
choice. Obituary
on WFSB, Channel 3 Back
A
pioneer in country music, Rusty was raised in Pemaquid and was educated
at local schools. Eight of those years were spent in the one-room
schoolhouse at Pemaquid Falls. He could often be seen riding his pet
bull Star from Pemaquid to Damariscotta, with a stop at the Bristol
Mills spring for water. When Rusty was seven, his grandfather gave him
his first guitar. Several years later, Rusty’s dad, a mandolin player,
paid $5 for a Sears Silvertone Guitar and Rusty’s career was off and
running.
As
a teenager, Rusty would walk for miles or bum a ride just to enter
amateur shows. Every time he won a contest, not only was his confidence
boosted, his winnings of $25 or $30 almost every weekend made cutting
or piling wood for $2 or $3 a cord seem paltry.
One
of Rusty’s first professional gigs was the Jimmie and Dick show held at
the theater in Damariscotta. When he was 15, he ran away from home for
the first time to see a carnival in the area and watch a group called
the Katahdin Mountaineers. Rusty joined the group when the carnival
left town. Two weeks later his parents came and got him.
After
being expelled from High School, Rusty was approached about doing some
radio shows in southern Maine and nearby New Hampshire. Rusty’s radio
promoter, Jim Small, also felt his given name wouldn’t work in show
business, and one night introduced him on the air as Rusty Rogers, a
name he used professionally for more than seven decades.
Show
business had its ups and downs for Rusty in his teenage years. When not
singing, he had to work to eat and it wasn’t easy. Returning home to
Pemaquid, his father convinced him that before he left home the next
time, he needed some money. It was 1940, and Rusty’s only asset was his
bull Star. Rusty sold Star for $35. With his “huge” bankroll and
guitar, he hopped a bus in Damariscotta for Boston, where he was
quickly fleeced by a man posing as a promoter with all sorts of
“connections.”
He
then hitch-hiked to Portland and reached out to Jim Small, who booked
him in beer joints and other places for a few dollars a gig. Rusty
began working with Bud Bailey and the Downeasters until he was drafted
in 1943 by the United States Army, serving with Combat Engineers in the
North African campaign and in the European theater, earning four battle
stars. Serving in the Army was a major source of pride for Rusty.
After
his Army discharge in 1946, Rusty returned to show business. He created
The Radio Ranch out of Kittery; rejoined the Downeasters doing
coast-to-coast radio broadcasts from St. Joseph, Missouri, and then was
asked to replace Bill Haley (when he formed the Comets) on the Down
Homers. They did a daily show and a coast-to-coast radio broadcast
carried over 230 NBC stations on weekends.
Rusty
was lead singer and featured yodeler when the Down Homers appeared on
the Arthur Godfrey Show in 1952. Two years earlier, the Down Homers had
eight records in the Top 30 with Rusty doing four singles. The Rusty
Rogers Show appeared on NBC-TV from 1956 to 1958.
Rusty
also won the title of Light Heavy Weight Connecticut State Champion in
weight lifting in the mid-1950s. And over the next 10 years, he had 230
professional wrestling matches throughout the northeast, while
advancing his music career.
He
worked with show business greats from Ezio Pinza to Roy Rogers. In
March 1991, Rusty was a feature on the “Spotlight on the Past,” a show
produced by the Down East Country Music Association. In the 1990s, he
produced an award-winning cable television show, “Rusty Rogers: Tribute
to the American Cowboy.” Rusty was inducted into the Maine,
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Country Music Halls of Fame.
Rusty
spent 28 years with his horses Sunny and Tina, which brought him much
joy.
He
is survived by his wife Patricia Irene Neas, whom he married in 1978;
step daughter Monique Hoffman and her husband, Mike, of Attleboro, MA;
step son Arnold Arsenault and his wife, Tracey, and their children,
Michael and Tyler, of Anaheim, CA; foster son Harold Albee of
Springfield, MA; niece Belinda Osier of New Harbor and Falmouth, ME;
nephew Donald Vigue of New Harbor and Brunswick, ME; niece Maryanne
Kokoszka of New Jersey and Florida; and nephew Michael Kempton of New
Mexico.
Interment
will be in the New Harbor Cemetery with a graveside celebration of
Rusty’s life at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 24.
Condolences,
and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting
www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements
are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home,
612 Main St., Damariscotta. Back
From
www.courant.com
on 06/25/2009 Back
Mike Russell: We have little information on Mike Russell. At some point he left the station and moved to the mid-west. Bob Scherago reported he'd heard Mike died of a heart attack in about 1993. Back
Alan Sagal: Hired by Broadcast Plaza Inc just before the split, Alan reported to work at 1080 Corporation in the News Department. "Close enough," the committee decided. He came to WTIC in 1974 as News Assignment Editor and teamed with Dana Whalen for "The Sunset Special." He did a weekly "Traveling in Connecticut" on the Friday edition of the Steve Morris Show. He covered the 1980 Democratic and Republican conventions. He won the 1980 Connecticut Associated Press award for Outstanding Achievements in Cooperative News Coverage." He left WTIC and went finally with AAA-Hartford where he continued to do travel features on WTIC until he passed away in 1999.
BackRandy
Scalise:
Rinaldo J. Scalise died Saturday, (February 12, 2011) at Candlewood Valley
Nursing Home in New Milford, Connecticut after a long illness. He was
84 years old. Rinaldo, better known as "Randy", was born April 7, 1926
in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Rosario and Concetta Tisci
Scalise of Calabria, Italy. He is survived by his wife of sixty-three
years, Catherine Osochowsky Scalise, presently of Danbury, Connecticut;
brother Dominic Scalise of Durham, Connecticut; sister Mary Anne
Rapuano of Los Osos, California, and three grandchildren, Rosario
Scalise of Danbury, Connecticut, Brenna and Ryan (R.J.) Scalise of New
Milford, Connecticut. A Word War II Army veteran, Randy was stationed
at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as an M.P. Randy and Catherine Scalise were
married on August 6, 1947 in New Haven, Connecticut. They had two
children, Ronald and Claire Scalise Yonan, both deceased. Randy's
career as a television soundman began in the early 1950's at Channel 6
(now WTNH, Channel 8) in New Haven and then at WFSB, Channel 3 in
Hartford, Connecticut. He traveled the world as a part of WFSB's PM
Magazine production team and was shop steward for NABET (The National
Association Of Broadcast Employees & Technicians). While at Channel
3, he volunteered to climb their transmission tower in Avon,
Connecticut and even saved one man's life once, by helping him down the
tower when his lung collapsed. In his free time, Randy enjoyed working
in his yard, hunting at his lodge in New Hampshire and drinking
martinis. A can-do type of guy, he built three houses, in East Haven
and Durham, Connecticut and in Claremont, New Hampshire. All donations
can be made to: The Ron Scalise Memorial Fund, Att: Kurt Heitmann, c/o
CP Communications, 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. Back
Published
in The Hartford Courant on March 1, 2011
Thomas Scanlan: June 4, 1940 - June 1, 2017 - Tom Scanlan worked in the broadcast industry for nearly 50 years, 39 of which were spent in the state of Michigan. He first saw television as a five-year-old when his dad took him into a New York City restaurant, and he was instantly transfixed by a prizefight on a 7 screen on a TV above the door. At 14-years-old with $100 borrowed from his dad, he went into business installing TV antennas in his neighborhood.
In 1966, he graduated from Michigan State University on an Air Force Scholarship, which carried with it a four-year active duty commitment. Scanlan was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service and served as the commanding officer for nine television and radio stations in Turkey and Germany. While in Germany, he organized a campaign to raise funds to broadcast the moon landing of Apollo 11, because at the time, the military broadcasting network received their programming via 16mm, black and white film two to six month after it was first seen in the U.S. Scanlan arranged for a microwave interconnection to Eurovision and paid for it with the money raised, and was able to bring the overseas community seven days of live, real-time broadcasts of the landing and surrounding events to his audience. This event was the first live, overseas satellite television broadcast to military families overseas and demonstrated the need for live transmissions overseas. His pioneering endeavor leads to appropriations of the necessary funds to launch satellite circuits for live broadcasts, a system that remains in place today.
Leaving active duty in 1973, Toms career included working as a staff engineer at WTIC-TV, Hartford while studying electrical engineering at UConn, serving as Owner and General Manager for eight full-power commercial TV stations over the next years while maintaining a career as an active reservist until retiring in 2000 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Of the stations he owned, three, WBKB-TV (Alpena), WBKP-TV (Calumet) and WBUP-TV (Marquette/Ishpeming), were brand new sign-ons, serving new areas in northern Michigan. He also bought and managed WGTU-TV and WGTQ-TV in Traverse City and served as General Manager of four other stations in Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina.
Tom was a lifetime Rotarian, President of Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and the recipient of the Michigan Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award, and President of the Keweenaw Economic Development Association. He was on the Miscowaubik Club Board of Directors and an active supporter of Michigan Tech Hockey. He enjoyed hockey, travel and big bowls of ice cream with family. He relished the chance to watch local news from around the US, with feeds he orchestrated via various satellite providers. He loved telecommunications infrastructure and would stop at any and all microwave transmission tower, AT&T tower or radio/TV transmitter. He was also a train buff and collected antique locks.
Tom
is survived by wife Sue, of Copper Falls, MI and Tucson AZ, son Thomas
Jeffrey (Monique) and daughter Jessica Claire (Bryan Ramsey), and
grandchildren Rowan Ramsey, Nathan Scanlan and Nova Ramsey.
Published
on June 2, 2017 Traverse City, MI Record-Eagle Back
Robert
(Bob) Schlenker: Robert
"Bob" Francis Schlenker, 70, of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Hartford Hospital. Born on June 18, 1946 in
Hartford, he was the son of the late Robert M. and Alice (Caine)
Schlenker. He was a graduate of Wethersfield High School, class of
1965. Bob served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He
was a television editor for ABC News 20/20. He enjoyed fishing, boating
and golfing. Bob will be sadly missed by his family and friends. He is
survived by his daughter, Lauren Schlenker of Wethersfield; two
sisters, Ruth McCabe and husband Charles of St. Petersburg, FL and
Eleanor Gardner and husband Jack of Rocky Hill; sister-in-law Marianne
Schlenker of Wethersfield, as well as many special nieces and nephews
and great-nieces and great-nephews. Besides his parents, he was
predeceased by his brother, Edward Paul Schlenker. Calling hours will
be Saturday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277
Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial
at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Hwy.,
Wethersfield. Burial will be in the State Veterans' Cemetery,
Middletown at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's
memory may be made to the Connecticut Arthritis Foundation, 35 Cold
Spring Rd., Suite 411, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Back
Peter Shaw: Peter
Curtis Shaw, 61, of New
Hartford and Black Point passed away peacefully at home on Thursday,
(February 16, 2006) after a brief illness. He was the devoted husband
of Bonnie Maglathlin Shaw, his wife of 34 years. Born in Hartford July
6, 1944 the son of the late Lester G. Shaw and Mary Jane Shaw, Peter
was raised in West Hartford before moving to New Hartford with his wife
Bonnie 32 years ago. As a young man, Peter served in the Army National
Guard 141st Medical Company. In 1970, he began a successful 27 year
career with television station WFSB, formerly WTIC, Channel 3 as an
engineer/editor. Because of his talent, Peter was honored with
television Emmy awards for his expertisein video/audio media editing in
1991 and 1993. Peter will be fondly remembered for his boundless wit
and humor as well as a devoted UCONN basketball fan, boating on Long
Island Sound, his remarkable mechanical ability, his graciousness and
his love for his Golden Retriever Bud and his feisty cat Moe. Peter was
the proud father of his sons, Jamison Bradford Shaw and Matthew
Williams Shaw. He is also survived by a sister,Barrie Jayne (Shaw)
Prevuznak; four nieces, Laura (Simon) Richardson, Meghan (Halloran)
Romero, Sarah Flynn, and Abby Flynn; three nephews, Eugene Lyn Simon,
Seamus Halloran and Joseph J. Prevuznak III, a sister-in-law, Nancy
(Maglathlin) Flynn,and a brother-in-law, Robert Halloran. He was
predeceased by his sister, Leslie (Shaw) Halloran. A memorial service
will be held on Tuesday February 21 at 2 p.m. at the North
Congregational Church located at 17 Church Street North in New
Hartford. In memory of Peter, the family asks that you consider
becoming an organ donor.
Published in the
Hartford Courant on 02/19/2006
Back
Nick
Skripol: Nicholas
Paul Skripol of Simsbury, went home to be with the Lord on Monday
(November 18, 2002). Mr. Skripol was born in Hartford on July 16, 1918.
He was the son of the late Paul N. Skripol and the late Anna S.
Skripol. He attended local public schools and had the distinction of
skipping two grades during his tenure, He was a veteran of World War II
serving his country in the U.S. Navy in Naval lntelligence as a liason
and interpreter. He was a lifelong member and officer in the Boulevard
Baptist Church in West Hartford. He was a 27 year veteran of the
Hartford Police Force serving in both the detective and patrol
divisions. He was one of two original officers awarded, in 1957, the
City of Hartford Police Medal for Heroism. He was a member of the
Hartford Police Veterans Association, Inc. and the Hartford PBA Police
Association. After retiring from the City of Hartford, he briefly
worked as Security Director for Travelers Broadcasting System (WTIC)
and then undertook his third career with the Connecticut Department of
Motor Vehicles. Nick leaves his wife of 60 years, Mary G. Skripol of
Simsbury; two sons and daughter, Dr. James N. Skripol and his wife, Dr.
Vivian A. Skripol of Clinton, NY; Attorney Paul G. Skripol and his
wife, Roberta R. Skripol of Farmington; and Susan L. Stewart of Avon.
He also leaves two grandsons, Harrison Stewart and Graydon Stewart of
Avon and his sister, Katherine S. Lind of Hartford. He was predeceased
by his sisters, Mary S. Anderson, Theresa S. Calusine and Elizabeth S.
Shuman and his brother Frederick T. Skripol. Friends may call at the
Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St, Rte. 4, Unionville on Thursday from
2-6 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the
Ahern Funeral Home with the Rev. Amos J. Overton officiating, followed
by burial in Simsbury Cemetery in Simsbury. Back
Published in The
Hartford Courant from
November 20 to November 21, 2002
Woody
Sloan: Harwinton-
George W. "Woody" Sloan, Jr., 89, died Tuesday, October 27, 2015 with
his family at his side. He was the beloved husband of Kathleen M.
(MacAskill) Sloan. Mr. Sloan was born in Montclair, NJ, on August 3,
1926, son of the late George W. Sloan, Sr., and Adele (Turner) Sloan,
and had been a Harwinton resident since 1960 where he was a longtime
member of the Harwinton Tennis Club. He was a WWII U.S. Navy Veteran,
had been active in scouting where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Woody obtained his Master's degree from Boston University School of
Communications and was a retired sales manager from WTIC-TV. He is
survived by his wife Kathleen, his sons Mark W. Sloan of Goshen, and
Craig H. Sloan and his wife Cyndi of Torrington, two daughters, Ellen
H. Sloan and her husband Charles Smith of West Hartland, and Robin
Sloan and her husband Rowland Denny of Norfolk, three grandchildren,
and three nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Peter Sloan.
Services will be held Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 11:00a.m. at
Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Prospect St., Torrington. Burial will be
private. Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington, is in
care of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Harwinton Volunteer Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 165, Harwinton, CT
06791. To offer an online condolence, please visit www.gleesonryanfh.com
Published in The
Hartford Courant
on Oct. 31, 2015 Back
Dillon
Smith: Dillon Smith, a
longtime NBC executive in Chicago, died Thursday February 22, 2013 at
his Naples home. He was 71.
A native of Johnstown, PA., Smith attended Northwestern University. He
holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the Medill School of
Journalism and a Northwestern law degree.
During his 15
years with WMAQ-TV (NBC) Chicago, Smith received many awards. He won
five consecutive Emmys from 1975 to 1979 for Outstanding Editorial
Achievement. A documentary he produced on the criminal justice system
won a Silver Gavel Award in 1976 from the American Bar Association.
Smith was active
in Northwestern alumni affairs. He is a former president of the Medill
Alumni Association and was a current member of the Medill Board of
Advisors. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Medill as an
adjunct faculty member.
In 1983, he
received an Alumni Service Award from Northwestern.
Smith moved to
Naples in 1996. He lived in Quail Creek Estates where he was an active
low-handicap golfer.
Smith is
survived by his wife, Patricia; four children, Kevin Smith, Lisa
Fulton, Colleen Lenderman, Kerry Smith, all from the Chicago area; and
ten grandchildren.
A funeral mass
is being held Thursday in Chicago.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Dillon Smith
Fund, Office of Alumni Relations & Development, Northwestern
University, 1201 Davis St. , Evanston, IL, 60208 Back
Published
in Naples Daily News on February 26, 2013
Ken
Smith: Kendall
Smith, of West Hartford, beloved husband of Jean (Slade) Smith, died on
Tuesday, (May 25, 1999) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Boston, MA, May
of 1925, he grew up on Cape Cod, MA. During World War II, he served
aboard a minesweeper in the Pacific. Following the war, he attended
Drake University in Des Moines, IA. He was in broadcasting for much of
his adult life, starting with radio (at WOCB,West Yarmouth, MA) during
high school. His first television job was at WHEN-TV in Syracuse, NY,
where he met his wife in 1949. He served as program manager for
WHYN-TV, Springfield, MA from 1953 to 1957,when he became assistant
program manager at WTIC-TV, Channel 3 in Hartford, then owned by The
Travelers. After a series of promotions, he was appointed
vice-president, station manager and elected to the Board of Directors.
When the station was sold to Post-Newsweek Stations in 1974, he was
appointed vice-president, Broadcast Operations for the new WFSB. In
1976, he joined Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (now CIGNA
Corporation) as manager of Corporate Audiovisual Services. He retired
as director of communication services in November, 1988, later serving
as a consultant to CIGNA. He also served as a member of the Board of
Directors of West Hartford Community Television (WHC-TV), the local
access channel. A communicant of St. Helena Parish in West Hartford, he
was one of the original trustees of the parish. He was a member of the
Old Guard of West Hartford and of the Hartford Chorale. During his
business career he held memberships in several professional
organizations, including the Broadcast Pioneers and International
Television Association. In addition to his beloved wife, he leaves a
daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and William D'Eugenio of Plainville;
five sons and two daughters-in-law, Mark and his wife Debra of Windham;
Joel and his wife Elizabeth of West Hartford; Gregory of West Hartford;
Brian of New York City, NY; and Paul of Chicago, IL; eight
grandchildren, Justin, Matthew and Nicole Smith of Windham; Katie,
Annmarie and Brendan Smith of West Hartford; Billy and Emily D'Eugenio
of Plainville; and many relatives and friends. The funeral will be
Saturday at 9:15 a.m. from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington
Ave., West Hartford, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the
Church of St. Helena, West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview
Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday, 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spondylitis Assoc., 13135
Ventura Blvd., Suite 300, Studio City, CA 91604 or St. Helena Church,
30 Echo Lane, West Hartford, 06107. Back
Bob
Steele: Robert L (for
Elmer) Steele died in his sleep at his home in Wethersfield on Dec. 6,
2002. His middle
initial actually stood for Lee.
Jim Shea of the Hartford Courant began his obit on the front
page by saying,
"The word for the day is adieu. Bob Steele, the voice that coaxed
Connecticut from
slumber for 66 years, closed a thousand schools, whistled a million
tunes, told a zillion
corny jokes and did more for proper pronunciation and grammar than an
army of English
teachers, died Friday at the age of 91."
The Steele family said that he had been feeling fine. Just
two days before, he
autographed 52 copies of his book "The word for the day" for the
Travelers
Employees Club.
Brad Davis, now the morning man at WDRC, called Steele his
mentor as he was
interviewed on WVIT Channel 30 6:00 News. "He always said that in your
presentation,
to remember you are not speaking to a class of college professors, you
are speaking to
everyday working people. Talk to one person at a time. He was tops."
Paul Sutton, former announcer, said, "What can you say about
a legend that
hasn’t been said a hundred times over. We all had the pleasure, of
knowing and
working with Bob Steele. On the few mornings I had the opportunity
sitting next to him as
his announcer, (when everyone else was on vacation) I felt more than,
that I had
"arrived" It was, indeed an honor, to just be there contributing to his
show, in
any minute way possible. He was genuinely loved by everybody. I shall
miss him, the
cornerstone of WTIC 1080.
Steele "retired" from his six day a week schedule on Oct. 1,
1991, 55
years to the day from when he became a junior staff announcer at WTIC.
Like all beginners,
he was hired on six-month probation. His rich baritone voice and
genuine personality
captivated the audience so Bob became part of the WTIC family.
He reported sports and in 1942 took over the "G. Fox Morning
Watch" after
Ben Hawthorne went to war. The show was eventually renamed "The Bob
Steele
Show".
Bob used to threaten retirement every April 1st (April
Fool's Day) but it was not
until 1991 that he made it stick. Even then, he hosted his old show on
the first Saturday
of each month, except for December, January and February..Bob's son
Phil said his father
had told the family that the November 2nd would be his last. "Not
because he was
sick. It was just that at 91 he wanted to be free of obligations and
commitments like
that. He ended that show by saying 'auf Wiedersehen, cheerio, sayonara,
and then ' What
I'm trying to say is, goodbye.'
"Those were his last words on the air. It turned out to be
his last
show."
"He was the most most professional person I ever worked
with," said
Arnold Dean. "If the President of the United States came in and said
'nucular' rather
than 'nuclear', I'll bet Bob would suggest the President check his
pronunciation."
Some Classic Steele:
"Where I live in Wethersfield, we have a scientist who's
active in genetics.
He crossed a praying mantis with a termite. Got a bug that says grace
before eating your
house."
"One of his favorite things was breaking you up while you
were on the
air," Dean added. "He got me a few times."
The family released a statement that Bob wrote in 1996,
detailing how he wanted to
be remembered.
"Robert Lee Steele, born Kansas City, Mo. July 31, 1911.
Moved to Hartford in
1936. Husband of Shirley (Hanson) Steele, father of four sons, Robert
H. (former U.S.
Congressman) Paul A., Philip L., and Steven M. and eight grandchildren
and two great
grandchildren. Retired vice-president WTIC Radio, announcer, morning
personality and
sports director. Member National Radio Hall of Fame, Connecticut Sports
Hall of Fame, four
times named Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year, recipient of Marconi
Award for top radio
ratings, received Pierpont Edwards Awards for distinguished Masonic
Service, 33 degree
Mason, 50-year Shriner, Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters)
University of
Hartford. Weight 202 � lb." Back
John Stevens:
See Joseph Bourret
Paul
Sutton: SUTTON,
PAUL VINCENT, in Westfield, MA, July 10, 2009, after a prolonged
illness. Born in Providence, RI, on September 27, 1936, to the late
Geraldine (Payne) and Francis X. Sutton. Husband of the late Dorothy
(Kosierowski). He leaves a daughter, Maria and her husband Douglas
Drake of Agawam, MA, a son, Brian Sutton, MD and his wife Cherie
Santagate, of Westfield and a son, Peter and his wife Roberta Beauchamp
of Somerville, MA. He also leaves his grandchildren, Frances, Adam, and
Rosie Sutton and Joseph and Patrick Drake. He was the brother of David
(Edith) P. Sutton, Esq. of Annapolis, MD, Mary (Earl) Mahar and Jean
Tierney, of Coventry, RI, and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Paul
graduated from St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, RI, and served in the
US Air Force from 1957 to 1961. He received a degree in broadcasting
from Emerson College and began his career at WKRI in W. Warwick, RI.
Locally, Paul worked as radio disc jockey at WTXL and WSPR in
Springfield. His radio career reached its pinnacle at WTIC in Hartford
where he worked as a staff announcer for several years and hosted his
own late-night talk-show.
Paul
will be best remembered as the local TV weatherman for WGGB, Channel
40, in Springfield, where he worked from 1979 to 1999. During this
tenure, he co-hosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for Muscular
Dystrophy for many years. He also co-chaired, along with Wade Boggs,
the annual Multiple Sclerosis Readathon. He was the founder of the
annual Christmas card campaign, 'Operation Tiny Tim', on behalf of the
pediatric patients of the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, MA. In his
retirement, Paul was a member of the Dan Kane Singers, a patron of the
local arts including the Springfield Symphony, and a world-traveler. He
was an avid Red Sox fan until the end. The funeral for Paul will be
held on Tuesday, July 14th, at 9 AM from Firtion-Adams Funeral Service,
76 Broad Street, Westfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at
10 am in St. Mary's Church, 28 Bartlett Street. Burial will follow in
Center Cemetery in Agawam. Calling hours will be held on Monday at the
funeral home from 4-8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Our
Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church Building Fund in Westfield MA or
Griffin's Friends Children's Cancer Fund c/o Baystate Health
Foundation. Firtionadams.com
Published in The
Providence Journal on 7/12/2009 Back
James Thompson:
James A. Thompson of Stratford, CT passed away January 12, 2023 following three-plus years of cancer treatment. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on May 5, 1933
to the late Leonard and Juliette (Sirvent) Thompson, Jim traveled the world as a child and ended up speaking five languages. He was a U.S. Army veteran and
attended St. Francis College in Pennsylvania. For more than half a century Jim was a TV-Radio Broadcaster/News Director and known as "The Voice of Greenwich"
before retiring. He had been on the air at WTIC-AM-FM-TV in Hartford, CT as the evening sports anchor and hosted the children's show, "The Ranger Station"
in Hartford and at Cablevision of Connecticut's Channel 12 News as they began operations in Norwalk. With his passion for music Jim created and hosted a
program called "Mario Lanza and Friends" where he invited singers from the Metropolitan Opera and various celebrities to co-host. His beautiful baritone
voice was not only easy to listen to for news and interviews but he also sang for President Nixon and was featured on the "Ed Sullivan Show" after winning
the "All Army Entertainment Contest" for best vocals. Jim is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 35 years Dima Joseph-Thompson.
He is also survived by his four children, James Thompson and his wife Carol of Florida, Colleen Wasicko and her husband Michael of Maryland,
Leonard Thompson of Connecticut and Tiffany Antista and her husband Ryan of California, six cherished grandchildren, Jimmy Lee Thompson (Kasey),
Kimberly Grandzol (Rich), Natalie, Michael, Melissa and Katie Wasicko as well as two great-grandchildren, Rowan and Eleanor Grandzol.
Jim has had a strong faith-based life journey and will be remembered at a Christian Mass celebration expected in late Spring at St. Mark Church in Stratford.
The Adzima Funeral Home in Stratford has been entrusted with arrangements.
Donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Impact the lives of St. Jude kids - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org)
or the Connecticut Humane Society Home – Connecticut Humane Society ( cthumane.org ).
For more information or to make an online condolence please visit www.adzimafuneralhome.com
Back
Bob Tyrol: Veteran broadcaster
Robert S.
Tyrol, whose legendary voice swept him
from his job as mail clerk for the Travelers Insurance Co. through an
illustrious career
as a radio announcer and chairman of WTIC radio's parent company, died
Friday, December
13, 1991, at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. He
was 68. In 1941, Mr. Tyrol was a runner for the radio department of
Travelers, then the
parent company of WTIC radio, when he made his debut announcing the NBC
program "The
United States Coast Guard on Parade" from New London.
At 17, his voice was one of the youngest to be heard over
the air waves from coast
to coast.
Back
Fred Wade: Frederick L. Wade, a 44-year veteran of
the radio broadcasting industry and a former singer, announcer and
actor on WTIC-AM, died Wednesday at his home in West Hartford. He was
95.
Over the years, his audiences ranged from U.S. presidents to Bowery
derelicts. He had spent 35 years of his career at WTIC.
Mr. Wade had his broadcasting debut in East Springfield, Mass., in
1921, only a year after the first radio station went on the air. The
studio of Station WBZ was in a shed on the roof of a factory, and Mr.
Wade sang a few songs into a carbon microphone.
Mr. Wade, a Springfield native, had been singing professionally in New
England and New York for many years as "New England's Phenomenal Boy
Soprano." He was taught to harmonize at an early age by his mother, an
amateur singer. Before World War I, in Massachusetts and Connecticut
nickelodeons, he sang such songs as "On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine"
with corresponding lantern slides flashing on a screen.
He performed for President William Howard Taft at a Boy Scout
conference in New York.
"I was so excited," he said later, in an interview for a WTIC
newsletter. "I sang the second verse of `When You Come to the End of a
Perfect Day' before I sang the first."
He also sang at Sing Sing Prison and missions in New York's Bowery.
"They'd have me sing a couple of very sad songs to put the audience in
the proper frame of mind for the sermon," Mr. Wade once recalled.
Mr. Wade began his radio career when his voice changed; for a time, he
was billed as "The Mysterious Tenor," and listeners were asked to guess
his identity.
" `The Mysterious Tenor' wasn't unmasked until Joe White, `The Silver
Masked Tenor,' came to town and complained that two singing mystery men
were one too many," the newsletter said.
In the 1930s and early 1940s, Mr. Wade worked for WTIC. He sang as the
featured vocalist with Norman Cloutier's "Merry Madcaps" and with the
WTIC Concert Orchestra, and was part of a singing duo billed as "The
Boy and Girl from Song Land."
He also had a role in the long- running WTIC comedy program, "The
Wrightville Clarion," playing Zeke Peck, the advertising manager of a
country weekly; "an old battle- axe" named Monrovia Brown; and a parrot
named Twinkletoes. Other regulars on the show were actors Ed Begley,
Michael O'Shea and Louis Nye.
Mr. Wade and organist Hal Kolb were in a WTIC studio on Dec. 7, 1941,
when a minister's sermon on the "Sabbath Message" program was
interrupted by a bulletin from Pearl Harbor.
"Kolb listened to me read the bulletin on the Pearl Harbor bombing,
looked at the hymn he was scheduled to play next and hoped I'd be able
to switch to the network before he had to play it," Mr. Wade recalled.
"I switched to NBC immediately and Kolb didn't have to punctuate the
Pearl Harbor announcement by playing `Joy to the World.' "
For many years he served as supervisor of announcers, auditions manager
and production manager for the station. Mr. Wade retired as production
manager in 1966.
He had lived in West Hartford since 1962, and formerly resided in
Farmington.
Mr. Wade was a member of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford and of the
Masonic Lodge in Springfield.
By MARY K. FEENEY;
COURANT STAFF WRITER
THE HARTFORD
COURANT | DEC 16, 1995 Back
Godfrey Walters
GGodfrey Mortimer Walters, born March 23, 1939 in St. Ann, Jamaica, with a registered birth date of April 8, 1939, transitioned
to be with his Heavenly Father on January 3, 2023. Godfrey emigrated to the U.S., pursuing his passion as a photographer and
enjoyed an outstanding career as a photojournalist, working for WFSB News, the CBS News Affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut,
for over 30 years. Godfrey retired from WFSB in the late 1990s and later relocated to El Mirage, Arizona, and then to
Lake Forest, California in June 2021 to be closer to two of his children; Darice Michelle & Jennifer Marcella.
Godfrey is survived by his children; Darice Michelle, Lesley Maureen, Godfrey Marc, & Jennifer Marcella, and his grandchildren;
Jasmin, Joshua, & Eden. A private memorial for Godfrey Mortimer Walters will take place on
Friday, January 27, 2023, 1:00pm at El Toro Memorial Park, Lake Forest, CA.
Published by Hartford Courant from Jan. 21 to Jan. 22, 2023.
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Gerald Lee Weed: Gerald Lee Weed, 69, of South Point, Ohio, passed away Sunday, January 27, 2008, in Cabell Huntington Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday, January 31, 2008, at Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington, W.Va., with Pastor Wilmer Napier officiating. Burial will be in Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. Gerald was born March 2, 1938, in Huntington, a son of the late John William and Lillian Irene Newman Weed. Also preceding him in death were a sister, Corintha Lou Weed, and a brother, William "Buddy" Weed. He was a retired editor for ESPN and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was a member of El Hasa Shrines A.A.O.N.M.S. of Ashland, Ky.; International Shrine Clown Association; Wyllys-St. John's Lodge #4 AF&AM of West Hartford, Conn.; and American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Edith Miller Weed; a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Marc Timbrook of Leesburg, Va.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Teresa Weed and John Weed, all of Huntington; a stepdaughter, Flora McLaughlin of Springfield, Mass.; a sister and brother-in-law, Cleva Jane and Stephen Roswall of Hanover, Pa.; eight grandchildren, Jerry, Kara, Brian and Tracy Timbrook of Leesburg, Va., Amy DeFoe, Ellen Weed, and Christopher Weed, all of Huntington, and Katie Weed of Ranson, W.Va.; and two great-grandchildren, Rylan Lee Hardy and Dylan Michael Hardy. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at Chapman's Mortuary, where a Masonic service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. by Proctorville Lodge #550 F&AM. Back
John Welch:John Clifford Welch, 85, formerly of Somers and Old Wethersfield, departed this life on Tuesday, (March 15, 2005). He was the devoted husband of the late Ernestine (Panciera) Welch for 53 years. Born on July 14, 1919 in Somers to Nelson and Roselle (Parsons) Welch. In his early years John belonged to the Boy Scouts of American Troop 83 in Somers. He graduated from Rockville High School class of 1937. Upon graduation from high school John went on to attend Valparaiso Technical School in Indiana and also Bliss Technical School in Washington, DC. Mr. Welch was a veteran of the United States Navy serving during World War II, he was stationed in Hawaii and aboard the USS Sitkoh Bay as an ARTC. John began his career at KVIC in Victoria, TX. Following his retirement after 40 years of his career in broadcast engineering at Channel 3/WTIC he reactivated his interest in HAM radio using the call letters W1MWP. He will be sadly missed by his two sons, Timothy and his wife Kathleen Welch of Somers and Clifford and his wife Anne-Marie Welch of Raynham, MA; a daughter, Ann Marie and her husband Philip Arrowsmith of Enfield; a sister, Katherine Welch of Suffield; four grandchildren, Jason, Andrew, and Jessica Welch and Sarah Maskill; a great grandchild, Hollise Welch; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral services will be held at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main Street (Route 190) on Friday, March 18, at 1 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Barry Cass officiating. Interment will be in West Cemetery in Somers. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Somers Funeral Home TODAY, March 17, from the hours of 4–8 p.m. Memorial Donations to help Somers Boy Scouts lodge fund and may be directed to Friends of Somers Boy Scouts troop #387, 26 Lindell Drive, Somers, CT 06071. Attn: Building Fund. To leave a message of hope and remembrance please visit our web-site at www.somersfuneralhome.com. Published in the Hartford Courant on 3/17/2005.
Marjorie Wentworth: Marjorie (Stavola) Wentworth, 84, of Windsor, beloved wife for 35 years of the late John Irvin Wentworth, passed away on Tuesday (July 31, 2007), at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Hartford on June 23, 1923, daughter of the late James Francis and Victoria (Benard) Stavola, she was raised in Hartford and had spent most of her life in Windsor. Marjorie graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford and continued her education at Larsen College in Hamden and received her associate degree in business. After graduating, Marjorie took a position with WTIC Radio in Hartford and eventually rose to the position of Traffic Manager, planning all the radio programs throughout the day. After she left to care for her family, she continued to work with her husband managing the East Hartford Cab Company. In her spare time, Marjorie enjoyed volunteering and served as the past president of both the Connecticut Opera Guild and the Mt. St. Joseph Alumni. Most of all, Marjorie will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother. She leaves a son, Gregory Wentworth and his wife Rebecca of Windsor; a daughter, Victoria N. Wentworth of Windsor; a sister, Jeannette S. Bird and her husband Robert of Jupiter, FL; and eight nieces and nephews. Besides her husband she was predeceased by two sisters, Shirley S. Macari and Phyllis S. Healey. Family and friends may gather on Saturday, August 4, 9:15 a.m., at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor, followed by a Funeral Mass, 10 a.m., at St. Gabriel Church, Windsor. Burial will follow in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor. Her family will receive friends on Friday, August 3, 5-8 p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Gabriel Church, 379 Broad St., Windsor, CT 06095 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104-2396. For online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.