United States High School Yearbooks by County
Peter G. DiLeo
Peter G. DiLeo, 56, a longtime Old Greenwich resident and Director of Communications and Racial Justice at the YWCA of Greenwich, died on Oct. 20, 2009 at the Rosenthal Hospice Residence in Stamford after a battle with cancer.
He was born in Hackensack, N.J. on Aug. 6, 1953 to John M. DiLeo and Ann R. Colello and earned an undergraduate degree in political science and psychology from George Washington University.
After college, DiLeo became a legislative research assistant in Washington, D.C., where he served on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency and worked directly for Sen. Birch Bayh.
DiLeo then received a master`s degree in corporate and political communication from Fairfield University and master`s degree in marriage and family therapy from Bridgeport University. He was a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Prior to his position at the YWCA, he also worked for Magellan Health Services as the program coordinator for the employee assistance program that served more than 5, 000 U.S. Postal Service employees and their family members. During his career he was also Internship Coordinator for the University of Connecticut and director of development and public information for Hospice Care, Inc. and executive director of recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a non-profit organization that serves people with visual impairments.
DiLeo lived in Stamford before moving to Old Greenwich in 1994 and volunteered his time at numerous Stamford social service agencies. He also served on a number of board of directors, including Domestic Violence Services, The Connecticut Primary Care Association, The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Connecticut, Gateway Communities and Stamford Cares.
In his free time, DiLeo was an avid swimmer who regularly swam laps at the Italian Center of Stamford, where he was a member for more than 20 years. He was a voracious reader of historical fiction and in healthier days, his family said that he loved nothing more than walking with friends at Tod`s Point, riding his motorcycle, jumping the waves on the Jersey Shore and savoring a Kir Royale at the end of a hot summer afternoon while listening to Tom Waits.
Family and friends will remember the vibrancy of his voice, his laugh and the way he was able to bring a room full of people to life. He had a wonderfully balanced view of life and was one of a handful of people who truly knew the meaning of living each day to its fullest, they said.
He is survived by his former wife Meredith; his daughter Indea; two sisters, Kathleen Zorner of Venice, Fla. and Rita O`Brien of Paramus, N.J.; and two brothers, J. Richard DiLeo of Longwood, Fla. and Charles Colello of Vienna, Va. He also leaves several nieces and nephews: Brigitte, Heidi, Lisa, Christina, Debi, Jessica, Laura, Eric, Bill and Charlie. Services were private.
Gordon Forsyth
Gordon Forsyth, Greenwich resident, passed away on Oct. 23, 2009.
He was born in 1921 in Elgin, Scotland to Gordon Stuart and Jessie Forsyth, and traveled to Connecticut as a young boy.
Forsyth earned his living tending the land, as his fathers did before him, and his horticulture career flourished during the time in Greenwich`s history of Gold Coast estates along Byram Shore Road. He designed, constructed, researched and planted formal, rose, fruit and vegetable gardens on the Milbank estate and his work included maintaining one of the largest art deco greenhouses in the Northeast.
He later opened his practice to English garden design on the neighboring Jennings estate.
Forsyth was a past president of the Fairfield Horticulture Society and recognized at the New York Flower Show. Friends recalled him as a true professional and a force to contend with in competition.
He hunted from Canada to Montana, fished Long Island Sound and enjoyed a round of golf or bridge.
Forsyth was the patriarch of the family and a respected member of his community. Family and friends will remember him as a man with integrity whose honesty was as strong as his handshake and his word.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Forsyth; three children: Mimi, Hope and Gordon; and five grandchildren.
A celebration of Forsyth`s life was held on Oct. 27 at Stanwich Congregational Church. Arrangements were entrusted to the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home in Greenwich.
The family requests that donations be directed to the caregivers at the Rosenthal Hospice in Stamford, which they said was a place of great comfort during the last months of his life.
Lawrence K. "Doc" Harreys
Lawrecne K. "Doc" Harreys, 72, Greenwich resident, died on Oct. 3, 2009 in Branford.
He was born on Jan. 12, 1937 in Patterson, N.J. to Charles and Claire Fisher Harreys, graduated from Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, N.J. and attended Lehigh University.
Harreys was a member of the Army National Guard and was employed for many years as a technician for Motorola Corp.
He is survived by his brother, John Harreys and his wife Barbara of Old Saybrook; a sister, Mary Kent Crabtree of Charlotte, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews: Douglas and Corrie Harreys of Essex, Alexandra Meinsen Harreys of Boston, Mass., Sidney Kent Harreys of Philadelphia, Pa., Charles William Harreys V and Corbett Corrigan Harreys of Essex, Bill and Elaine Crabtree of Wilmington, Del., Katherine and Dave Thames of Charlotte, N.C., and Ann Clark Crabtree. He was predeceased by his brother, Charles William Harreys.
A memorial Mass was held on Oct. 24 in St Mary Church in Greenwich.
Memorial contributions may be made to Greenwich Hospice, 2015 W. Main St. Stamford, CT 06902. Arrangements are with the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven. www.clancyfuneralhome.com.
Armond Heerman
Armond "Pops" Heerman, 83, Korean War veteran and Old Greenwich resident, died on Oct. 19, 2009 at home with his family and friends by his side.
He was born on Nov. 13, 1925 in Medford, Mass. to Armond and Josephine Vanderbourt Heerman.
Heerman served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
He began his career in railroad transportation in 1953 as a clerk and rose to vice president at the Boston & Maine Railroad. He then served as vice president at Great Lakes Carbon Corporation from 1970-85.
After he retired, Heerman managed and volunteered for Call-A-Ride of Greenwich for 20 years.
He is survived by his daughter, Donna Thompson and her husband Glenn of Cocoa Beach, Fla.; a son, Jack Heerman and his wife Joann of Stamford; a sister, Josephine Kline of Medford. He is also survived by four granddaughters: Kara Secher of Reading, Mass. and Melissa, Natalie and Samantha Heerman of Stamford; a grandson, Jake Heerman of Stamford; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Jean Perrotti Heerman; a daughter, Marcia Heerman; and a brother, William Heerman.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Oct. 23 at First Congregational Church and interment followed at the church yard cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Call-A-Ride, 37 Lafayette Place, Greenwich, CT 06830.
Frank Joseph Kalata, Sr.
Frank Joseph Kalata, Sr., 66, World War II veteran and Greenwich native, died on Oct. 25, 2009 in Merritt Island, Fla.
Kalata was born on Oct. 28, 1923 and worked for Doran Brothers in Greenwich. He was a decorated serviceman in World War II.
Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home in Viera, FL is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice Norwood Napper
Bernice Norwood Napper, 92, former Riverside resident, passed away on Oct. 23, 2009 at the Green Tree Manor Nursing Home in Waterford, where she resided for eight years.
She was born in Stratford on Dec.10, 1916 to Rev. James and Rosa Braswell Norwood, grew up in South Norwalk and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1934. She went on to study at Howard University School of Music in Washington, D.C. in 1938, where she majored in music and voice.
After graduation, Napper settled in Riverside, where she performed vocal concerts throughout the state and in Washington, D.C. She was also very active in the local Republican Party and various local civil affairs.
Napper is survived by her daughter, Patricia Napper Knudsen of Copenhagen, Denmark; a son, Alver Woodward Napper, Jr. of Loudoville, N.Y.; her sister, Eleanora N. Clarke of Norwalk; and three nieces: S. Vanderklief of Stamford; Lynda C. Stack of Bridgeport; and Leigh D. Clarke of Norwalk. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Louise Gonzolez-Knudsen; a grandson, Eric Knudsen; three great granddaughters and a great- grandson. She was predeceased by her husband, Alver W. Napper, Sr.
A funeral service was held on Oct. 28 at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home with the Rev. Sultan Stack of St. Paul`s Baptist Church of Bridgeport officiating. Interment was private.
