Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituary-december-2024)
Marshall A. Tharp of Sarasota, Florida died on Dec. 4, 2024. He was 95. He was the son of the late Carey E. Tharp and author Louise Hall Tharp of Darien. Marshall grew up in Darien, where he lived for over 50 years.
Judith Davidson Rodriguez of Darien died peacefully on Jan. 1. She was 90. Born in New York City on Aug. 27, 1934, Judy was the daughter of the late William Francis Davidson and Edna Feehan Davidson.
Robert F. Harrel Jr, former first selectman of Darien, died peacefully with his family by his side after a brief illness on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Bob was born in New York City on September 26, 1936. They moved to Darien in 1938 where he lived over 70 years before moving to Florida permanently in 2015. Bob attended Royle School, New Canaan Country Day and graduated from Darien High School in 1954.
Irma Louise Frasca (“Chicky”), a long-time resident of Darien, passed away on Nov. 30, surrounded by loved ones. She was 92. She was born in Norwalk to George Webb and Grace Manchester and was the last survivor of her 12 siblings. Irma married Ralph Frasca of Darien where they raised four children in the family-built home.
Ming Tong passed away at his home in Darien on Tuesday, Dec. 3, after an extended illness. He was 65. Ming was born in Dalian, China to Zihe Tong and Kejun Tang, who were both professors at the then Dalian Institute of Technology (DIT), now Dalian University of Technology. A determined student despite difficult circumstances in China at the time, Ming performed exceptionally well on his college entrance exams and successfully gained admission to DIT as an undergraduate student in 1977.
David Allan Simpson, a long-time resident of Darien, passed away on Dec. 2, 2024. He was 69. Born in Bronxville, New York, he was the son of the late Nancy (Ferns) and Harold B. Simpson, Jr.
David graduated from Darien High School in 1973 and worked for many different employers around town, but he was most comfortable working as his own boss as a handyman. He was passionate about fitness and enjoyed spending time at the gym in his younger years.
Kerry Kent Smith Gerrits was a beloved resident and member of the Darien community who sadly passed away on Nov. 26. Born in 1977 and raised in Garden City, Long Island, Kerry attended college at the University of Delaware, and spent her career working in sales and finance, spending nearly a decade at dv01. Kerry lived much of her life in Manhattan, but she also lived for several years in London where she met the love of her life, Tim, with whom she had three beautiful children: Alice Eileen, Lukas Bram, and Finn Harold. Tim and their children were Kerry’s greatest joy.