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Yavner, Steve

April 1, 2026 /

After 20 years in Darien — where two of his four children came up through the public schools — Steve Yavner recently made the short move to Norwalk, staying deeply rooted in the community he loves. He remains an active member of both the Darien Chamber of Commerce, the Darien Community Association and the Darien YMCA.

Steve is the founder of Spark Your College Story, Inc., where he is a college advisor, essay coach and SAT/ACT tutor, helping students find and tell the stories that get them into college. Three afternoons a week, you’ll find him at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, working one-on-one with middle and high school students across a wide range of subjects — because he believes every student deserves a great mentor.

Before launching Spark Your College Story, Steve built a remarkable career in media and education. He spent nine years as a sports anchor and reporter in West Palm Beach and at CNN in Atlanta, ran the CBS newsroom in Miami for eight years and was an executive producer in Boston and Philadelphia. He later brought that real-world experience into the classroom, teaching journalism and communications for 12 years at the University of Miami, Fairfield University, and Central Connecticut State University.

Steve and his wife Phyllis — a psychotherapist with a private practice in Darien — are the proud parents of Christopher, Emily, Caroline and Evan, and grandparents to grandson Jack. A native of Brookline, Mass., Steve spends his downtime on the golf course or out on the water on board his boat, Phyllisity.

MacDonald, Tom

April 1, 2026 /

Thomas (Tom) MacDonald was born and raised in Wisconsin. He obtained his undergraduate degree (B.S. in economics and mathematics) and law degree from the University of Wisconsin. Following his graduation from law school in 1981, Tom practiced corporate and securities law in Minneapolis for eight years and served on the board of directors of Golden American Life Insurance Company, an issuer of mutual fund-backed variable annuities. In 1989, Tom joined Seward & Kissel, a mid-sized law firm in New York City. He represented hedge funds, mutual funds and other clients in the money management industry. For health reasons, Tom retired from the firm and from the practice of law in 2002, although he continued to consult for the firm and former clients for some time after that.

After joining Seward & Kissel, Tom moved from Minnesota to Darien with his wife Debra and their two children, Kimberly and David, then ages 5 and 1, respectively. In 2017, Tom and Deb moved from Darien to a condominium in downtown Stamford. While in Darien, Tom was active in coaching youth basketball and football. He spent 10 years on the board of directors of the Darien Junior Football League. He helped to found the Fairfield County Football League and served on its board of directors. Tom also volunteered for At Home in Darien. He and his family were long-time members of the Middlesex Club and St. Thomas More Parish. Tom had been an active squash player, runner, cyclist and downhill skier but now enjoys more sedate activities such as reading and spending time with Deb and their two grandchildren. With Deb having recently retired from Stamford Hospital, Tom and Deb now plan to spend time traveling.

Craig Marlow Ferguson

April 1, 2026 /

Craig Marlow Ferguson, 88, a lifelong Darien resident, died peacefully on March 28, 2026, from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by his wife Linda and three children.

Born in Stamford on September 15, 1937, to James and Jessie Ferguson, Craig was the youngest of three sons. He was predeceased by his parents and his older brothers Bruce Lyons Ferguson and Thomas Donaldson Ferguson, his foster brother Peter Bodick, his nephew Bruce Wayne Ferguson and his nephew’s wife Barbara Ferguson. Craig attended Stamford schools and graduated from Darien High School in 1955 and Colgate University in 1959. Craig began his insurance career with Childs & Wood in Chicago and New York before starting Craig M. Ferguson & Company in the early 1970s in New York. He was known among his clients and employees as an excellent problem solver and a generous and caring business owner. Craig and Linda raised their children in Darien.

Craig had a lot of hobbies and interests. He was an exceptional cook and loved nothing more than cooking at family holidays and gatherings, presenting guests with traditional English dishes. Favorites included standing rib roast, popovers and butter tarts. Craig was also an accomplished pianist and organist, self-taught as a youngster. He learned to play the pipe organ in his youth by dropping by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford after school and learning on the church organ. A real highlight was playing the organ at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He managed the organ keyboards, pedalboard and stops with ease well into his 70s. Craig loved the natural world and backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his children. He was a rosarian and could often be found tending to his 70 roses. It was a rare weekend that Craig wasn’t on his tractor buzzing around his property. He also enjoyed playing squash and backgammon, skiing and reading spy novels. He was a Lionel Train enthusiast who spent many years spent time perfecting his O-gauge layout, which was western-themed with rustic scenery, steam locomotives, bridges and rugged terrain spanning an entire room in his basement. A new level was achieved the day he broke through a cement interior basement wall so that the train could have a proper tunnel. The “train room” was an enchanting place for the many children who visited.

Craig was an active volunteer for most of his adult life. He volunteered at his alma mater, Colgate, in many capacities over the years and was awarded a Maroon Citation, an honor recognizing his record of service. Craig also served as chairman of the board of Miss Hall’s School in Lenox, Mass. He served on the board of Wee Burn Country Club. He was on the vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford, involved in the 1980s Canterbury Green project, which continues to benefit the church and the St. John’s Community Foundation. Craig also served on Darien’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Wee Burn Country Club, and Lake Sunapee Yacht Club.

Craig was, above all, a family man. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda Stiles Ferguson, and his three children, Anne Foster (Dave), Bruce Ferguson (Pam) and Lynne Somerville (Scott), all of Darien. Also surviving are his nine grandchildren Elizabeth, Wells, Ellen, Katharine, Bruce, Peter, Doug, Andrew and Mimi and two sisters-in-law Barbara and Joanne Ferguson, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. Some of Craig’s happiest times were spent sharing family time at his beloved Lake Sunapee before a roaring fire or sitting on the deck surrounded by laughter and love. In Craig’s passing, his family has lost a most remarkable and loved patriarch. His life will be celebrated at a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday April 9 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1864 Boston Post Road, Darien.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Craig’s memory to Colgate University, PO Box 313, Canajoharie, NY 13317-0313. Donations will be directed to the Jessie Ferguson Endowed Scholarship Fund, created by Craig in honor of his mother.

The family wishes to thank Craig’s caregivers, Joseph, Gina, Diane, Maria, and Debbie.

Riordan, Peter

March 27, 2026 /

Peter Riordan moved with his family to Darien in 2008 after growing up in Stamford and living in the Washington, D.C. area for 14 years. He has been deeply involved in the Darien community, having served as a Scout leader (cubmaster, assistant scoutmaster and district chairman), and he has served the town of Darien as a member of the RTM. He is currently serving on the Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters and the DarienTV Advisory Board. Peter is an active member and elder of Noroton Presbyterian Church and has served that church in several roles.

Peter has worked in the broadcast industry for 40 years and has worked for a number of companies, including Connecticut Public Television, HBO, Discovery and Amazon Web Services (Media & Entertainment business unit). Many of his professional roles have been focused on operations, technology strategy and change management.

Peter and his wife Kalie have been married for 30 years. Kalie grew up in Darien and attended Holmes and Middlesex schools before attending King Low Heywood school. Kalie is the director of Noroton Presbyterian Nursery School and the Noroton Presbyterian Child Care Program. Their adult children Gillian and Luke were both born in Silver Spring, Md., and attended Holmes and Middlesex schools and Darien High School. Gillian is a volunteer and past officer at Noroton Heights Fire Department. Luke served at Post 53 through high school and college and is looking forward to post-collegiate participation in the program.

Waters. Bill

March 11, 2026 /

William (Bill) Waters was born and raised in Glen Ridge, N.J., attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a double major in accounting and business administration. Bill is a CPA and retired partner of Berdon LLP in New York City, specializing in commercial real estate.

He and his wife Ginny, a former professor of Japanese studies, have one daughter, Jessica, and a six-year-old grandson.

Bill and Ginny seem to have made a hobby of moving from house to house in the New York metropolitan area — from New Jersey to several homes in Rye, Manhattan, Greenwich and, since 2020, Rowayton. The Rowayton/Darien/Norwalk location is by far his favorite due to the proximity and easy access to shopping, restaurants, parks, the seaside, and Silvermine Golf Club, where he loves to meet up with people and enjoy a round of golf.

Kretzman, Buddy

March 11, 2026 /

Robert (Buddy) Kretzman and his wife Clare recently moved from North Stamford to Darien. They have been Connecticut residents since the early 1980s, with a brief stint in Chicago for Buddy’s career.

They have been married 43 years, have two adult sons: Matthew, who lives in Darien with his wife and three children aged nine, eight and four; and Christopher, who lives in New Canaan with his wife and daughter Bryce, age three. Buddy is blessed to spend much of his time with family, enjoying their activities, watching Darien junior football, travel soccer, town basketball, baseball and cheerleading. Buddy and Clare have a small house on Long Island, in which they spend much of their summer. Buddy and Clare walked the Camino de Santiago, hiked in the national parks in Utah and Colorado and made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, thankfully before the recent hostilities.

Prior to Buddy’s retirement in 2013, he served as the chief legal and administrative officer of Revlon, with responsibility for global legal, human resources, compliance, security, real estate and facilities and licensing areas. After retirement, he served on Revlon’s board of directors. He graduated from St. John’s University in 1974 and from St. John’s University School of Law in 1977.

After retiring, Buddy took numerous courses at Fairfield University, focusing primarily on religious studies across numerous faith traditions. He is a certified spiritual director and supervisor serving at the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University and chairs the Murphy Center’s advisory board.

He also serves on the board of directors of Food Rescue US, a non-profit organization that secures fresh food from restaurants and food stores and uses unique software applications to efficiently distribute it to food banks and homeless shelters nationally. Its dual mission is to address food insecurity and mitigate the environmental impact of food waste.

Bowling March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026 /

Everything evens out in the end. That’s the theme of the report for today’s 10 bowlers.

We had a very spirited team competition, so let’s focus on that first. Team Marty (MM, BT, AG, JB, WS) went up against Team Tom (TL, TH, GG, MR, DS), and right off the bat Marty’s team got off to a fast (and noisy) start. But things evened out for them in the end, as Tom’s team got hot after a slow start. George G finished at 198, while Ted had a four-bagger on his way to a 177, pacing their team to a comfortable game one win. In game two it was Dave who came out of nowhere to record a double and a triple in the last five frames (see photo) to post his best ever DMA game of 157. Combined with Tom’s 203, that helped their team win that game by a mere 14 pins. Marty’s squad unanimously issued the double-or-nothing challenge, and “everything evened out in the end!” All five of Team Tom’s bowlers finished the game below average, while Alex’s 182 paced Team Marty to a 75-pin victory.

Above average series were bowled today by Ted (+4), Alex and Bill (+11), George (+24) and by our BoD Dave (+41). Tom posted the high series at 543. Woody recorded the day’s only BBS.

Let’s see what sort of roller coaster ride we get next week.

Bowling Feb. 24, 2026

March 3, 2026 /

Nine bowlers braved the roads and cold to get to Nutmeg this morning, with five bowling above their recent average.

Woody was a +5, including a 120 in his middle game. Mike also had a 120 in his last game to finish with a +16. Linc got off to a fast start with a 140 and finished +17. Ted had a second 500 series in a row with a steady 503 for +53. But BoD was none other than Mr. Up & Down, Alex. He started with a nice 178 and finished with 200 on the button, his first 200 game of the season. His 539 series was his best of the season as well, and he was +98. Let me hear a “Yeah Baby!”

Most improved bowler over the three games was clearly the Commish. His opening game of 137 was his lowest of the season and left him muttering to himself all game. Things got better in game two as he rolled a 195, including going strike/spare in the 10th to tie the team game. Game three really put a smile on his face as he opened up with a five-bagger on his way to a 223. His 86-pin differential start to finish was quite the turnaround and helped him get high series of 555. Because Alex and Ted were teammates, their team won the two other games with ease.

While Ben was absent with his driveway yet to be plowed, we did have many BBS opportunities, with one that was completed by Gehr. Tom converted a 3-6-7 split, as well as a 2-7 and a washout (space between pins with head pin still standing), while Ed Sc converted a 3-10.

Jennifer Carcieri, CEO, Darien YMCA
“Strengthening Our Community Together: The Impact of the Darien YMCA,” Apr. 1, 2026

March 3, 2026 /

The Darien YMCA is well-known in Darien for being dedicated to making a positive impact on our community through a variety of initiatives, including sports programs, educational programs and community-driven projects. It has almost 1,700 local adults over 55 years old who are members, many of whom participate in health and wellness programs that promote a healthy longevity by giving them opportunities to stay in shape, create new friendships and stay connected with the community.

The “Y” also engages: 1,300 children who learn life-saving swimming skills that are essential in our coastal region; 1,800 children in pre-school, after-school and summer camp programs; and 3,000 children and teens participating sports programs. The “Y” also provides $600,000 of financial assistance for individuals and families in need in Darien and its surrounding communities.

Jennifer M. Carcieri serves as CEO of the Darien YMCA, where she has led transformational growth and community impact since 2018. Under her leadership, the organization increased revenues by 34% and transitioned from a major operating loss to a $2 million surplus, while significantly expanding financial assistance and strengthening mission-driven programs. She has guided the Y through strategic planning initiatives and major capital renovations, and successfully achieved Praesidium Accreditation for child abuse prevention.

Previously, Jennifer spent a decade with the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges in New Jersey, where she led fundraising, facility expansion and community wellness initiatives. A recognized leader in the YMCA movement, she serves as vice president of the CT/RI Alliance of YMCAs and chairs the Northeast Region CEO Conference.

Jennifer holds a B.S. in financial management from Clemson University and is known for her collaborative leadership style, a commitment to community well-being and a belief that the Y is a place where everyone belongs.

Arranged by Ray Duggins.

Video Presentation

Summary:

Jennifer Carcieri, CEO of the Darien YMCA, presented a compelling picture of the Y as a cornerstone of community life — far beyond its reputation as a “gym and swim.” Since taking the helm in 2018, she has led a transformation that increased revenue by roughly one-third and turned a significant operating deficit into a $2 million surplus, enabling substantial reinvestment in facilities and programs.

She framed the Darien Y within the broader YMCA movement, founded in London in 1844 and now comprising more than 750 associations across the United States, collectively serving over 20 million people annually. Yet, she emphasized that each Y reflects the unique needs of its community — and in Darien, that means a strong commitment to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The scale of local impact is striking. The Y serves nearly 6,800 members, including more than 1,700 over age 55 and more than 1,000 seniors above 65, many of whom remain highly active even into their 90s. Its youth programs are equally significant: 26% of Darien’s kindergarten class attended the Y’s preschool, while more than 1,300 children participate in early education, after-school and camp programs. Thousands more engage in swimming lessons and youth sports, underscoring the Y’s role in both safety and development in a coastal community.

On the wellness front, the Y delivers nearly 10,000 personal training sessions annually and offers a wide range of classes tailored to all ages and abilities, including specialized programs for seniors. But Carcieri stressed that the Y’s greatest differentiator is its mission-driven impact. Last year alone, it provided over $600,000 in financial assistance for individuals and families in need in Darien and surrounding communities, ensuring access regardless of income.

She concluded by highlighting the Y’s critical role in promoting longevity and well-being. Regular physical activity, strength training and social engagement — hallmarks of the Y experience — are proven to extend both lifespan and quality of life, making the Darien YMCA not just a facility, but a vital engine of community health and connection.

Austin McChord, CEO, Manresa Island Corp.,
“Transforming Norwalk’s Decommissioned Power Plant into One of the Northeast’s Most Creative Parks: Manresa Wilds,”
Mar. 25, 2026

February 22, 2026 /

Motivated by an extraordinary vision and much generosity, Norwalk native Austin McChord and his wife Allison are turning a decommissioned power plant and its magnificent 125-acre waterfront peninsula on Norwalk Harbor into a world-class public park, community hub and nature retreat. Now taking shape, the full transformation is being overseen by Manresa Island Corp., a non-profit established and funded by the McChords in 2024. The park, called “Manresa Wilds,” will be fully funded by private philanthropy, anchored by a landmark foundational gift from the couple with no public funding involved. Multiple elected officials have voiced their support for the project — no wonder, the McChords aren’t asking for a dime. They’re looking to fund the entire $410 million preparation cost themselves and plan to open the park in stages starting in 2027 and continuing from 2032 through 2035. Once fully realized, the park will be one of the most ambitious privately funded public park projects in the nation.

Manresa Wilds will be a publicly accessible park that reconnects the community to a large waterfront property for the first time in nearly 75 years. At twice the size of Darien’s Great Island, and only four miles from the DMA’s meeting location, the park’s sprawling natural spaces will be anchored by the decommissioned plant, which will be revitalized into a vibrant community hub.

Though the property’s new ownership and stewardship is unorthodox, state officials, environmental experts and the McChords themselves say that Manresa Wilds offers lessons that extend beyond the property’s dramatic two miles of waterfront views, rusted machinery and dense birch forest. Many states have been trying for years to shutter some of their filthiest power plants. As part of a group formerly known as the “Sooty Six,” the dirtiest plants in Connecticut, these old gas-fired plants cost taxpayers and corporate owners a king’s ransom to operate. Now they mostly sit idle, and those operating are notorious polluters. Connecticut has almost 900 “brownfield” sites, many of which are relics of the state’s rich manufacturing history. While outmoded power facilities, like all technologies, eventually need to be replaced or repurposed, Manresa Wilds shows that obsolescence is sometimes an opportunity for reinvention. Some observers believe it is a model for how private capital can be used to reimagine coastal resources for the public’s benefit.

Austin McChord, founder and former CEO of Datto, Inc., the first and only “unicorn” company in Connecticut, and his architect wife Allison have a different idea. After purchasing Manresa Island in 2024, the couple hired world-class architects and planners to imagine an unprecedented civic asset in Norwalk. To that end, they will design exciting interior spaces — one as large as Grand Central Station — and acres of wild habitats, beaches and spaces for community gathering, education, and research.

Austin founded the locally based Datto, Inc. in 2007 in his father’s house in Newtown, Conn., when he was still a student at Rochester Institute of Technology. His product provided back-up computer storage capability to the business community in data centers, pairing it with business continuity and disaster recovery to keep businesses up-and-running. Datto provided its customers with an affordable all-in-one hybrid cloud platform with continuity and resilience. In 2013, Austin turned down an enormous buyout offer, but as Datto’s sole stockholder at that time, he disliked the buyer’s plan to dismantle Datto and lay off employees. Instead, he re-capitalized the firm and later sold it for a significantly higher amount.

Arranged by Robin Hogen

[Editor’s Note: “Brownfield” is legally defined as real property where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. A “unicorn company” is defined as a privately held startup company with a current valuation of 1 billion or more.]

McChord Pictures

Video Presentation

Summary:

Austin McChord’s presentation told the remarkable story of how an abandoned
industrial site on Norwalk Harbor could become one of the most ambitious privately funded public parks in America. A Norwalk native and founder of the Connecticut tech company called Datto, Austin explained how he and his wife Allison first imagined the transformation while kayaking past the decommissioned Manresa power plant. What began as an improbable idea grew into a sweeping philanthropic effort: a 125-acre waterfront peninsula, to be called Manresa Wilds, reborn as a public park, nature preserve, community destination, and learning center.

Austin described the site as far more than an old power plant. It includes nearly two miles of shoreline, salt marshes, birch forest, deep-water berths, beaches and vast industrial interiors unlike anything else in the region. Rather than demolish everything, the plan embraces adaptive reuse. The turbine hall, with its monumental scale, will become a flexible civic gathering space, while the boiler building may one day house an indoor park and a coastal research center, potentially in partnerships with the Maritime Aquarium and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Outdoor plans include a naturalized beach, large lawn, promenade, community pool with high diving platforms, sailing and kayaking access, an expansive playground and major ecological restoration.

A central theme of the talk was that this is not meant to be “Austin and Allison’s Park,” but a place shaped by the wider community. Austin said his team conducted broad public outreach, gathering feedback from residents, students, seniors and neighbors, then incorporated thousands of changes into a master plan. He emphasized values such as public accessibility, ecological renewal, education and creating a model for reimagining obsolete industrial waterfronts.

He also spoke candidly about the challenges: sea-level rise, environmental remediation, traffic, operations and cost. The first 25 acres are expected to open in 2027, with later phases extending into the 2032–2035 period. Austin said the preparatory and safety work alone totals $410 million, all privately funded, and that he and his wife are committed both to completing the park and endowing its long-term upkeep. The result, he suggested, is a once-in-a-generation gift to the public.

Bowling Feb. 17, 2026

February 18, 2026 /

So, I think our little experiment worked out quite nicely today. Even with a morning cancellation, we got balls rolling at 9:05. To simplify things, the suggestion has been made that it should only be necessary to notify me on Mondays if you are one of our regulars and expect to be absent. That makes perfect sense.

It seems that the Commish has had the good fortune of being on the same team as the BoD these past weeks, and so it was again today. Ben and Ed Sc were slightly in the plus, but it wasn’t them. Alex started strong and ended up +29 — but it wasn’t him. Thanks to a first game 150, Linc was +45 (and he was on Tom’s team). Ian Webb finished with a 153 to end up +60 for the day; John had three good games to finish +66 — but not them, either.

Today’s BoD was my teammate Ted. After a very good game one of 185, Ted had the high game of the day of 214 in the second. His 535 series, though 12 below Tom, was +97! And we’ll note that Ted was on the same pair of lanes on which he met disaster a couple of weeks ago (535 vs 346 ). Even in game three when Ted came back to earth, there was a happy ending for him. In his game three head-to-head against Ben, Ted fell behind early. When Ben opened in the 10th, Ted still needed a strike/spare to win or a spare/strike to tie. On his first ball he left a 5-10 split, which put a slight smile on Ben’s face.  BUT Ted converted the split and followed that with a strike to gain the draw. And wouldn’t you know that Ted also turned his hole card on the third game poker hand and revealed a third 10, giving him the winning hand. Just like last week, when Ben filled his pockets with quarters, so it was today for Ted. In addition to Ted’s split conversion, kudos also go to Woody for making a 9-10.

Let’s see who gets hot next week!

Hall, Windsor

February 18, 2026 /

Windsor Hall spent his career in corporate banking and credit risk management. He obtained his B.A. in economics and philosophy from Brandeis University and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. His wife Elizabeth was a dance and fitness instructor who taught at the Darien Arts Center and the Darien Senior Center.

Windsor and Elizabeth moved from New York City to Darien in 1993. In 1995, they moved with their one-year-old son to Singapore, where Windsor worked for Chemical Bank (now JPMChase). After having two more children in Singapore, they moved in 1998 to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Windsor was country manager for JPMChase. The family returned to Darien in 2002. Windsor joined Citigroup in 2003, then worked for a privately-owned investment advisor for six years, before working for and retiring from U.S. Bank in 2022.

Windsor has been a trustee and treasurer for the Rowayton United Methodist Church since 2018. He enjoys staying very active and particularly enjoys, and hopes to continue as long as possible, running, hiking and biking. He and Elizabeth also enjoy traveling to new places and keeping up with their children and their large, extended families.

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