Tag Archives: 1940s

William H. S. Roberts ’48

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.

Janice Butterworth Stratton ’43

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.

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Lawrence H. Voight ’48

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 ’48

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.

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Nicholas T. Giangrasso ’45

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.

Philip L. Denniston ’41, P’66, GP’96

Philip LeFevre Denniston (1922 – 2013)

The world lost a special man when Philip Denniston was reunited with Jesus on January 18, 2013. He was a prince of a man and was deeply loved by all who knew him. Phil cherished his wife, Georgiana; was proud of his three sons, Philip, Jr. (WA ’66), Peter and Scott; and was crazy about his ten grandchildren, Daphne, Philip III (WNS ’96), Thomas, Carrie, Sarah, Erin, Laura, Gavin, Kate and Rachel.

Completing his growing family were his three daughters-in-law, Patricia, Susan and Debra and his grandchildren’s spouses, Ashley, Susan, David, Charlie, Greg and Elizabeth; along with seven great-grandchildren, Mia, Ryder, Little Tom, Carson, Brooke, Dylan and Wyatt. Phil was a very active community volunteer having served on the school board for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and on the board of the Ventura Community Memorial Hospital.

He was also President and Treasurer of the Ventura Dance Club and he was a long standing member of both the Ventura Rotary Club and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce. Phil really enjoyed traveling with his wife, Gigi who also shared his love for ballroom dancing. Phil was born on June 6, 1922, in New Paltz, N.Y.

To honor his family being one of the seven founding families of this hamlet on the Hudson River, Phil was a lifetime member of the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical and Monumental Society of New Paltz. Phil attended the Williston Academy in East Hampton, Mass., and pursued his love of architecture and economics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

He was a member of both the Phi Delta Theta social fraternity and the Alpha Kappa Psi professional fraternity. When duty called, Phil joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps ultimately serving as a Lieutenant of the United States Naval Reserves.

He served in active duty during World War II from 1943 to 1946 where he commanded a United States Navy submarine chaser. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Phil completed graduate studies at Harvard University. Phil also had a real love for retail merchandising so, in 1946, he joined the management training program of Macy’s flagship department store in New York City.

This led him to Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago and ultimately to Carter Hawley Hale Stores in California. Phil retired, after almost 40 years in the retail industry, as the store manager of the Broadway Department Store at the San Buenaventura Center.

To honor him and his contributions to our community, we will be celebrating his life at a memorial service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 3290 Loma Vista Road in Ventura at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2013.

There will be a reception at the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you make a donation to your favorite charity in memory of Phil Denniston. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.