Ridgefield, Connecticut
For the year 2003
Last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Alphabetical Name index
(please see after this list for more descriptive links by date of death )
Obituaries by date of death
Turner A. Davies, 86, Abraham & Straus manager, World War II Army veteran, Jan. 2
Frances Hickey, 82, native of Stamford, Jan. 3
Adlyn Gentry Anderson, 96, longtime Ridgefielder who painted church's stations of cross, Jan. 3
Josephine Glowinski, 87, former longtime Ridgefielder, Jan. 3
Sidney Brown, 83, native son who was shot down twice in World War II, Jan.7
Edward C. McAleer, 60, grew up here, RHS 1961, Navy veteran, Jan. 7
Horst Hetzel, 63, retired VW mechanic, Korean War veteran, Jan. 8
Helen McGlynn Cumming, 97, former teacher, lifelong Ridgefielder, Jan. 9
Martha Salzman, 67, harpsichordist and early orchestra member, Jan. 9
Grethe Zbinden, 75, former Ridgefielder, native of Denmark, Jan. 10
Anthony Czyr, 62, Ridgefield builder, Lions Club member, Jan. 11
Alfred E. Pfeifer, 91, Marine veteran, Men's Club founder, Jan. 12
Alexander J. Hamilton, three days old, Jan. 15
Robert C. Meyer, 77, retired executive, active in tennis, Jan. 17
Frank E. Donegan, 83, former baseball star who owned Bell, Book & Candle, Jan. 17
Joseph T. Marino, 75, inventor for television and Broadway stage, Jan. 18
The Rev. David E. Crossley, 68, first associate rector at St. Stephen's, Jan. 21
John "Jay" Popkins, 45, writer who grew up in Ridgefield, Jan. 21
Rose Tedesco, 92, telephone pioneer, 27 year Ridgefielder, Jan. 23
Virginia Caponera, 79, was active at St. Mary's Church, Jan. 24
Lewis J. Finch, 86, developer who was a leader in the community, Jan. 26
Charles W. Schoenfeld, 79, engineer and longtime Ridgefielder, Jan. 26
Harold "Hal" Childs, 81, journalist, writer, village merchant, Jan. 28
John T. Ferraris, 79, World War II Navy veteran, retired Electrolux designer, Feb. 1
Kathleen "Kitty" Kennedy, 70, nurse and Navy veteran, Feb. 1
Herbert Trumbore, 73, retired IBM executive, supporter of the arts, Feb. 1
Andrew "A.J." Morelli, 42, RHS 1979, Keough Hardware manager, Feb. 2
Cynthia Hamlin Du Flon, 97, Ridgefielder, and mother and grandmother of Ridgefielders, Feb. 5
Dr. Richard J. Fleming, 71, radiologist, former professor, Feb. 6
Eleanor Heinzelman, 82, retired secretary, Ridgefielder since 1964, Feb. 7
Nancy Gillespie Kelly Calder, longtime Ridgefielder who was a secretary and a writer, Feb. 7
Elaine D. Hansen, 73, retired Wilton teacher, active in education organizations, Feb. 8
Douglas R. Callahan, 39, enjoyed music and nature, Feb. 12
Joanne Lesko Gindek, 66, designer in cosmetics industry, Feb. 17
Arthur Michaelsen Sr., leading New York Life Insurance agent, Feb. 18
Greg M. Coury, 44, attorney, RHS 1976, Feb. 19
Tellervo 'Tel' Nordling, 92, librarian, Ridgefielder since 1940s, Feb. 19
Herbert C. Knortz, former ITT executive, longtime Ridgefielder, Feb. 21
Florence Dougherty, 92, native of Ireland, longtime Ridgefielder, Feb. 23
Margaret "Peggy" Kinnaird, 88, longtime Ridgefielder who helped many children, Feb. 23
James J. Lee Sr., 83, fought on Okinawa in World War II, worked for Nash Engineering, Feb. 23
Anna Ancona, 76, homemaker, active at Sacred Heart Church, Feb. 26
Mylo Ziegenhagen, 88, marketing expert, veteran, Aldrich Park ranger, Feb. 27
Kathleen Kearney, 54, volunteer, lived here from 1978 to 1993, Feb. 28
Robert L. Atkinson, 78, financial executive, World War II veteran, March 2
Mary Watt Stolle, 89, native, RHS Class of 1930, known for her pies, March 4
Vincent Mazzi, 95, stonemason, Ridgefielder for 72 years, March 7
Paris Dodakian, 90, native of Turkey, 25-year Ridgefielder, March 7
Charles Coles Jr., 80, bank president, history buff, combat veteran, March 10
Florence Minett, 90, expert at bridge, March 12
Elizabeth Cairns, 89, shop manager, bowler, lodge member, March 12
Howard Fast, 88, best-selling author, former Communist, March 12
Rose M. Oliver, 83, joined convent after business career, March 17
Virginia Weaver Carrison, 67, Ridgefield native, businesswoman, March 19
James May, nee Ciro Mei, 89, heavy equipment operator, March 19
Margaret "Polly" Carney, 90, native of Ireland, March 24
Dr. James E. Sheehan, 80, town's first pediatrician, Ridgefielder since 1955, March 25
Mary Scully Chard, 88, bookkeeper and volunteer, April 1
Peter F. Pruyn, 73, paper industry executive, tennis enthusiast, April 2
Lena J. Marconi, 78, mother of first selectman, "represented the heart of Ridgefield," April 3
Ruth M. Bergmueller, 76, former Ridgefielder, active volunteer, April 6
George R. Gray, 81, worked on Hubble, Titan rockets, space center building, April 8
Simone Zapun Harris, 57, teacher, designer, computer expert, victim of murder, April 8
Karl Holzthum, 74, TWA flight engineer, native of Switzerland, Ridgefielder since 1966, April 14
Yvonne Battaglia, 76, operated La Bretagna Inn here, April 15
Enzo Bartolucci, 88, owned Wayside Market, served on school board, April 18
Jay E. Brundage, 41, hazardous materials specialist, father of two, April 19
Anne Thompson Ziegenhagen, 85, active in community for many years, April 21
Karen Young, 56, had been active in First Congregational Church, April 21
Linnea Brown Gugel, 52, longtime Wilton teacher, RHS 68, volunteer with youth groups, April 22
Daniel J. Healy, 76, retired IT&T executive, former Ridgefielder, April 22
Richard N. Serfilippi, 64, contractor, active in community, Marine veteran, April 25
Philomena Mecozzi Ziem, 89, Branchville native, Georgetown caterer, May 3
Joan E. Boggs, 60, legal assistant, served on Cemetery Committee, May 5
Carole Rieg, 65, IBM accountant, St. Ignatius staff member, May 6
John J. Giroux, 62, owned Les Alpes Bakery here, May 6
James Garavel, 78, worked for town highway department, May 7
Loretta Fairbanks, 85, World War II Army captain, operated photo shop in Darien, May 7
Marian "Marie" Goodwin, 77, longtime Altnacraig nurse, RHS 1943, May 9
James M. Blackwell IV, 72, Newsweek editor, school board member, May 12
Neil Coppola, 82, engineer, World War II Navy veteran, May 13
Dora Cassavechia, 80, longtime town clerk, served town 50 years, May 14
Frank W. Morgan, 83, athlete and clothing retailer, May 17
Joseph M. Ledney, 65, former Ridgefielder, active in Little League, May 20
Joan J. Cooney, 72, home health aide, longtime Ridgefielder, May 20
Ann J. LaDelfa, 75, longtime Ridgefielder, advocate for children, May 24
Michael J. Tortora, 36, actuary, St. Stephen's treasurer, May 25
Doris Bass Andrews, 82, artist and preservationist, force behind Weir Farm, May 25
Raymond N. Fox, 94, former selectman, expert senior swimmer, May 26
Stanley W. Nixon, engineer, former Ridgefielder, May 31
Marywade Rodier, 91, artist and florist, longtime Ridgefielder, May 31
Eveline van Lidth de Jeude, 75, native of Java, bridge player, cartoonist, May 31
Emma-Gene Stolle Howes, 85, Ridgefield native, teacher, June 2
Joycelyn Thomas, 74, volunteer, gardener, 36-year Ridgefielder, June 2
Elizabeth "Betty Grace" Nash, 81, former longtime Press editor, June 3
Stephen Kertesz, 74, retired engineer, Navy veteran, June 4
Michael E. Bruno, 93, early lawyer here, town official in 40s, June 4
Pauline Serfilippi, 88, retired waitress, seamstress, June 6
Helen G. Knoche, 91, retired nurse, RHS 1929, June 9
John Chelednik, 70, veteran of Korean War, June 9
Stamuda Tomasini Mosca, 96, Ridgefield native, June 11
George R. Young, 84, engineer with EMR, former resident, June 11
Louise Santini McGlynn, 79, school worker, RHS 1942, wife of Chief Richard McGlynn, June 12.
Francis P. Daly, 73, Vietnam veteran, former realtor here, June 12
Clifford W. Banks, 79, decorated D Day veteran, owned gas stations, June 13
Peter Laqueur, 61, Marine Purple Heart recipient, executive, artist, June 14
Charlotte Rundgren Mead, 77, home health aide, June 17
R. Douglas Davis, 89, Navy commander in World War II, AARP president here, June 18
Barbara McElroy, 59, East Ridge Middle School math teacher, June 21
Vera Baker, 74, worked for Perkin-Elmer, made dollhouse miniatures, June 22
Frances Frattini, 96, oldest living Ridgefielder of Italian extraction who was born here, June 24
Georgiana Pawlyk, 85, singer, mother of Georgiana Castellani, June 25
Joseph A. Forcelli Sr., 90, baseball star and teacher, June 25
Jennie Aleksandrowicz, 73, Cub Scout den mother, Stop & Shop clerk, June 26
N. Elaine Houck, 76, retired bookkeeper, former Ridgefielder, July 3
Eugene Fowler, 74, managed Waterfall Farm, July 9
Aldo A. Tulipani, 86, World War II veteran, longtime postman, accordionist, July 11
Clement M. "Clem" Marino, 91, emergency services policeman, special ed bus driver, July 11
Michael C. Perry, 56, marketing executive, July 12
Viola Devendorf, 85, former real estate agent here, July 13
Donald Paris, 83, town highway crewman, former resident, July 19
Ralph C. Hubert, 79, real estate agent, orchestra director, Lion, July 19
Eileen Dunworth Oberhammer, 41, RHS Class of 1980, sales engineer, July 19
Wanda "Kit" Bassett, 85, Little League and Cub Scout pioneer here, July 20
Loretta Ahrens, 79, former Ridgefielder, active in Episcopal church, July 21
Ralph R. Day, 49, company executive, RPI graduate, July 24
Sidney Burr Scott, 78, letter carrier, fireman, WWII veteran, descended from early settler, July 25
William W. Bolling, 85, was merchant here, had 13 holes in one, July 25
Helen Murtagh, 78, former Ridgefielder, native of Brooklyn, July 28
Martin "Marty" Allen, 54, Marine in Vietnam, tree surgeon, Gehrig's disease victim, July 29
George H. Goral Sr., 80, retired foreman, former Bedient employee, Aug. 1
Daniel Whelan, 85, Ridgefielder for 74 years, former firefighter, Aug. 1
Thomas P. Doty, 75, Navy Seabee in World War II, Aug. 2
Dorothy A. Hyatt, 78, former professional dancer, Aug. 3
John A. Fitzgerald, 81, retired Merrill Lynch executive, aided Danbury Hospital, Aug. 6
Columba Casagrande Hodges, 83, former Ridgefielder, RHS 1937, Aug. 8
James G. Brady Sr., 74, crane operator, race car driver, pilot, who built dream house, Aug. 10
Raymond E. McGrath, 75, retired AT&T engineer, 40-year Ridgefielder, Aug. 11
Jay Chananie, 79, shopping center developer, World War II transport pilot, Aug. 12
Jean Johnson, 70, former Ridgefielder, volunteer, loved animals, Aug. 12
Henri L. Evers, 94, retired brewer, immigrated from Germany,Aug. 14
Dorothy Knox, 87, retired nurse, active at St. Mary's, longtime Ridgefielder, Aug. 15
Letitia Asciutto, 94, golfer, bowler, Aug. 18
George Passantino, 80, artist, teacher, WWII veteran, Aug. 18
Stanley Peterson, 86, retired engineer, Mason, active in church, Aug. 19
Wayne E. Weiss, 63, president of company, numismatist, Aug. 20
Anna Pankosky, 90, expert needleworker, 15 year Ridgefielder, Aug. 24
Alice V. Plummer, 76, Ridgefielder since 1955, Aug. 25
Eugene McMahon, 75, RHS '46, athlete, executive, Aug. 26
Kathleen Rowe, 70, sailor, traveler, longtime Ridgefielder, Aug. 27
Captain James Feneley, 76, military and airline pilot, Aug. 27
David M. Wood Jr., 79, clothing designer and executive, Aug. 29
Annie Marconi Tulipani, 80, cook, caterer, voting official, Sept. 6
Joyce Fries, 63, eight-year Ridgefielder, Sept.9
Andrea Ninivaggi McGranahan, 43, RHS 1978, office manager, Sept. 12
Irwin W. Holmes, 88, World War II veteran, longtime Ridgefielder, active in church, Sept. 13
Richard L. Piasecki, 53, Vietnam veteran, house painter, former Ridgefielder, Sept. 16
Teresa Sfondrini Keeler, 97, restaurateur, school cafeteria worker, longtime Ridgefielder, Sept. 20
Elin G. Lowden, 74, banker, bowler, homemaker, lived here many years, Sept. 21
Cynthia Thompson, 73, active in Congregational Church, P.E.O., 40-year resident, Sept. 22
Michael Pontello, 72, barber, woodworker, fireman, Ridgefield enthusiast, Sept. 23
John "Jack" Frattaroli, 57, retailer, sculptor, former Ridgefielder, Sept. 26
Sam Chakalos, 86, World War II veteran, former Ridgefielder, Sept. 26
Lawrence Conlin, 71, 22-year Ridgefielder, IBM retiree, Sept. 29
Owen Becker, 65, retired IBM manager, former Ridgefielder, Sept. 29
Helen Neundorfer, 89, native of Austria, Oct. 2
Mary Ellen Martin, 75, longtime Ridgefielder, volunteer, Oct. 4
John "Jack" Deane, 71, advertising executive, former Ridgefielder, Oct. 6
James E. Gay Jr., 68, Ridgefield native, retired inspector, Oct. 6
Timothy Phillips, 64, real estate educator, sailor, beekeeper, Oct. 7
John R. "Jack" Nalley III, 54, RHS 1969, Ridgefield native, former highway mechanic, Oct. 8
Louise Lundblad Fisher, 55, advocate for the disabled, former resident, Oct. 16
Helen Mei Leary George, 84, nurse's aide, longtime Ridgefielder, Oct. 17
Catharine Reiley, 86, author, dog breeder and trainer, national Girl Scout executive, Oct. 18
Helen Reilly Hoyt, 83, graduate of Brown University, 39 year resident, Oct. 19
Rosemary J. Gray, 78, retired real estate agent, former Ridgefielder, Oct. 20
Roy Deeks, 71, RHS 1950, radio technician in Hawaii, Oct. 20
Robert Hannah, 65, retired chemist, former Ridgefielder, Oct. 21
Madeleine Schwoerer, 98, gardener, worked for town, longtime Ridgefielder, Oct. 21
Iris M. McCleery, native of Northern Ireland, active in church and community, Oct. 26
Florence Schuck, former garden club leader, longtime resident, Oct. 29
Paul Mangold, 47, RHS '74, Alaska fisherman, Nov. 8
Robert Simard, 70, Coca-Cola manager who became equine dentist, Nov. 9
Robert H. Sweet, 78, whose medals went to the moon, Nov. 10
Steven Zitzelberger, 43, construction excavator, Nov. 12
Ann Valligny, 72, accountant, 35-year resident, Nov. 16
Frances Miles, 89, retailer, longtime Ballard Green resident, Nov. 17
Charles W. Nolan, 52, Marine captain, former Ridgefielder, Nov. 17
Thomas J. Kain, 44, RHS Class of 1977, Nov. 18
Suzanne Verdery, 83, Wellesley graduate, widow of Wooster School headmaster, Nov. 20
James Lockfort, 84, retired principal, decorated World War II veteran, Nov.21
James Bodurtha, farmer, editor, navigator, blimp pilot, Nov. 21
Michael Jancin, 43, athlete, runner, RHS 1978, Nov. 21
Seth Lawrence, 84, longtime Ridgefielder, benefactor of the arts, Nov. 24
Peter Anthony Forcelli, 87, longtime Branchville resident, worked for Gilbert & Bennett, Nov. 27
James A. Baker, 84, active in Methodist Church, native of Jamaica, Nov. 28
Monica McManus Ustie, Ridgefielder, RHS Class of 1937, Nov. 29
James Moriarty, flight instructor, Marine veteran, date not given (published Dec. 4)
William Binninger, 78, New York News printer, World War II veteran, Dec. 1
Kirk L. Johnson, 46, financial expert, active in athletics programs, Dec. 2
Jane Gabbianelli, 85, former Ridgefielder, active in St. Mary's, Dec. 3
Joyce Montanari Roache, 76, Ridgefield native, Dec. 4
Patricia Link Murphy, 79, former resident, Dec. 5
W. Merritt Jones, 85, director of historic Fraunces Tavern, World War II veteran, Dec. 6
Maria Cisyk, concert pianist, teacher, Dec. 6
Corrine Cimarelli Moore, 86, Ridgefield native, owned auto garage, Dec. 6
Marion DeBenigno Ellis, 96, longtime Ridgefielder who fed foxes, Dec. 10
Marion T. Keefe, 75, longtime Ridgefielder, Dec. 12
Francis "Frank" Fahey, 76, former Ridgefielder, Dec. 13
John F. Fossi, 62, Ridgefield native, longtime business leader, Dec. 13
Arduino "Dwino" Petrini, 86, World War II veteran, craftsman, heavy equipment operator, Dec. 16
Richard Foote, 78, investments executive, company founder, Dec. 17
Evelyn M. Allen, 73, 33-year Ridgefielder, executive secretary, Dec. 18
Benjamin Gallo, 93, chemical engineer, longtime Ridgefielder, Dec. 18
Frederick McManus, 80, Ridgefield native, World War II Air Corps veteran, Dec. 18
Tom Molin (Moline), 55, RHS Class of 1967, veteran, greyhound trainer, Dec. 18
Betty Ryan, 72, worked for Reader's Digest, actress and singer, Dec. 19
Mary A. Rouse, 93, former nanny here, Dec. 20
William C. Reed, 77, active in community, first selectman candidate, Dec. 20
Winifred "Wynn" Payne Aldrich, artist, co-founder of Aldrich Museum, Dec. 21
Joseph J. Gulick Sr., 92, retired senior vice-president of American Stock Exchange, Dec. 22
Manfred Landers, 99, food company executive, Dec. 23
Richard Jay Rosevalt, 55, engineer, ham radio operator, Dec. 25
Donald R. Gay, 70, longtime mailman here, Dec. 25
Kenneth O'Connor, 57, credit manager, former Ridgefielder, Dec. 27
John Sunley, 90, longtime Ridgefielder, active volunteer, helped VNA, Dec. 28
Alda Paolini Polverari, 88, homemaker, worked at Towne Spirit, loved cooking, Dec. 29
Francis X. "Fritz" Houser, 78, commended D-Day hero, former Ridgefielder, Dec. 29
Evelynn Halpner, 68, owned Acorn Real Estate, Dec. 30
Jane Jaeger, 99, former teacher, Braille transcriber, Dec. 31
To obtain a photocopy of an obituary on this page as it appeared in The Press, send the person's name, date of the Press issue or of the death, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and $2 to cover costs to Obituary Reprints, The Ridgefield Press, Box 1019, Ridgefield CT 06877.
Index of Press obituaries, 1875-1999 (no texts online)
Notes: While many newspapers today charge fees for obituaries,
The Ridgefield Press does not. Nor do we charge to have the obituary placed online.