Edmund W. Chang of West Newton, Massachusetts age 64, passed away after a more than two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 64. Ed was born to Chinese immigrants Nelson Chang (1923-2020) and Edith Chang (Hsi), and grew up in Scarsdale, New York, and Darien. In 1980, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in urban studies and architecture from Northwestern University. After graduating, Ed worked as a designer for Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates before attending Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
Jane G. Dolcetti, a 65-year resident of Darien, passed away at her daughter’s home in Norwalk on Aug. 22. She was 91. She was born in New Haven on March 13, 1931, to William Stack Greaney and Helen Dorothy Dunn. Jane grew up in Stamford and went on to graduate from Danbury State Teachers College.
100 years, 7 months. Alice B. Canavan passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky. She squeezed every last drop of life from the mortal one granted to her by God. She was a resident at The Willows At Springhurst nursing home. Formerly a resident of Darien for almost 60 years, she was previously a 20-plus year resident of Bellevue, Pennsylvania.
Velma Saire, 89, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 18. A native of Glassport, she was born to Virginia (Altman) and Albert Backstrom. Despite a childhood filled with obstacles, she was valedictorian of Glassport Junior/Senior High School in 1951 and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, Master of Education degree in school administration and doctorate in administration. In her 50-plus years as an educator, she shaped thousands of lives as a teacher, administrator, and college instructor in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, California, New Hampshire and Connecticut. While she referred to her experience as one of the developers of the Model School in McKeesport as the “Camelot of her career,” she was also honored to have had both high schools she led designated as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. She received countless awards in educational leadership including the Distinguished Woman in Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Congressional Award for a distinguished career in education in 2000, and membership in the prestigious 100-member Headmasters Association during her tenure at Darien High School. After announcing “retirement” in 2000 from her position as assistant superintendent of Quaker Valley Schools, she continued to teach as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
Gordon Joy Dean, 89, of Buckland, Massachusetts, died Aug. 17, 2022, his beloved partner Hedley Yost at his side. Gordon was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, the youngest child of Arthur Dean and Gladys Joy Dean. He developed an early interest in music that led to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sacred music from Boston University. He then completed a Master’s of Divinity at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge.
James Morgan Abbots died on July 17, 2022 at 1:42 p.m., due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes and other complications. He was 74. Jim was born in Danville, VA on August 13, 1947. Jim graduated from Darien High School in 1965 and was a multilingual graduate in 1969 of the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He could speak French, Vietnamese, German, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese and also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Malcolm J. “Mac” Burt, 93, of Norwalk and formerly of DArien, Noank and Ponce Inlet, Florida, died July 21, 2022, at his home surrounded by loved ones. He was born on June 11, 1929, in Katonah, New York, to the late Winifred and Malcolm S. Burt. As a young adult he was elected class president at John Jay High School, where he was active in the drama department. Malcolm, also known to friends and family as “Buddy” was a volunteer firefighter with the Katonah Fire Department. After graduating from Bowling Green University, Mac spent his career as marketing director at Duffy Mott and Cadbury Schweppes in Manhattan and Stamford.
Molly Kenyon, a 28-year resident of North Palm Beach, Florida and a former resident of Darien, passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 91. She was the daughter of Lester and Mary Boylan and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Molly attended Stevens College and graduated from Lake Forest College with a bachelor’s degree. She taught at an elementary school in her home town of Kalamazoo.
Daniel Louis Bianco, a life-long resident of Darien who loved to garden, passed away on Saturday, July 16 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, surrounded by his family after a battle with Leukemia. He was well-known in Darien as the former owner of Town & Country Carting Company. Daniel loved to garden, spend time with his family, grandchildren and friends, going out to dinner, taking walks around Waveny Park and traveling. Daniel is survived by his loving wife, June Bianco; his adult children: Lisa Cheung, Stephanie Benedetto and Jason Bianco; his three grandchildren; his sisters, Marie Brown and Alice Bianco; and his brother, Louis Bianco. He is the son of the late Louis and Alice (La Rosa) Bianco and brother of the late Freida Newton.
Peter Anderson White, a longtime resident of Old Saybrook, died Aug. 8, 2022, at the West Haven VA Medical Center after a long illness. He was 75. Peter was born in the Bronx to the late Jack and Katherine White nee Anderson. He grew up in Darien and graduated from Darien High School.
After a long and full life, Carol Norma Lange Davis died peacefully at home surrounded by her daughters. She was 90 years old and lived in Norwalk. Carol was born on Nov. 5, 1931 in New York City. Carol received an undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College.
Howard J, Fenn Jr., “Biff”, passed away on July 9, 2022, in Southbury after a long illness. He was born and raised in Darien, son of Lorraine K Fenn, and Howard J Fenn, Sr. Biff was a veteran of many local theater productions, both as actor and director. A big personality with a big sense of humor, his love of dogs and stray cats was legendary. He is survived by his wife, Carol Berry Fenn; his sisters, Penny Kirchofer, Betsey Koehler and Kelley Carter, and their spouses; his indispensable friend, George Kenney; six nephews, three great-nephews, and one great-niece. He will be greatly missed.
Janice (Anderson) Brissette, 94, passed away on July 21 at Stamford Hospital. The only child of the late Loretta and William Anderson, she was born in Rockford, Illinois on June 9, 1928, and grew up in a close-knit Swedish American community. Jan graduated in 1945 from Rockford High School, where she met the love of her life, Richard Stacey Brissette. They were married on June 24, 1950 and moved to Massachusetts, where Dick attended college. Their first child, William, was born in Lowell, and their next two children, John and Roberta (Robin) were born in Westwood, New Jersey, as Dick began his career with Union Carbide.
Richard A. Alicandro, a lifelong resident of Darien, passed away on Thursday, July 28, at Stamford Hospital. He was 84. Richard was the youngest of 10 children, born on May 26, 1938, to the late Josephine and Bernardino Alicandro. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carole (Olsson) Alicandro; his a son, Richard Jr. (Rick), and Rick’s wife, Carolyn; and two grandchildren, Rebecca and Victoria. He is also survived by two sisters, Ida Henry and Lee Heitz, both of whom reside in Florida.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tom J. Geraghty on June 26 from complications of kidney cancer. He was 79. Tom was born on Oct. 19, 1942 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the oldest of seven children. During his youth, his family moved to Cleveland and afterward ended up in Palatine, Illinois.
