Ernest A. Greywacz III

Ernest August Greywacz III died peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 20, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Derby, Conn. on May 29, 1954. Ernie has always been a loving, caring man.  He touched so many lives, always putting a smile the faces of those who crossed his path. Ernie was an avid gardener and fisherman; he was a passionate coach for Babe Ruth Baseball and Pop Warner Football for eight years in New Canaan. A former All-State football player at Seymour High School, he finished his studies at Southern Connecticut State University where he earned his degree in economics.

Ernie was a senior director of investments at Oppenheimer & Co.’s Stamford office.

Ernie is predeceased by his daughter Stacey. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jan; daughter Nicki Jezairian and husband Ed; granddaughter Janet; son Ernest August Greywacz IV and wife Lauren; and daughter Lee Ana Greywacz and Jay Jordon.

Ernie is also survived by his parents Ernest August and Helen Greywacz Jr. of Seymour; and sisters Lynn Brown and husband Ronald; Ellen Moran and husband Daniel; Martha Mehaylo and husband Edward; Lorraine McInerney and husband Timothy; and Josephine Fenton and husband Shannon; and his numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Ernie will be deeply missed by everyone. As Ernie would say, “Gone Fishing”

A memorial service will be held at Grace Community Church, 365 Lukes Wood Rd. in New Canaan on Friday, March 11, at 10 a.m.

Donations may be made to The American Cancer Society or Grace Community Church.

— The Family

Ernest A. Greywacz III

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Harold B. Simpson

Harold Brown Simpson, Jr., a recent new resident of The Inn in New Canaan and a long-time resident of Darien, passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Stamford Hospital.

Born on Feb. 23, 1927 in Boston, Mass. and raised in Scarsdale, N.Y., he was the son of the late Harold B. and A. Jeanne Simpson. He was 89.

Harold joined the U.S. Navy on July 1, 1944 following his high school graduation and served in the Pacific theater on Guam as a Radioman Third Class. Following his discharge in June of 1946, he entered Mohawk College in Utica, N.Y. in August 1946. He transferred to Colgate University in the spring of 1947 and graduated in June 1949.

He joined William Esty & Company, an advertising firm, in June of 1949. He worked in a variety of capacities for 41 years before retiring as senior vice president – Human Resources in October 1990.

Harold moved to Darien in 1955 with his wife, Nancy B. Ferns, whom he married in October of 1949. He was a coach for Darien Little League, an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 53 and a charter board member of Post 53. He also served as a deacon at Noroton Presbyterian Church.

During his retirement, he volunteered as a “van man” at Person-to-Person helping to deliver used furniture to underprivileged families in Stamford. He was a member of the Silvermine Golf Club and was active in the Darien Men’s Association.

Harold is survived by his daughter, Deborah Folsom of Bronxville, N.Y.; four sons, William and his wife, Joan, of Darien; David of Norwalk, Conn.; Jeffrey of Tampa, Fla.; and Douglas and his wife, Debbie, of New Canaan. He is also survived by nine grandchildren; a sister, Natalie MacDonald of New Canaan, as well as a niece and a nephew. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 62 years, Nancy, in 2011, and by a granddaughter, Catherine McKenzie Folsom in 2014.

A memorial service will be held at Noroton Presbyterian Chapel, 2011 Post Road in Darien on Saturday, March 19, at 11 a.m. A private family interment will be held at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Bennett Cancer Center, c/o Stamford Hospital Foundation, 1351 Washington Blvd., Suite 202, Stamford, CT 06902.

— The Family

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Herbert Roth Jr.

On March 5, 2016, one of the few renaissance men left, Herbert Roth, Jr., died at age 87. He was a resident of Stamford for 12 years and was formerly a longtime resident of Sherborn, Mass.

Born in South Bend, Ind. on Oct. 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Vita Augustynowicz and Gilbert Shoemaker. Both were well known aviators, in fact his mother set the world’s record for a parachute jump in 1931. He went to Manlius Academy in upstate New York and then attended West Point from which he graduated in 1951.

While there he was on the track team and famously avoided becoming the first streaker when the elastic of his shorts broke while running the 4×4 at Madison Square Garden. He managed to finish without dropping the baton or his shorts.

He resigned his commission in 1956 and went to work at Bell Labs in the think tank. He simultaneously attended Newark College of Engineering and received a masters of Engineering and  taught classes in business management while there.

Herb went on to achieve a highly successful business career and was a business leader in the Boston area. He was the CEO of a number of high tech companies including Annelex corporation and LFE Corp., while also serving on the boards of Boston Edison, Phoenix Mutual Life,Tech ops Mark IV, Landauer, Sevcon, Computervision, Mohawk Data Sciences, and Shreve Crump and Low.

He was Bay State Businessman of the year in 1970 and was credited for saving high tech manufacturing in the state. Herb also served as president of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and headed the Massachusetts United Way.

His belief that education is the only avenue to a better life led him to serve on Mayor White’s council for Boston schools. The Mayor asked him to analyze the school system which he did, uncovering warts and all, much to the chagrin of the mayor. He had not counted on Herb’s tell-it-like-it-is approach. Herb also served on the Boston University board of visitors and headed the search committee that brought John Silber there.

Herb’s interest in the arts led him to work with opera conductor Sarah Caldwell in helping her find a business partner to restore the Boston Opera House to its glory. It took a year, but against all odds, and after many lunches with her, he was able to find her a backer.

One of his passions was history, and he read every autobiography of every American president. He believed you needed to know and understand the past in order to go forward. A lifelong news junkie, Herb would have loved all the mayhem of this year’s politics.

His other passion was fly fishing which he pursued with abandon at Horse Island Camp on the Grande Cascapedia River in Quebec. He gave the Camp to his wife as an anniversary present.

Most of all, he loved to laugh, especially at himself.

His greatest love was his wife of 64 years, Dolores Maloney Roth, followed by his love for his  great danes, orchids, Cuban cigars, gardening, his wine cellar, his daughters, and fly fishing… though not necessarily in that order.

He is survived by his beloved wife and fishing partner, Dolores, and his daughters Christine Roth of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Diane Lloyde Roth of New Canaan. He is predeceased by his daughter Carla Roth Morrison and son-in-law Pedro Gil Morrison of Palm Beach Fla.

Special thanks to the caregivers who took care of him: Otis, Benjamin, Andrew and Bevan. Without these men, he could not have had the quality of life he deserved.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 14, at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. Services have been entrusted to Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of The Presentation, New Windsor at sistersofthepresentation.org or The West Point Association of Graduates — Class of 1951, 698 Mills Rd., West Point, NY 10996.

For online condolences and directions, please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com

 — The Family

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Roger W. Fontaine of Norwalk, Conn. passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the Norwalk Hospital at the age of 90.

Born in Watertown, Conn. he was predeceased by his wife, Gabrielle J. (Paul) Fontaine and his parents, Ore & Helenda (Breault) Fontaine.

Roger had served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and retired as vice president of New Canaan Lumber Co. He found much happiness taking care of his wife, family and contentment manicuring the yard around his home. He was an avid golfer, a member of the Oak Hills Golf Club, French-American Club and the Builders Association of Connecticut.

He is survived by his children: Gerald Fontaine and his wife Linda of Weston, Conn., Paulette Douglas and her husband Charles of Darien, Conn., Donna Fontaine and her former husband Thomas Meaney of Norwalk, Rene Fontaine and his partner Cliff Bachner of Norwalk; six adored grandchildren; Alana and Amber Fontaine, Danielle Venieris and her husband Yiannis, Nathalie and Brian Douglas, Justin Meaney and his wife Danielle, four great-grandchildren: Micaela and Logan Meaney and Kieran and Cy Venieris, two brothers Robert and his wife Joanne, Albert and his wife Terry; a sister Jean Fontaine, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was also predeceased by four siblings, and his granddaughter Ashleigh Lauren Fontaine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, March 15 at St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Ave., Norwalk with burial to follow at St. John Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to S.T.A.R. Inc., Lighting the Way

(www.Starct.org) or the Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org).

For directions or online guestbook, please go to: www.Magnerfuneralhome.com

— The Advertiser

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Joachim E. Pengel

Joachim Edward Pengel died peacefully at home in New Canaan on Feb. 26 — four days before his 82nd birthday after a brief hospitalization due to a massive stroke.

Dr. Pengel was a professor emeritus at University of Hartford where he taught for over 40 years training and mentoring school guidance counselors. He retired from the university and his part time practice as a psychotherapist in 2009.

Known to his friends and family as Kim, his last year was spent living in the cottage on the property of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, where he resided with his wife of five years, the Rev. Dr. Martha Klein Larsen.

For most of his adult life Kim was a long-time resident of Simsbury, Conn. Kim was a lifelong fisherman and wild fowl hunter who cherished his time with a fishing pole or in a hunting blind with beloved family members and friends. He was a cradle Episcopalian who was born in Hutchinson, Minn. and traveled east for college. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., and his doctoral studies were completed at University of Connecticut, Storrs.

While living in Simsbury, Kim was an active member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and a member of the Vestry. Kim was first married to Marguerite Hall, who predeceased him in 2008. Their marriage of almost 50 years was proudly blessed with two children Edward Hall Pengel and Kimberly Brooke Pengel, M.D.

His children and their spouses, Donna Pengel, CPA, and Sean Chase, Esq., survive him as well as grandchildren Jackie and David Pengel, Ellie, Mitchell, and Ava Chase, stepchildren Tom and Susan Larsen, and beloved caregiver, Marnel Kennedy-Fox.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, May 14, at 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in New Canaan.

— The Family

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Robert P. Cook

, Jr. died at age 90 on March 1, 2016 with his family by his side.

Mr. Cook, resident of Walnut Creek, Calif. and longtime resident of New Canaan, was born on Sept. 5, 1925 in Arlington, Mass. to the late Robert Parker and Christine Darling Cook.

Mr. Cook defended his country in WWII as one of the original crewmembers of LCI-1091, on which he served as a signalman from the time of its commissioning in Lake Michigan in September 1944 until the end of its occupation duties in Japan in December 1945. LCI-1091 is now a museum ship for the Humboldt Bay Naval Sea/Air Museum at Eureka, Calif. and is one of the only examples afloat of this special class of seagoing amphibious assault ships.

Mr. Cook graduated from Wesleyan University in 1949 and spent 35 years working for International Silver Company in Meriden, Conn. as general sales manager. His honesty, loyalty, humor and impeccable good manners served him well in his professional life, and his private years were marked by an extraordinary kindness. All of his summers were spent at his family residence on Southport Island, Maine, which he viewed as the most wonderful place on earth.

Bob was preceded in death in 2011 by his wife and pal Charlotte C. Cook, his partner of 63 years.

Mr. Cook is survived in life by his two daughters, Alison Downs of Solana Beach, Calif. and Leslie Weaver of Lafayette, Calif.; his sons-in-law Michael Downs and John Weaver; his four grandsons Miles Stenehjem, Garrett Stenehjem, Kyle Weaver and Ian Weaver; and their wives Anita Stenehjem, Patricia Weaver and Annelise Weaver.

A family graveside service to celebrate Mr. Cook’s life was held on Saturday, March 12, at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan.

For online condolences, please visit

— The Advertiser

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René J. Tullier

Mr. René J. Tullier, 55, of New Canaan, passed away suddenly Monday, March 14, 2016 at Norwalk Hospital.

René was born in Baton Rouge, La. on Aug. 10, 1960, son of JD and Myrna (Ponthieu) Tullier. René received his BS from Louisiana State University and was a civil engineer with a great passion for bridge design.

He loved all things electronic and spending time with his son, Lucas Patrick Tullier, and his family engaged in outdoor sporting activities, especially at his family’s country homestead in Bordelonville, La.

René is survived by his son, Lucas, his parents, JD and Myrna of Baton Rouge, his brother Danny Tullier and his wife Miriam of Baton Rouge, his sister Aimee Harrell of Baton Rouge, four nephews, Christopher, Marc, Alex and Austin, and his two beloved dogs, Macey and Riley.

He is also survived by his ex-wife, Kelly Mahon Tullier.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. Burial will take place at a later date in Louisiana.

Friends may call on Friday evening from 4 – 8 p.m. at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan.

For directions and online condolences, please visit

— The Family

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Muriel Corry, 91, passed away on March 21 in Norwalk, Conn., where she was a 60-year resident.

Known to her friends and family as Petie, she was born in Stamford, Conn. on April 25, 1924 and was the daughter of Harry and Edna Weed Gale.

Muriel was a school crossing guard at Cranbury School for many years in the 1960’s and 1970’s. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bill, with whom she shared many experiences in her journey through life.

Muriel is survived by her four children William and his wife Geraldine of Stratford, Conn., Linda Redfield of Sahuarita, Ariz., Robert of Norwalk and Fountain Hills, Ariz., and David and his wife Diana of Scottsdale, Ariz. She has six wonderful grandchildren, Kathy, Kimberly, Dawn, Jason, Tyler, and Garrett, and many great-grandchildren.

A private service was held in New Canaan.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County.

For online condolences, visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com. Hoyt Funeral Home of New Canaan is in charge of arrangements.

— The Advertiser

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Kevin S. Frank

Kevin S. Frank, DMD, 58, of Durham, Conn., husband of Janice Mooney-Frank, died unexpectedly April 2, 2016 at Middlesex Hospital.

He was born in Midland, Mich. on Aug. 18, 1957, a son of Myron and Shirley Smith Frank of Savannah, Ga.

Dr. Frank grew up in New Canaan and graduated from NCHS in 1975. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northwestern University, and he earned his DMD from the University of Connecticut where he met his wife Jan. After graduating he worked five years in Hartford. He then joined the practice of Bailey and Langan in 1988 and became a partner in 1991.

He has been a dedicated member of the Connecticut State Dental Association for over 30 years and served as president. As a member of the Durham-Middlefield Exchange Club he doled out spaghetti, fried mozzarella sticks at the Durham Fair, and served as the treasurer for many years. He was an avid USTA member who attended both the Pilot Pen (now Connecticut Open) and the U.S. Open every year with his family. His love for the Durham Fair was shown in his commitment to the Youth Booth and the Durham Co-Op Nursery School run chicken booth.

Dr. Frank cared deeply for all of his dental patients and wanted to assure they had the best care available. He had a passion for his work and could talk about teeth for hours. His parents instilled a deep love of tennis which he passed onto his children. Kevin valued sportsmanship over winning and loved his weekly doubles at Guilford Racquet Club with family and friends. He was the biggest fan of Coginchaug boys and girls tennis teams and could always be found courtside.

He was also a skilled craftsman who did everything from designing his own home to cross-stitching. He built everything from a deck to a porch swing to a doll house. However, at the end of the day the most important thing in his life was his family.

In addition to his wife Jan and parents he is survived by his children, Emilie Frank of Durham, Greg Frank of Norwalk, Conn. and Melanie Frank of Durham; and his sister, Kristin Frank McGarey, brother-in-law Frank, nephew Andrew and niece Alison of Darien. He also leaves his three beloved poodles, Eleanor, Henry, and Barley.

Kevin’s kindness continued even after his death with the generous donation of his organs. His fondest wish was to set up a memorial bench at the Coginchaug High School tennis courts and to create a scholarship for a deserving senior on the tennis team who showed the utmost sportsmanship as well as love for the game.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kevin S. Frank Scholarship Fund, c/o Durham Liberty Bank, 357 Main Street, P.O. Box 326, Durham, CT 06422.

His family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, April 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford, Conn.

Interment will be private. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.wallingfordfh.com.

— The Family

Kevin S. Frank

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Michael P. Sullivan

Michael P. Sullivan of Cherry Hill Village, Colo., formerly of New Canaan, died on March 31, 2016. He was 49.

A devoted husband and father, Michael is survived by his wife Vicky (Ecks) Sullivan and his daughters, Lexy and Katie. He is also survived by his mother, Lyn Sullivan of Fairfield and his brother and sister and their respective spouses: David and Gioia (Riccio) Sullivan of Westport, Conn. and Kathleen and Thomas Farrell of Atlanta, Ga. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Dorothy Ecks of Coronado, Calif. and his wife’s siblings and spouses: Mike and Susan Ecks; Penny Ecks Richichi; and Elizabeth Ecks and Richard Estes. Michael is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Brendan, Molly, TJ, Timmy, Francesca, Daniel, Samantha and Summer, all of whom enjoyed spending quality time with their uncle.

Michael was predeceased in death by his father, David J. Sullivan Jr. Esq., his infant brother Thomas, and his father-in-law, John A. Ecks, M.D.

Born April 25, 1966, Michael was raised in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, Conn., graduating from St. Ann School in 1980 and the Fairfield College Preparatory School in 1984.  Michael was a proud graduate of Villanova University from which he received a B.A. in history in 1988. He earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1992. Michael was the chief financial officer and chief compliance officer at Northwood Investors, a privately-held real estate investment advisor firm based in Denver, Colo. since 2007.

Prior to joining Northwood Investors, Michael was the chief financial officer at J.C. Flowers & Co. in New York. His experience also includes prior positions at Olympus Capital and The Blackstone Group. He worked for Ernst & Young LLP’s financial services group in New York after completing his MBA.

As longtime residents of New Canaan, prior to moving to the Denver area in the summer of 2015, Michael was an active parishioner at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. Michael loved running, swimming, biking, tennis and especially skiing with his beloved family. His most precious times were spent skiing with his family and friends in Vermont and Colorado, and relaxing in Coronado. Wherever he traveled, he expressed a great joy for history, which he imparted to his family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service to celebrate Michael’s life will be held at 12 noon on Saturday April 9, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in New Canaan. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family has kindly asked that donations be made to The Burroughs Community Center, Bridgeport, CT or to The Skin Cancer Foundation, New York, NY.

For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com

— The Family

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Kelly Devine

Kelly Devine, 36, of Norwalk, died in her home suddenly and unexpectedly after a brief illness on Thursday, April 7, 2016.

Born June 25, 1979 in Norwalk, she was the daughter of Jay and Cathy Devine. In addition to her parents she is survived by her brothers Kevin, Daniel and Robert, her sister Kim, and her grandmother Eleanor B. Devine, all of Norwalk.

Kelly attended All Saints Catholic School and Norwalk High School, class of 1997. At Norwalk High, she was captain of the girls’ swim team, and won the Class LL State Championship in the 50 yard freestyle. She attended the College of William and Mary, from which she graduated in 2001 with a degree in Education. While there, she was again captain of the girls swim team.

After college, Kelly taught language arts at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan for 12 years. Most recently she taught at New Canaan High School as a reading specialist. Kelly held a master’s degree in education from Fairfield University, and a sixth-year certificate from Sacred Heart University.

Kelly spent her last seventeen summers as head swim coach at the Shore and Country Club.  Her leadership brought the Shore and Country Swim Club to a place among the top programs in the Fairfield County Swim League. Many of her athletes have had successful college swimming careers, and credit Kelly for giving them their start in swimming. She was also a member of both Shorehaven and Zeus Swim Team where she swam competitively as a youth.

Kelly was passionate about her family, especially her “baby” sister Kim. But she was equally passionate about her extended family — her New Canaan students and her Shore and Country swimmers. She will be sorely missed by all of them, the family said.

In addition to her immediate family, Kelly is survived by a large and close-knit family of many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends may call on Wednesday, April 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Philip Church, 1 Fr. Conlon Place, Norwalk. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Norwalk.

In her memory, her family is establishing a scholarship for the benefit of Norwalk High School students interested in pursuing a career in Language Arts. Contributions can be made payable to Lovejoy & Rimer, Trustee, ATTN: Chris Jarboe, 65 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.

Please visit www.collinsfh.com/obituaries to leave condolences.

— The Advertiser

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by Gogo Jones

NCHS Class of 2012

I had just picked up my friend from an airport in San Jose. He’s still in high school but was touring colleges on the west coast, including where I am currently a senior, Santa Clara University.

As we were catching up, he turned to me and asked if I had ever had Ms. Devine as a teacher.

My mind lit up. I pictured myself in 6th grade, sitting with my two best friends in Kelly Devine’s Language Arts class, something we always looked forward to attending.

Ms. Devine was the epitome of a “cool” teacher. She was young, witty and athletic (a big swimmer, she would often come to class with wet hair). I could also relate to her family background, as she too was one of five siblings.

Felt respected, and in turn respected her

Ms. Devine had a slightly raspy, confident voice that engaged you and kept you present. She had no problem calling out people in class for messing around or not paying attention, which my buddies and I did our fair share of, but it never felt like she did so to embarrass or make an example out of us. It was actually the opposite. When she would tell us to cut out whatever we were doing, there was a mutual understanding that she simply expected more from us. We felt respected and in turn respected her.

Ms. Devine was also funny. Straight up funny. She wouldn’t hesitate to be sarcastic or joke around with students, making her all the more relatable and someone to look up to.

These memories in mind, I turned to face my friend with a smile and said, “Yeah, I had her. She was the best. Why?”

He wasn’t smiling back. “Dude…she died.”

I almost laughed. I was so shocked I didn’t know how else to react. It seemed like some kind of joke. After all, how could she have died? She was so young…like so young.

So that’s all I managed to ask. “How old was she?”

He said, “She was 36.”

My thoughts were racing. Thirty-six? That means she was 26 when I had her. I pictured her long blonde-streaked hair, square jaw and bright eyes. And then it hit me that I, nor anyone else on this earth, would ever see her again.  That Ms. Devine — a woman who literally helped forge me into the person I am today — is gone.

I often hear things like “life is short, seize the day,” or “be grateful, there’s no guarantee you’ll be here tomorrow” that, while true, never really seem to hold much weight in the moment. Because from my perspective, I’m invincible. I’m young, healthy and have a bright future in front of me. I have no reason to think that there won’t be a tomorrow.

But I’m not invincible. And neither are you, and neither was Ms. Devine.

Changed the world

Human life is a fragile, flickering flame that while beautiful, can be extinguished at any given moment. Don’t let this reality depress you, just let it help keep things in perspective. I know Ms. Devine would be proud of how I’ve grown since the 6th grade, and I wish I could talk to her one more time just to thank her.

Because of Ms. Devine I will always expect more out both myself and others, never wasting our potential to be better. I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of other New Canaan students who would say the same. And if that isn’t an example of someone changing our world for the better, I don’t what is.

[For link to Kelly Devine’s obituary, click here.]

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Joel Meir Rosenthal

Joel Meir Rosenthal, beloved father, brother, grandfather, partner, friend, CEO, mentor, teacher, and longtime New Canaan resident, passed away on April 9 in Los Gatos, Calif., with his children by his side. He was 77.

Joel was a hero to his children, and was a source of boundless love, compassion and generosity. He was a caring and brilliant visionary who made a lasting impression on everyone he met, and who will continue to touch and influence the lives of generations to come.

Joel was born in 1938 in Chicago, Ill., the son of Norbert Rosenthal and Ruth Rukin Rosenthal.  He spent his youth in Chicago, Cincinnati and finally Tulsa, Okla. where he attended Central High School and was well known for his scholarship, outgoing personality, charm and humor.  He then attended Rice University, studying architecture and business, and paid his way through school by working in the oil fields in Texas and Oklahoma over his summers. Joel was part of ROTC and after college served as an officer in the U.S. Army, stationed in France.

Back stateside, Joel got his MBA at Harvard Business School and then moved to New York City. He spent the first part of his career on Wall Street as a securities analyst. In 1986 he founded Strategic Insight and over the subsequent 23 years built it into a highly regarded and trusted source of business intelligence and perspective for the mutual fund industry. He sold the company in 2009 and retired to a life of travel and exploration, with a focus on healing people around the world, including spending two years in Byron Bay, Australia.

Joel was a self-made man who was known as an original thinker in all aspects of his life. He had an intense curiosity and a fearless willingness to challenge conventional wisdom that translated into a unique and ever-expanding world view. He was intensely passionate about healthy food, natural medicine, and healthy living and spent much of his life seeking out new and alternative practices. He was both a student and teacher in this regard, and was known for his commitment and generosity toward others in need of help. He truly wanted to heal the world, and directly touched the lives of anyone open to his hard won wisdom. He was also a patron of the arts, supporting local artists as well as cultivating his passion for art as a trustee of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, where he was involved in the move to its now iconic home at Columbus Circle.

Joel was a fantastic and committed father who will always be deeply loved by his children. He was as caring as he was inspiring. He cultivated within his children great motivation while always making them feel supported and accepted. He was a wonderful teacher and a lifelong guide to his family, all while being their cherished father and friend.

Joel was loved and respected by many and will be forever missed by all who knew and cared for him throughout his life. He is survived by his son Michael and daughter-in-law Tina, his son Daniel and daughter-in-law Avery, and his daughter Rebecca, as well as three grandchildren Julia, Mirabelle and Dylan, and his three sisters Leah, Deborah and Tamar.

A memorial service and celebration of Joel’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, at the Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan.  See HoytFuneralHome.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Joel’s memory to the Stone Barns Center, a place where he loved to take his family and whose goal of creating a healthy and sustainable food system he deeply shared. Donations can be made in his name via the web link www.stonebarnscenter.org/give/joel.html or by calling 914-366-6200 x133.

— The Family

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Gregory C. White

Gregory Charles White of New Canaan died on Thursday, April 7, 2016. He was 54 years old.

Born Oct. 18, 1961, in Detroit, Mich., Greg was the son of Richard and Nancy (Pearson) White. He grew up in Oak Park, Ill., and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1979. Greg attended Southern Methodist University and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in economics and real estate. There he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Greg worked as a senior managing director at Lehman Brothers for over 18 years, and presently he was a partner at Great Point Properties.

Greg’s most precious moments were spent on Nantucket with his family, where he enjoyed fishing, biking, days on the beach and time on his boat. He participated in The Congregational Church’s mission trip to Puerto Rico, where he enjoyed using his skills to help renovate homes. Greg was always in attendance at his children’s sporting events and was their biggest supporter and fan. Out of all the things Greg loved, spending time with his family was most important to him.

A devoted husband and father, Greg is survived by his wife Pam (Welser) White and his children Taylor, Griffin and Andrew. He is survived by his mother, Nancy, of Venice, FL, and his father, Richard, and step mother, Brenda, of Forney, Texas, and his brother, Scott, of Longmont, Colo.

A memorial service to celebrate Greg’s life will be held on Friday, April 15, at 1 p.m. at The Congregational Church of New Canaan, 23 Park Street. A reception at the church will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family has kindly asked that memorial donations be made to The White Family Memorial Fund, c/o Elizabeth Ryan Lane, Esq., Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP, 707 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06901.

For online condolences, please visit hoytfuneralhome.com

—The Family

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Grace M. Oei

Grace Moss Oei of Mint Hill, N.C. died April 7, 2016. She was 75.

Devoted wife of the late Rudy T. Oei., she is survived by her daughters J. Elizabeth Oei of New Canaan, Laura A. Farley (Christopher) of Mint Hill, and John C. Oei of London, UK. She is also survived by her three granddaughters Annika, Samantha and Elise Soleil Farley.

Grace enjoyed extensive travel and spent many years living in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and Paris, France before returning to New Canaan.

For over 25 years Grace was active in the New Canaan real estate community and was a past president of the New Canaan Board of Realtors.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Saint Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Mint Hill on April 11. Plans are incomplete for a memorial service to be held at St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in New Canaan.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her name to the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps 182 South Ave New Canaan, CT 06840.

— The Family

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The original proprietor of the Atlantic Meat Market, Arthur I. Miller, of Boca Raton, Fla., passed away of congestive heart failure at the age of 91 on March 3, 2016. He was the beloved husband for 69 years of Edith (Bialy) Miller.

Miller was born in New Canaan and attended New Canaan schools where he was a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He attended the University of Connecticut on a sports scholarship. After Pearl Harbor, at the end of football season sophomore year at UConn, he enlisted in pilot training. He graduated Naval Flight School and joined the Marine Air Corps, where he rose to the rank of captain, serving in Guadalcanal, Okinawa and the Philippines. He flew 111 missions in a Corsair fighter plane and was shot down twice.

A highly decorated pilot, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals, among numerous other medals. After the service and graduating from UConn with honors, Miller received an MBA  at NYU and was the president of the Chamber of Commerce in Norwalk.

Miller and his wife raised their family in Westport. He was an active board member of Temple Beth El, Norwalk, Temple Israel, Westport, Rolling Hills Country Club, Jewish Home for the Elderly / Fairfield, the Jewish Federation in Florida, and Boca Woods Country Club.

On his 90th birthday, Miller was honored by the Boston Red Sox, throwing out the first pitch at a game at Fenway Park. That same year, the Smithsonian Air and Space magazine published an article he wrote, Corsair vs. Kamikaze in 1945.

Miller is survived by his wife, Edith Goodman, of Livingston, N.J., his two sons, Harry Miller and his wife Risa, of Brookline, Mass., Edward Miller and his wife, Susi, of Atlantic Beach, N.Y., and Jacob Miller, of New York, N.Y.; plus 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held in Norwalk with a full Marine Honor Guard. Donations in his memory can be made to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces () or Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County (JewishBoca.org).

—The Advertiser

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Donald K. Hawes

Donald Keene Hawes, 93, longtime resident of Darien and New Canaan, passed away at home on April 15.

He was born in Newark, N.J. and grew up in nearby Montclair. He graduated from College High School, a demonstration school of Montclair State Teachers College in 1940, and Principia College in Elsah, Ill. in 1943. He was a naval officer in the South Pacific in World War II, serving on the submarine USS Guitarro. He is probably the last survivor of the submarine that was the first to encounter and report the location of the large enemy naval force en route to the Leyte Gulf where a great part of it was destroyed in one of the epic naval battles in history. His skipper was awarded three separate Navy crosses while commanding the Guitarro, including one for that trip. Once during a crisis, through Don’s quick thinking, he saved the ship from sinking.

Following his service in WW II, he began a long career in the energy resources business, initially serving as secretary with Union Texas Oil and Gas in Houston. Later he worked for Mobil Chemical in New York City, which brought him to Darien where he and his wife, Grace, raised their four children. He later served in the Federal Energy Administration, which later became the Department of Energy, in the Carter Administration.

He served as assistant treasurer at the international headquarters of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. Later he was an energy consultant with Equitable Life Insurance Co. in New York.

Don was an early and ardent supporter of insurance companies keeping clients healthier longer through an intelligent lifestyle with exercise, wise diet, etc., encouraged by employers and the insurance companies. An outstanding athlete, he was an avid tennis player throughout his life and enjoyed the company of his fellow members of the New Canaan Senior Men’s Club. He was a longtime member of Wee Burn Country Club.

His love of life, good humor and caring spirit made him a good friend to many, influencing and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds. He served his church, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Darien, in many capacities, and was an inspiring Sunday School teacher devoted to his students.

Don was a devoted father and very proud of his children, who say their father was much loved and will be greatly missed by many whose lives he touched.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 19 years, Joyce, his brother Douglas and sister-in-law Claudie, of Paris, France, his sons Kenneth of Sudbury, Mass., Christopher of Portland, Ore., David of Darien, and their spouses, his daughter Barbara of New Haven, Conn., five grandsons and three great-grandsons. He was predeceased by his wife, Grace.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in his memory be made to Save the Children, Person-to-Person, or First Church of Christ, Scientist, Darien.

— The Advertiser

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Evelyn Freeman Francis, a 61-year resident of New Canaan, passed peacefully away on Feb. 1, 2016.

Evelyn Francis was born in Jamaica on Aug. 16, 1915 and lived 100 years marked by determination, kindness, and above all, grace. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Norbert Francis and survived by her sister Gloria of Great Britain, her son James, her grandchildren Steffian and Johanna, her great-grandson Etienne Francis-Venet, as well as extended family in the States, Jamaica, Great Britain, and longtime and faithful friend Fred Ward.

Evelyn’s earliest memories included the tolling of the bells to mark the end of the First World War standing beside her grandmother in Jamaica. She moved to the States in her early teens to join her father who owned a candy store. She was educated in New York, and it was there that she eventually met and married her beloved husband, Norbert Francis.

Entrepreneurial at heart, the young couple decided to move to New Canaan to establish not only their young family, but young business, Francis Building Company. Once in New Canaan, Evelyn ran the finances of what steadily grew to be a distinguished family-owned general contracting and custom home building firm while also working in the financial department of Perkin Elmer. Evelyn participated in the development of New Canaan with buildings that still stand today, while simultaneously traversing the changes in the social and economical landscape of America.

Evelyn met all the  trials and tribulations that encompass walking the earth for 100 years, by never wavering from her deeply rooted belief that “I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness as I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow beings, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it; for I shall not pass this way again.”

Evelyn, in addition to being a devoted wife, mother, business owner, and thereafter mother to her grandchildren, was also an active member at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan from its beginning. She participated in the choir, singing group and acted as the music librarian.

In her free time she was an avid knitter, needle pointer and gardener.

Evelyn Francis is deeply loved and missed. She lives on in the bloodlines of her descendants, and her beautiful and gracious spirit lives on in all hearts and minds of all who were blessed enough to know her.

A memorial service shall be held April 23 at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan. A reception will follow.

In lieu of sending flowers please make any donations to the First Presbyterian in Church of New Canaan or your favorite charity.

For directions and online condolences, please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com.

— The Family

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Doris N. Tippman

Doris Nesbitt Tippman, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away on March 22, 2016, at the age of 98. She was the wife of the late Walter Tippman, former building commissioner for the Town of New Canaan.

Tippman was born in Pound Ridge, N.Y., to Isaac R. and Mabel P. Nesbitt, on July 8, 1917. She was a longtime resident of New Canaan before moving to Boca Raton, Fla. in 1987, and then to Jacksonville, Fla. in 1995.

Mrs. Tippman was a member of The Congregational Church in New Canaan and of Boca Raton. She also was a member of The Eastern Star of Connecticut, the Garden Club of Boca Raton and Jacksonville, the Orchid Society of Boca Raton, for which she won several awards for her prize orchids, and member of The DAR, Daughters of The American Revolution, of Jacksonville.

She was an avid golfer and member of the Silvermine Golf Club and Deerfield Creek Country Club, Deerfield Beach, Fla., where she played in the women’s league.

Mrs. Tippman was predeceased by her brother, Richard Nesbitt, of New Canaan.

She is survived by daughters Nancy St. Hilaire (Richard) of Ludington, Mich., and Jayne Parker of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and nephew Don Tippman (Eve), of Washington Grove, Md.

Mrs. Tippman will be buried at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan. No service is planned.

Donations may be made to Community Hospice, McGraw Center, 4715 Worrall Way, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

 — The Advertiser

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John Black Lee

John Black Lee, died of natural causes in New Canaan on Wednesday, April 13. He was 91.

John was a distinguished architect who was a leading proponent of the Glass House School of modern residential architecture, the epicenter of which is in New Canaan.

Born in Chicago in 1924, Lee designed and engineered eight prominent modern homes in New Canaan, including Lee House 1 on Laurel Road (1952); Lee House 2 on Chichester Road (1956); Day House; Teaze House; System House (designed with Harrison DeSilver in 1961), and all the buildings of the New Canaan Field Club. His work remains highly respected in the schools of midcentury modern design and architecture.

Lee designed the Lake Forest home Ravello for his mother, Lydia Beckwith Lee, overlooking Lake Michigan on a portion of the renowned McCormick Estate. Mrs. Lee, a prominent interior decorator and needlepoint designer, died in 1977.

John Black Lee received many awards for his work including an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects, which was awarded for the home in which he raised his family, Lee House 2.

The son of Lydia Beckwith and John Norman Lee, John grew up in Lake Forest and enrolled at Brown University in 1942 to study mathematics, civil engineering and naval science. He left his studies to join the military, and after serving in the Navy on the Pacific front during World War II, he returned to Brown, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in 1947.

While working as an apprentice carpenter for Walter Gropius in Chicago after graduating from Brown, Lee was recruited by Paul Schweikher (then dean of the Yale School of Architecture) to join his Roselle, Illinois firm, Schweikher & Elting, where he learned architecture and drafting. Moving to the east coast, Lee worked for the pioneering architects Oskar Stonorov, followed by Eliot Noyes, for whom he served as a job captain and with whom he developed new modern construction and engineering techniques. Lee established his own practice, John Black Lee & Associates in 1954.

Several of his homes are featured in the acclaimed New Canaan Glass House Tours along with homes designed by Noyes, Marcel Breuer and Philip Johnson, among others.

A sailing and underwater swimming enthusiast, John Black Lee wrote Free Diving: With Mask, Snorkel and Fins, published in paperback in 1984. For many years he was a scuba instructor at the local YMCA. Lee also served on the Town of New Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission and actively contributed to the work of the Environmental Commission.

Lee’s most recent work — his Mill Road House (a glass house that sits cantilevered over the Silvermine River) — was where he lived for 25 years until his death last week.

John’s wife of 44 years Clara Sprankle Lee, a busy New Canaan real estate agent — known to her friends, colleagues and family as Woo — predeceased him in 1993. He is survived by his three children: John Black Lee, Jr. (Mary) of Ridgefield, Conn., Lydia “Bally” Balfour Veldhius (Olf) of New Canaan, and Judson Sprankle Lee of Seymour, Conn., as well as 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He is also predeceased by his two younger brothers, Douglas Lippitt Lee, and Warren Beckwith Lee.

A devoted Quaker, John was a member of Wilton Monthly Meeting of The Religious Society of Friends. His work as a peace activist is remembered within the Society as is his strong presence in the wider community.

There will be a memorial service held on May 14, 2016 at the Wilton Friends Meeting House at 2 p.m. For more information, call Wilton Monthly Meeting at 203 762 5669.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to New Canaan Historical Society at nchistory.org, Wilton Religious Society of Friends at wiltonfriends.org, or Soundwaters at soundwaters.org.

For directions and online condolences visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com

— The Family

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