James Strachan III obit

James Strachan III, 70, DHS Class of ’67, Lawyer, Decorated Medic in Vietnam War, Loved Jazz, Horse Racing, Poker

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James E. Strachan III, 70, known as “Jim” and “Ed,” died at his home in Santa Ana, California on Aug. 24, 2019. Jim was born in Stamford on May 7, 1949, grew up in Darien, graduated from Darien High School in 1967, and was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1968, where he served as a decorated medic in the Vietnam War from 1968-1970. Upon returning from Vietnam, he suffered a spinal cord injury from an unfortunate motorcycle accident, which put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. That did not deter Jim from living life to the fullest and moving to California to pursue a law degree.

Thomas McCafferty obit

Thomas McCafferty, 74, Darien Native, Accountant, Volunteer, Golfer, Voracious Reader

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Thomas McCafferty, formerly of Easton, passed away in Boston on Aug. 29 after a short battle with lung cancer. He was 74. He is loved by his bride, Prudence; their little one, Drew Anne; his doting daughter, Rosemary; son-in-law, Andrew and his four grandchildren. Born in Darien from humble beginnings, he was a graduate of Haverford College and Columbia Business School.

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Clifford Hankin, 95, Former Darien Resident, Author, Public Relations Executive

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Clifford Walton Hankin of Williamsburg, Virginia died peacefully on Aug. 22, 2019 at the age of 95 at Doctor’s Riverside Hospital in Williamsburg. Cliff was born March 1, 1924 in Clinton, New Jersey. Family lore holds that Cliff was actually born on Feb. 29, 1924 and so his age was dependent on whether it was a leap year.

Richard Gray Jr obit

Richard Gray Jr, 23, DHS Class of ’15, Volunteer in Africa, Aspired to Be a Marine

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It is with great sadness that we share the early and tragic passing last Saturday, Aug. 24 of Richard E. Gray Jr., 23, known to his friends and family as Teddy. Born Nov. 2, 1995, he was the adored son of Sabele Steuert and Joseph Steuert, his step-father. He is survived by his loving father Richard E. Gray Sr. and the rest of his loving family including his sisters: Daphne and Adelia Gray; step-sister, Elizabeth Riva; and step-brothers: Douglas, Raymond and Joseph Steuert and their families.

Robert D’Arinzo, 80, Darien Resident, Marine Veteran, Enjoyed Gardening

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Robert (Bob) D’Arinzo , 80 of Darien, Connecticut passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Greenwich Hospital with his family by his side. He was born in Stamford on Oct. 17, 1938 to Mark & Margaret D’Arinzo and was the youngest of six children.  He attended J.M. Wright Technical School and served in the U.S. Marines from 1958 thru 1961. He is survived by his loving wife, Josephine (Liscio) D’Arinzo, his three children, Robert D’Arinzo, Ralph D’Arinzo, and Dan D’Arinzo, their spouses/partners Alex (Cascella) D’Arinzo, Brenda Case and Sharon (Friar) D’Arinzo, his 5 grandchildren, Raquel, Rocco, Julia, Danny & Alexa, 1 Brother (Mark), 1 Sister (Angie) as well as several nieces and nephews.

Patricia Best Morten, 98, Grew Up in Darien, Helped in Breaking Japanese Code in World War II

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Patricia “Pat” B. Morten, 98, died peacefully, Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at home surrounded by family and her devoted cat, Julius. She lived at Meredith Bay Colony Club, Meredith, NH, after residing in Dover, MA, and Moultonborough, NH. Pat was born on July 26, 1921, in Pittsburgh. She grew up in Needham, Massachusetts and Darien. Pat earned her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1943, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and did graduate work in counseling at Boston University and in fine arts at Plymouth State University.

Mary Dana Munro obit

Mary Dana Munro, 96, Wrote for Life Magazine, Active Volunteer Who Loved Singing, Creating Art, Reading

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Mary Dana S. Munro (Dana) died with her loving family by her side on Aug. 17, 2019 at The Greens of Cannondale in Wilton from complications of Apnea. She was a longtime resident of Darien. Born on Feb. 9, 1923 in Troy, New York, she was the daughter of the late Gabriel Roberts Solomon from Macon, Georgia and Jeanette Bucknam Solomon from Sioux City, Iowa and Maine.

Roy Blackfield Jr. obit

Roy Blackfield Jr., 89, Former Darien Resident, Executive in Newspaper Advertising Industry

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Roy G. Blackfield, Jr. of Vero Beach, Florida, formally of Darien and Fairfield, passed away on Aug. 3 at Indian River Hospital. He was 89. Roy was born Dec, 18, 1929 in Chicago to Roy G. Blackfield, Sr. and Mildred (Larson) Blackfield. Roy grew up in the Chicago area where he began his career in the newspaper advertising business and where he met the love of his life Joyce Beverly Ahlstrand.