Dr. Steven Cohen, 63, Died; “Bronx Boy”, Family Man
Steven M. Cohen, M.D., age 63, of Westport, CT passed away on October 18, 2021 at Bridgeport Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Steven was an accomplished physician, practicing Radiology in Fairfield County, CT for more than 30 years. Born in Bronx, NY, he always considered himself a "Bronx Boy," even long after he moved to the suburbs of Connecticut. Despite being from the Bronx, he was true die-hard Mets fan and never missed a game. The only thing Steven loved more than good food and wine was his adoring family and he will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Karen, daughters Dana Bernstein (Daniel) and Alyssa Lavy (Daniel) and his cherished granddaughters, Olivia Bernstein and Emma Lavy.
Services were held on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at The Conservative Synagogue of Westport Cemetery, 250 Reid Street Fairfield, CT. Shiva will be observed at the Cohen residence. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research (lustgarten.org). For information see www.greensfuneralhome.com.
Debby Ury, 68, Died; Boston Sports Fan, Educator
Obituary 
Debby H. Ury, age 68 of Westport, Connecticut passed away at Norwalk Hospital on October 17, 2021, after a brief illness.
She was one of three children, born to Dr. Peter and Terry Hagopian of Danvers, Massachusetts where she grew up. She graduated in 1974 from Simmons College in Boston with a B.S. degree in nursing, and from Boston University with a Master's Degree in education.
Upon marrying Frederic S. Ury she moved to Westport Connecticut in 1977 and began working at Danbury Hospital. She had a long career in the medical field and ended her career teaching various medical courses at Norwalk Community College.
She was an avid fan of any sports team from Boston, and enjoyed watching her beloved Boston Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots play every year, whether they won or lost. She loved the Adirondack Mountains in NY and spent much of the last 35 years at our log home in Lake Luzerne, NY.
Debby is survived by her husband Frederic S. Ury, their children Jennifer Gornbein and Robert Ury, her son-in-law Jeff Gornbein, her grandchildren Jacob Gornbein and Benjamin Gornbein, her two brothers, Bryce Conner and Justin St. James, her sister-in-law Linda Ury Greenberg, and her husband Ned Greenberg as well as their children Captain Michael Greenberg and Amanda Pinkston.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday October 23, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Saugatuck Congregation Church, 254 Post Road East in Westport, CT. There will be an opportunity to greet the family prior to the service at 9:15 a.m. at the Church. Burial at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport, CT will immediately follow the service. Remembrances may be made at Harding Funeral Home (https//www.hardingfuneral.com).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Debby H. Ury Scholarship fund at the Lake Luzerne Music Camp at 203 Lake Tour Road, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846.
Stanley Joseph Kokoszka Sr., 93, Died; Beloved “Pops”, Former Westport Firefighter
Obituary
At the age of 93, Stanley Joseph Kokoszka Sr. joined his wife in heaven on the evening of Monday, October 11, 2021, surrounded by family in his home. Stanley, also referred to as "Sta" or "Pops" by his loved ones, grew up in the town of Westport, Connecticut, where he selflessly served as a firefighter for 38 years following his tenure in the military as a Korean war veteran.
He was raised by his parents, the late John and Veronica (Sztapkowska) Kokoszka and was the youngest of his four siblings, Frances, Bonnie, Matt, and Walter. He was loved by his family including his predeceased wife Wanda Kokoszka, and is survived by his sons Stanley Kokoszka Jr. and David Kokoszka, daughter in-law Paola Kokoszka, and grandchildren Natasha, Victoria, and Stanley Kokoszka III.
Pops was a talented golfer, skillful at the game of cribbage, and an avid gardener. He showed us that the little things could hold the utmost importance – tuning to a New York Yankees game, rooting for the New York Giants with his sons, or sharing a meal with loved ones. We'll cherish our memories of him forever.
Family and friends are welcome to attend calling hours on Friday, October 15, between 4-7 p.m. at Honan Funeral Home on 58 Main St., Newtown, CT. There will be a private burial.
Tony A. Zarrilli Sr., 78, Died; Army Veteran, Always a Helper
Joseph A. Zarrilli, Sr. "Tony" of Westport and Norwalk, CT passed away on September 18, 2021 at the age of 78. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas on September 9, 1943 to the parents of Joseph Zarrilli and Alice Michalek Zarrilli.
Shortly after World War II the family moved to Stamford, CT where Tony played baseball as a child in Springdale being voted Most Valuable Player which contributed to his lifelong love of sports. After attending Stamford High School and college, Tony proudly served in the Army and was part of the Finance Corps.
During Tony's career in business, he eventually started his own consulting company which provided services specializing in the implementation of cost saving measures and efficiency best practices saving millions of dollars for many Fortune 500 companies.
After retirement, Tony enjoyed going to the beach in the morning, reading his newspaper, listening to music and loved spending time with his family and friends. One of Tony's greatest attributes was that he cared about the needs of others while remaining humble and selfless.
Tony is survived by his loving son, Joseph A. Zarrilli, Jr., wife Desiree and his granddaughters Angela and Jacklyn Zarrilli of Greenwich, CT. In addition, his dear sisters Victoria (Milton) Moon, Pamela (Joseph) Filardi both of Stamford and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, October 9th at St. Mary of Stamford Parish, 566 Elm St., Stamford, CT 06902, interment will follow at Ferncliff Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the US Department of Veteran Affairs General Fund. For more information or to place an online condolence at www.coxeandgraziano.com.
John Stahursky, 86, Dies; Staples Class of 1953, Former Slez Garage Mechanic
ObituaryJohn E. Stahursky, age 86, a lifelong resident of Westport, died Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Fairfield County House in Stamford. He was the son of the late Bronislaw and Sophie Stahursky.
John graduated from Staples High School in 1953 and retired as a mechanic from Slez Garage in Westport. He loved gardening and farming, and volunteered for many years maintaining the lawns, and planting and maintaining the flower gardens at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield. John also grew from seed, then donated, countless plants to the parish for sale at their annual picnic.
He was the recipient of the St. Augustine Medal from the Diocese of Bridgeport. John enjoyed restoring Model A Fords, which could be seen participating in the Memorial Day parades in Westport.
He will be remembered as a hard working man, always ready with a smile and happy to help others in need.
Survivors include his loving siblings, Bernard J. Stahursky of Westport, Wanda Ornousky of Norwalk and Bertha Matis of Westport, as well as many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents John was predeceased by sisters, Jean Kral, Helen Rutski and Sophie E. Stahursky, and brothers, Joe, Frank and Steve Stahursky. Friends are invited to attend the funeral on Monday at 9:15 a.m. from the FAIRFIELD FUNERAL HOME of EDMUND W. DOUGIELLO, 36 South Pine Creek Road and at 10 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Assumption Cemetery in Westport. Friends may call on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John's memory to St. Anthony Parish, 149 South Pine Creek Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 or Fairfield County House, 1 Den Road, Stamford, CT 06902.
Dennis Ray Gibson, 77, Died; Beloved Grandfather, “always made time to connect with others”
Dennis Ray Gibson peacefully passed away at Norwalk Hospital on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 while surrounded by his loving family.
Denny loved people. He was a friendly man who always made time to connect with others, whether he was talking to you at a dinner party, a Staples football game, or on the sidewalk downtown. He was a proud Westporter and loved the friends he made in the town he called home since 1999.
Denny was born in Cadillac, Michigan, on November 17, 1943, to Charles Gibson and Jeraline Rowas, where he grew up with brother Lynn and sister Nancy. He liked to remind us that he spent the first few years of his life in a house with no toilet - only an outhouse. At 21 years old, in a Grand Rapids home with more modernized plumbing, Denny had his first son, David. His son Kevin and daughter Leigh Ann followed shortly after. He committed himself to fatherhood as he moved with his family from Indianapolis to Jacksonville to Bethel to Syracuse to Youngstown and then Manhattan.
Denny met the love of his life, Patty Burke, when they were both working at General Foods. He won her over with the twinkle in his eye and his sparkling personality. They married on April 17, 1982.
Denny was a salesman through and through. After 23 years at General Foods, he struck off on his own, building a business from the ground up alongside his son David. The same traits that made him a great father and husband made him a fantastic entrepreneur. Decades into running his successful company, if you asked him what he did, he’d still say, “I’m a salesman.”
29 years after having his first child, Denny had his next set of kids - triplets Jack, Max, and Bo. They will cherish his whippy one-liners and will treasure memories of stretching him before his weekly tennis games.
He became Grandpa Denny to eight grandkids - Bill, Jenna, Dan, Grace, Ellen, Claire, Daniel, and Delaney - who he loved dearly.
His wife, children, grandchildren, and friends loved him and will miss his smile, jokes, and easy conversation.
He is survived by brother Lynn (Mary Lou) Gibson, Grand Rapids Michigan; sister Nancy (Tony) Roberto, Cincinnati Ohio; son David (Sheri) Gibson, Coronado California; son Kevin (Kris) Gibson, Canfield Ohio; daughter Leigh Ann Dwyer (Bob), Fairfield Connecticut; son Jack Gibson, Westport, CT; son Bo Gibson, Brooklyn NY; son Max Gibson, New York, NY.
Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 8 PM in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home 1209 Post Road, in Fairfield Center. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM in the Church of the Assumption 98 Riverside Avenue, in Westport. His interment will be private.
Denny's family would prefer contributions in his name to: Tunnel to Towers (www.T2T.org).
Peter Cuseo, 74, Died; Vietnam Veteran, Westporter
Mr. Peter J. Cuseo, 74, of Westport, CT, wife of Teresa Cuseo, passed away at home on Tuesday morning.
Mr. Cuseo was born July 29, 1947 in Fairfield, CT, son of the late Albert R. Cuseo Sr. and Yvonne (Sirois) Cuseo. Mr. Cuseo is an Army Veteran, having served in Vietnam. He worked alongside his family at Albert R. Cuseo Refuse Service and Cuseo Exxon Service Station. He then worked at Masiello Bus Service and the Connecticut Department of Transportation in New Canaan.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Cuseo of Westport, his son, James M. Cuseo and his wife Laura, daughter Christina Gudzik and her husband John and two grandchildren, Arlo and Riley.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral ceremony and interment Saturday 11:00 a.m. at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport, CT. Condolences for the family may be left online at www.hardingfuneral.com
Contributions in memory of Mr. Cuseo may be made to American Cancer Society.
Rev. William Henry West, 76, Died; Former Minister for Greens Farms Congregational Church, Director of Youth Services Commission
The Reverend William Henry West, of Old Saybrook, died peacefully at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, on Thursday, August 26, after a long and valiant struggle with cancer. He was born August 9, 1945, the eldest son of William West, Jr, and Ruth Banford West of Manhasset, N.Y. He graduated from Manhasset High School, was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alfred University in l967, and earned a Masters of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Center, Mass.
He began his work as a clergyman as a student minister at West Parish Church in Andover, Mass., and served as an assistant minister at the Greens Farms Congregational Church in Westport, Conn. He served several years as the director of the Youth Services Commission in Westport, a board of adults and students that seeks to accommodate the needs of young people in the community. For a number of years, Bill worked in the private sector, owning and operating his own business, Custom Printing and Graphics. Ultimately, he gravitated toward organizations that served the interests of the disenfranchised and the needy. He worked for the United Way and Literacy Volunteers of America. Focusing on the needs of the residents of the inner city, Bill volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Operation Hope of Fairfield and Bridgeport.
Ultimately, he returned to his real passion, working one-on-one with individuals in need. After earning certification as a chaplain from Hartford Seminary, he served as a protestant chaplain, first at St Francis Hospital in Hartford and then at Saint Raphael’s in New Haven. In addition to his duties as a chaplain, he counseled men suffering from drug and alcohol addiction at the Relapse Prevention Program at Chapel Street in New Haven. He retired in 2018.
If his legacy is his unswerving commitment to others, Bill will also be remembered and cherished for his smile, his welcoming demeanor, and his compassion. Both patients and staff at St Raphael’s and Yale-New Haven repeatedly cited his very presence as comforting. He loved his work even as he was loved by those he served and those with whom he worked.
Reverend West was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Margaret.
He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth, and grandsons, Theo and Quinten Ewasko of Newtown; and his brother, Robert, and sister-in-law, Gail, of Farmington, Conn. He is also survived by nieces Melissa Alder and Abigail Blanchard, nephew John West, and grand-nieces and nephews. Additionally, he leaves behind cousins and numerous friends and colleagues.
A service in his memory will be held at the First Congregational Church, Deep River, Conn., on September 25, at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the following organizations were near and dear to Bill’s heart. Donations can be sent to: Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital’s Closer to Free Program, at yalecancercenter.org/gifts, or mail to Office of Development, PO Box 1849, New Haven CT 06508; First Church Congregational in Deep River, at deeprivercc.org, or mail to DRCC, PO Box 246, Deep River CT 06417; or Dylan’s Wings of Change “Wingman Program,” at dylanswingsofchange.org/donate, or mail to Dylan’s Wings of Change PO Box 3489, Newtown CT 06470.
Thomas A. Werner, 80, Dies; Staples Class of 1956, “He was a very honest man.”"
Obituary Report by Frederick Rasmussen, Baltimore SunThomas A. Werner, a retired insurance executive who was active in several German-American cultural and social organizations, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Aug. 22 at his home in the Riderwood Thornleigh neighborhood. He was 80.
Shelley Arnold had known Mr. Werner since her days in the insurance business.
“Tom was just a good all-around guy and a great person,” said Ms. Arnold, who edits the German Society of Maryland Inc. newsletter. “He had a matter-of-fact manner and you always knew where you stood with him. He answered questions with one-sentence answers and that’s the way it was. He was a very honest man.”
Bernard A. Penner was both a friend of Mr. Werner’s and active in the same German societies.
“He was a very steady guy in the German community. When he said he’d show up, he showed up, and he handled his various offices with competence and detail,” recalled Mr. Penner.
Thomas Alfred Werner, son of Alfred J. Werner, an insurance executive, and his then-wife, Mercedes Will, a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and at an early age moved to Westport, Connecticut, with his mother, who had married William A. Ketchum.
After graduating in 1959 from Staples High School in Westport, he attended the University of Maryland briefly, before enlisting in 1960 in the Air Force where he was trained in repairing fighter jet electronics at Paine Air Force Base in Everett, Washington.
“A veteran of the Cuban missile crisis, he had vivid memories of loading nuclear weapons onto the planes knowing the world was on the brink of disaster,” according to a biographical profile submitted by his family.
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Discharged from the Air Force in 1964, Mr. Werner returned to Baltimore and became a trained underwriter for the Insurance Company of North America, while attending evening classes at the University of Maryland on the G.I. Bill.
After working as an underwriter for five years, he joined his father’s independent agency, the Werner Insurance Agency, and after it was sold, he established his own agency in Towson in 1984, Werner Agency Ltd., of which he was president. It specialized in high-risk insurance that resulted in forming a professional relationship with underwriters at Lloyd’s of London.
Mr. Werner retired in 2006.
He was a lifelong lover of the outdoors and physical activity, and as a Boy Scout in Connecticut, he earned the Order of the Arrow, which is granted only after a scout passes what’s known as “The Ordeal,” where he was involved in near-solo camping, given only minimal food and was required to maintain silence for three days while performing camp service projects.
The result of this experience developed into a lifelong interest in Native American history and folklore.
As an adult, he hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail in seven states, logging 300 miles that included the Smokies in North Carolina and New Hampshire’s White Mountains, with Mount Madison as one of his fondest hiking memories.
Family members said he passed along his love of hiking, camping, canoeing and skiing to his three children, and when his son joined Boy Scout Troop 341 in Towson, it renewed his interest in scouting. He served on the troop committee as treasurer and assisted in troop activities and outings.
A life-changing event occurred in 1988 when Mr. Werner traveled to Augsburg, Germany, to meet his first grandchild and ski the Swiss and Austrian Alps. Unable to speak German and relying on his son, he was determined to learn the language.
Later that year, he took German language classes at the Baltimore Kickers, a soccer club that was founded in 1953, and in addition to soccer, also promotes German culture and language.
“He learned a smattering of German, an appreciation of German beer and the meaning of gemutlichkeit,” according to the biographical profile, referring to the German word for friendliness.
Being a Kicker member led Mr. Werner to travel to Germany with the team, and he worked at the Kickers’ bratwurst and beer stand at the Maryland German Festival, where he was in charge of handling the money.
His expanded role including serving on the organization’s ’ board, mainly in a financial capacity, and for his work, he was made an honorary lifetime member of the Baltimore Kickers.
From 2006 to 2010, he served as president of the Deutschamerikanischer Burgereverein von Maryland Inc., which is the umbrella organization for area German clubs and sponsor of the annual Maryland German Festival that for years was held at Carroll Park in Southwest Baltimore.
In his first year as president, Mr. Werner moved the festival from its former home to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, which offered a larger venue and more convenient parking, and during his tenure as president had been responsible for overseeing four festivals.
After leaving office, he continued to serve as vice president, treasurer and director, and was still holding Zoom meetings this spring and summer for the festival that was held in early July.
Mr. Werner had also held two terms as president of Club Fidelitas Inc., a Baltimore German cultural organization, and the German Society of Maryland Inc., which honored him in 2018 with their Distinguished Service Award. He was also a member of the Edelweiss Club and the society of the History of Germans in Maryland.
“Tom certainly left his footprint in the German community,” Ms. Arnold said.
Dottie Kirchner, former president of the Deutschamerikanischer Burgereverein, knew and worked with Mr. Werner for more than 35 years.
“Tom never shirked from anything they asked him to do. When we moved from Carroll Park to Timonium, he handled all the contracts and made sure everything was set up the right way,. He was a no-nonsense person when it came to doing that. It was a big miss when he decided to retire for health reasons. He could no longer be outside in the heat and we said, ‘Sit inside and we’ll bring you our questions and problems’. He was always a soothing source.”
“Once he got his brain around a concept that he thought was important, he stuck with it. He fit right into that milieu,” Mr. Penner said. “Another side to Tom was his interest in medieval German history. He was a constant in the German community and he’s going to be missed.”
Because of his work, Mr. Werner was invited to attend German Embassy functions in Washington, D.C., including being present to hear German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak on the South Lawn of the White House in 2011. When Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the bill in 2013 making October German American Heritage Month in Maryland, Mr. Werner was in attendance.
“Our dad was cremated and we’re going to spread his ashes on the Appalachian Trail,” said a daughter, Jamie Walter of Easton.
Plans for a celebration-of-life gathering are incomplete.
In addition to his daughter, Mr. Werner is survived by his life partner of 38 years, Kay Schneck of Thornleigh; a son, Alfred Thomas Werner of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; another daughter, Wendi Alexi Werner of Everett, Washington; two sisters, Joan Clark of Timonium and Beverly Ketchum of Florida; and five grandchildren. A marriage to the former Lynn Sibley ended in divorce.
Robert “Bob” LeRose, 56; Owner of Bobby Q’s, “He impacted every aspect of his community”
Robert S. LeRose, 56, of Stamford, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 22 surrounded by his loved ones.
Bob was born in Greenwich, August 13, 1965 to James and Deanna LeRose. He impacted every aspect of his community in ways that will never be forgotten. From the baseball fields at Greenwich High School, to his DJ group Incognito, to Westport and Norwalk and his beloved Bobby Q's, the University of Richmond, and everywhere in between, Bob left his spark.
He started out his career at Del Monte Foods as a sales associate. From there he worked for Gallo Wines, Poland Spring and Nestle Waters, and then Velocity. Bob and his wife Kelley then opened Bobby Q's in 2004 in Westport to chase Bob's passion for community and authentic Kansas City BBQ. Over the years, the Blues Views and BBQ Festival was established, rooting from Bob's love for music.
The endless projects in between were a reflection of his desire to bring people together and that never changed, even during the toughest years of his life.
He was predeceased by his parents James and Deanna LeRose. He is survived by his high school sweetheart Kelley; his cherished daughters Alex and Meghan; his loving brothers James and Christopher, as well his loving nieces and nephews. To celebrate his life, a memorial gathering will be held from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday at COXE & GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME, 134 Hamilton Ave. Greenwich (203) 869-5968. For more information or to place an online condolence, www.coxeandgraziano.com.