Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituary-july-2017)
Christopher Anthony Poth, 69, a longtime resident of Darien and recent resident of Stamford, passed away on July 12 at Stamford Hospital with his family by his side. Editor’s note (Sept. 15) : A reminder: His family invites relatives and friends to a Memorial service that will be celebrated at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16 at St. Luke’s Church, 1864 Post Road in Darien.
William Rohrbach passed away on July 31, 2017. He was 91. As a professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he was often referred to as “Professor Bill.” However, he preferred to be called simply, “Bill.” Bill was born on Oct.
George Blackwell Cammann died peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at home. He was 91. George was born on Jan. 27, 1926 in New York City to Katharine Blackwell and Frederic Almy Cammann.
On Thursday, July 27, 2017, Charles Edward Bradley III passed away peacefully at his home in Darien. Charles Edward Bradley, Sr. (“Charlie” to those who knew him) was born on Aug. 25, 1929 in Lawrence, Mass. to Edmee Cloutier Bradley and Charles Edward Bradley II. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.
Katharine Gordon Wilson of Vero Beach, Fl. and formerly Darien, died peacefully on July 27 from complications from a stroke. Born in 1920, at the base of Mount Hood, Oregon, she was one of six children of Colin John Gordon and Katharine Forbes Jones. Kate was a past Trustee of Bennett College and Wee Burn Country Club and a long time member of Riomar Country Club, US Woman’s Seniors and Westchester Fairfield Golf Association. She was a determined and avid athlete and excelled in golf, tennis, and trapshooting.
Elmer C. “Bubba” Harris, III, 76, of Mobile, died July 31 at Bedford Care Center in Hattiesburg, Miss. Elmer C. “Bubba” Harris III was born in Hattiesburg on April 11, 1941 to Elmer Cecil Harris Jr. and Maureen Woodward Harris. Mr. Harris graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in chemical engineering. He married his high school sweetheart, Patsy Bullock Harris (Trish) and started to work for International Paper Co. in Moss Point, Miss.
Madelon Teresa Zisek was welcomed into the kingdom of heaven on July 31. She was 92. Madelon was born May 28, 1925 in Palisade, N.J. and grew up in Chelsea, N.Y. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School in New York City. In 1951, she married Emil Zisek and they made their home in Norwalk, where they raised their family. After 23 years, she retired as secretary to the First Selectman of Darien.
Peter Rohrbach Hill, 78, died on July 19, 2017 in the VITAS Inpatient Hospice facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. following a major stroke. The son of Margaret and John Hill, Peter grew up in Darien and graduated from Hamilton College in 1960, where he won the college’s Mathematics Award and served as president of his fraternity. He then attended Columbia University Engineering School, where he earned a masters of science degree in 1962. Following graduation from Columbia, he worked for 17 years at IBM Corporation in New York and then in California as a software developer and manager.
Catherine “Cathy” Oberle, 72, of Rowayton died at her longtime home on Friday, July 28 after a long illness. A resident of Rowayton since 1967, Cathy was born on Nov. 4, 1944 in Babylon, N.Y. She attended The Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and graduated from Western Connecticut State University. Cathy was a kindergarten teacher at Tokeneke School in Darien for 34 years. She taught more than 1,000 students and had multiple generations of her pupils.
We are shocked and saddened to announce the unexpected passing of Pat Barton, age 67, a resident of Bolinas, Ca. on July 17 due to a pulmonary embolism. She was born in Stamford to Gordon Brittain Whelpley and Emilie Iselin Whelpley. She is survived by her husband, William G. Barton, their two sons, Will and Sam, and siblings Katharine Draper, Anne Shaw, and Gordon Whelpley. Born on March 16, 1950 in Stamford, Pat grew up in Darien.
Marilyn Ann Harmonay, 82, passed away on July 18, surrounded by her friends and family. Marilyn was born to the late Daniel and Jean Hagan on May 12, 1935 in Yonkers, N.Y. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers and from Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. Marilyn married Richard M. Harmonay in 1956, and they lived together in Hartsdale, N.Y. before relocating to Greenwich in 1964. In 2014, she moved to Atria Darien, where she was socially active and made many new friends. Marilyn was a beloved wife and devoted mother.
Steven Kennell Palmer, 60, passed away on July 11, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Hartford on Aug. 7, 1956, he was the son of the late Doris Kennell Palmer and Stuart Wilson Palmer. He was predeceased by a sister, Nancy P. Banks, and an uncle, Dr. John Kennell. Steve was raised in West Hartford and was a member of Boy Scout Troop 163, where he earned his Eagle Scout Badge.
Dora Mary Billingham Mix passed away peacefully on July 14 in Sarasota, Fl., one month before her 96th birthday. Born Aug. 12, 1921 in Darien, she was the daughter of the late Raymond M. and Maude G. Billingham. Dora graduated from Stamford High School in 1939, and from the Greenwich Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She married Ralph Thresher Mix and together they raised four children.
Frances Chandler Travis, 97, of Darien and Vero Beach, Fl., died on July 6 (the birthday of her daughter, Deborah Martin Travis). Born in Chicago on July 1, 1920, she was the daughter of Milton Evans Chandler and Marion Maus Chandler, and the older sister of James M. and Carol Chandler Rowland. She grew up in Indiana and Birmingham, Mich., attended Stoneleigh College in Rye, N.H., then moved to Buffalo with her sister Carol, where she was employed as an advertising director for a large local department store. She then moved to New York City, where she worked in advertising for Burlington Industries in an office on the 4th floor of the Empire State Building. She met and eventually married Charles “Bud” Merwin Travis on Nov.
Annebet Van Munching of Darien passed away on Wednesday July 5. She was 26 years old. Born in Norwalk and raised in Darien, Annebet graduated from Darien High School in 2009. She went on to receive a degree in fine arts from Regis University in Denver. A talented photographer and ceramics artist, Annebet was an aspiring creative mind.