Obituaries

Obituaries

Funeral in Darien for 5-Year-Old Norwalk Boy Fatally Struck in Car Accident

By David Gurliacci | May 17, 2016

The funeral service for a 5-year-old Norwalk boy fatally struck by a car last week will take place Thursday at New Beginnings Community Church in Darien. Peter Tinnen-Strmiska was in the driveway of his home on Wood Acre Road in Norwalk at about 5 p.m., Thursday, May 12, when a relative pulled a vehicle into the driveway and struck the boy, according to numerous news reports. Police and an ambulance crew responded and rushed him to Norwalk Hospital, where he died. “I’m beside myself,” his mother, Kayla Tinnen, wrote that day in a post on the GoFundMe charitable donations website. “We lost him in a freak accident this afternoon.

Obituaries

Elizabeth Sposito, 89, Hairdresser, Volunteer with NH Fire Dept Ladies Auxiliary

By David Gurliacci | May 16, 2016

Elizabeth L. “Lee” (Boscaino) Sposito of Darien died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, May 15. She was 89 years old. Lee was born in New York City in 1926. She was the daughter of Michael and Angelina Boscaino. She attended New York City schools and graduated from the prestigious Julia Richmond High School in Manhattan.

Obituaries

Rodney Irizarry, 24, DHS Class of ’09, Loved Music, Giants and Mets Fan

By David Gurliacci | May 16, 2016

Rodney “RJ” Irizarry, Jr.,  24, of Darien passed away unexpectedly on May 11. He was born May 17, 1991 in Stamford, the son of Rodney Irizarry, Sr. and the late Kimberly Benedetto-Lamendola. He graduated from Darien High School in 2009. He was an avid sports fan, closely following the New York Giants and the Mets. RJ also pursued his love of music, teaching himself how to play the drums and the guitar.

Obituaries

Ann Bixler, 99, Former Darien Resident, Featured on Billboard Ads in 1940s

By David Gurliacci | May 15, 2016

Ann Bixler, 99, a resident of East Rupert, Vt., passed away Tuesday, May 10 at home. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Harold R. Bixler. Ann was born in Worcester, Mass., on Oct. 27, 1916, the daughter of the late Louis and Marguerite Thurston. Ann graduated from Classical High School in Worcester and attended Becker College, also in Worcester, where she was a member of Sigma Eta Phi Sorority.

Obituaries

Jacob Velasco-Navarro, 16, Sports Fan & Player, Darien High School Student

By David Gurliacci | May 14, 2016

Jacob Ryan Velasco-Navarro of Darien passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer while surrounded by the love of his friends and family in Norwalk on Friday, May 13, 2016 at the age of 16. A big New England Patriots fan, Jacob loved sports and played lacrosse, football, and rugby while attending Darien High School. He loved traveling and seeing the world to experience new cultures and food, and especially loved sushi. He also enjoyed spending quality time and sharing a good laugh with loved ones. His family and friends think of him fondly as cool and laid back with the biggest heart, and remember him as the strongest of them all.

Obituaries

Joseph Costa, 62, Commodity Broker, Former Darien Resident

By David Gurliacci | May 11, 2016

Joseph Costa, a resident of Stamford and a former Darien resident for more than 30 years, passed away on Saturday, May 7 at Stamford Hospital. Born on Sept. 26, 1953 in New York City, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Frangione) Costa. He was 62. Joseph graduated the New York High School for Printing and was a longtime commodity broker on COMEX.

Obituaries

Sheilah Cloud, Worked for UN, CBS, Conoco, Wee Burn Member, St Thomas More Parishioner

By David Gurliacci | May 10, 2016

Sheilah Tilbrooke Cloud of Darien died on May 2 at Stamford Hospital. Born in London, she was the daughter of Harold Ernest Tilbrooke and Margaret Chisholm Tilbrooke. She attended schools in England during World War II. After the death of her father, she and her mother emigrated to the United States. She graduated from Noroton Sacred Heart School in Darien and later attended business school in England.

Obituaries

Mary Droney, 89, Active in St. Thomas More Church

By David Gurliacci | May 5, 2016

Mary (May) Droney, 89 years old, passed away recently. She is survived by her husband of the past 63 years, John “Jack” Droney. Born in Castlederg, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland to the late Hugh and Madge Gallagher McHugh, she has been a resident of Stamford or Darien for the past 70 years. Mary was active with the former Stephen’s Ministry Program at St. Thomas More Church and volunteered at the William and Sally Tandet Center for Continuing Care, a nursing home next to Stamford Hospital, for many years.