Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituaries-april-2025)
Alicia Baker Sillars Comesana-Vila’s wonder-filled journey ended Feb. 8. She was 64. Alicia was born in Chicago on Sept. 28, 1960 to Robert Noble Sillars Jr. and Barbara Jane Baker Sillars.
Genevieve “Jean” Metayer, of Darien passed away on April 28, 2025 at the age of 95. A resident of Darien for 65 years and a beloved teacher in the Darien school system, Jean’s legacy will live on in the hearts of her family and the students she taught. Born in Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 19, 1929, to the late Michael D. Mainelli and Etta Ferrante, Jean graduated from Rhode Island College of Education and later earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Bridgeport. Jean went on to have a distinguished teaching career, dedicating more than 20 years to the Darien Public Schools at Royle and Tokeneke Elementary Schools.
Gregory Ernest Sohns of Darien died suddenly on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. He was 74. Greg was a law graduate of Christ Church College, the University of Oxford (1968), and the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D. 1975). Greg practiced as a corporate attorney for over 30 years in New York City.
Barbara Keller Fairclough died peacefully in the late hours of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, following a hard fought battle with breast cancer. She was 76. She was born in Manhattan on May 8, 1948, and raised by her loving parents, Anna and Sol Sandler. She grew up in Bronxville, New York, where she thrived, growing up with many good friends and was quite the academic. Having skipped two grades, she graduated from high school and attended the University of Rhode Island, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology. A microbiologist, she worked for many years at New York Hospital, before starting a family with her college sweetheart, Marek Keller.
Barbara Herbert Saverine, a longtime resident of Stamford and Darien, passed away on Tuesday April 15, 2025. She was 83. She was born to the late John Edward Herbert Sr. and Kathleen Tymon Herbert on Oct. 30, 1941. Barbara was a graduate of Darien High School, class of 1958 along with her husband Robert.
Carolyn Orchard Ruscoe Burt, aka “Rusty,” passed away on March 13, 2025. She was 91. Rusty was a born and bred native of Darien, born April 29, 1933 and educated in the Darien school system. Her childhood home was the Bell Mansion, overlooking Gorhams Pond. Rusty spent most summers of her youth at her favorite place in the world, the all-girls Camp Arcadia in Maine, playing tennis, swimming, enjoying campfires, and dreaming about the boys camp across the lake.
Sarah McCune Rex Geary departed unexpectedly on April 7. She was 63. She was born in New York City on May 9, 1961, to Robert McKay Rex and Jean Foley Rex. As the eldest of four sisters who grew up in Darien, Sarah took immense pleasure in her high school days and friends. She was the enthusiastic captain of the Darien High School varsity cheerleading squad.
Jane O’Hara Larkin, returned to her Heavenly Father on April 4, at age 92. Born in Bronx, New York on Aug. 17, 1932, she grew up in nearby Pelham, New York. She was married to Robert Leon Larkin for 68 years. She was the daughter to Thomas Leo O’Hara Sr., born in St.
Rolf H. Swensen passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 22, in Darien. Rolf was a man of wide-ranging interests and deep intellect. He enjoyed hiking, camping, swimming, reading, gardening, and playing both the piano and the organ. A marvelous storyteller and conversationalist, he brought insight and warmth to every conversation. He swam three times a week and walked six miles a day, delighting in the outdoors and forming close bonds with neighbors — especially their dogs, whose names he knew and to whom he generously offered treats.
Patricia Ann Wardley Hamilton, 94, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Grandview-on-Hudson, New York, passed away on March 11, 2025. She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Lloyd A. Hamilton Jr.
She was the former editor-in-chief of D&B Reports, a keen sailor and longtime volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. Patricia was born in 1930 in Chicago to Charles and Anna Wardley. Charles was an advertising salesman and Anna, a housewife. Due to her father’s job, the family moved frequently, including stints in Pittsburg, Chicago and Darien.
Mark Suttile, son of Patricia Frye and the late Joseph Suttile, passed away on March 12, 2025. Known for his quick wit and bold sense of humor, he had a warm heart and liked making others laugh. If he called you “kiddo” or “sweetie,” you knew you were part of his circle. Mark loved the simple joys in life — fishing, watching old black-and-white movies, and most of all, being behind the wheel of something big. The open road was his happy place, where he felt the freest.
Carolyn Chase Dale Miller, 88, of Darien died on Sunday, March 30. Surrounded by family, she passed away peacefully from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Born in New York City on Aug. 31, 1936, Carolyn grew up in Peekskill, New York, and graduated from Peekskill High School with honors. She attended Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia, where she was an avid equestrian and member of the university’s field hockey and fencing teams.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1958, Carolyn moved to New York and began her career in research at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.