Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/exceptional-obituaries-2024)
E. Garrett Bewkes III, known to his many friends as “Gar,” passed away on Nov. 18, 2024, in New York City from complications related to Leukemia. He was 74. He was a founder of GarMark Partners, chair of its Investment Committee, and director of numerous portfolio companies.
Priscilla Pope Masselink died on August 12, 2024 at her home in Sorrento, Maine after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 67. Born on Jan. 31, 1957, she was surrounded by her loving family and embraced virtually in the arms of countless friends from her Maine childhood in Bangor and Sorrento, her college years at Duke University, the Connecticut community in Darien/New Canaan, where she raised her family, and her cherished Florida home in Boca Grande. Priscilla’s lifelong pursuits were to be active and creative, to make a meaningful connection with her friends, to improve the groups she joined (and she joined many), to love deeply and laugh often.
Kathleen Campbell Fabbri-Benham passed away peacefully at her home in Rowayton on Saturday, July 27. She was 99. Before her passing, she was surrounded by what she would call “oodles” of her loving family and friends. Kay, Kayzie, or Gammy, as she was affectionately known, had almost 100 years of an engaged and active life. Born on March 24, 1925 in Los Angeles, she was the daughter of the late Doreen Kavanagh Campbell (a four-time California state women’s golf champion, as Mom proudly reminded us often) and the late William Wilson Campbell (a frequent contender for the men’s state title).
Thomas William Taylor Sr., a 45-year resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2024. — This obituary, originally was published on April 2, now has information on his wake, to be held today, Friday, and his funeral on Saturday: His family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2024 at the Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road. A memorial service will be held at Noroton Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m., Saturday June 1. Thomas William Taylor Sr. was born in 1937 to Alva and Mary Taylor in Coshocton, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. After graduation, he lived in Cleveland, where he met his wife-to-be, Janet Hausser.
Catharine Johnston Westlake passed away peacefully on April 26, 2024, at Stamford Hospital, shortly after turning 88. She was born Catharine Howard Johnston, on April 6, 1936, to Howard Andrews Johnston and Dorothy Perkins Johnston in Jamestown, New York, where she was raised and was valedictorian commencement speaker at Jamestown High School. She graduated from Smith College in the Class of 1958, majoring in Art, her lifelong passion. She was predeceased by her first husband Harry Wayne Morgan, with whom she shared two children, and her second husband Peter Harry Westlake. In the early 1960s, Catharine helped establish the World Press Institute in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Conventional obituaries are simply too impersonal for Glenn Hoffman’s memory. He didn’t live in B&W column-inches, but in 3-D TECHNICOLOR. So that is how he will be celebrated. Following Glenn’s own respectful disregard for convention, instead of reading an abridged narrative here, you are all warmly invited to visit his new WWW.GWHOFFMAN.LIFE Living Memorial website for a full tribute and remembrance of this phenomenal man! For now, suffice to sadly say we lost our remarkable Glenn on Christmas Day, 2023.
Peter James Corbett, age 61, of Fairfield passed away on March 15, 2024, surrounded by his beloved family. Peter was born in New Haven on Feb. 22, 1963 to Peter Hand and Barbara Thomason Corbett. Growing up, he played football, hockey and baseball, and helped to start the Darien High School lacrosse team. Peter also enjoyed racquet sports, skiing, kayaking and hiking.
James “Jim” Mercer Garnett, Jr., of Darien and Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut, died on Feb. 15, at the age of 68, with his wife of 42 years, Margery “Gigi” Ward Garnett, by his side. He approached cancer the same way he approached life, with optimism and strength of will, surrounded by family, and seeking expert advice. “Uncle Jim’s” wise counsel and wisecracks will be sorely missed by his thirteen nieces and nephews. Born in Greenwich on Oct.
Edward Barr Goodnow (Ned), 98, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on Jan. 28, 2024. Ned lived a rewarding and fulfilling life. He was a devoted father, husband, and friend, as well as a decorated veteran, a notable investor, a committed philanthropist, and an enthusiastic angler and athlete. He will be remembered by all for his humor, humility, and kindness.
Ronald Ray Watkins of Orchid, Florida and a longtime Darien resident, passed away on Feb. 19. He was 88. Ron was born in Argyle, Wisconsin on Oct. 8, 1935 to the late Mildred and Raymond Watkins.
Virgil Wenger, a longtime resident of Darien, passed away Feb. 12. He was 93. Virgil was born on Aug. 23, 1930, in Salina, Kansas to Edward and Rosa Wenger.
Theodora “Toto” Foster Rendlen of Hannibal, Missouri, passed away at 1:03 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 at Wexford Place in Kansas City, Missouri. She was 85. Toto was born March 18, 1938, in New York City to Linton Haight Foster and Theodora Sohst Foster. She was married from 1961 to 1977 to The Hon.
Dr. Robert Augustus Chandler Jr., 93, of Old Saybrook and Ridgefield passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 1, surrounded by his loving family. Bob or “Doc” as he was lovingly referred to, was born on Dec. 22, 1930 in New London. He was the son of the late Dr. Robert A. Chandler Sr. and Marjorie Alberta Hills Chandler.