Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/darien-obituary-may-2017/page/2)
Robert “Bob” Michael Heslin, husband of Elizabeth (Spada) Heslin, passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on May 12. He was the son of James & Louise Heslin. Bob was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He worked for Aetna Health Plans for 27 years, and retired in 1996 as vice president. After his retirement, he and Beth became the owner/operators of Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of Southern, Conn.
John D. (Jack) Collins, age 78, devoted and beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle passed away in Naples, Fl. on May 10. A former longtime resident of New Canaan and a 16 year resident of Naples, Jack was born on Aug 31, 1938 in Syracuse, N.Y. to the late Bill and Kate Collins. He was the second child in a family of 15 children. He was a graduate of Le Moyne College where he received a bachelor of business arts degree in 1960 and pursued a career in accounting.
Margaret Bestercy, age 100, a lifelong resident of Stamford and a former 10 year resident of Darien, passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 3 at The Villa at Stamford nursing home (formerly The Smith House). She was the daughter of the late John Bestercy and Mary Zamba. Margaret worked at Yale and Town with her identical twin sister Anna who passed away in 1952. They were inseparable and were usually seen walking back and forth to work from Myrtle Avenue. In her younger years, Margaret was a trophy-winning bowler.
Laura Rich Rowland, a resident of Darien, passed away peacefully beside her loving family on Wednesday, May 10. She was 65. She was born in Stamford on June 11, 1951 to Frank Dominic Rich Jr. and Jean Annabelle Rich Hopkins. Laura attended Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. She was employed as an administrator for SNET and Northeastern Mutual. Laura’s most recent employment was as an office administrator for Dr. Steven Rothenberg in Darien. Laura’s greatest happiness came from spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, and with her wonderful extended family.
Kevin Joseph Cassidy of Darien went peacefully home to God surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday morning, May 10, after a long and bravely fought battle with lung cancer. Kevin was the devoted husband of Jacqueline Sinon Cassidy for 25 years and the loving father of his sons Kevin, Michael, and Brendan, and beloved daughter, Colleen. Born on Oct. 1, 1956, to Eleanor and Joseph Cassidy in Red Bank, N.J., Kevin grew up on the Jersey Shore with his two brothers Padraic and Brendan and his sister Kathleen. It was there that he developed his love of family, his great capacity for friendship, and his love of the ocean.
Maura Bridget Gallagher died on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in Stamford. She was 38. She and her fiancé Max Di Dodo resided in New Canaan for the last four years. Maura and Max welcomed two beautiful children, Thomas Walter and Lyla Maura into the world on Monday, May 8. More than anything, Maura wanted to be a mother.
Viola Emma (Porter) Pike died peacefully on May 7 at the age of 98, following a brief illness. Vi spent her final days at home in Sandwich, Mass., with her daughter Cindy ever-present, and other family members in regular attendance. She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur J. (Art) Pike, and her son, Arthur J. Pike, Jr. (Pikey), the former in 1989 and the latter in 1993. Vi’s parents, Alexander and Elizabeth Wilson Porter, came to the U.S. from Ireland at the turn of the 20th century. Together, they created a family of five — Bob, “Biggie,” George, Libby, and Vi — and a 36-acre farm in Lexington, Mass., where Vi was born on April 22, 1919.
Margaret L. Love, 88, of Redding, formerly of Hilton Head, S.C. and Darien — and an eternal New Yorker, died May 3, 2017. Peggy attended Dominican Academy in Manhattan and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. Immediately following college graduation, she married Dick Love. His work took him to many companies and the family to many states. They lived in Douglaston, N.Y.; East Norwich, N.Y.; Fairfield; Livingston, N.J.; Winwood, Pa., Livingston, N.J. (again); Palatine, Ill.; Upper St.
Dianne Throckmorton (Dee) Goodnow, 87, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on April 24 in her home with her family. Dee enjoyed life to the fullest. Possessing boundless energy, Dee’s days were filled with a love for her gardens, animals, art and the outdoors. She was an avid sportswoman winning many tennis and golf matches. Dee was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on June 1, 1929, to Harold Avington Throckmorton and Dorothy Mason Throckmorton and was raised in Rye, N.Y., and Great Barrington, Mass.
Paul Francis Sanchez 3rd., 75, passed away Friday, April 29, 2017, in the Concord Hospice House, Concord, N.H.
Paul was born Oct. 15, 1941, in Norwalk, the son Paul Francis Sanchez Jr. and Edna Fairchild Sanchez. Paul grew up in Darien and graduated from Darien High School in 1960. After high school, he went into the United States Army and served as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon leaving from the Army, he attended and graduated from Norwalk Community College and was an avid sky diver. After college, Paul enjoyed a successful 25-year career as a technology salesman in the newspaper and printing industry.