Betty Jean (Huber) Billings, 90, of Glastonbury passed away peacefully on Friday (October 5).
She was born in Haverstraw, NY on March 31, 1922, daughter of the late Jean (Gurnee) and Joseph Huber. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Roswell. Betty was a graduate of Skidmore College. Continue reading
SOUTH HADLEY – William H. Roberts, 82, of Woodbridge St., died May 4, 2012. he was born in South Hadley. He was the son of the late Raymond and Alice (Missett) Roberts. Bill served in the United States Air Force. He was predeceased by his companion Shirley Perron. Bill is survived by his aunt, Rudy Roberts, and his former wife, Carol Roberts. The funeral for Bill will be held on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. in the Ryder Funeral Home followed with his burial in St. Rose Cemetery both in South Hadley. A calling hour will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Dr. Patricia M. Perkins of Rochester, NY, who attended Northampton School for Girls for one year, died March 21, 2013 after a long and productive life.
John “Jack” Williams died March 8, 2013. Jack was a resident of Sarasota, FL, and according to his wishes, he did not have an obituary published. Jack’s grandson, John Williams (also called Jack) is a 2003 graduate of the Williston Northampton School.
Janice Wonson Stratton, age 87, a longtime resident of Stamford, died on Friday, November 2, 2012, at home with her family by her side. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 6, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Evelyn Wonson Butterworth of New Canaan. She was the wife of Arthur G. Stratton.
A graduate of Northampton School for Girls and the New York Fashion Institute of Technology, Jan began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC. After marrying Arthur in 1956, she devoted the next 25 years to raising her three children. Jan became a licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker in 1972 and maintained her license and stayed involved in the realty business until her death. She was a member of the Pine Grove Association in Canaan, CT, for 47 years and spent their summer weekends there with husband Art, and children, Nancy, Betsy and Bill. Her remarkable spirit and positive outlook on life were an inspiration to all who knew her, especially her family.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Bill Stratton, and his wife Kerry and their children, Steve, Chelsea, Randy, and Jamie from Trumbull, CT; two daughters, Betsy Kerr and her husband David and their children Tim, Charlie and Sam from Newtown, CT; Nancy Utter and her husband Henry and their children Ben, Charlie and Natasha of Arlington, Mass; two sisters, Priscilla Butterworth of Greenfield, MA, and Sally Mortimer of Stamford, CT.
Lawrence H. Voight, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital after a long illness. He was the devoted husband of Sandra Bertaccini and father of their daughter, Sophia Voight.
Born Feb 8, 1930 in New Haven, CT to Lawrence M. and Laura (Gilroy) Voight, Larry grew up on the CT shoreline. He served in the Air Force National Guard from 1951-53. After attending Brown University and Southern CT State College he earned his Masters Degree in Education and began his life-long career of teaching high school English, first at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, then at Litchfield High School from 1963 – 1996.
Known for his Socratic teaching method, his sensitive and meticulous correction of student work, as well as his sharp editing skills, Larry earned a reputation as one of LHS’ outstanding faculty.
Jazz music, especially jazz piano, was another love of Larry’s. A self-taught stride jazz pianist, he regularly showed up an hour early at school in order to be able to play the Music Dept’s grand piano. Larry typically practiced, he would never aver to “playing,” an hour a day, everyday, up to a few months before his passing. With summers off, he was happy to take in some of the jazz festivals in the area.
In his retirement, Larry turned to travel, crossing the U.S. several times by car visiting National and State Parks and to enjoying the outdoors, especially the NW hills of CT and Mass. He hiked many trails and biked many country roads with his wife, Sandra, and although later being stricken with COPD, he never lost his love of the outdoors and could be seen occasionally, with his portable 02, walking the trails of White’s Woods.
It was in January, 2010 that Larry suffered his first pneumothorax, was hospitalized and, ultimately, diagnosed with embolitic emphysema and fibrosis of the lungs/COPD. Despite being on oxygen 24 hrs/day from that point on, he continued being as active as possible including the above mentioned short walks and taking his daughter Sophia to the library and music lessons. As well, reading remained a lifelong pursuit of his, with Larry typically reading three to four books at a clip.
He is pre-deceased by a son, Alex Voight of Bridgeport, CT; two daughters, Lisa and Laura Voight, and a stepson, Arthur Greiner.
Besides his wife and daughter, Larry is survived by a son, Hans Voight and grandchildren Alexis and Nicholas Voight, all of Crescent City CA; a daughter Gillian Voight and partner Aaron Shepard and grandchildren Dylan, Gracie, and Layla all of Lee, Mass; a sister and brother-in-law Drucilla and Larry Harder of Portland, CT and former wives Bonnie Voight of Weatogue, CT and Shirley Keyes of Milford, CT.
Donations in his name may be made to: Oliver Wolcott Library/OWL, P.O. Box 187, Litchfield, CT 06759; the Morris Volunteer Fire Dept—Charlie Pac Fund, PO Box 48, Morris, CT 06763; or White Memorial Foundation, PO Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759.
Anthony E. Giangrasso, M. D., age 83, of Trumbull, beloved husband of Bettie Brackett Giangrasso, passed away on Monday, February 11, 2013.
He was born in Astoria, Long Island on September 9, 1929 and was a son of the late Thomas and Nancy (Giaimo) Giangrasso. The family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut in the early thirties and to Trumbull in 1938. He attended grammar school in Long Hill Trumbull and then later Central High in Bridgeport.
In 1948, he graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Following prep school, Dr. Giangrasso attended Georgetown University and later Fairfield University where he received his B. S. degree with Cum Laude honors in 1953. The following year, Dr. Giangrasso received an assistantship in biology at Boston College. In 1954, he was accepted into Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska where he received his medical doctorate in 1958.
Herbert Headle of Fernandina Beach, Florida, died November 26, 2011.
Albert Mitchell of Essex, CT, died September 2, 2012. Albert attended Williston Academy.
Nicholas T. Giangrasso, age 85, beloved husband of Hilda Louise Frank Giangrasso of Trumbull, died on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center while holding hands with his loving family. Born in Astoria, New York on November 23, 1927, he was a son of the late Carmello (Thomas) and Nancy Giaimo Giangrasso and was a Trumbull resident for over 75 years. He was a World War II Veteran serving in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Giangrasso received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown Law School. Before his retirement he was an attorney who practiced in the area for 44 years. He also was an assistant prosecutor of the Circuit Court for the 2nd Circuit of CT, a past member of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, an active member and past president of the Trumbull Italian Community Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Fayerweather Yacht Club and the Turkey Roost Rod & Gun Club. In addition to his wife, survivors include four loving children, Nancy Card and her husband Richard of Beacon Falls, Theresa Navarre and her husband Louis of Morris, Nicholas C. Giangrasso and his wife June of Venice, FL and Daniel A. Giangrasso of Trumbull, a brother, Dr. Anthony Giangrasso and his wife Bettie of Trumbull, a sister, Bessie Butto of Trumbull, six grandchildren, Alison, Kimberly, Richard, Gary, Lindsay and Nicole, a great grandson Quinn as well as several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Mass celebrating his life will take place on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Christ the King Church, 4700 Madison Ave, Trumbull. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. To light a virtual candle, visit us at www.abriola.com.
