Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituary-december-2023)
Frank J. Kugler, Jr. of Darien died Dec. 30, 2023, after a brief illness. He was 89. UPDATE of the original Jan. 14 obituary:
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Woodway Country Club, 540 Hoyt St., Darien.
Joseph Samuel LaMorte passed away peacefully at his home in Darien, surrounded by family, on Dec. 29, 2023. He was 87 years old. Joseph was born on Jan. 19, 1936, in Greenwich to Mary Ann (Farrell) and Samuel Joseph LaMorte.
Elizabeth (Lisa) Manning Leatham Mason passed away Dec. 25, 2023, at her home in Darien. She was 62 years old. Born March 28, 1961, in Savannah, she resided in Darien for over 55 years. Lisa had many accomplishments, but nothing brought her more joy than to be the mother of Caroline.
Theresa “Terry” (Benedetto) Chiappetta, 80, of Durham passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 with family and friends by her side. Born in Norwalk and raised in Darien, she treasured her childhood growing up on the family farm. Terry was the daughter of the late Anthony “Ben” Benedetto and Mary (Cerulli) Benedetto. She was predeceased by her twin sister Marie Grace.
Don Pearson Ainsworth, 90, died in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Dec. 13, after battling Alzheimer’s disease for several years. He leaves a legacy as a devout Christian with a strong work ethic and passion for lifelong learning and serving others. Don was born in Chicago to Francis and LeMoise Pearson Ainsworth on May 29, 1933, and grew up in Geneva, Illinois and other upper Midwestern cities. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, where he met Martena (Marti) Louise Parker Ainsworth.
It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of Jeffrey Michael Tauber from complications from Alzheimer’s. He was 78. Jeff moved quite a bit as a child, as his father worked for IBM. They eventually settled in New Canaan, and Jeff attended Fairfield Prep. He was a track athlete and this love of running lead to decades of marathons all over the United States and Europe, totaling over 30 races. During high school he delivered newspapers on weekends from the back seat of his VW Bug — the same car he brought with him to Boston College, where he graduated in 1966 with a B.S. in Finance and was a member of the ROTC.
Anthony Martin Kwedar, 86, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. Tony was born at home in Baltimore on Feb. 21, 1937, to the late John J. Kwedar and Albina O. Kwedar of Severna Park, Maryland. Tony briefly served in the Air Force and graduated from Iona College.
Joan Ann “Joanie” Boragine — a recent resident of Fallon, Nevada, former resident of Gilbert, Arizona, since 2007; Danville, California, since 1981; Buffalo Grove, Illinois, since 1969 and former Darien hometown resident — passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at Fernley Estates in Fernley, Nevada. Joan was born in Stamford on May 31, 1940, daughter of the late Edward J. and Elizabeth “Betty” (Lockwood) McCue. She attended Darien schools and graduated from Darien High School as a member of the Class of 1959. Following graduation, Joan attended Mt.
Edward C. Schley passed away peacefully at the age of 84 with family by his side on Dec. 3 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Born and raised in Darien, he was the son of Edward A. Schley and Leona (Trefry) Schley. After graduating from Darien High School in 1958, Edward served as a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard in the 1960s. Spending much of his life in the automotive field, he owned Schley Citgo in Glenbrook from the 1970s to the 1990s, later spending over a decade working at Brandman’s Equipment of Norwalk, and then retiring to Plymouth.
George Urban Peterkin has recently passed away after a short battle with lung cancer. He was 72. Born in Norwalk Hospital on Aug. 15, 1951, George was a resident of Darien for 50 years before moving to Stonington for the last 20. He chose Stonington because “it’s what I remember Darien was like when I was growing up.”
John Jeffrey Walker of Mystic and Darien passed away on Dec. 5 with loving family by his side. He was 79. Born April 2, 1944, he was the son of Robert Barney Walker and Helen Gertrude Tingley. Jeff graduated from New York Military Academy with many honors, including the corps’ most Honorable Cadet, went on to receive an architectural design and building construction degree from Temple University, and served as a member of the Navy Air Reserves during the Vietnam era.
Susan Smith Russell, age 81, passed away peacefully on Dec. 3 at her residence in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Born Feb. 15, 1942, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Susan graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in elementary education, where she was also a Pi Beta Phi. She taught second grade for several years, until she married her high school sweetheart.
Frank Mott Johnson, 92, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, surrounded by his family. Frank was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on Oct. 26, 1931, the son of Garrett and Marjorie (Cass) Johnson. Growing up on the coast instilled a lifelong love for the ocean that he carried throughout his life.
Martin Roland Pryor, 62, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Darien. Martin was born the youngest of two children to Roland & Nancy Pryor (née Martin) on Jan. 24, 1961 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He attended College High School, where he was a decorated three-sport athlete, including captain and quarterback of the football team.