November 3, 2000
Frank Jagoda
Frank A. Jagoda, 82, of Cedar Street, Rockfall, died Saturday, October 21, at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.
He was born in Middlefield and was a veteran of World War II. Charles Parker Co. employed him as an ironworker before his retirement. He was a member of Kosciuszko Club of Rockfall, the Knights of Columbus Forest City Council No. 3, the VFW and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Sadie Tokarz Jagoda; two sons, Joseph Jagoda of Portland and Gerald Jagoda of Bethel, VT; a daughter, Lorraine Hubbard of Rockfall; a brother, Theodore Jagoda of Middletown; a sister, Katherine Klimkowski of Portland; several grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. Burial was in Middlefield Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to St. Mary School Fund, 79 South Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457.
Peter P. Perun
Peter P. Perun, 90, of Mack Road, Middlefield, husband of the late Estelle (Kazemersky) Perun, died Friday, October 27, at Wadsworth Glen Health Center, Middletown. He was born in Yonkers, NY, son of the late John and Justine Perun. Prior to his retirement, he was a comptroller at Harper Buffing Machine Company. In his earlier years, he was Middlefield’s first postmaster.
November 16, 2000
Dr. Russell D. O’Neal, Renowned Nuclear Physicist, Dies
The nation mourned the loss of an icon of the scientific community when Dr. Russell D. O’Neal, a past Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Development, died at his home in Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Dr. O’Neal, a pioneer in radar and electronics who was often called the father of the Patriot missile, was laid to rest on Veterans Day, November 11, 2000 in his hometown of Columbus, Indiana.
Dorothy M. Larson
Dorothy May (Bailey) Larson, 88, wife of the late Carl Arthur Larson, passed away peacefully Thursday, November 2.
Born on January 25, 1912, in Durham, she was a daughter of the late George and Ethel Bailey.
Elvira Aresco
Elvira Aresco, 80, of Aresco Drive, Rockfall, wife of the late Joseph M. Aresco, died Monday, November 6, at Middlesex Hospital.
Gertrude Griswold
Gertrude H. Griswold of Tuttle Road, Durham, formerly of Old Saybrook and the Yalesville section of Wallingford, died Friday, November 3, at Wadsworth Glen Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Middletown. She was 97.
Thomas P. Callinan Jr.
Thomas P. Callinan Jr., of Durham, husband of Catherine "Cat" (Rosson) Callinan, died November 3 in New Haven.
December 8, 2000
Dr. M. S. Lyman
Dr. Margaret S. Lyman, formerly of New York City, died Friday, November 17 at Middlesex Convalescent Center in Middletown. She was 76. She was born in Middlefield.
Robert Coitrone
Robert J. Coitrone of Long Hill Road, Middlefield, formerly of Wallingford, died Wednesday, November 29, at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. He was 66. He was born in Meriden and was a Wallingford resident until five years ago when he moved to Middlefield.
Vesta Ercolani
Vesta P. Chelifoux Ercolani, formerly of Middlefield, died Thursday, November 16, at Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda, Florida. She was 79.
Sydney Alexandra Coe
Sydney Alexandra Coe, four-day-old infant daughter of Patricia (Pescosolido) and Kevin E. Coe of Portland, died Tuesday, November 14, at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Besides her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, F. Peter and Elizabeth Pescosolido of Manchester; her paternal grandparents, Henry W. Jr. and Loraine A. Coe of Durham; her godparents, Susan Ingraham and David Laducier of Middlefield and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. A Mass of Angels was celebrated on Saturday, November 18, at St. James Church in Manchester followed by burial in St. James Cemetery.
December 21, 2000
William E. Kelley
William E. Kelley, 82, of Carriage Drive, Durham, husband of the late Kathleen (Derenthal) Kelley died Saturday, December 16, at Middlesex Hospital.
Born January 29, 1918 in Middletown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Josephine (Walter) Kelley. He was a member of St. John Church Middletown and a member of the Aircraft Club of East Hartford.
He is survived by a son, Paul B. Kelley of Durham; a daughter, Erin M. Kelley of Durham; a brother Thomas M. Kelley of Middletown; a sister, Rita K. Manchester of Cromwell; a grandson, Damian A. Kelley of San Francisco; also several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 188, North Haven 06473.
Leonard F. Giemza
Leonard F. Giemza, 68, of Maple Avenue, Durham, husband of the late Alice (Dickinson) Giemza, died suddenly Friday, December 15, at his home.
He was born in Middletown, son of the late Dominick and Zofia (Gorecka) Giemza. A veteran of the Korean conflict, he served with the US Army. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by the State of Connecticut as a carpenter in Long Lane School.
He leaves three daughters and sons-in-law, Laurie Giemza and Forrest Harlow of Chester, Donna and Edward Moret of Hatfield, MA and Doreen and Philip Miller of the Ivoryton section of Essex; a brother Edgar Giemza of Middletown; a sister Adele Jackson of Middletown; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Stella Pichnarcik and Helen Vontassell and a brother, Edward Giemza.
Funeral services will be private and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be sent to Save the Sound Inc., 185 Magee Avenue, Stamford 06902.
LaVerne W. Leining
LaVerne S. (Wolfe) Leining, 70, of Durham, wife of the late William Leining, Jr., died Friday, December 8, at Middlesex Hospital.
Emma Buskey
Emma Buskey of Durham, formerly of Stratford, died Monday, December 5, at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. She was 81.
She was born in Stratford.
She is survived by a sister, Jean Verderame of Trumbull, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was private. The D’Angelo Funeral Home, Middletown was in charge of arrangements.
Brianna S. Toomey
Brianna Shannon Toomey, infant daughter of Kevin and Carol (Quinn) Toomey, was born and died Saturday, November 25, 2000.
Besides her parents, she is survived by her big sister, Micaela (20 months); her paternal grandfather, Warren Toomey of Durham, and her paternal grandmother, Marilyn Toomey of Durham; and her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quinn of North Granby. She will also be missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.
A Mass of the Angels was held at St. Augustine’s Church, South Glastonbury, followed by burial in St. Augustine’s Cemetery, South Glastonbury.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Brianna Shannon Toomey Memorial Fund, c/o Glastonbury Bank and Trust, 2461 Main Street Glastonbury 06033, Attn.: Dennis Weir. The proceeds from this fund will be used for research of BOR Syndrome.
