Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/obituaries/page/3)
Death notices for Darienites, immediate relatives and others of interest to town residents
Andrew J. Wainacht “Andy” of Darien passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 8 after fighting through a long illness. He was 89. He was born on June 3, 1936 in Norwalk, the son of the late Andrew and Theresa Hornyak Wainacht. Andrew was a graduate of Norwalk High School and Norwalk Community College, from which he received a degree in law enforcement.
Peter Eric Ruhlin passed away surrounded by family on July 27, 2025, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He was 64. Peter was born on May 10, 1961, in Kodiak, Alaska. He grew up in New Canaan, where he played on the lacrosse and football teams and achieved the rank of eagle scout. Peter earned his mechanical engineering degree with honors from Brown University, where he played on the lacrosse team.
Mary Lopiano passed away July 28 after a brief illness. She was 79. Mary was born on Dec. 27, 1945 in Eastford. She met her beloved husband, Joe, at college, and the two were married in 1968.
Allison A. Gallagher, 66, of Darien passed away peacefully at Greenwich Hospital on July 7 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born on Aug. 14, 1958, in Atlanta, Allison was the daughter of the late Richard and Jeanne Serman Artis. She moved to Darien at a young age and graduated from Darien High School in 1976. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Fairfield University and later worked as a paralegal.
Quinn Martin Fatherley, 58, passed away unexpectedly on July 13, 2025, at home in San Ramon, California. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and cousin who will be deeply missed by all who benefited from his gracious spirit. Born in Glen Cove, New York on Feb. 19, 1967, Quinn is survived by his wife of 22 years, Valerie, and their three teenage children: Emma, Garrett, and Tristan; his parents, Robert Fatherley Jr. and Julie Fatherley of Westport; his brother, Christopher, and his family currently residing in Fairfield; as well as extended family and friends around the world. A 1985 graduate of Darien High School, Quinn completed a bachelor’s degree in English and history from the University of Connecticut in 1989.
William Vincent “Vin” Burke, husband, father, grandfather, and (as he would have you know) “giant” of broadcast news, passed away peacefully at his home of 43 years in Darien on July 29, 2025, at the age of 85. The cause of death was complications from dementia. A man of great enthusiasm and spirit, Vin loved his family, his Irish-American heritage, his friends, and his work in television news. He was the eldest of three sons, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1940 to Irish immigrant parents, Belinda A. Scott Burke and William Lawrence Burke. At Springfield’s Classical High School, Vin was captain of the swimming team; he then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College.
Robert Evans Woods Jr. died peacefully on June 29, surrounded by family. He was 77. The cause of death was aspiration pneumonia. He had recently been re-diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy after having been originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. Bob worked indefatigably to keep his symptoms at bay, and indeed always hoped to get back on the golf course.
Neville Rodgers Mulock recently passed away. She was 87. Born July 7, 1938 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Sidney and Amy (Stone) Rodgers. After being graduated from the University of Vermont, Mrs. Mulock taught English, history, and sociology at Essex Junction High School. She attended Katharine Gibbs School in New York and was employed in the Engineering and International Divisions of Pitney-Bowes.
Marjorie Lawlor Cassidy, a longtime resident of New Canaan, Block Island, and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 12 in Darien at the age of 96. Born in Waterbury to Mary (Hodson) and William K Lawlor in 1929, she was a graduate of Saint Margaret’s school in Middlebury and Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. Marjorie was married to Thomas Cassidy in 1954. They moved to New Canaan in 1960 where they raised their five children and were active members of the community and St. Aloysius Church.
Schellenger, Charles W. “Spike” Schellenger passed away on July 10. He was born May 11, 1930 in Philadelphia and passed away July 10, 2025 at the age of 95. He was a devoted husband to the late Suzanne “Sue” W. Schellenger and brother of E. Markley Schellenger of Paoli, Pennsylvania. His children, Amy Lynch, Polly Haylon and Gil Schellenger are honored to have a father who maintained his signature sense of humor until the end of his life. Spike took great joy in his six grandchildren (Gil, Todd, Sarah and Chase Haylon, Scott Lynch and Caroline Lynch Tuk) and 10 great grandchildren.
Diane Adelaide Steinle (née Hoeffer) passed away on July 7, 2025 after suffering a stroke in May. She was surrounded by her family’s love and in the most peaceful care at the Jack Byrne center. She was 78 years old. Born on April 10, 1947, in Hartford, Diane was the daughter of Paul Albert Hoeffer and Adelaide Hofmann Hoeffer. She was raised in West Hartford alongside her beloved brother Andrew Hoeffer, who predeceased her.
Margaret “Peggy” Nadriczny (Burns), 92 ,of Bridgeport, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 6. Born in Stamford on June 23, 1933, Peggy was the only child of Edward and Mary Margaret Burns, also from Stamford. On Nov. 7, 1953, she married Joseph “Joe” Wasyl Nadriczny, and together they shared 40 years until his passing. They raised a family in Darien. Family and friends meant everything to Peggy and Joe. They enjoyed watching their children play baseball, soccer, and lacrosse, and opening their home for gatherings. They were active members of St. John’s Church in Darien.
Winifred A. (Ambrose) Raffaele, 83, died peacefully at home in Newtown on Saturday, July 5, 2025. A longtime resident of Darien, Winnie was born on June 23, 1942 in Port Chester, New York. She later moved to Stamford, where she met her high-school sweetheart, Patrick M. Raffaele. The two were married for 60 years and raised three children together. A dedicated member of St.
Virginia Lawrence Abbett died peacefully on April 22, 2025, in her home in Norwalk. She was 67. Virginia was born in Norwalk on April 25, 1958. She spent most of her early years in Connecticut except for several years in Vermont running a bed and breakfast with her mother. Upon graduating from Darien High School, she joined the army and served until she was released with a purple heart for shoulder injuries.
Cynthia “Cindy” Musikas a Darien resident for 57 years, passed away peacefully at home on July 4, 2025, surrounded by family. Born on April 20, 1940 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the only child of Gilbert Russell Jr. and Mildred Shepherd Russell, she grew up in Montpelier, Vermont and graduated from Vermont College with a degree in early childhood education. In July 1960 she met the love of her life, Harry at a beach party in Ogunquit, Maine. Cindy was waitressing at a hotel during summer break and Harry was on vacation in transit to Canada exploring the coast of Maine. He never made it further than Ogunquit and they married in 1962.