United States High School Yearbooks by County
Barbara Kenworthy Garfield
Barbara Kenworthy Garfield, 77, whose "in-scale" house designs added to the charm of the Rowayton section where she came to live in 1994, died Jan. 18 at home. The cause was cancer.
She had raised four children during more than three decades residence in Darien where she was a successful Realtor and designer of homes built by Arthur Olson & Associates. She later developed an "in scale" style which is found in her Rowayton homes.
Commenting on that style, Barbara once said: "It's the idea that the size of my homes must be `in-scale' with the community, with their surroundings, and that the interiors relate to the persons living within them. As a result, it's a place you want to be."
Builders would take her rough sketches and refine them to her satisfaction.
Shortly before her death, she recalled that her family had lived in a half dozen Darien homes, which she had remodeled and redecorated.
Her first home in Rowayton at 186 Rowayton Avenue was a historic structure, which she made even more attractive while maintaining its integrity. The downtown zoning code allowed for three more houses on the property which she designed in scale. This enclave of houses became Jo's Barn Way. She next took a historic building complex at 3 McKinley St. and did the same.
Still later came the conversion of a property at 188 Rowayton Ave. and the next door property at 190 Rowayton Ave., her last domicile. Meanwhile, she accepted the invitation of developer Peter Marsella of Greenwich to design four new homes and redesign an existing historic home at the corner of Rowayton Avenue and Witch Lane.
She often incorporated antique interior beam-structures and wood trim from old New England barns, as well as hardware and design highlights such as full length storm shutters from France. Her Rowayton homes have small footprints, but soaring ceiling heights and large windows highlighted by walls of white hand-troweled plaster. She used high end contemporary lighting and stainless steel appliances. The exteriors have French-inspired patios and landscaping incorporating small ponds or pools. These elements are common to all of her homes, each uniquely sited for light and privacy.
All this work has brought her recognition in such national publications as "Elle, " "Traditional Home, " "Renovation Style, " "At Home, " and "Connecticut Castles and Cottages."
She opened her houses for benefits and political gatherings and devoted considerable time to maintaining open spaces such as the Old School Field (aka Witch Park). She also rode herd on the annual Rowayton Shakespeare production and the development of Pinkney Park.
Her success in real estate and house design had been made imperative by divorce after a 35-year marriage to George H. Garfield, an investment manager and descendant of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States. A statuesque blonde, she won more than one beauty contest at the University of Colorado where she took a bachelor's degree in 1954 with a major in music and anthropology.
She explained her marriage at 19: "I was an only child and wanted a large family in the worst way." The four Garfield children have produced six grandchildren.
She had come to Rowayton after living alone for eight years in a home on Beach Drive in Darien with a view of Long Island Sound.
"I've always been a walker, but in all those years there, I never encountered a single soul, " she had said.
She found Rowayton much more inviting.
"I have really loved it here" she was known to say
She was born and raised in downtown Chicago. Her father, Cloyd Young Kenworthy, owner of a suburban automobile factory which produced the Kenworthy model of his design, had short-lived success in the World War I era. Her mother, Ethel Dorcas Kenworthy, was a successful professional in the advertising field working for Brown and Bigelow in Chicago.
Surviving are sons George H. Garfield, Jr., a real estate executive in Los Angeles, Calif., and Peter Stanton Garfield, an artist in New York City; two daughters, Susan Garfield Bowditch, a French teacher at a Denver, Colo., public high school, and Sarah Garfield Sparks, a potter and community activist in Encinitas, Calif., and six grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. in the Unitarian Church of Westport, 20 Lyons Plains Road, with a reception to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Unitarian Church of Westport Music Fund, 20 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, Conn., 06840 or MasoniCare, 535 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, 06851. FXF
John Joseph Guarnieri
John Joseph Guarnieri, 83, of Bonita Springs, died Jan. 23. Formerly of Norwalk, CT, he had been a Bonita resident since 1987. He was born March 24, 1926 in Norwalk, the son of John and Agnes (nee Malone) Guarnieri. He was a W.W. II veteran of the U.S. Navy. Guarnieri is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Theresa (nee Gurn); his sons, Thomas (Judy) Guarnieri of Haddon Heights, N.J., Kevin (Kelly) Guarnieri of Milford, and Timothy (Lauren) Guarnieri of Garden City, L.I., N.Y.; 12 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael Guarnieri in 2006. Memorial contributions may be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.
Donald LeDuc
Donald LeDuc, 64, of Fairfield, died Jan. 19, after losing his long battle with Alzheimer's Dementia. Born in Norwalk, he was the son of the late George and Laura (Benoit) LeDuc. He was blessed to be supported by family and longtime friends throughout his struggle. He was a resident of CLASP Homes where he lived in Fairfield for the past 25 years. He was a fun loving guy who loved to socialize, was an avid fan of wrestling, and in his younger days, a terrific dancer.
Predeceased by his brother Roland, he is survived by three brothers, Leo Le Duc and his wife Diane of Sterling, Raymond Le Duc and his wife Anita of Norwalk and Rene Le Duc of Milford.
Memorial donations may be directed to: CLASP Homes 246 Post Rd East, Westport, CT 06880.
Joan W. LeMay
Joan W. LeMay, 86, died with her family by her side on Jan. 15, at Notre Dame Convalescent Home.
Born Feb. 26, 1923 in New York City and raised in New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late Charles K. Willyoung and Elizabeth (Smith) Willyoung. She spent the majority of her life living on Long Island, N.Y., but moved to Norwalk, five years ago to live with her youngest daughter.
She was employed by the State of New York, as a caretaker for the mentally ill until her retirement in 1992. Prior to employment with New York State she was a full time mother to her seven children. She was an avid gardener, a lover of books, music and all the creative arts. She was a skilled artist in producing glass bead floral arrangements.
She was predeceased by her ex-husband Ernest G. LeMay, her son Ernest G. LeMay III and her brother David Willyoung.
Survivors include her children: David W. LeMay and his wife Patricia of Delaware, Ohio, Thomas C. LeMay of Fairfield, Iowa, Richard M. LeMay and his wife Sandra of Huntington, N.Y., Diana E. LeMay-Hamel of Kapaau, HI, Bonnie L. Rothchild and her husband Edward of Lake Grove, N.Y., Robin L. Knight and her husband Norman of Norwalk; 10 grandchildren: Andrew, Michael, Cynthia, Rachel, Ernest IV, Aimee', Rhiannon, Jaime, Eilene and Lindsay; eight great-grandchildren: Erik, Adriano, Tanner, Sutton, Jack, Grace, Emily and Jake and her brother Noel Willyoung and his wife Yvonne of Rancho Murieta, Calif.
There are no formal funeral services planned. A memorial service will be held at a future date. Contributions in her memory can be made to Notre Dame Convalescent Home, 76 West Rocks Rd., Norwalk, CT 06851 or to Waveny Care Center, 3 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Thelma Ruth Lucas
Thelma Ruth Lucas, 74, died at Stamford Hospital on Sunday, Jan. 17. She was born Aug. 14, 1935 in Spartanburg, S.C. to the late Wister Brown and Margie Walker-Brown. She was the wife of the late Alonzo Lucas Jr. of Stamford. Lucas completed her high school education in Oconee County, S.C. She later moved to Stamford and was self-employed for more than 20 years. Survivors include a daughter, Sheila Lucas of Stamford; and a son, Alonzo Lucas III of Norwalk. She is survived by four sisters, Peggy Brown, Margaret Davis, Ella Robinson and Barbara Jones, all of Spartanburg, S.C.; and a mother-in-law, Rebecca Lucas of Stamford.
Eleanor Devine McMahon
Eleanor Devine McMahon of East Norwalk died at home Jan. 22. A longtime Norwalk resident, McMahon was born in Norwalk on April 6, 1924 to the late Eugene James and Helena Collins Devine. She graduated from Norwalk High School in 1941 and the College of St. Elizabeth in 1945 with a bachelors of arts in economics. Prior to her marriage to the late Attorney William Henry McMahon, III, who passed away in 1994, McMahon was employed by the Norwalk Town Clerk's Office.
McMahon is survived by her four sons; William Henry McMahon, IV of Framingham, Mass., Eugene James McMahon, and his wife Victoria of Barrington, R.I., Paul Burke McMahon and his wife Michelle of Acton, Mass. and Kevin Devine McMahon and his wife Mary Ellen of Southport.
She was the loving grandmother to eight grandchildren; Gloria McMahon, Grace McMahon, Mercedes McMahon, Wills McMahon, Rosemary McMahon, William McMahon, II, Jonathan McMahon and Liam McMahon.
In addition, McMahon is survived by her brother, William J. Devine of East Norwalk and three sisters; James C. Driscoll, Jr (Claire) of Southbury, Frank A. Mackinson, Jr (Alice) of Bound Brook, N.J. and Elaine D. Mullen of Norwalk. She was predeceased by her brother, Eugene J. Devine, Jr. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and cousins to cherish her memory.
McMahon was a longtime member and officer of the Fairfield Prep Bellarmine Guild and she was a founding member of the Fairfield County Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. In addition, she was a longtime member of the Shorehaven Golf Club where she played golf with the "Nine Hole Group" and enjoyed playing bridge with friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church 203 East Avenue East Norwalk, CT 06855 or the Carroll Center for the Blind 770 Centre Street Newton, MA 02458.
Joseph Poremba
Joseph Poremba, 90, of Norwalk, died Jan. 21, 2010. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 17, 1920 to the late Nellie and Michael Poremba. He moved to Norwalk with his family in the 1930s and lived there until his death.
He attended the Norwalk schools and entered the military service at age 20. He was a member of the local National Guard Battery C, and later volunteered for the Airborne Infantry. He served in Europe with the 13th Airborne and was honorably discharged in 1945. He retired from Nash Engineering after more than 20 years of service.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Stanley Poremba and sisters Helen Palowski, Frances Matosko and Wanda Herring. He is survived by his sister Blanche Miklovich and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
