United States High School Yearbooks by County
William J. Georgia, 80, father of Roxbury man
William J. Georgia, 80, of 693 Long Hill Ave., Shelton, died Nov. 10 at his home. He was the husband of Agnes (Shortt) Georgia.
Mr. Georgia was born Dec. 16, 1919, in Shelton, son of the late Peter and Josephine (Quadretti) Georgia.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He owned the Sunnyside Spirit Shop in Shelton before retiring.
Mr. Georgia was a member of the Bernardo Council, Knights of Columbus, Disabled American Veterans Association and American Legion Post 0016 in Shelton. He was a communicant of Saint Margaret Mary Church.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, William of Roxbury and the Rev. John J. Georgia; two daughters, Mary Young of Derby and Dee Amrich of Florida; and a sister, Frances Brooks of Fishkill, N.Y.
The Carpino Funeral Home of Southbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Saint Margaret Mary Church Building Fund, Long Hill Ave., Shelton, CT 06484; or to Hospice Can Support Care, P.O. Box 90, Wallingford, CT 06492; or to St. Bernadette School Development Fund, 20 Burr St., New Haven, CT 06512.
Irene (Mahannah) Lahr, 89, died in New Milford
Irene (Mahannah) Lahr, 89, of Hop Brook Road in Brookfield, died Nov. 12 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of Paul H. Lahr.
She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, daughter of the late Clark and Inez Roller Mahannah. She attended local schools and Coe College of Cedar Rapids, where she was a member of Chi Omega.
She held administrative and organizational positions with commercial, religious and educational institutions, her abundant skills being recognized by all who knew her.
Her great love was crafts. She was a passionate craftsperson working in a wide variety of disciplines beginning with pottery and then jewelry, silk-screen and papercraft, to name just a few.
Mrs. Lahr lived for a time in Buffalo, N.Y., and, while there, she remained an active member of the Buffalo Craftsmen. One of the highlights of her career was designing the crafts studio for the then new Student Union at the University of New York at Buffalo, and serving as its first director.
She moved later to South Salem, N.Y., and in 1972 to Brookfield, where she joined the Brookfield Craft Center. She remained active for many years, not only taking classes but also contributing her talents as bookkeeper, director of the metalsmithing studio and as a member of its Board of Trustees.
Mrs. Lahr was a good friend and neighbor and loving wife and mother. She will be remembered for her creative spirit, jolly laugh, good nature, great cooking and her 64-year marriage to her beloved husband.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, John Lahr, of Golden, Colo.; a daughter, Marybeth L. Katz, of New York City; a brother, Clark Mahannah, of Florida; a sister, Beth Nicholas, of Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Taya Lahr, Nils Lahr and Beth Olsen; and several nieces and nephews.
A private gathering will be held at a later date.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804.
The Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield, is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas Seagriff Sr., 79, father of New Milfordite
Thomas W. Seagriff Sr., 79, of Allamuchy, N.J., died Nov. 8 after a long illness. He was the husband of Eileen Seagriff, who predeceased him.
Mr. Seagriff was born and raised in New York City and served in the Army during World War II. He moved his family to Brookfield in 1958, when Eagle Pencil Co. relocated in Danbury.
In 1966, he was transferred to All-Rite Pen Co. in New Jersey, where he retired as Director of Personnel after 37 years with the Berol Corporation.
Mr. Seagriff enjoyed outdoor activities, travel and stamp collecting. In his later years, he lived with his daughter, Linda, and her family. He had fond memories of his association with the Danbury/Brookfield area.
Besides his daughter, Linda, her husband, Greg Erling, and their children, Jessica and Zachary, of Allamuchy, N.J., he is survived by a son, Thomas W. Seagriff Jr., his wife, Diane, and their daughter, Kathleen, of New Milford. He was predeceased by a son, Wayne.
Mr. Seagriff was buried Nov. 10 in Totowa, N.J., beside his beloved wife of 46 years and his son.
Robin J. Retalis, 44, leaves in-laws in Roxbury
Robin Jean Retalis, 44, of Wingdale, N.Y., died Nov. 6 in Roxbury at the home of her husband’s parents, William and Patricia Berth. She was the wife of Peter Retalis.
Mrs. Retalis was born in Danbury March 20, 1956, a daughter of Paul and Beverly (Purinton) Boucher.
She was raised in Newtown, where she attended Newtown schools. She later moved to Danbury with her husband and attended Western Connecticut State University and began her family. She and her family then relocated to Brewster, N.Y.
Mrs. Retalis worked for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals as an administrative assistant in the Research and Development Division for the last several years.
Mrs. Retalis was a loving and devoted wife and mother who was totally involved in her children’s activities, which icnluded soccer, scouts, school activities and all facets of her husband’s and children’s lives.
Besides her husband of 22 years, she is also survived by her parents, Paul and Beverly Boucher of Newtown; her husband’s parents, William and Patricia Berth of Roxbury; a son, Nicholas of Wingdale; a daughter, Katherine of Wingdale; a brother, Kurt Boucher of New Mexico; two sisters, Cheryl Boucher of Newtown and Karen Dwinells of Japan; two nephews, Tyler Dwinells and Zachary Retalis; and a niece, Amanda Dwinells.
The Tomlinson Homestead of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897; or to Regional Hospice of Western CT, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Virginia Lacombe, 69, worked at Stanley’s Diner
Virginia L. "Ginger" (Hazard) Payne Lacombe, 69, of Huntingdon, Tenn., died Nov. 13. She was the wife of Henry E. Lacombe.
She was born April 15, 1931 in Yonkers, N.Y., a daughter of the late Helen and Stanley Czarnecki. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1949 and from Western Connecticut State College in 1966.
She worked at Stanley’s Diner in New Milford for 25 years.
She is survived by a son, Richard Payne of Newburgh, N.Y.; daughters Patricia Jacobsen of Bolivar, N.Y., Lori Dufour of Brookfield and Victoria Baker of North Syracuse, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; one brother; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Toni McBreairty of Amenia, N.Y.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Brookfield Congregational Church in Brookfield Center.
Memorial service for Ernest Silvernail set
A memorial service for Ernest Silvernail, who died Nov. 2, will be held Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The service will take place at the United Methodist Church, 68 Danbury Road (Route 7), New Milford.
Robert Taggart Sr., 62, longtime K-C employee
Robert William Taggart Sr., 62, of Gaylordsville died Nov. 11 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of the late Barbara Ann (Box) Taggart.
Mr. Taggart was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 25, 1938, a son of Lydia (Pagan) Taggart of Danbury and the late Paul Taggart.
He was raised in Bethel and joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 and was stationed in Korea. Upon his discharge, he moved to New Milford and was employed as a crew leader at Kimberly-Clark. In 1993, he retired after a 36-year career.
In his younger years, he enjoyed playing softball for the New Milford men’s team and was a member of the "Tip Up" football team.
Besides his mother, Mr. Taggart is survived by three sons, Robert Jr. of Kent, Jeffrey of Gaylordsville and Donald of San Diego; two daughters, Lisa Trudeau of New Milford and Helen Bray of Richmond, Ind.; two brothers, John of Colorado and Thomas of Danbury; three sisters, Lydia "Lee" Mitchell of Rhode Island, Margie Perusse of Georgia and Elizabeth Santore of Danbury; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Ryan, 79, was a New Milford resident
Helen Ryan, 79, of 299 Kent Road, New Milford, died Nov. 10 at Candlewood Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center in New Milford. She was the wife of Ernest S. Ryan.
Mrs. Ryan was born in Norwalk Sept. 7, 1921, a daughter of Louis and Rose Kuhn.
She attended Norwalk schools and was a member of the Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New Milford. She was an avid bingo player.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Beverly Luckner and her husband Gary of Brookfield and Denese Bortot and her husband Danny of Norwalk; a grandson, Richard Garofola of Danbury; a sister, Verna O’Boy of Norwalk; a brother, Albert Kuhn of Norwalk; and several nieces and a nephew.
The Collins Funeral Home of Norwalk was in charge of arrangements.
Alyssa Bergman, 38, leaves in-laws in New Milford
Alyssa (Karpinski) Bergman, 38, of Danbury, died Nov. 7 at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of David W. Bergman.
Mrs. Bergman was born in Bridgeport March 6, 1962, the daughter of Al Karpinski of Fairfield and the late Barbara Karpinski.
She was a resident of Danbury for the past 14 years. She was a graduate of Andrew Warde High School, attended UConn Stamford Branch and received her bachelor’s degree from Wichita Falls University.
Mrs. Bergman was a former medical and radiology technician in the Danbury area for many years.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sisters, Lauren Karpinski-De Siena and her husband Brian of West Haven and Daryl Sorge and her husband Anthony of Trumbull; a brother, Christopher of Shelton; two nephews, Anthony and Daniel Sorge; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Donna Bergman of New Milford.
The Commerce Hill Funeral Home of Bridgeport was in charge of arrangements.
The Rev. Vincent Flynn, 83, former Kent pastor
The Rev. Vincent John Flynn, 83, former pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Kent, died Nov. 8 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.
The Rev. Flynn was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Bridgeport, son of the late John and Eva (Dell) Flynn.
He studied for the priesthood at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield from 1937 to 1940, after which he attended St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, N.Y., from 1940 to 1945, where he studied philosophy and theology.
On Dec. 22, 1945, he was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford at St. Joseph’s Cathedral by the Most Rev. Henry J. O’Brien, D.D.
The Rev. Flynn served as an assistant pastor of several parishes in the archdiocese, including St. Rose in East Hartford, St. Augustine in North Branford, St. Lawrence in West Haven, St. Francis in Torrington, St. Mary’s Church in Meriden and St. James in Manchester.
In 1947, he was named chaplain of St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, a position he held for many years. On June 12, 1970, he was appointed administrator of Sacred Heart, where he served until his retirement in 1990. In 1987, during his pastorate, he established Sacred Heart Cemetery in the Flanders section of Kent.
The Rev. Flynn had resided in Cornwall since his retirement.
Viewing will take place after 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday) at Sacred Heart Church in Kent. A mass of Christian Burial will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Kent.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Harold Titus, 78, father of three local residents
Harold G. Titus, 78, of 115 Sycamore Drive, Rogersville, Tenn., formerly of New Milford, died Nov. 9 at the Church Hill Life Care and Rehab Center in Rogersville after an extended illness. He was the husband of Dorothy (Ventres) Titus.
Mr. Titus was born in the Bronx, N.Y., July 30, 1922, a son of the late Carl and Florence (Maurer) Titus. He was a graduate of New Canaan High School, Class of 1940, and a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 with the 50th Signal BN 7th Corps of the 1st Army in the European theater.
Mr. Titus had been employed by the Connecticut State Highway Department, retiring in 1982 after 33 years of service.
He was long active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He had been a member and past noble grand of Good Shepherd Lodge No. 65 IOOF of New Milford and had served as a past grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Connecticut.
He had been past president of the Connecticut Eye Bank and received a lifetime achievement award from the Connecticut Eye Bank and Research Foundation.
Mr. Titus had lived in New Milford from 1952 to 1995, when he moved to Rogersville, where he had been a member of the Rogersville United Methodist Church and Rogersville American Legion Post No. 21.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Martin of New Milford; three daughters, Carla Lynn Owens of Whitesburg, Tenn., Irene Ann Moore and Dee Marie Coyle, both of Warren; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Connecticut Eye Bank and Research Foundation c/o New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT 06050.
