Month: May 2026
All golden ages are marked by periods of spectacular cultural flourishing, scientific exploration, technological achievement and economic growth; yet no two are the same. Their beliefs, societies and place in the wider world all vary. Despite this, all previous golden ages have ended, whether it be because of external pressures or internal fracturing; too much hubris or too little wariness. Looking at seven of humanity’s greatest civilizations – ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Abbasid Baghdad, Song China, Renaissance Italy, the Dutch Republic and the Anglosphere – historian and commentator Johan Norberg seeks to distil their strengths and shortcomings in answering the question: how do we ensure that our current golden age doesn’t end? As insightful as it is riveting, Peak Human is at once a paean to our incredible progress and a warning that we cannot afford to be complacent.
Attention DMA Golfers: The last meeting to sign up for the Oak Hills Golf Outing is this week, May 13. Steve True will be manning the signup sheet as you come into the meeting room. Tee offs start at 11am Thursday, May 21 and limited to 24 golfers. The fee is $66 payable at Oak Hills. Foursomes will be assigned before the 21st. It is a fun day with no formal competition. Using the forward tees is recommended. Since we are playing through lunchtime, we will have boxed lunches available. Steve has the choices at signup. The lunches@ $18.25 will be available in Odeen’s Restaurant after you sign up in the Golf Shop. Please arrive 20 minutes before your tee time.
Jerry Crowley, Steve True
All Hail the Hale and Hearty!
On Thursday, May 14, we will be traversing a path in the Naugatuck State Forest. The trail starts out running north, directly alongside the railroad tracks and then turns 90 degrees to the west. The first part is level and the second portion mildly uphill, with one abrupt declivity on the way. (During this short dip you may choose, like me, to turn around and use your arms for additional balance.) The goats among us (and there are many!) will scamper right through. Our efforts will be well-rewarded, as a rushing torrent is close at hand, with a gorgeous, cascading waterfall as the ultimate payoff.
Carpoolers should meet at the DCA parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Please remember to park your vehicle in the back. For navigation purposes, or those choosing not to carpool, proceed up Rte. 8, use exit 21 and cross over the Naugatuck River in Beacon Falls on Depot Street. Take your next two rights and park facing the tracks just outside the cyclone-fence gateway, where there is ample room. It should take about 40 minutes to drive there from Darien.
For our repast, we will gather afterward at The Tap House in downtown Naugatuck, just north of the bridge.
Alec Wiggin
James J. (Jim) Fletcher, a resident of Darien, passed away at age 88 on April 30, 2026, at Stamford Hospital. He was born to the late Maynard Fletcher and Clara Whalen Fletcher on June 28, 1937.
James graduated from St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire, earning his bachelor’s degree. He then began his career by starting his own business, J.J. Fletcher Company, working as an insurance investigations agent. He was a longtime parishioner at St. Thomas More Parish in Darien as well as a member of the Darien Men’s Association. James enjoyed golfing, playing handball, boating, country music, motorcycles and cars.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; one daughter, Jennifer Fletcher of Stamford; two brothers, David Fletcher and Paul Fletcher; two sisters, Clara Quintal and Patsy Jackson; and one cousin, William Morrison. He was predeceased by two brothers, Peter Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bridge of Life (https://bridgeoflifeinternational.org) in memory of James.
Charles V. Raymond, or Chip to his friends, passed away in Stamford Connecticut early Saturday morning, April 11, just shy of his 84th birthday. He is survived by his wife Jan; his sons Joshua and his wife Lisa, from Washington D.C., and Luke and his wife Briony, from Darien; and four grandchildren, Henry and Lucy (21), Rhys (12) and Vaughn (9).
Chip led an extraordinarily active life. He had a dynamic career of service to New York City and the world in government, non-profit management and foundations. He worked in senior positions for four New York City mayors including Mayors Lindsay, Beam, Koch and Dinkins. Early in his career he ran some of the first methadone maintenance programs in the country and helped reform the Willowbrook Psychiatric Hospital after a famous exposé was done by a young Geraldo Rivera on its abhorrent conditions. He finished his government career as the first ever Commissioner of the New York City Department of Homeless Services, addressing the City’s homeless crisis.
After leaving government, he became the first managing director of the New York City Ballet. He remained an active patron of the Ballet right up to the end of his life.
In the last 10 years of his career, he ran the Citigroup Foundation, where he helped provide seed funding for the first large-scale microfinance projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. Outside of work, Chip was an avid sailor and competed in the Newport Bermuda race, the Marblehead Bermuda race, the Halifax race and multiple Vineyard races. He competed nationally in the Soling and Tempest classes. He spent years racing at Noroton Yacht Club in J-24s and Sonars with his family and friends. In later years, he served on New York Yacht Club’s Model Committee, helping to maintain and restore the Club’s world-famous ship model collection. He also cruised his own boat with Jan between Noroton and Newport almost every summer. Through all of that, during the last 21 years, Chip remained primarily focused on his family and especially his four grandchildren.
Donations in his honor can be made to Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC) (BRC.org). BRC is one of New York’s most effective providers of services to unhoused people, and Chip served on its board of directors.