Category: In Memoriam (Page 1 of 9)

Remembering friends who have departed

Tom Taylor

October 6, 2024 /

Thomas Taylor Obituary

Thomas William Taylor, Sr.
Tom Taylor, a 45 year resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2024. Tom was born to Alva and Mary Taylor in Coshocton, OH, and earned a BA from Duke University, and JD from University of Michigan Law School.
After graduation, he lived in Cleveland, where he met his wife-to-be, Janet Hausser. They moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1974 and to Darien in 1979 with their two children, Thomas W., Jr. of Oak Park, IL (Jody Evenson) and Kathleen T. Nash of Fairfield.
He was employed for nearly 40 years by the Comptroller of the Currency, a bank regulatory agency of the United States Treasury Department. During his tenure he represented the agency as its member on the National Commission on Electronic Funds Transfers and established the first formal consumer protection office.
Upon retirement he became a volunteer at Person to Person, a member of the Darien Men’s association, and as Treasurer and Board member of the Darien Community Association. He was an active member of the Noroton Presbyterian Church and served as an elder and deacon, as well as a longtime member of the finance committee. He was also active in the Presbytery of Southern New England for many years in several capacities, including Treasurer, and as a member of the Committee on Ministry, Nominations, Trustees, and Council.
Despite his faith, he suffered as a devoted Cleveland Indians and Browns fan.
He is survived by four grandchildren, Betsy, Gavin, and Daphne Nash, and Sam Taylor, by his brother Richard A. Taylor of Coshocton (Judy Taylor), sister Elizabeth Reid of Columbia, MO (Robert Reid), sister-in-law Jeanne Lipps of San Marino, CA, and by two nieces and four nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Janet, and his brother, Joseph F. Taylor.
A memorial service will be held later this spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Noroton Presbyterian Church: https://www.noroton.church/give-online/

Robert Hopkins

October 6, 2024 /

Robert Hopkins Obituary

Robert W Hopkins
Robert Woodhull Hopkins, 95, passed away Saturday, April 6th, at Stamford Hospital. He was husband to Joan Dreher Hopkins, the son of Robert Carl and Eleanor Adams Hopkins and little brother of Sylvia Hopkins Siegler. He was a beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother.
Bob was born in Orange, New Jersey, on February 9, 1929. The family would move to Connecticut a few years later, and Bob would become a proud lifelong resident of Darien, CT.
He attended Kimball Union Academy, the class of 1947, in Meriden, New Hampshire, where he excelled academically and athletically, twice serving as class president. From KUA, Bob went on to Dartmouth, following in the footsteps of his uncles Ernest (who went on to be the 11th president of Dartmouth), Louis and his father, Robert. At Dartmouth Bob continued to excel, majoring in Economics, and playing baseball, hockey, and varsity soccer.
Dartmouth, and Hanover, would be a treasured community in Bob’s life for many years to come, marked by many reunion trips and close bonds with his fellow ’51 classmates.
After graduating from Dartmouth, Bob married Joan Dreher Hopkins, daughter of Monroe Franklin Dreher and Elizabeth Stirling Dreher, also of Darien, on April 11, 1953. They had met 8 years prior, in Darien, at a Cinderella Dance.
Bob enlisted in the US Navy in 1951 as a Naval Cadet, enrolling in the flight training program in Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned as an Ensign. He flew propeller Corsairs, then jet Banshees, serving as a Lieutenant from 1953-1955 during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier, the Valley Forge.
However active his life may have been, Bob’s true love and dedication was to his wife, Joan, and his three daughters, Christina, Elizabeth and Susan. Three generations of Hopkins family were deeply fortunate to spend decades together, in Darien and in Delray Beach, Florida. In recent years, Bob had greeted two great-granddaughters, both of whom will cherish early memories and photographs with ‘Great Grandad.’
As a passionate golfer, he was a member of Woodway Country Club, in Darien where he served as President, and the St. Andrews Club, Delray Beach, Florida. He was an active member of the Connecticut State Golf Association, serving as president from 1995-1996. In his later years, and up until not that long ago, he was a Course Rater, rating and playing almost every golf course in the state.
He was deeply loved and will be forever missed. The funeral services will be private and held at a future date. Memorial remembrances may be made to Kimball Union Academy at Kimball Union Academy, 7 Campus Center Drive, Meriden, NH. 03770.

Tom Gildersleve

October 6, 2024 /

Note from his son Mark:

My father must have belonged to your group for upwards of 20 years. He always enjoyed the speakers. He participated in your tennis group for many years up to the age of 86 or so. After that, he became an active member of your bridge group, which provided many hours of entertainment in his last decade. You provide a great service to the community, and my father was quite fortunate to have been able to be a part of it.

Bill Close

October 6, 2024 /

William’s Obituary

U.S. Veteran

The late William Forrest Close, age 92 of Norwalk, Connecticut passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Regional Hospice in Danbury, Connecticut surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born September 30, 1931 in Washington D.C., son of the late Forrest Close and Margaret Wood Holmes. He attended Summit High School, in New Jersey and Princeton University, Class of 1953 where he was awarded a NROTC scholarship. In his senior year he was made the Midshipman Cadet Commander. After he was commissioned as an Ensign in 1953 he was stationed for three years on the fleet destroyer, USS Warrington (DD 843). Near the completion of active duty he was promoted to Lieutenant JG.

Following Princeton he attended Harvard Business School graduating with a MBA in

1958. His business career spanned 32 years as a broker on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

From a young age Bill enjoyed sailing at Sachem’s Head Yacht Club in Guilford, CT. He raced in nine Newport to Bermuda Races, winning the race in 1962, cruised with many clubs, and sailed transatlantic in 1984. He was currently a member of the Sachem’s Head Yacht Club, the Cruising Club of America and the Storm Trysail Club.

In 1991 he married Stephanie Illes and happily acquired two step children, Brian Ladewig (wife, Nicole) of New Canaan, CT and Kim Risley (husband, Dane, step grandchildren, Michael, Lauren, Kate) of Fairfield, CT. Following his retirement in 1994 Bill and Stephanie enjoyed traveling, hiking and cruising around the world with family and friends.

Bill won his battle with alcoholism for fifty years with the good graces of Alcoholics Anonymous during which time he helped so many on their path to sobriety.

Bill is survived by his wife, Stephanie of 32 years, and by his four children from two previous marriages and nine grandchildren: Forrest Close of Wilton, CT and his wife Nicole( Madelyn, Gaelen), George Close of Rowayton, CT and his wife Mallory (Brynley, Bennett, Forrest, Kyle), Carolyn Garth of Newport, RI (Cally, Penelope) and William Close (Phoenix) of Los Angeles, CA and Bill’s sister, Mardee Moore of Madison, CT.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Saturday, May 25th  at 1:00 the United Church of Rowayton.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT 06853.

William Frank

October 6, 2024 /

WILLIAM FRANK Obituary

FRANK–William Patrick. William Patrick Frank, age 83, died at home in Darien, CT, survived by his beloved wife Marilyn Mainelli Frank, children Chris (Tricia) Frank, Caroline (Ricky) Lapidus, Bill (Lauren) Frank, and Susannah (Scott) Bullard, and 12 grandchildren. Born in the Bronx, son of Otto and Mary Brennan Frank, he was predeceased by his brothers Gerard and Paul. He attended All Hallows, Fordham Preparatory School, Georgetown University and Fordham Law School. Bill served as a military intelligence Captain in the US Army in Vietnam during the Tet offensive and earned recognition including Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Joint Service Commendation Medals. He was the 23rd associate to join the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom where he served for over fifty years, including as Litigation Practice Leader and New York Office Leader. Bill served on professional and philanthropic boards, and received awards, too numerous to fully list. He was a founding member of the Wall Street Alliance and Scholarship Fund, and served on the boards of the Practicing Law Institute, USO, Georgetown University, Fordham Law, the Gregorian University (Rome) Foundation, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, the American Ireland Fund, the Cardinal’s Committee for Charity of the Archdiocese of New York, Catholic Charities and as a Knight of Malta on the Order’s Legal Committee. He is the recipient of the Catholic Charities Deus Caritas Est Award, the Georgetown John Carroll Award and the Fordham Law School Alumni Medal of Achievement. He was a warrior-scholar, humanitarian, voracious reader, and family photographer who travelled the world to experience history, culture, skiing, golf, wine, and good company. His greatest accomplishments were as a wonderful husband and fiercely devoted father and grandfather. His was a full, happy, and generous life. Mass of Christian Burial at 11am on Friday September 20, 2024, St. Thomas More Church, Darien, CT. In lieu of flowers please donate to Catholic Charities of New York.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Bob Johnson

July 23, 2024 /

Robert (Bob) Johnson
1938-2024
Robert (Bob) Johnson passed away peacefully at home, on July 6th, from consequences related to leukemia. He was born March 1, 1938 in Rochester, NY to Grace and Jasper Johnson, and grew up with his three brothers and two sisters.
The family moved to Needham, MA when he was twelve years old, where he attended the public schools and was Captain of the high school football and basketball teams, and President of his class. He attended Williams College, playing football, and later transferred to the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a degree in Economics.
Growing up, Bob’s family summered on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, where he met the love of his life, Barbie Grad, daughter of Gladys and Linden Grad of Meredith, NH. It was there that Bob captured Barbie’s attention as a member of the water ski team. They were married for 60 years, and have resided in Darien, CT, for 45 of those years, raising their two children and participating in the community in myriad ways.
After college, Bob enrolled in Officer’s Candidate School, joining the US Marine Corps in 1961. Upon being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he entered the flight training program and became a Naval Aviator, stationed in Southern California. He served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and accomplished over 300 missions there. After completion of his active military duties, he joined The Reserves, where he continued to fly helicopters and relished the camaraderie of his fellow officers. At this time, he was hired by TWA, with whom he flew 727’s to 747’s for over thirty years. As an airline Captain, he flew all over the world, mostly international flights out of JFK. Sharing travel with his family was among his greatest joys, and Bob loved more than anything to take his family to see the many beautiful and cultural sites throughout Europe.
After retiring from TWA, Bob found great happiness in his two passions of boating and oil painting. From Captain in the air to Captain at sea, he excelled at navigating the waters of Long Island Sound in his boat, Bellwether, where many happy memories with family were created. It was his rekindled love of painting, however, that really animated his later years. He joined the Silvermine Guild, where he honed his skills, and participated in many local art exhibitions. His home studio produced numerous landscape paintings that are treasured by friends and family.
A true gentleman, Bob will be remembered for his unflagging integrity, his kind smile, and devotion to family.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his siblings, Christel, Peter and Don, daughter, Amy and her husband Devin, and his two beloved granddaughters, Avery and Ingrid. He was preceded in death by his son, Eric Robert Johnson.
There will be no service, and burial will be in New Hampshire at a later date.

Tony Kwedar

January 2, 2024 /

Anthony Martin Kwedar, age 86, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Tony was born at home in Baltimore, MD, on February 21, 1937, to the late John J. Kwedar and Albina O. Kwedar of Severna Park, MD.

Tony briefly served in the Air Force and graduated from Iona College.

Working as a Purchasing Agent for Lever Bros., he moved from Maryland to New York, where he settled in Darien, CT, with his beloved first wife, Miriam C. Walas (predeceased 2005). He later worked for Unilever and Lipton Tea.

He was dedicated to St. Johns Parish in Darien, where he was a member of the Joyful Praise, one of St. John’s choirs, under the direction of Frank Porretta, and many church activities, including their Community Garden, always helping those in need. He was an active member of the Darien Men’s Association and various Bridge Clubs and was a proud recorder of the scorebook in the PONS Bridge Club. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a caring and compassionate gentleman, with a delightful sense of humor.

He leaves behind a loving wife, Sandra S. Kwedar (married in 2008).

“Pa Tony” graciously embraced Sandy’s daughters Lori Pipicello (Armando), Kim Davenport (Jeff), and Jill Muller (Allen) and adoring grandchildren Jessica Schmidt (David), Amy Mazza (Sam), and Andrew Speziale.

He was a loving brother of John Kwedar, Alby Halsey, and Anna Marie Vitkauskas, and a dear Uncle to 16 nieces and nephews.

A Mass was held at St. Johns Church of Darien on December 12, 2023, with an Internment at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Tony was a past of the Darien Men’s Association.  He remained an active member leading the Bridge Club.  He is fondly remembered as a wonderful person and contributor to the DMA.  He will be missed.  Here is his bio in his own words.

I was born (1937) in Baltimore, 3 blocks from the house (Bar) that Babe Ruth was reared in. I became an honest person by attending Catholic schools for my formal education. The night school route was used to complete (BSBA) my schooling at Iona College in New Rochelle (1973).

My business career began with the Lever Brothers plant in Baltimore (1958) in the Purchasing field. A solid knowledge that began there was the foundation for entering the Packaging Material Field. I was transferred to NYC in 1996.

Along the journey, my time was spent with other companies (Beech-Nut, Tetley). I eventually returned to the Unilever clan of Thomas J. Lipton as Purchasing Manager- Packaging Materials (1992).

My first wife (Miriam) of 45 years ended with her death in 2005. I remarried my current wife (Sandy) in 2008 and am fortunate to have experienced two happy marriages. Having conceived no children with my first wife, I inherited 3 children and 3 grandchildren with Sandy. I have lived in Darien since 1968.

My favorite pastimes involve golf, chess, bridge, and gardening – all of which my prowess is to be admired, but not imitated!

Edit

Donations may be made to: Person-to-Person, Darien, CT or the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation 

Bob Mitchell

June 7, 2023 /

Bob Mitchell Obituary

On Sunday, June 4, Bob Mitchell, long-time member of the Darien Men’s Association and its President in the 2007 – 2008 period, passed away peacefully. Bob was active in the DMA for many years and was the Grand Marshal of the Darien Memorial Day Parade in 2018. It was perhaps a gift from God that last week he would ride shotgun as part of the DMA parade entourage, partnering with John Schlach and waving to his many friends and colleagues for the very last time. Please view the attachment for information on the wake and burial arrangements.

A very good man. We shall dearly miss him.

DMA

Fred Smith

June 5, 2023 /

Former DMA member Fred Smith died on August 21, 2022 at his home in the  Lathrop Community in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Before moving to  Massachusetts in June 2019, Fred and his wife Marny chose the Memorial Garden  at First Congregational Church of Darien, where they had attended church services  for many years, as their final resting place. There are no longer any Smith children  living in Darien, but the time had come to finally bring Fred’s ashes to the garden.  Marny, together with Hobie and Chuck Smith and Fred’s stepchildren, Shep, John,  Jim, and Jennifer, and Ed Bryan all gathered on June 4th in the afternoon to spread  his ashes in the garden. A stone brick bearing his name has been placed in the  garden path. 

The family members hope that Fred’s DMA friends may find a brief moment to visit  the garden (pictured below, courtesy of Alex Garnett) to sit on the garden bench  and recall the good times they spent with Fred bowling or playing bridge.

« Older posts

© 2024 Darien Mens Association

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑