United States High School Yearbooks by County
Mary T. Pignataro
Mary T. Pignataro, 91, of Norwalk, died Nov. 21, 2009. She was the wife of the late Stephen Pignataro, Sr. Born in Norwalk Jan. 31, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Placido and Marianne English Mangino and had lived locally all of her life. She was a former employee of Sperry-Rand, Burndy Corp., and T-Bar. She was very involved with St. Mary Church in Norwalk and was a member of the Women's Guild and Golden Age. She was also a member of the Columbiettes and ElderHouse. She adored her family and loved to crochet.
Survivors include a son, Stephen M. Pignataro, Jr. and his wife Marlene, a daughter, Patty Murphy, all of Norwalk; four grandchildren, Shawn Murphy and his wife Rene', Christopher Murphy and his wife Ree-ann, Christine Rysz and her husband Tom, and David S. Pignataro; a great granddaughter Ashley Rysz, and many nieces and nephews. Shewas also predeceased by her sister, Theresa DeLallo.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to ElderHouse, 7 Lewis St., Norwalk, 06851, or to St. Mary Church.
Honnour G. (Hackett) Ristau, 97
Honnour G. (Hackett) Ristau, 97, of Norwalk, died Feb. 21, 2010, at Notre Dame Convalescent Home. Born in Torrington, the daughter of the late William and Mary (Garen) Hackett, she was the wife of the late Gerhart Ristau. A former member of the Columbiettes, St. Philip's Seniors and the VFW Women's Auxiliary, she was more recently serving on the Notre Dame Guild.. Ristau was a retired nurse's aide and volunteer at Notre Dame for 40 years.
Predeceased by her husband, and several brothers and sisters, she is survived by two sons; Gerhart Kookie Ristau of Danbury, and Theodore Ristau of Norwalk, six loving grandchildren, and six cherished great-grandchildren, as well as two sisters, Mary Furlan of Harwinton and Leona Surdam of Burriville, Conn. and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be directed to: St. Philip Church, Notre Dame Convalescent Home or the V.F.W. National Home, 3513 S. Waverly Rd., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.
Francesco 'Frank' Diurno
Francesco `Frank' Diurno
Francesco `Frank' Diurno, 69, husband of Mafalda DiBerardino Diurno of Norwalk, died March 17, at the Norwalk Hospital after a long battle with ALS. He was born on April 26, 1940, in Monte Sant Angelo, (Foggia) Italy. He was the son of the late Lorenzo and Libera Giordano Diurno. When he was 13 years old, he began his career in furniture making in Italy and at 21, he and Mafalda were married
and moved to the U.S. to begin their future. He began working with various contractors, building homes and became a master of all aspects of carpentry, and was especially known for his finish work and meticulous detail in everything he crafted.
His workmanship brought him to the attention of Earl Smith of the New Canaan Fuel and Lumber Co., where he was employed for 33 years. He took great pleasure in being with his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren. Diurno's home and garden were his pride and he had a passion for making homemade wine, fishing, swimming in the ocean, vacationing in Narragansett, R.I. and the beautiful surroundings while in Vermont.
He was a past member of the St. Ann's Club in Norwalk, and enjoyed working at its annual festivals.
He is survived by his wife, Mafalda; sons, Lorenzo and his wife, Filomena of Wilton, Frank and his wife, Gloria of Norwalk, and Mario and his wife, Amanda of Fairfield; by his daughter, Lena and her husband, David Owens of Norwalk; and by seven grandchildren, Tina and Roman Musilli of Wilton, Matthew and Jonathan of Norwalk, Trey and Phoenix Dominick of Fairfield and Alyssa Owens of Norwalk.
He is also survived by his sister, Giovanna Murgo in Pesaro, Italy. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Philip's Church and he was laid to rest on March 20 in Riverside cemetery in Norwalk. Donations in memory of Frank may be sent to The ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter, 4 Oxford Road Unit D4, Milford, CT 06460. The Diurno family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of vitas Hospice Care, to Norwalk Hospital and to family and friends for their comfort and support during this difficult time.
Beverly Swisher
Beverly Swisher, 70, a former longtime Norwalk resident, loving wife, mother and grandmother, died with her family by her side, Monday, March 15.
Memorial service: Private. Please contact the family for information.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Beverly's name to Odyssey Hospice, 6940 River Park Circle, Fort Worth, Texas 76116
She worked for Playtex, Fuji, and Motorola as an executive secretary, and was a member of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Herrmann, and sister, Judy.
Survivors include her husband, Gerald Swisher; mother, Evelyn Roush; children, Kathryn Tryon, Corrine Haynes, Robin Tryon and husband, Daniel, Stephen Swisher and wife, Kathleen, Mark Swisher and wife, Susan, Paul Swisher, Maria Swisher-Brothers and husband, Gary, Peter Swisher and wife, Stacy; grandchildren, Jessica, Katie, Kristen, Elijah, Jeremy, Sarah, Bryce, Ian, Stephen, Elizabeth, Maya, Lydia, Jordan, Noah and Liam; and brother-in-law, John Swisher.
Anthony L. Mappa
Anthony L. Mappa, a longtime resident of Norwalk, died March 19 in Norwalk Hospital at age 86. His beloved wife, Florence Masi Mappa, died in November of 2008.
Born in Greenwich, on Dec. 12, 1923, Mappa was the son of the late Lorenzo and Theresa (Cecchelli) Mappa and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1941. He then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served from 1943 to 1946.
A few years later, he married
Florence and raised their two daughters in Norwalk.
He worked as a senior estimator for the former Dorr-Oliver Co. of Stamford for more than 30 years, before retiring in 1986.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother who believed family came first. He enjoyed taking trips with his family to Florida, Cape Cod, Italy and Spain. He also loved cooking, gardening, bowling, nature walks, days at the beach with family and was a NY Giants fan.
He was a regular attendee of St. Paul's Church of Darien. He is survived by his two daughters, Judith Ann Mappa of Norwalk and Linda Jean Robinson and her husband, Scott, of Hamden; his two grandchildren, Danielle and James Robinson of Hamden; his two brothers, Patsy Mappa and Lawrence Mappa, both of Norwalk; along with many nieces and nephews. Preceding in death was a brother, James Mappa. The family will receive relatives and friends today in Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street from 4 to 8 p.m.
His funeral will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the funeral parlor with Rev. Christopher P. Leighton of St. Paul's of Darien to officiate. Interment with full military honors will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Norwalk.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anthony's memory may be made to: Connecticut Hospice, One Park Street, Norwalk CT 06851 or to St Paul's Church, 471 Mansfield Avenue, Darien, CT 06820.
Daniel V. Gatto
Daniel V. Gatto, 93, of Norwalk, died peacefully at the Norwalk Hospital on March 19. He was the husband of the late Helen Frateni Gatto. Born in Stamford on Oct. 19, 1916, he was the son of the late Antonio and Domenica Gatto and had been employed for many years for Standard News and other news delivery companies. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Ann Gatto and Carmella "Millie" Gatto of Norwalk, and Mary Helen Vollhardt of Oxford. The Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk is handling arrangements.
Larry "Kelly" Franklin of Newberry, S.C., a former Stamford resident, died Wednesday, June 14, in Newberry. He was 35.
He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the police.
Born June 24, 1964, in Stamford, he was the son of Lawrence L.M. Franklin of Athens, Ga., and Mamie Monroe Franklin of Bridgeport.
Mr. Franklin was a 1982 graduate of Rippowam High School. In 1989, he moved to Newberry, where he worked for the Packaging Corp. of America.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two daughters, Doris V. Plummer-Franklin and Layla K. Franklin, both of Newberry; a sister, Aleta "Kandy" Franklin Williams of Bridgeport; a grandmother, Alberta Franklin of Deltona, Fla.; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Franklin was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Theresa Monroe, and paternal grandfather, Luther Franklin.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 1, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Mrs. Susan Mariano
Was Owner of Ponzillo's Restaurant
HONOLULU, Hawaii - Mrs. Susan "Babe" (Mastracchio) Mariano, age 86, formerly of Waterbury, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 30, 2009, at her home in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her loving family by her side. She was the loving wife of Joseph A. Mariano.
Mrs. Mariano was born on Aug. 16, 1922, in Providence, R.I., the daughter of the late Vito and Concetta (Parente) Mastracchio. She and her husband were former co-owners of the family business, Ponzillo's Restaurant. She was a communicant of SS. Peter & Paul Church, and always had a kind word for everyone. She found good in all and her true joys in her life were the love of her husband, Joseph, and her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her husband of 68 years, Joseph, Susan is survived by her two daughters, Elaine Lombard of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Linda Nole and her husband, Edmond J. Nole, of Prospect; her three grandchildren, Richard Lombard, Dayna Johnson and Joseph Nole; and five great-grandchildren, Nancy Dionne, Nickolas Johnson, Devon Leigh Johnson, Joseph Vito Nole and Nicholas Henebery. She also leaves one great-great-grandchild, Eliana Rios, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Concetta Torretta, four brothers, Ralph, Louis, Martin and Nicholas Mastracchio, a granddaughter, Kristen Marie Nole, and a son-in-law, Richard N. Lombard.
The funeral will be held on Monday, May 11, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. from the Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., to SS. Peter and Paul Church for a Mass at 10:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions in Susan's name may be made to the St. Francis Hospice, 2228 LiLiha St., Suite 406, Honolulu, HI 96817.
