Saul Pollack, 85, Died; Former Staples Wrestling, Football Coach, PE Teacher
Saul Pollack, age 85, of Wilton, CT, passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT. Saul was born in Bridgeport, CT and was the only son of Harry and Betty Pollack. Saul grew up in Fairfield and attended High School at Roger Ludlowe. He spent his summers at the Fairfield beaches working as a lifeguard and teaching swimming. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Springfield College in 1960 and a Master's Degree from the University of Bridgeport in 1961.
After completing his education, Saul moved to Westport, CT where he taught Physical Education while joining the Army Reserves at that time as well.
During the 1960's and 70's Saul was the head coach of the Staples High School wrestling team, building a program that won several Fairfield County and State of Connecticut championships. He was also an assistant coach for the Staples football team.
While teaching in the Westport School system, Saul met first grade teacher, Anne Gardner who he married in 1965. Saul and Anne moved to Wilton, CT where they had three children: Scott, Kira and David.
In 1978, Saul left teaching and took over his father's package store, Harry's Wine and Liquor, originally opened in 1941. He spent the next 33 years expanding the business that his father had created. It was and remains a vital part of the fabric of the Fairfield community. Saul retired in 2011. In retirement, Saul enjoyed playing golf, vacationing on Cape Cod and Sanibel Island, and visiting with his children and grandchildren.
Saul is survived by his wife, Anne of Wilton, CT, his sons, Scott (Millie) Pollack of Fairfield, CT, David (Alex) Pollack of Fishers Island, NY, his daughter Kira (Douglas) Friedman of New York, NY and his grandchildren; Mia, Anthony, Arlo, and Izzy Pollack, and Edie Friedman.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield. Memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice, https://regionalhospicect.org/ or to The Wilton Singers, https://www.wiltonsingers.org/.
Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa Roberts, 88, Died; Former Westporter, Beloved Oma
ROBERTS, Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa (nee von TAKATS) December 9, 1933 – April 24, 2022
Born December 9, 1933, Batavia, Indonesia, to parents, Bertalan Jorsef Erno von Takats and Juliana Maria Regina Takats (nee van der Vlies). Elizabeth or Boske, to her friends, began her life in Indonesia where she and her older sister, Phineke, played and attended school.
Her carefree childhood was interrupted by WWII and after spending 3 years in a Japanese Concentration Camp, the von Takats family moved back to the Netherlands where Elizabeth attended a trade school to become a seamstress. In 1953, Elizabeth moved to Ottawa and lived at Carleton University with close friends.
Upon graduating, Elizabeth became a teacher while moonlighting as a seamstress for the diplomats and dignitaries in our nation's capital. Her curious spirit brought her to Toronto where she met and ultimately married John GM Roberts. The newlyweds' journey brought them to New York City where on February 13, 1963, Elizabeth gave birth to Margaret Sophia Roberts. Life in the "Big Apple" transitioned to a Transatlantic return to the Netherlands and it was here that Frederick John Roberts was born on July 9, 1966. Elizabeth's energy was focused on family, and after a few years in Holland, the Roberts family moved to a small house in Westport, Connecticut. Eventually, they moved to Canada, where the Roberts family rented a house in Newmarket before finally purchasing their home in Stouffville.
The house was small, but the yard was not, and Elizabeth used her green thumb to transform the yard into a beautiful garden. Her other passion was for her grandchildren. Being an Oma was a badge of honour, and she would always find time to transform into a Spice Girl or a Jedi knight for her grandchildren.
Like her garden, Heather Elizabeth Drudge, Emma Juliana Drudge, Cameron Duncan Roberts, and Luke Alexander Roberts all grew from Oma's love. Her care, attention and nurturing were unlimited. As the years progressed, Elizabeth continued working in her garden and occasionally volunteered at various events around Stouffville. Elizabeth Wilhelmina Louisa Roberts (nee von Takats) died surrounded by her family on April 24, 2022. She is survived by her husband, John GM Roberts; Margaret Drudge, Heather Drudge, Emma Drudge, Fred Roberts, Christine Roberts, Cameron Roberts, and Luke Roberts.
Wynne Jillson Abrams, 69, Died; “Her sense of humor and laugh remain with us.”
Wynne Jillson Abrams died April 7th 2022 at home after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Randy of Westport and daughter, Maddie Abrams of Bridgeport.
Born on February 4th 1953 in Port Chester, NY she attended Princeton, NJ schools, graduating from Smith College in 1974. She joined Morgan Stanley’s Merger & Acquisitions Group as an analyst led by legendary investment banker Robert Greenhill. This led to her decision to pursue an MBA at Stanford University, awarded in 1978. Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. offered her a job in the Oil and Gas Group. Following her tour there, she was one of the first women assigned to the International Financial Management group, a high-profile department that provided access to the international capital markets and developed sophisticated financial products for the bank’s clients. There she worked with the top American corporations such as Ford, Mobil and Chrysler. With the fall of the Glass-Steagall Act and investment banking restrictions, Wynne was then tasked with setting up the bank’s US domestic debt underwriting operations. In her final assignment, she worked in a newly formed group, Global Risk Assessment, traveling to JP Morgan offices worldwide to create an integrated reporting system that gave management its first real time overview of its global risk exposures.
Wynne decided in 1992 to devote herself to raising Maddie and by 1996 found herself in Westport. At Christ and Holy Trinity Church she found a community which fitted her views and outlook. She started teaching in its Sunday School which led to heading the program and later leading CHT’s Youth Ministry. A strong believer in the role of community in Westport, she found the Westport Woman’s Club an ideal vehicle to accomplish this. She was a strong capable Board Officer serving most recently as Financial Vice President and chair of the Investment and Finance Committees. As a longtime member of the Yankee Doodle Fair management team, she enjoyed applying her financial skills and keen eye for cost control to optimize the success of WWC’s signature annual fundraiser.
Wynne loved her large extended family - her mother, step mother, three sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews and their families and so enjoyed the marvelous trips and vacations they took together. With many friends across multiple venues – bridge groups, the WWC, Bible study – and much community service from social justice to homelessness. Wynne was loving and supportive with everyone she knew, getting the job done, effectively, quietly and with no ego. Her sense of humor and laugh remain with us. She will be missed.
There will be a memorial service for her at Christ and Holy Trinity Church on April 19th at 1100. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the Westport Woman’s Club 44 Imperial Avenue Westport, Ct 06880 in her name.
Michael Anthony Caputo, 73, Died; Staples Class of 1967, “hard working, kind and loving husband and friend”
Michael Anthony Caputo, Jr., 73, of Norwalk, passed away peacefully in the comforts of his home while holding hands with his heartbroken wife and loving caregiver, Rose (Rubino) Caputo on April 8, 2022. Born in New London, CT to the late Michael Caputo, Sr. and Ann Caputo, Michael grew up in Westport, where he graduated from Staples High School in 1967. He was drafted in 1968 and served 14 months in Korea in the DMZ, where he was a Specialist in Artillery and Special Weapons.
He met his wife when they were just 15 years old, when his wife moved to Westport and lived on the same street. They were immediately best friends and enjoyed each others company and the rest is history. They wed October 1970 and lived a wonderful and adventurous life of traveling to many tropical islands such as Hawaii, many islands in the Caribbean, several cruises and even traveled to Europe more than once. But their home away from home became Vail Village in Colorado, where they both enjoyed many vacations spring skiing.
Michael worked as an Auto Body Technician for over 40 years with the same company. He enjoyed auto racing, skiing, fishing, boating and sailing, among other interests. He was a member of the South Norwalk Boat Club up until his illness and made some wonderful friendships there. He also had a great love of animals and always had pets, but at the height of the pandemic, they adopted a rescue by the name of Lucy who became his sidekick. Lucy never left his side, whether it was just working in the yard, driving to the corner store or visiting a friend, Lucy was always with him and they were inseparable.
Upon his retirement he fulfilled a lifelong dream of his, becoming an artist. He became very skilled in the art of stained glass and a master craftsman in woodcarving. He was self-taught and was particularly fascinated with the beauty of eagles and carved many with great detail.
He wanted no calling hours or funeral, but to just be remembered as a hard working, kind and loving husband and friend. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to either Lustgarten Foundation 415 Crossways Park D, Woodbury, NY 11797 www.lustgarten.org/donate or Looking Glass Animal Rescue PO Box 1175, Ridgefield, CT 06877, www.lgarinc.org/donate
To leave a condolence or to sign our online guestbook, please visit www.magnerfuneralhome.com