Remarkable Residents Take Their Places

In Newtown’s History

By Nancy K. Crevier

The old year passes, taking with it the spirits of many who have been a part of Newtown’s past and present. All of those who have died in 2011, whose lives touched the lives of residents here, are missed. Among those whose passing has left a particular gap in the census of Newtown this year are:

Frederick “Dave” Crouch, 98, who died January 29, surrounded by his loving family. As a young boy his family moved to Newtown, where he lived most of his life. In the late 1920s, Mr Crouch, along with his buddies, helped to build Edmond Town Hall by delivering bricks to the bricklayers. Mary Hawley, Newtown’s benefactress, spoke one day to the boys and said, “You will have a new gym to play basketball in.” He was a member of the team that played the first basketball game in Edmond Town Hall. Mr Crouch was a longtime self-employed masonry contractor. During his younger years in Newtown he served as a constable and volunteer firefighter.

Another longtime Newtown volunteer, Robert J. Carroll, 66, of Milford, Mass., died March 25, at Blaire House in Milford. Formerly of Newtown, Mr Carroll served as a volunteer for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance for 31 years as an EMT-IV technician. He also served as assistant chief and chief of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Mr Carroll was also very active in local government and served on various town boards within Newtown.

Lucien Joseph “Butch” “Pic” Piccirillo, Sr, 66, of Sandy Hook, died unexpectedly, January 16, in Danbury Hospital. Mr Piccirillo worked for the Town of Newtown Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator and as a crew chief from 1967 to 1989. He previously worked for Bartly Tree Service.

Hazel Agnes Meyers, 79, died February 12, at Bethel Heath Care. Mrs Meyers actively served eight years in the British Army as a driving instructor for 12-ton trucks. She worked for The Gordon Frazier Gallery for 13 years, and was a devout Catholic and member of St Rose of Lima Church parish in Newtown, where she resided for more than 43 years. In the mid-1970s she was a founding member of the Adult Dance Program at The Lathrop School of Dance.

Many in Newtown and surrounding communities mourned the loss of local veterinarian, Dr Brian Silverlieb, on February 24, following a courageous battle with cancer. Dr Silverlieb attended Colorado State University, prior to a junior year acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where he was noted to be the youngest person to graduate from the school. Dr Silverlieb owned and operated the Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals in Newtown, where he practiced for 35 years. He was well known for his skill, compassion, and dedication. Dr Silverlieb was also an accomplished equestrian. He was active in the community, sponsoring a Newtown Little League Baseball team, and donated his time to free clinics and animal adoption.

Lifelong Newtown resident Margaret Priscilla “Sally” Carmody died at her home, May 21, surrounded by family. She was born in Sandy Hook in 1924, and later lived on South Main Street by Hawley Pond, and finally on Queen Street. When she was very young her father called her “Sally,” and this became the name she used with people who knew her well, throughout her life. Ms Carmody worked throughout her career as a legal secretary and office administrator, first at attorney John Holian’s law office in Newtown, and later at the law office of Goldstein and Peck in Bridgeport.

Professor Dana Aron Brand, 56, of Sandy Hook, died suddenly, May 25, at Danbury Hospital. The author of The Spectator and the City in Nineteenth-Century American Literature, as well as numerous scholarly articles, Prof Brand also wrote two books on the New York Mets: Mets Fan and The Last Days at Shea. In these books, he not only shares the emotional roller-coaster ride of his lifelong love of the Mets, but he also conveys what it takes to be a devoted fan of anything, from sports to opera. He was active in the Mets blogosphere and was a frequent guest on sports talk shows. He also appeared as a commentator in Billy Joel’s recent film on his final concert at Shea Stadium, The Last Play at Shea.

Two members of a historic Newtown family died in 2011. Samuel Nezvesky, 91, died July 12. Born January 12, 1920, in the Huntingtown District of Newtown, where he lived his entire life, Mr Nezvesky was a Newtown fire warden in the 1950s and 60s. He was a founding and charter member of the United Fire Company of Botsford, and owner of Sam’s Tree Farm. Known for his compassion to others, especially those less fortunate, Mr Nezvesky performed many a mitzvah in his lifetime. He was a concerned civic activist, writing letters to The Bee editor to ensure that public officials were acting properly and appropriate in their positions.

 Then, on October 20, Lieutenant Colonel Israel “Ike” Nezvesky, US Army (Retired), 81, died, in Columbia, S.C. He was born January 17, 1930, in Bridgeport, but was a longtime resident in Newtown, where he was very active in the Jewish Community. The Adath Israel Synagogue has an educational wing named in his honor.

Helen A. (Macri) Castagna, 78, beloved wife of Michael Castagna of Newtown, died July 13, in Masonicare at Newtown, after a long illness. A resident of Newtown since 1978, Mrs Castagna was the owner of the Botsford Drive-In Restaurant in the Botsford section of Newtown for 27 years.

A descendent of one of the Connecticut colony’s founding families and original Newtown settlers, Robert F. Peck, 87, died August 23, at Danbury Hospital. Mr Peck served his country honorably in the United States Army during World War II. He retired from Perkin-Elmer Corp after 28 years there.

Thomas C. Paisley, 83, of Sandy Hook, died at home, September 8, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was a former member of Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission, a Connecticut justice of the peace, and volunteer at Newtown Meeting House.

Many who had the privilege of being in a class led by Sheila Ellen (Mackro) Kolesar were saddened when the longtime Newtown school district teacher, 65, of Monroe, and wife of James S. Kolesar, died on September 26. Ms Kolesar was born February 21, 1946, and graduated from Cardinal Cushing College in Boston with a degree in American literature. She received a master’s in teaching from the University of Bridgeport. She was employed with the Newtown Board of Education for 35 years, and was an extraordinary educator within the Newtown school system.

Helen M. Tamburri, 100, of Danbury, formerly of Newtown and Southbury, died November 14, at Danbury Hospital, after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Nicholas J. Tamburri. With her husband, Mrs Tamburri spent many years as proprietress of the Yankee Drover Inn in Newtown, which burned down in 1981, training young employees and greeting customers with her warmth and charm.

Active in Newtown civics, Lorraine L. Peck, 84, Winter Haven, Fla., formerly of Newtown, died of complications from diabetes, November 16. She was born April 18, 1927, in New York City. Mrs Peck moved to Winter Haven from Connecticut in 1985. While in Newtown, she was the blood drive chairman for 20 years, and a member of the Garden Club, where she held many offices. Mrs Peck was very active in all aspects of Newtown’s growth and civic activities.

We remember these people, and all of those who called Newtown “home,” who died in 2011, with gratitude and respect.