Stanley M. Seligson, of Westport, CT, peacefully passed away at his home at the age of 90 on September 5, 2024, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Carole Seligson, and his two children, Shana Seligson and Todd Seligson. He is also survived by his sister, Suzanne Serlin, and Mary Hill.
Stanley was a successful entrepreneur, real estate developer, and a compassionate and dedicated individual who touched the lives of many. Born in Norwalk, CT in 1933 to the late Emmanuel Seligson and May (Harris) Seligson, Stanley attended Norwalk schools, the Williston Northampton School, and went on to attend the University of Connecticut.
Following his father’s untimely passing in 1953, Stanley assumed responsibility for the family’s wholesale business, S&S Tobacco. He grew the original company into one of the largest distributors of candy, tobacco, vending, and arcade machines in the Northeast. In 1979, Stanley formed Seligson Properties and has since led the company to become a dynamic, forward-thinking real estate firm that has been involved with the investment in, and the development, management and construction of nearly three-million square feet. He was the driving force behind many key developments in Norwalk, including several projects the Connecticut Post said helped “transform Norwalk into a destination”. Stanley was extremely dedicated to his hometown and was proud to support his community. He served as an advisor and board member to many institutions including the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, The Norwalk YMCA, The Maritime Aquarium, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, and many others.
Stanley was fortunate to receive numerous awards throughout his career, including Industry Man of the Year from the Anti-Defamation League, Distributor of the Year from Philip Morris, and many accolades for his successful real estate projects. Stanley Seligson was a true gentleman, and prided himself on living his life with character, integrity, and class. He possessed a natural charisma that filled any room, and his quick-wit and terrific sense of humor led him to make connections and friendships wherever he went. Stanley had a passion for travel and enjoyed many of the finer things in life, but always remained down-to-earth. He equally valued the simple pleasures found at his homes in both Connecticut and Florida. Whether enjoying a quiet family evening at home or a fun night out with friends, Stanley cherished these moments. Stanley was an avid golfer and he enjoyed learning from some of the games’ best instructors and having the chance to experience playing at many renowned courses. He was a founding member of Rolling Hills Country Club (Wilton, CT), and was also a member of Birchwood Country Club (Westport, CT), Burning Tree Club (Bethesda, MD), Trump International Golf Club (West Palm Beach, FL), and The Mar-a-Lago Club (Palm Beach, FL).
Stanley will be remembered as a visionary business leader, an accomplished entrepreneur, and as a mentor and friend to many, but above all else, he will be remembered as a devoted husband and father, and someone who prided himself on taking care of those closest to him.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Temple Israel (14 Coleytown Rd., Westport, CT), with a lunch at 2:00pm at Rolling Hills Country Club (333 Hurlbutt St., Wilton, CT). At the family’s request, the burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Stanley M. Seligson to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Intensive Aphasia Program): sralab.org/ give-now or Smilow Cancer Hospital of Yale New Haven Health: givetoynhh.org/ways- to-give/make-a-tribute-gift/.

David Barnes Boffey, of White River Junction, Vermont, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024, concluding his 79-year journey back into the light. He was a courageous, helpful and loving person.

Barnes was born on July 16, 1945, to David and Nancy Boffey. He grew up in Pleasantville, New York, before moving with his family to Belvedere, California, at age 11. Camp Lanakila in Fairlee, Vermont, became his beloved home away from home beginning in 1953.

At Middlebury College, he majored in drama and played on the football team. The 6-foot-8 defensive lineman tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers following his 1967 graduation knowing it was a long shot. Denied a roster spot, Barnes hung up his cleats and taught elementary school for two years. Then came graduate school at the University of Massachusetts where he earned both a Masters and Doctoral degree in education. He taught at the University of Cincinnati before returning to Vermont and leading the Upper Valley Teacher Training Program (now UVEI). He became an adjunct professor at Dartmouth College, practiced counseling, and worked at Lanakila for many years including 24 years as director.

Barnes’ counseling philosophy focused on internal control theory. He asked those he was counseling both about what they wanted and what kind of person they wanted to be. The premise was that people can affect their feelings and physiology with the actions and thoughts they employ. The external world provides constant information and individuals get to decide how to interpret it. Imparting these concepts was central to Barnes’ life’s work, which helped many clients, friends and camp staffers.

He also worked as a consultant, primarily around the topic of non-coercive discipline in schools. As an author, he penned three books (Reinventing Yourself, My Gift in Return and Climb on Simon), and collaborated on adapting the Velveteen Rabbit into a musical. He also volunteered as a Cub Scouts leader, taught classes for parents of adults and was an active member of the local recovery community. He had a passion for ebiking, which he enjoyed throughout his final days.

Barnes will be missed tremendously by his two sons, David and Adam, his former wife, Sharon, and grandson, Jackson. He is also survived by his brother, Peter, sisters-in-law, Ophira and Michelle and nephews, Mercer and David. Barnes was predeceased by his brother, Daniel.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth, 40 College Street, Hanover, NH, on Saturday, September 7 at 3 pm. Please note there will also be a Celebration of Life at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, Vt. over Memorial Day Weekend, 2025.

Mr. Carl L. Lo Conte, a longtime resident of Medford, MA and beloved husband of Bridget A. (Servello) Lo Conte, passed away in Winchester on Saturday afternoon, October 28, 2023. He was 90 years old.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 16, 1932, he was the beloved son of the late Louis and Jacqueline (Lissack) LoConte. Mr. Lo Conte was a retired Manager for his family business, for many years.

In his spare time, Carl enjoyed routing for all of the sports teams, traveling with his family, especially with his son, Christopher and was an avid reader. He will be dearly missed.

Besides his wife, Bridget, he is survived by his loving children; Carl L. Lo Conte, Jr. of Stoneham, Christopher L. Lo Conte of Boston and Carla F. Lo Conte of Winchester, loving grandchildren, whom he especially enjoyed sharing in their accomplishments; Luca and Natasha Botis of Winchester. He is also survived by his grandson; Carl Lo Conte of Michigan and granddaughter; Jenna Raistrick of New Hampshire, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was also the father-in-law of the late Patricia Lo Conte.

Funeral services were privately held.

Robert (Bob) M. Stilson, 82, a longtime resident of Fairfield, died on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Maplewood of Southport. He was the son of the late Minott A. O. Stilson and Mary Edith Williams Stilson.

Bob attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, graduating in 1959, and spent a year at Kings College, England, as part of the English Speaking Union Exchange Program. He earned his B.S in Industrial Administration from Yale University in 1964 and an MBA from the University of Bridgeport in 1975. After graduating from Yale, Bob joined the US Navy in 1964 – 1967, serving as an operations officer on board a coastal minesweeper, MCS 290 Gannet, out of Sasebo, Japan, and as a Communications Officer in Norfolk, VA.

After the Navy, Bob joined Coopers & Lybrand in New Haven as an auditor, obtaining his CPA in 1972. His earlier employment consisted as an assistant production control manager at Risdon Manufacturing, Waterbury, controller for Broadstreet Communications, Hamden, controller for Turnkey Systems, Norwalk, and controller of Paper Sales involved in paper merchandising, converting, and warehousing. He joined Milton H. Friedberg Smith, CPAs, in Bridgeport as an audit manager in 1978. After a partnership with Stern & Stern CPAs, in 1982, Bob became Treasurer/Controller for Nutmeg Financial in Norwalk until 1985, when he joined Montrose Accounting Company, New York, NY, serving as Director of Finance/Controller until his retirement in 2010.

Bob also practiced part-time as a sole CPA, servicing Montrose Accounting clients who needed audit review or compilation services. He prepared tax returns and performed bookkeeping services until 2015.

His main volunteer activities included serving as Treasurer for Friends of Christ in India (a non-profit supporting programs in children’s education and care for the sick and elderly in India), VITA and AARP volunteer tax preparer assistance programs, Vice Chairman of Fairfield’s Solid Waste & Recycling Commission, WestBridge Inc. (a non-profit performing repairs to homes of low-income families and inner-city churches), SCORE mentor, and as a land steward for the Aspetuck Land Trust. Past involvements include being Treasurer of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport, and Community Sailing of Fairfield. He also served as an elected member of Fairfield’s Representative Town Meeting and its Board of Finance. His passions were sailing and auditing courses at Fairfield University as part of the Life Long Learners program.

Bob was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be missed by his wife of 54 years, Susanne Whitaker Stilson; daughter, Laura Stoltenberg (Scott Stoltenberg), of Wayzata, MN; son, David Stilson, of Fairfield; and grandchildren, Gavin Johnson, Tanner Stoltenberg, and Emery Stotlenberg, of Wayzata, MN. He was the brother of Ann Kidder, of Auburn, AL.

Bob was devoted to helping and serving others – whether it was to his family, work associates, friends, community, or church.

Brooke Chambers, of Manhasset, NY, passed away on March 27, 2024, after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife, Mary White-Chambers.

Visitation: Friday, April 5th from 3-5pm & 7-9pm.
Funeral Mass: Saturday, April 6th at St Mary’ Church, Manhasset at 10:15am.
Interment: Queen of Peace Cemetery, Old Westbury, NY.

Rodney Mark Jaros, 85, of Southbury, CT and longtime resident of Danbury, CT and Chappaqua, NY died peacefully on Friday, June 28, 2024 while surrounded by his family. Mr. Jaros was the loving husband of the late Mary (Raedy) Jaros.

Mr. Jaros was born on June 13, 1939 in Waterbury, CT; a son of the late Kasmir and Helen (Rupp) Jaros, they lived in Waterbury, CT until he was nine and then moved to Terryville, CT where his father, a chemical engineer, worked at Eagle Lock for a short stint until he started his own electroplating business. From a young age, Rod (his preferred nickname) understood the value of working a job to make his own money. From shoveling snow off his neighbors walkways to working at the local bowling alley, his most challenging job was becoming a newspaper delivery boy in which he would deliver the Hartford Courant on his bike, which was particularly time consuming. A mischievous pre-teen, he decided to take the old family Chevy on his route one day. Stopped at an intersection, a police cruiser who knows him tells him to take the car home immediately! Rod was an avid writer as well as reader and he documented this and many other stories of growing up in Terryville in his autobiography entitled Learning Curves–An Early Years Memoir.

At fifteen, Rod was sent to Williston Northampton School (formerly Williston Academy) for high school. He would spend the next four years there engaged in activities such as Baseball, Basketball, and Glee Club. He then went on to study at Fairfield University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science in 1961. Rod also obtained his Masters in English at Trinity College in Hartford and his Masters in Library Science from University of Hartford.

On February 17, 1962, Rod would marry his hometown crush, Mary Raedy, in Terryville. She was the love of his life. Rod and Mary raised three children together. Initially in West Covina, CA for just one year where their eldest was born, they moved back east to Chappaqua, NY in Westchester County where their children called home and attended primary and high school. After the children graduated college, Rod and Mary moved to Danbury, CT where they lived until Mary’s passing in November 2022 where Rod lovingly cared for her during her difficult struggle with dementia. Rod and Mary enjoyed sixty years of marriage.

An English teacher turned librarian, Mr. Jaros worked over 30 years at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY where he also lived and raised his family. Upon retirement, Rod worked several years in the library at The Wooster School in Danbury, CT. During summer months, Rod and his late wife, Mary and children summered in Cape Cod for decades. During some of this time they owned and operated a small inn in Eastham until they built a home near Nauset Beach in East Orleans where they would spend most of their summers, until eventually moving to Osterville. When he and his wife were not on the Cape or at their home in Danbury, they spent their winter months at their home in Saint Lucie West, FL where Rod enjoyed many a day walking out their backdoor to play his hand at golf, where he admittedly was not so good at! When not playing golf, Rod created a successful online golf newsletter called ‘Different Strokes’ in which there were many thousands of subscribers. He also found tremendous joy in spending time with his grandchildren especially attending their soccer, lacrosse, and track meets over the years.

He truly embodied the idea of a “renaissance man,” mastering hobbies from furniture making; sailing the family boat on Pleasant Bay in Cape Cod; reading voraciously books of all genres but especially classic westerns; becoming a licensed pilot; playing the flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, ukulele, and even the harmonica. If you needed a deck put on your house, Rod was the man to design and build it – with or without a hot tub! Known as a car guy, a lover of sports cars, he also enjoyed restoring a 1954 Chevy pickup with his son Matthew.

Mr. Jaros is survived by his three children: Kristin Boylan and her husband, Timothy; Mattew Jaros and his wife, Emily Wong; and Mark Jaros. Mr. Jaros is also survived by four grandchildren: Hannah, Luke & Finn Boylan and Tyler Jaros, as well as his sister Melanie Donnelly and brother-in-law Andrew, sisters-in-law Stephania Dedman, Margaret Butler and her husband Dennis, and 11 nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Saint Mary’s Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will take place privately.

Newell Smith Doty (80) of Hendersonville, NC, was called to his heavenly home on Saturday, March 30, 2024, surrounded by his wife and three daughters.

Born to Allen Render Doty and Ruth Greene Smith Doty on June 20, 1943 in Providence, RI, Newell grew up in Longmeadow, MA with his brother, Paul ’64. He attended Williston Academy of Northampton, MA, Washington and Lee University and American International College, where he met the love of his life, Veronica (Ronnie), on a blind date.

Ronnie and Newell were married on August 21, 1965 and together, they raised their daughters, Kristin, Katherine (Katie), and Elizabeth (Betsy), in Rochester, NY. Newell was an insurance executive with Aetna Life and Casualty for 27 years before being drawn to the North Carolina mountains to fulfill his dream of running a B&B. He and Ronnie owned and operated The Orchard Inn in Saluda, NC, for nearly 5 years before his retirement.

An active outdoorsman, Newell was a lacrosse player in his youth and enjoyed running (17 marathons and many mini-triathlons), fly fishing, hiking, and golf. He served others as a former EMT, training his dog Hershey to be a therapy dog, and working with the backpack program at his Church, St. John’s in the Wilderness.

Papa New, as he is affectionately known by his 6 grandchildren, will be forever remembered as a loving father and grandfather, who prioritized family time, never missed an opportunity to cheer on his grandkids, and kept us all laughing with his quick wit and corny jokes.

Newell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ronnie, his daughters Kristin (daughter Molly) of Flat Rock, NC, Katie (husband Robb and children Abbey, Logan and Caroline) of Birmingham, AL, and Betsy (husband J.D and daughters Lyla and Paryn) of Edwards, CO. The family would like to thank the incredible staff at Tore’s Home for their devotion and love of Newell and Four Seasons Hospice, who treated him with compassion and dignity.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Newell’s honor to Memory Care of Asheville, NC and St John’s in the Wilderness of Flat Rock, NC. A service of celebration will be held on Saturday April 13th at 11:00 in the morning at St. John’s in the Wilderness of Flat Rock, NC. Hallelujah, He is Risen Indeed!

Henry Samuel Hacker (“Hank” to many of his closest friends), beloved father, grandfather, cousin, uncle, friend, lifelong scholar and New York sports fan, died peacefully on June 6, 2024, in Boston, MA. He was 81.

Henry was born on December 26, 1942, in New York City, and was raised in Beacon, NY, where his parents, immigrants from Austria who escaped Nazi persecution, settled in response to a call for doctors to fill a void left by World War II. After graduating from Williston Academy, Henry was awarded an English Speaking Union scholarship and traveled aboard the RMS Queen Mary to spend a gap year at Sutton Valence School in England, an experience that ignited his enduring passion for British culture. While at Sutton Valence, Henry made lifelong friends from both sides of the Atlantic and would return often to visit the school throughout his life. From there, Henry went on to graduate from Yale University and Cornell Law School.

Henry’s professional career was diverse and prolific. His early years were spent in investment banking at Dean Witter and from there he began a long tenure as a corporate lawyer in private practice, first at Skadden Arps when the firm was still in its infancy and later at his own firm. In 1995, Henry left the legal profession to become Chief Operating Officer for the popular menswear brand Alexander Julian, helping the company grow rapidly through creative licensing opportunities. He parlayed that experience into his own lifestyle and branding consultancy firm, Hacker, Dolan + Partners, and spent the remainder of his career helping clients, including fashion designers, musicians, artists and other creative people, monetize their talent. Clients and colleagues recall Henry as a skilled negotiator and a man possessing a keen intellect and unimpeachable honesty, integrity and character.

A thruline in Henry’s life was a passion for history, art and amassing collections, not merely for his own satisfaction, but to preserve items of cultural and historical significance for future generations. He donated generously throughout his life, and in an interview, he once observed: “If you give your collections to a museum, you can always go visit them.” While this lifelong pursuit had the humble origins of collecting baseball cards as a child, Henry’s collections would go on to be featured in museums throughout the world. He donated his 6,000 item baseball card collection to the Hudson River Museum in New York and his collection of over 500 British transportation posters resides in permanent collection at the Yale Center for British Art. The British poster collection was featured prominently in an exhibit titled “Art for All: British Posters for Transport” at Yale, the Wolfsonian in Miami and several other international museums.

In retirement, Henry’s indefatigable passion for scholarship and arts access led him back to school, where he wrote a thesis on the restitution of art looted during the Holocaust. At 71, he earned his third degree, a master’s in museum studies from the Harvard Extension School. In recognition of this feat, he was featured in the Harvard Gazette as a “stellar graduate” alongside other graduating Harvard students (most close to 50 years younger than him).

Above all else, Henry was a devoted and loving father and grandfather. As a vault of esoteric knowledge, he could always be counted on for help perfecting a high school, college or graduate school essay (often with an impending deadline); solving a particularly daunting corporate finance problem set; preparing for law school exams; or completing a Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. He never missed an opportunity to watch one of his children’s various sporting events, and was known to spend his weekends driving countless hours across the Northeast (and beyond) to figure skating competitions, ice hockey tournaments and Middlebury football and Tufts lacrosse games. Henry was incredibly generous with his time and resources and always there when needed most, whether through a simple reassuring phone call, an emergency financial “loan” or even riding shotgun on a cross-country drive. He was a world class listener and advisor, and his children (along with clients, colleagues, friends and other family) were the beneficiaries of his practical advice, even keel and unfailing advocacy.

Henry’s family is grateful for the eight years he lived after receiving a kidney transplant from a generous deceased donor and for the care he received from many doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. He is survived by his children, Michael, Matthew, and Katrina Hacker; their spouses, C.J. Hacker, Sarah Dmitrovsky, and Charlotte Hastings; grandsons Luke, Colt, Pete, and James Hacker; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews and lifelong friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider registering as an organ donor when you renew your driver’s license or online at https://registerme.org/, or making a donation in Henry’s honor to the Massachusetts Organ Transplant Fund/New England Donor Services (https://neds.org/) or the Yale Center for British Art (https://britishart.yale.edu/get-involved). A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Charles Dickinson (Dick) Showalter passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024, in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Dick was born on September 3, 1927, in South Windham, Maine, the son of Arthur H. and Marguerite Dickinson Showalter. He was born on the kitchen table when the doctor was delayed one hour on the trolley. Dick spent his early childhood in South Windham and Waban, Massachusetts before moving with his family to Northampton, Massachusetts. He is a proud graduate of Williston Academy and Purdue University. Dick served with honor in the United States Army, 20th Combat Engineers 3rd Army during the Korean Conflict.

Following his military service, Dick married Charlotte Fry in May 1953. Soon thereafter they moved to Lockport, New York, where Dick joined his brother Arthur (deceased) and purchased the S.S. Gooding Co. in Lockport. They ran a very successful printing business for thirty-five years before selling the company in 1989.

Dick and Charlotte spent many happy years in Lockport where they raised their five children. He served the community as President of the Lockport School Board, Orleans-Niagara Board of Cooperative Education, Kenan Center, Lockport Town and Country Club and The Tuscarora Club.

Upon his retirement, Dick and Charlotte moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, for sunshine and year-round golf. They remained there until 2006, when they moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina. Charlotte passed away in 2007, after 53 wonderful years of marriage. Dick volunteered at more than 100 golf tournaments and spent years volunteering at the Reid Heart Center. He was always extremely active in his community.

Dick is survived by his five children, Susan Helander (John), Stephen Showalter (Maria), John Showalter (Nancy), Paul Showalter (Sharon), and Kim Showalter, as well as six grandchildren, Katharine Lange (Christopher), Alexander Rae, Stephanie Payne (Bill), Sarah Showalter, Lindsey Platts (Jordan) and Caroline Showalter (Anthony); nine great-grandchildren, David and Charlotte Lange, Landon and Liv Showalter, Lane and Henry Platts, Christian and Wyatt Payne and Paislee Showalter. He is also survived by his loving companion of 15 years, Sylvia Jansen, her daughter Heidi Spencer (Mark) and nieces Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Buscemi (Peter), Nancy Clark (Peter) and Judy Slabyk (Steve) and nephew Ed Hubbard (Lynn).

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, at Boles Funeral Home, 425 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hospice Foundation of FirstHealth would be appreciated.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of Charles Ricker Donnellan on May 5, 2024 at a care center in Sylmar, California. He was a resident at Sunrise at Sterling Canyon in the Assisted Care wing and had his own apartment for the past three years. While there, he gained the title of Jigsaw Puzzle Wizard. He was able to assemble a 1000-piece puzzle within a matter of four hours. Other residents were quite upset to find he had completed all the puzzles set up in the community room while they all slept. He did his best work at 4AM along with a cup of coffee until the puzzles were all completed. He was greeted with open arms at the breakfast table at 7:30AM.

He passed from several health complications, the most recent being liver failure.

He was flown to Hartford, Connecticut and a private internment was held on June 8, 2024 at the Union Hill Cemetery in Middle Haddam, Connecticut.

He is survived by two older siblings, Mary Ricker Leao-Martin, NSFG class of 1965 and Virginia Donnellan Eberhard, NSFG class of 1967.