Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituaries-january-2017)
Raquel Johanna Fetchin, age 47 of Stratford, formerly of Darien and Stamford, passed away, Monday, Jan. 23 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center after a long battle with acute lymphoid leukemia. She was the beloved wife of Douglas Fetchin for 23 years. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she was a daughter of Norma Aymerich and the late Andres Arroyo both of San Juan.
Marie Helen Smoltz passed away at her home in Darien on Saturday, Feb. 4, after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Marie was born in New York in 1941, raised in Worcester, Mass. and lived in Darien for the last 43 years. She vowed she would never leave Darien, especially Noroton Bay, which was a great source of comfort and caring.
Robert R. O’Neill of Bridgeport and Pawcatuck passed away on Thursday Feb. 2 after a battle with a short and unexpected illness. He was 65 years old. He was born Nov. 10, 1951 in Stamford, son of the late Richard and Ann O’Neill (Yeruc).
Bridget Lyons McGuire, 41, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 2, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Framingham, Mass. She fought a courageous battle against cancer with grace, dignity, and above all, hope. Bridget, born Feb. 24, 1975, was raised in Darien and stayed in touch with many Darien High School friends.
Michael “Mike” Krak, a former golf professional at Wee Burn Country Club, has passed away and is scheduled to have a memorial service on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Palm Beach, Fl. Born in what is now the Slovak Republic, Mike’s family settled in Weirton, W.V., He attended Weirton High School, then West Virginia University, graduating in 1948. While attending WVU, he captained the golf team for three years. He was elected to the Physical Education School Hall of Fame in 2005.
Timothy Auer, 67, died unexpectedly at Danbury Hospital with his family by his side on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Tim was born April 20, 1949, in Stamford to George and Elizabeth Auer. He lived in Darien, Bethel and Danbury, worked at Sperry Rail and retired from Pitney Bowes in 2004. Survivors include his wife of over 40 years, Star (Macomber) Auer; his two children, Kristi Upton and her husband, Shawn of Sutton, N.H., and Chad Auer and his fiancé Jordin Olson of Danbury; and his three grandchildren, Xander Upton, Elizabeth Upton, and Autumn Olson, and many loving friends and cousins.
Nancy Shea, 76, beloved wife of George Shea, was called to her eternal resting place on Jan. 27. She entered this world on Sept. 26, 1940 in Buffalo, NY, born to Eugene and Wanda Anne Miller. Nancy was predeceased by her parents.
Peter Joseph Fitzpatrick, 52, of Darien passed away on Saturday, Jan. 28 at home. Peter was born Sept. 20, 1964 in Providence, R.I. to Dr. Donald Peter Fitzpatrick and the late Rita Kelley Fitzpatrick. He graduated from Classical High School in 1982 in Providence and went on to earn his bachelor of arts, Cum Laude, from the University of Vermont in 1986, where he played varsity lacrosse.
Alan “Lanny” Openshaw, Jr., 70, passed away peacefully at his Marvin, N.C. home on Jan. 20. Lanny grew up in Rowayton, always dear to him. He graduated from Brien McMahon High School and California Western University (USIU), San Diego, enjoying a semester traveling with professors through seven Asian countries. Lanny was a state platform tennis champion ranked nationally within the top 10.
Lee “Poldi” Stevenson, a 30 year resident of Darien, died peacefully on Jan. 24. Her entire family was by her side when she passed. Her strength and joyful spirit prevailed as her room was filled with love and laughter through her final moments. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John Buchanan Stevenson III; her son and daughter-in-law, John and Jayme Stevenson of Darien; her son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Gabrielle Stevenson of Southport; her daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Don McDonald of Bellevue, Wash.; and her 13 grandchildren: Alexandra, DL, Samantha, Ross, Kendall, Charlett, Amanda, Brett, McKenna, Ian, Hailey, John V and Kyle.
Pauline “Polly” Anderson Sammis, 84, died peacefully on Jan. 23, 2017, at her home in Bradenton Fl. Polly was born in 1932 in the town of Newton, Mass., to Herbert Theodore Anderson and Ellen Smith. Polly graduated from William Smith College in 1954 and went on to obtain her masters degree in teaching in 1956 from Boston University. In 1956 Polly married William Nason Sammis of Darien, CT and lived in Simsbury, where they raised their two children.
Paul Steven Larson, 73, of Norwalk and former longtime Darien resident, died on Jan. 24 at home, surrounded by his devoted family, after a courageous cancer battle. Paul took on his disease as he took on everything in life, with tenacity and grace. Paul was born May 22, 1943 in Bristol to Arnold Lee Larson and Lou Manchester Larson. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1965 where he captained the track and cross country team and was a member of Kappa Nu Kappa fraternity.
Barbara Gimbel of Arizona passed away on Jan. 8. The former Darien resident was 75. Barbara was born in New York City and raised in Darien until she was 13 years old, when her family moved to Phoenix. She attended Camelback High School and Phoenix Junior College, then became a Wildcat at the University of Arizona.
Sidney D. Zacharias of Stamford, and more recently Darien, died Jan.19 at the age of 101. His final illness was short and followed a full and active life. As recently as October 2016, Sidney was declared national champion in his age class in the Veterans’ Rowing and Kayaking Competition and was featured on Channel 12 as he rowed a kilometer in less than eight-and-one-half minutes (see the video below this article). Sidney was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. before the United States entered World War I, was raised in New York City during the Roaring ’20s and entered his father’s advertising and marketing business in the ’30s.
Jean Hoel Brown, 88, beloved wife of the late Willard Wilkins Brown for 60 years, cherished mother, longtime humanitarian, and community volunteer, passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2016, at the Morristown Medical Center surrounded by her family. Jean was born on May 28, 1928, in Grand Junction, Colo., to Sidney and Louise Rice Hoel. Jean graduated from Grand Junction High School and attended Colorado College for two years before transferring to the University of Colorado to pursue a major in journalism. Upon graduation, she moved to New York, where she was employed by Conde Nast as a copywriter for Vogue Magazine.