Date: Fri 08-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

obits-Stavola-Higinbotham

Full Text:

OBITS (Cameron; Gallagher; Sadlon; Gilbertie; Hall; Gunther; Fesko; Lasky;

Stavola; Griscom; Vittorio; Weber; Higinbotham; Parkinson; Hydar; Davis)

David B. Cameron

David B. Cameron, a former employee of Fairfield Hills Hospital for 22 years,

died May 19 in St Petersburg, Fla., where he lived following his retirement.

Survivors include a daughter, Charlene Cameron Miller of St Petersburg.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Mark T. Gallagher

Mark T. Gallagher, 53, of Portland, Ore., formerly of Bethel, died at the

Provident Hospital in Portland on January 3. He was the brother of John T.

Gallagher of Newtown.

He was born in Norwalk, August 6, 1945, son of John T. and Barbara (Bennett)

Gallagher of Bethel. He grew up in Bethel and was a graduate of Bethel High

School and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. He taught special education

in the Newtown school system for many years and had been a resident of

Portland for the past nine years.

In addition to his parents and brother, he is survived by three other

brothers, Kevin J. of New Fairfield, Patrick K. of Kensington, and Richard P.

of Bethel; and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St Mary Church, Bethel, at a time to be

announced. There will be no calling hours. Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street,

Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Joseph F. Sadlon

Joseph F. (Whitey) Sadlon, 85, of Fisher Court, Stratford, father of Christine

Bailey of Newtown, died January 3, in Bridgeport Hospital. He was the husband

of the late Mildred (Kozlowski) Sadlon.

Mr Sadion was born in Ansonia on August 5, 1913, to the late Michael and Mary

Stanislawczyk Sadlon, and was a lifelong Bridgeport-Stratford resident.

He was retired from Sikorsky Aircraft, where he was employed for many years.

Mr Sadlon was a member of the Joseph Baldwin Senior Citizen Center in

Stratford.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include a son, Robert Sadlon of

Lakeville; three brothers, Walter Sadlon of Shelton, Michael Sadlon of

Seymour, and Gene Bernal of Oxford; two sisters, Celia Swetz of Beacon Falls

and Frances Moran of Ansonia; three grandchildren, Ethan Bailey, Seth Bailey,

and Cyprian Sadlon; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr Sadlon was predeceased by a brother, John Sadlon.

The funeral was held on January 6 from the Gregory F. Doyle Funeral Home, 291

Bridgeport Avenue, Milford, and in St Michael the Archangel Church with a Mass

of Christian Burial. Interment was in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Julius J. Gilbertie

Julius J. Gilbertie, 71, of Monroe, beloved husband of Marie Malfilani

Gilbertie, died January 3 in St Vincent's Medical Center. He was the brother

of Jean Silvestro of Sandy Hook and Michael Gilbertie of Newtown.

Mr Gilbertie was born in Westport, and has been an area resident most of his

life. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Navy, and was

a member of the Shoreline Knights of Columbus, in Norwalk. He was a retired

machinist for Nash Engineering.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, sister and brother, include a daughter,

Maryanne Keiser of Bridgeport; a granddaughter, Jennifer Kwalek of Bridgeport;

another brother, Ralph Gilbertie of Westport; cousins, Robert and Millie

Galanle of Monroe; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on January 6 at St Jude Church, Monroe.

The Lesko-Miner Funeral Home, 155 Main Street, Monroe, was in charge of

arrangements.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Mabel S. Hall

Mabel Sarah Hall, 96, mother of Marie Johnson of Newtown, died of a stroke on

January 5, at the Bethel Health Care Center.

Mrs Hall was born in Vernon, Vt., on January 19, 1902, a daughter of the late

Charles and Zillah (Whitney) Johnson. Orphaned at the age of 10, she was

raised by her Aunt Mabel Boyd and her husband Herbert.

Upon graduation from the high school in Wilmington, Vt., she moved to the Kent

area, where she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse. She was married for

65 years to the late Clifford H. Hall Sr and was a resident of Norwalk for 60

years before moving to Newtown for three years and later to Bethel.

She was employed for many years as a baker at Pepperidge Farms Bakery in

Norwalk. She was a member of the Rosemary Chapter of the Eastern Star.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs Hall is survived by two sons, Clifford H.

Hall, Jr of Ridgefield, and Richard Hall of Bethel; another daughter, Ruth

Wells of Pennsylvania; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, seven

great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by three sisters, a brother, and a great-grandson, Robert

Kuban.

Funeral services will be held January 8 at 11 am at Raymond Funeral Home, 5

East Wall Street, Norwalk. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Norwalk.

Calling hours were scheduled for January 7 from 4 to 8 pm at the funeral home.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

June V. Gunther

June V. Gunther, 80, of Newtown, Pa., mother of Heidi Carlin of Newtown, died

January 3, at St Mary's Hospital in Langhorne, Pa.

Mrs Gunther was born in Boston, raised in Rye, N.Y., and resided in Bucks

County, Pa., for more than 40 years. She was an active member of the Langhorne

United Methodist Church and gave generously of her time and energy to many

school, hospital and community events. She was a graduate of the Katherine

Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City. Mrs Gunther worked at the St James

Episcopal Church in Langhorne and later was employed at New Jersey

Manufacturer's Insurance Co in Trenton, N.J.

She was the wife of the late Carl E. Gunther. In addition to her daughter, she

is survived by a son, Robert C. Gunther of Waynesboro, Va.; a sister, Ginger

Wheaton of Columbus, N.C.; and five grandchildren, Geoffrey Gunther, Elizabeth

Gunther, Christopher Gunther, Croy Carlin and Cristin Carlin.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held January 8 at 1 pm at the

Langhorne United Methodist Church, 301 East Maple Avenue, Langhorne. Friends

will be received immediately following the service in the church's Fellowship

Hall. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs Gunther's memory may be made to the

June V. Gunther Memorial Fund at the Langhorne United Methodist Church, 301

East Maple Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Robert L. Fesko

Robert L. Fesko, 75, of Sandy Hook, husband of Pearl (Phelps) Fesko, died

January 1 in Danbury Hospital. He was the father of Judy Safarewitz of Newtown

and Robin Riley of Sandy Hook.

Mr Fesko was born in Fairfield and was a Bridgeport resident for many years

before moving to Sandy Hook two years ago. He was a retired lead man in the

stockroom for Harvey Hubbell Company.

Additional survivors include two sons, Robert M. Fesko of Marlborough, Mass.,

and Glenn A. Fesko of High Point, N.C.; three other daughters, Nancy DiZazzo

of Huntington, Sandra Nagy of Milford, and Bonnie Quinn of Shelton; one

sister, Margaret Feczko of Bridgeport; 20 grandchildren; 10

great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was

predeceased by a son, Thomas Fesko, three brothers and two sisters.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on January 8 at 1 pm in Grace

Lutheran Church, Chapel Street, Stratford. Interment will be in Lawncroft

Cemetery, Fairfield. There will be no calling hours.

Donations may be made to the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association, P.O. Box

344, Newtown, Conn. 06470 or the Kennedy Center, 117 Mt Pleasant Road,

Newtown, Conn. 06470.

The Larson Funeral Home, 2496 North Avenue, Bridgeport, is in charge of

arrangements.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Frank B. Lasky

Frank B. Lasky, 55, of 1080 Pickett Road, Roxbury, husband of Audrey (Barrett)

Lasky, died January 1 at St Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.

He was born April 14, 1943 in Norwalk, a son of Frank and Dorothy (Hill)

Lasky. A Roxbury resident since 1976, he had operated Four Season Landscaping

from 1972 to 1988.

Mr Lasky owned and managed Priced Right in Sand Hill Plaza, Newtown, for

several years. His store was one of the original stores to open at the plaza

in 1990. He then moved and opened stores in Brookfield and later Monroe.

His daughter, Kathryn M. Lasky of Danbury, owns and operates Bit of Tack, a

shop on South Main Street in Newtown.

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by two sons, Frank J. Lasky of

Roxbury and Brian A. Lasky of Brookfield; six brothers, Donald Lasky of North

Branford, Edward Lasky, James Lasky, and Joseph Lasky, all of Danbury, Thomas

Lasky of Westport, and Richard Lasky of Bristol; six sisters, Dorothy Valiante

of Westport, Marilyn Ball and Marjorie Marron, both of Danbury, Joan Corsa of

Wilton, Evelyn Cyr of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Lorraine Littletown of

Douglas, Ga.; nine foster children, including Laurie Palomba and Richard

Palomba; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters,

Patricia Lasky and Hope Lasky.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on January 5 at Our Lady of

Perpetual Help Church, Washington. Burial was in East Morris Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Roxbury Ambulance, c/o Roxbury

Volunteer Fire Department.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Michael J. Stavola

Michael J. Stavola, 86, of Piper's Landing, Palm City, Fla. and Heritage

Crest, Southbury, died Tuesday at Bethel Health Care Center. He was the

husband of the late Jennie Rubino Stavola and the father of Maryann Kiely of

Newtown.

Mr Stavola was born in Danbury on January 7, 1912, a son of the late John A.

and Mary DeLuca Stavola. He was educated in the Danbury public school system

and was a prominent business and community leader.

At the time of his death, Mr Stavola was a partner in J&M Realty Associates,

which he founded in 1953. He was also founder and president of the former M.J.

Stavola & Co, Inc., a scrap iron and metal recycling company, which operated

in Danbury for more than 45 years.

Mr Stavola was active in both business and community affairs. He served as

regional president of the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel and served on many

of its committees over the years to promote recycling and conservation. He

served on the board of directors of the Danbury Industrial Corporation, the

Housatonic Industrial Development Corporation and the Danbury Rotary Club.

He was actively involved in the growth and development of Danbury Hospital,

having served on its original board of managers as well as the board of

trustees. He was one of the originators of the Danbury Hospital Ball and

served as its chairman. He was a member of the Piper's Landing Country Club in

Palm City and the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury. He was a parishioner at

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City and Sacred Heart Church in

Southbury.

Mr Stavola is survived by his daughter and his son-in-law, Maryann and Eugene

M. Kiely, Jr, of Newtown; three granddaughters, Carolyn M. Kiely of

Alexandria, Va. and Laura Kiely Buzaid and Jennifer H. Kiely, both of Newtown;

four great-grandchildren, Brendan and Hillary Buzaid of Newtown, and Connor

and Sarah Spotts of Alexandria, Va.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated January 8, at 11 am to Sacred

Heart Church, Southbury, with the Rev Mark F. Flynn, pastor, officiating.

Entombment will be at St Peter's Mausoleum, Danbury.

Calling hours were scheduled on Thursday, January 7, from 5 to 8 pm at the

Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-11 Granville Avenue, Danbury and on January 8 after

10 am at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Sacred Heart Church in Southbury.

Contributions in Mr Stavola's memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital Fund,

24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, Conn. 06810.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Donald A. Griscom

Donald A. Griscom, 91, retired organist at Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown,

and the Brookfield Congregational Church, died December 31, in the Lord

Chamberlain Convalescent Center, Stratford. Mr Griscom resided at Berkshire

Road, Sandy Hook.

He was born in New York City, July 18, 1907, a son of Alfred and Caroline

(Glendenning) Griscom. He was a resident of Sandy Hook for over 70 years. At

Trinity Church Mr Griscom also directed the church choir for several years. An

accomplished musician, Mr Griscom, for several years, gave music lessons.

Mr Griscom is survived by a nephew, Alfred J. Griscom of Monroe, and a niece,

Suzanne Gale of Reston, Va.

Funeral services were held January 5 in the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main

Street, Newtown. Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Michele Vittorio

Michele Vittorio, 96, of Bridgeport, father of Jennie Trolano of Newtown, died

on December 30 in Astoria Park, Bridgeport. He was a retired employee of

Metropolitan Body Company.

Born in Comiso, Ragusa, Sicily, Mr Vittorio was a Bridgeport resident for 44

years. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Nunziata Guccione Vittorio; a

daughter, Lina Timperanza, and a grandson, Joseph Vittorio Jr.

Survivors include another daughter, Josephine Vittorio of Trumbull; two sons,

Joseph Vittorio Sr and Paul Vittorio of Trumbull; 11 grandchildren; 15

great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services took place on January 4, from the Louis A. Abriola & Son

Funeral Home, 426 East Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, and in St Theresa

Church, Trumbull, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment was in St Michael

Cemetery.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Patricia A. Weber

Patricia A. "Tricia" Chmiel Weber, 34, of 8 Golden Hill Street, Bethel, a drug

and alcohol counselor, died January 1 at her home after a long and courageous

battle with cancer.

She was the wife of James J. Weber, whom she married on September 26, 1998.

Mrs Weber was born in Whitestone, N.Y. on June 15, 1964. She attended

Whitestone schools and lived most of her life in Whitestone before living in

Naugatuck for three years, in Newtown for six years, and in Bethel for the

past year.

She was a dedicated and loyal employee of the APT Foundation of New Haven,

working at its Daytop Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Newtown where she

helped and guided many residents by her will and power of example. It was a

calling she lived for.

Mrs Weber attended St Mary's Church in Bethel.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her mother and father-in-law, Joseph

and Gloria Weber of West Haven; sister-in-law, Lynda Weber of West Haven; and

brothers-in-law, Michael Weber of West Haven and John Weber of Alexandria, Va.

A Christian Wake Service was held January 4 at 5:30 pm at the Cornell Memorial

Home, 247 White Street, Danbury. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Bethel,

in the spring.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western

Connecticut, 30 West Street, Danbury, Conn. 06810.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Webb F. Higinbotham

Webb F. Higinbotham, of Southport, father of James W. Higinbotham of Newtown,

died December 29, in Bridgeport Hospital. Born in Wheeling, West Va., he had

been a Southport resident for over 40 years. He was the husband of Kathleen

(Jennings) Higinbotham.

Mr Higinbotham was employed by Pierce Glass Co. for 20 years prior to his

retirement. He was a World War II Navy veteran, having served on the

battleship Missouri. Over the years he had enjoyed maintaining close contact

with his fraternity brothers from Phi Kappa Tau.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by another son, John C.

Higinhotham of Leesport, Pa.; a sister, Janet Richards of Palm Beach, Fla.;

and two grandsons, Webb and Grant Higinbotham.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated January 2 in St Anthony of Padua

Church in Fairfield. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Contributions may be made in Mr Higinbotham's memory to the American Diabetes

Association, Connecticut Affiliate, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, Conn.

Arrangements were by the Fairfield Funeral Home of Edmund W. Dougiello, 36

South Pine Creek Road.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Danuta Parkinson

Former Newtown High School teacher Danuta Z. Parkinson, 63, of Peoria,

Arizona, died January 4, in the Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix of

complications from a stroke suffered in March of 1996.

She was the wife of Jack Parkinson of Peoria, Ariz.

Mrs Parkinson was a business education and English teacher at Newtown High

School from 1972 to 1993 before retiring and moving to Arizona. She served as

chairperson of the high school's business department for several years.

Prior to her years in Newtown, Mrs Parkinson was a teacher in Illinois for six

years.

She also is survived by a son, John Parkinson of Watertown; a daughter, Jodi

Parkinson of Norwalk; her mother, Zenobia, of Glendale, Arizona; three

grandsons, an aunt, and several cousins.

A memorial service is scheduled for January 15, at 3 pm at Trinity Episcopal

Church, 36 Main Street, Newtown. Interment will be in the Memorial Garden at

Trinity Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510

East Flower Street, Phoenix, Ariz. 85014, or to the Regional Hospice of

Western Connecticut, 30 West Street, Danbury, Conn. 06810, would be

appreciated.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Frederick Hydar, Sr.

Frederick Hydar Sr., 64, a resident of Cape Coral, Fla., formerly of Woodbury,

died suddenly on December 27. He was the father of Debra Perry of Sandy Hook.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Alison Hydar

Gracy of Waterbury; one son, Frederick Hydar Jr of Woodbury; four

grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his

ex-wife, Audrey Hydar of Naugatuck.

There will be a memorial service for Mr Hydar on January 16, at 11 am at the

North Congregational Church in Woodbury.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999

Diane S. Davis

Dianne Scheb Davis, 53, beloved wife of Don Davis, died January 3 at Hospice

in Branford.

Born on August 2, 1945 in Sarasota, Fla., Mrs Davis attended Cardinal Mooney

High School and Manatee College. She earned her bachelor and masters degree in

education from Southern Connecticut State College. She was a teacher at

Matthewson School in Milford for 15 years before moving to Marlboro, Vt. where

she continued her teaching career at Dover School.

She was the creator and founder of her business Earth Windows, an artistic

arrangement of pressed flowers beneath glass.

She is survived by a daughter, Tracy Cassalia and a grandson, Michael Wayne

Uberti of Sandy Hook; her parents, Judge John M. and Mary Scheb of Sarasota,

Fla.; two brothers, Robert Scheb of Sarasota, Fla. and John Scheb of

Knoxville, Tenn.; two nieces and two nephews; and her in-laws, Gaye and Deac

Davis of Milford.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 9 at noon at the First United

Church of Christ, 34 West Main Street, Milford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Connecticut

Hospice, Inc., 61 Burban Drive, Branford, Conn. 06405.

The Newtown Bee January 8, 1999