Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituary-january-2020)
Harriet Andrews Meagher, 96, passed away peacefully on Jan. 7, 2020, surrounded by her family. Harriet was born and raised in Fulton, New York and was one of 13 children of Charles and Maude Andrews. For most of her life, she made her home in Darien and was a longtime member of the Country Club of Darien. She was an avid golfer, winning many club championships and also enjoyed playing bridge.
Guy R. Stretton, age 79, passed away on Jan. 27, 2020 from complications of cancer, in the comfort of his home in Old Greenwich. He was born on Sept. 18, 1940 in Johannesburg, South Africa to Mary and Alan Stretton. He is survived by his wife Barbara and two sisters, Barbara Holden and Mary MacKinnon, who live in Johannesburg.
Tilden Hamilton Bunge, “Ham,” 50, of New York City died Jan. 29, 2020, after a courageous battle with melanoma. Born on April 4, 1969 in New York City to George and Isabel (Goff) Bunge, Ham spent his early years in New York City, Darien and Lake Forest, Illinois. In 1978, at the age of 9, his family moved to Switzerland after his father, a partner with Arthur Andersen, was transferred to their newly established world headquarters. Ham spent his formative years in Geneva, attending the International School of Geneva (Ecolint).
Ann Curtis Congdon passed away on Jan. 10 in Dillon, Colorado. She was 67. Born Oct. 27, 1952 in New York City to Sidney B. and Nancy S. Congdon, Annie was raised in Darien.
Anna May Shutts Austin passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on Monday, Jan. 27. Anna May was born in Radnor, Pennsylvania to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shutts and raised along with her four sisters in Wayne, Pennsylvania in a home located next door to The Valley Forge Military Academy. Anna May graduated from Radnor High School in 1939 and then attended Drexel University, where she majored in Home Economics. While at Drexel she met Marshall M. Austin and they were married in 1945.
Glen R. Osberg, “Oz”, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away at Stamford Hospital on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. He was 78. He was born in Hartford on May 26, 1941, to the late Ralph Earnest Osberg and Rita Doiron Osberg. Glen graduated from East Hartford High School in 1959 and went on to attend Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, receiving a B.A. degree in government in 1963.
Clinton McCord “Mac” Johnson of Naples Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 10, at the age of 70 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mac was born and raised in New Britain Connecticut, son of Katherine and Roswell Johnson. He attended the Choate School and was graduated from the University of Stockholm. He also received an MBA from University of Minnesota.
DeWitt Peterkin, III, formerly of Darien, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 peacefully at his home in Dover, Delaware. Born Jan. 14, 1950, he lived to the age of 70. He had the resilience and fighting spirit to survive a life of ill health, but, in the end, the strength of his heart finally gave out.
William Thomas Murphy, Jr., 72, of New Canaan passed away peacefully on January 26, 2020 after a year-long battle with cancer, his loving family by his side. Bill was born in Providence, Rhode Island to the late William Thomas and Martha Otto Murphy. He was a loyal friend to many and devoted husband of Nancy E. Edmonds. He possessed an enthusiasm for life, a gentleness of spirit, and a deep love of family. At Lake Forest Academy, Bill developed his expertise as, among other things, a springboard diver; he graduated from Williston Academy in 1965.
Rose Marie Manforte Surwilo, a lifelong resident of Darien passed away on Saturday Jan. 25, 2020 in Stamford. Born on Nov. 11, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Gerarda D’Elia Manforte. Rose attended Darien Public Schools and retired as a teachers aide from Mather Middle School.
Robert H. Torgler, a resident of Harbor’s Edge, passed away in Norfolk on Jan. 19, 2020. He was predeceased by his father Elmer Franklin Torgler, his mother Ruth Burger Torgler, twin sisters Lillian Shedden and Marian Shaw, and his granddaughter Alexandra Boyd. Surviving him are his wife of sixty eight years, Mary Ellen, his daughter Amy Torgler Boyd (Robert), and grandchildren Bryan Boyd and Jennifer Boyd. Bob was born in Canton, Ohio on Jan.
Retired Connecticut State Trooper David F. Corker Jr., 80, passed away on Jan. 4, 2020 at his home in Sun City, Arizona. David was born in Queens, New York, son of David F. Corker Sr. and Ruth Stephens Corker. David graduated from high school in Darien and proudly followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the Army National Guard. He later attended Paul Smiths College in Paul Smiths, New York, where he studied forestry and civil engineering.
Joan Murphy Potts, 87, of Venice, Florida, formerly of Darien, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 13, 2020. She is survived by her daughter, Joni Potts Kovac, son-in-law William Kovac III, grandson, Lucca James Kovac, several nieces and nephews. We hope that Joan will be remembered by her many friends and relatives for her kindness and the love she had for them. We hope that everyone who knew her will cherish the time she was able to share with them.
John E. Herbert, Jr., a long-time resident of Darien, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Stamford Hospital. He was 73. Born at Stamford Hospital on Jan. 15, 1946, he was the son of the late John E. Herbert, Sr. and Kathleen Tymon Herbert.
Richard (Dickie) J. Dawson, a resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 8. He was 78. Born in September of 1941 in Stamford, Dickie was a lifelong resident of Fairfield County, graduating from Stamford High School and attending University of Wisconsin. He was a structural engineer and bridge designer for Metro-North Railroad for over 40 years.