Josephine Martin, née Giuseppina Cocozzelli, 92, formerly of Flemington, New Jersey, died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, at the home of her son Joseph and his wife Jennifer, in Darien. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on Oct. 11, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Pompeo and Nicolina (Luise) Cocozzelli. She had formerly resided in Seaford, New York, and lived in the Flemington area for almost 40 years.
Lester C. “Charlie” Bounty of Redding, Connecticut and Fairhaven, Massachusetts, beloved partner, brother, uncle and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 6, 2024. He was 62. Born in Stamford on Jan. 5, 1962, and brought up in Darien, Charlie was the son of the late Reginald and Madeline (Rembish) Bounty, brother of Elizabeth Bounty and Katherine (Daniel) Gouin, uncle of Tucker (Michaella) and Kelly Gouin, honorary uncle to Kevin Pierre-Louis, and partner to Debbie Rogers Truesdale.
It may be the dog days of summer, but there’s still news on the transportation front …
WHO WANTS AN EV? According to a recent AAA New England survey more than half of respondents said they would never buy an electric vehicle. SO WHY ANOTHER ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE? Yes, PURA just voted another rate increase — about $3 a month for all electric customers — to pay for EV charging stations. But why are we paying for gear we may never use?
A 40-year-old man found at 3:30 a.m., asleep in his Jeep Grand Cherokee with the engine running, couldn’t complete standard field sobriety tests and was arrested, Darien police said. Police gave this further account (including accusations not proven in court):
The arrest took place in front of H&L Chevrolet at 1416 Post Road on Sunday, Aug 11. Justin Holliday of Waterbury was charged with driving under the influence. He refused further testing at Darien Police Headquarters. Holliday was released after paying a $175 bond and is scheduled to appear Aug.
Mary Gwyn Schreiber, formerly of Darien, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2024 in Redmond Washington, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 92. Mary Gwyn, MG, as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was the daughter of Cloyd and Mary Huffard of Manhasset, New York, and Wytheville, Virginia. MG graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. MG married George J. Schreiber III, son of George and Hallie Schreiber of Port Washington, New York.
About 500 Darienites cheered, shouted, clapped, whistled and held flags, signs or phones at a downtown demonstration of support Friday morning for town resident Ali Truwit as she prepares to leave for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Truwit said she’s grateful for the support shown at the parade:
“I’m so incredibly grateful and so excited to represent my country and represent this town,” Truwit said at a brief news conference on the sidewalk, surrounded by 500 smiling faces. An enormous American flag, perhaps 100 feet long, hung from a firetruck’s extended ladder. Plenty of firefighters and their fire engines were present at the parade, and at least one truck drove in it. Amid the cheers, Truwit arrived in an SUV, which stopped for about 10 minutes near the front of Grieb’s Pharmacy.
Ursula Luther passed away peacefully at home in Darien, on Aug. 6 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 84. She was born on Oct. 3, 1939, in Heilbronn, Germany.
Eleanor Emily Taravella, age 94, passed away in the early morning hours of Aug. 9 at Norwalk Hospital after a brief illness. She was most recently a resident of Atria in Darien. Eleanor was born in Manhattan to Emilie and George Rapp on Nov. 19, 1929.
Margaret (Molly) Doberneck Massie passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 7 in Milford. She was 59. Molly was born in Minneapolis to Dr. Raymond Doberneck and Anne Schacherer Doberneck on Feb. 16, 1965, the fourth child and third daughter in a rambunctious family.
Since June, there have been a higher than usual number of vehicles stolen in Darien — a total of 18 as of four days ago, Darien police announced. In response, police are suggesting various tips, at least one of which is probably new to you. Along with the car thefts, numerous vehicles have been entered, often with thefts of things inside, police said. (A long list of the incidents since July 25 is at the bottom of this article.)
In almost all cases, keys had been left inside the vehicle, police said, adding, “it is important to note” that stolen vehicles are often used in serious crimes in other cities and towns across the state. Obvious and Not-so-Obvious Tips for Protecting Your Property
Darien police recommend that drivers adopt these habits to foil car thieves:
At 9:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 16, the Town of Darien and The Corbin District are planning a townwide send-off to Darien’s paralympic athlete, Ali Truwit. Truwit is headed to Paris to compete in three swimming events. — an announcement from the First Selectman’s Office
Spectators are asked to come line the sidewalk on Boston Post Road between Center Street and Corbin Drive and cheer for Ali as she heads off to compete for our country. This will be a wonderful time to show community spirit and pride as we send off an inspirational young woman to represent the United States and Darien to the world.
Geraldine O’Brien Krawiec of Darien passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 7. She was a lifelong resident of Darien. Geri was the daughter of the late Mary (McGovern) and Jeremiah O’Brien. She was a 1952 graduate of Darien High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Connecticut Teacher’s College and her master’s degree from Fairfield University.
Robert J. Godzeno (“Bob”) of Norwalk, passed away peacefully on the morning of August 5 at Norwalk Hospital. He was 80. Bob was the son of John W. Godzeno and Lucy LaConte Godzeno, born in Bridgeport on Jan. 21, 1944. Although Bob was an only child, he was part of a large Italian family with many aunts, uncles and cousins living under the same roof.
131 Long Neck Point Road, Darien — $7,400,000 / $8,200,000
Pending Sales
39 Hale Lane, Unit 39, Darien — $675,000
22 Sunswyck Road, Darien — $1,895,000
2 Hollow Tree Ridge Road, Darien — $1,995,000
48 Edgerton St., Darien — $2,250,000
11 Half Mile Road, Darien — $4,500,000
108 Witch Lane, Norwalk — $999,000
24 Arnold Lane, Norwalk — $1,250,000
61 Witch Lane, Norwalk — $1,499,000
Sold
Address — original listing price / final listing price / selling price
29 Park Place, Darien — $1,595,000 / $1,395,000 / $1,385,000
248 Tokeneke Road, Darien — $1,395,000 / $1,395,000 / $1,430,000
333 West Ave, Unit 1, Darien — $1,799,000 / $1,699,000 / $1,690,000
16 Plymouth Road, Darien — $3,095,000 / $3,095,000 / $3,600,000
Open Houses
Address — last price listed — day, date and time
185 Hoyt St., Darien — $1,695,000 — Saturday, Aug. 10, from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
35 Herman Ave., Darien — $3,200,000 — Saturday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m.
27 Lake Drive, Darien — $2,325,000 — Sunday, Aug. 11, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
11 Robin Hood Lane, Darien — $2,495,000 — Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. [PICTURED]
12 Woodbridge St., Darien — $1,695,000 — Sunday, Aug.
