Peter R. Fagan, 91, shipbuilder

Peter R. Fagan of Ridgefield, a retired shipbuilder and former Grand Knight, died on Wednesday evening, May 25, 2005, at Laurel Ridge Nursing and Skilled Care Center. He was 91 years old and the husband of Margaret Engelke Anthony-Fagan

Mr. Fagan was born in White Plains, N.Y., on Aug. 8, 1913, son of John “Bill” and Ellen Mann Fagan. He attended White Plains schools, graduated from White Plains High School and became a steamfitter and welder.

In 1938, Mr. Fagan enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged as a first class petty officer.

For many years, Mr. Fagan worked as a shipbuilder and was a member of Union Local 311 and later Union Local 777, Connecticut Pipe Trades of Wethersfield.

In 1961, Mr. Fagan moved to Ridgefield from Stamford. He was a member of the John A. Gildea, division number three, Ancient Order of Hibernians of Danbury, Marquette Council Knights of Columbus of Ridgefield, where he served as a past Grand Knight, a member of the Rev. John D. Kennedy assembly fourth degree Knights of Columbus, where he served as a past faithful navigator and color corps commander, a member of AARP and OWLS in Ridgefield, and a member of Founders Hall and of St. Mary’s Church, where he served as an usher and was a former member of the Widow and Widower’s Club.

Besides his wife, Mr. Fagan is survived by a son, Peter F. Fagan of Leesburg, Va.; three daughters, Janice Smolen and her husband of Stony Point, N.Y., Christine Grendanin and her husband, Valerio, of Wallkill, N.Y., and Mary L. Fagan and her life partner Sharon Fagan of Northampton, Mass.; a stepson, William Anthony and his wife, Cheryl, of Waterbury; four stepdaughters, Catherine Luciano of Naugatuck, Patricia Grabiec and her husband, Joseph, of Trumbull, Diane Taylor and her husband, Jonathan, of Norwalk, and Irene Kish and her husband, Louis, of Oakville; four grandchildren, Andrea DiGiovanni, Vanessa McArthur, Melissa Franzen, and Mitchell Smolen; three great-grandchildren; 17 step-grandchildren; and a niece and a nephew.

Mr. Fagan was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor Brown Fagan, his sister Ellen Fagan Rooney, and a stepdaughter, Margaret Hultberg.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday in St. Mary’s Church, Ridgefield.

Burial followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ridgefield.

Contributions in Mr. Fagan’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church Organ Fund, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, CT 06877, or to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, Home Health Care Program, 405 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.