Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/obituaries)
Death notices for Darienites, immediate relatives and others of interest to town residents
John E. Grandbois died on June 12 in Lebanon, New Hampshire, following a valiant struggle with primary progressive aphasia. He was 81. He was born on July 11, 1941 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to parents Virginia and Morlan Grandbois. The family moved to New Canaan, where John attended St. Luke’s School and graduated in 1958.
John M. Callagy died on April 28 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He was 77. He had been a member of the Darien Board of Finance. John, the son of Judge Martin V. Callagy and Elizabeth Sherwood Callagy, was born May 22, 1944. Raised in New York City, John attended Saint Ignatius Loyola parochial school and Loyola School.
Jeffrey Steven Teare, 60, of Wesley Chapel, Florida and formerly of Darien, Trumbull and Newtown, passed away on May 2, 2022, surrounded by all who loved him. Jeff was born May 31, 1961 in Stamford and raised in Darien. He was the son of the late Connie Lee and Rollin Teare. After studying electromechanical technology at SUNY New Paltz, Jeff went on to own Travelin’ Tunes, a car audio business in Monroe. He later worked as a fabrication & technical specialist for Sony Mobile Electronics, designing and producing award-winning custom show vehicles, and was recently semi-retired from IT consulting.
Clifford W. DeForest, 91, of Darien passed away on May 2 at home surrounded by his loved ones. Clifford was born at Norwalk Hospital on Sept. 28, 1930. He was the son of John and Viola DeForest of New Canaan and graduated from New Canaan High School in 1948. He lived in New Canaan, and served as a special officer with the New Canaan Police Department before moving to Darien in 1951.
James R. Hock, 55, died Monday morning April 4, 2022 at his home in Hartland, Vermont. Jamie was born on May 9, 1966 in Greenwich, the son of Doris (Moore) and Nicholas G. Hock. He graduated from Darien High School in 1986 and worked at Palmer’s Market through a state program for disabled adults. He spent time living in Englewood, Colorado before moving to Woodstock, Vermont and then to Hartland. Jamie had a great attitude and zest for life.
Walter Otto Lindecke, 94, of Wilton died peacefully on March 8. Born in Cobbel, Germany in 1927 to Otto and Anna Lindecke, Walter moved with his family to Cobleskill, New York when he was eight years old. There, he met his high school sweetheart, Evelyn Dox, with whom he built his life in Warwick, New York, followed by Belleair, Florida and finally Wilton. He graduated from Adelphi University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and had a long and distinguished career in business, retiring from the Warwick Savings Bank. Upon moving to Wilton at the age of 90, Walter made many friends at the Wilton Senior Center, enjoying hours of games and friendship with so many of Wilton’s senior community.
Lois Boots Berry died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on April 21. She was 90. Lois was born on Sept. 4, 1931, in East Hampton, New York, the daughter of the late Lois Kingsley Boots and Dr. Ralph H. Boots. She was raised in New York City and East Hampton, and was a graduate of The Chapin School, Westover School, and Bennett College.
Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Prudence “Tink” O’Connor Neubert peacefully passed away on April 21, after a courageous battle with cancer. Tink approached her nearly three-year fight with quiet grace, steady focus, and a determination that inspired all who knew her. Tink was born at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida on Jan. 12, 1944 to James “Jim” Leon and Prudence Page O’Connor.
Thomas Joseph Walsh Jr., M.D. died on April 24 at Norwalk Hospital after a brief illness. He was a long-time resident of Darien. He was born in the Bronx on Sept. 18, 1931, to Thomas Joseph Walsh and Virginia Hughes Walsh. After his mother died at an early age, he was cared for by his father and loving stepmother Josephine Colly Walsh.
After a long, well-fought battle with multiple health issues, Stephen Rowe Jones died peacefully at home April 19, 2022 at age 71. Stephen grew up in Darien and graduated from Darien High School. After receiving his B.A. in English and government at Franklin and Marshall College, he earned a master’s degree in International Studies from American University and a JD from AU’s Washington College of Law. He served over 30 years as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor in the divisions of Employment and Training and Occupational Safety and Health. Stephen was an avid reader of history and literature, a dedicated runner and tennis player, a passionate birder, and he loved to travel.
Ann Kane, 92, passed away peacefully at home in Darienon Feb. 27, with her family by her side. She was born on July 24, 1929 in Olyphant, Pennsylvania to the late Owen and Nellie Durkin. Ann was a graduate of St. Patrick’s High School in Olyphant.
Gwenn Slater Fiorito, longtime Darien resident, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away on April 7, with her family by her side. She was 82. Gwenn graduated from Greenwich High School and attended The Wood School in New York City. She worked as an administrative secretary at Pitney Bowes and as a medical secretary in Stamford for many years. After retiring, she devoted herself to volunteering, painting and babysitting for her grandchildren.
Henry L. Farmer V, of Darien died suddenly on Tuesday, April 12 at the age of just 16 in Stamford, of medical complications. Henry was such a light in many people’s lives with his infectious smile, laugh and sense of humor. Henry was a quiet leader in all facets of his life but particularly when he played his favorite sports: hockey and golf. Henry started playing hockey at age 5 with Darien Youth Hockey, where he played the sport for 11 seasons, mainly on a travel team. His many hockey teammates are some of his absolute best friends, with whom he spent many hours over the 11 years bonding in the locker room and at tournaments in Lake Placid, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; and Philadelphia. Henry played hockey for Darien High School this season as a forward on the JV team. He also more recently, in the past few years, developed a love of golf, influenced by his grandfather, Hank Farmer, and his dad.
Daniel P. Bianco, 80, of Diamond Point, New York, son of the late Dominic and Sarah (Barletta) Bianco, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family after a valent 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Daniel came into this world during 1941 in Norwalk. After graduating from Darien High School he attended Norwalk Community College and the University of Bridgeport. Daniel married Barbara (Butterfield) Bianco 31 years ago in beautiful Hamilton, Bermuda. While never actually selling water to a fish, Dan was indeed a master salesman.
Bernard Carroll Topper Jr., a resident of Darien for 50 years, passed away on April 7, 2022, with his family by his side. He was born on Oct. 26, 1942, in York, Pennsylvania, to the late Bernard and Dorothy Topper. A kind and generous man, Bernie was deeply devoted to his family. He especially cherished the gatherings when the entire family was together in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, where sticky bun mornings and body surfing with his children and grandchildren were a family tradition.
Beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, godfather and dear friend David A. Cobb, 58, of Darien passed away on Thursday, March 31. David was born on Dec. 2, 1963 to Ralph and Nancy Cobb in Oradell, New Jersey. He graduated from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey in 1982. He went on to study business and economics at Lehigh University, where he was a lifelong active member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity.