Jeanne Marie Alling Sweeny, 103, Died; Westport Library, Curio Cottage Volunteer
Jeanne Marie Alling Sweeny, known to most as Johnny, passed away on Mother's Day, May 8, 2022, at the age of 103.
Mrs. Sweeny was born February 1, 1919, to Leon and Jeanne Alling in New York, NY, and grew up in Plainfield, NJ. Always serious in whatever she did, she graduated at the top of her class at age 16 from the Miss Hartridge's School and then from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. She was employed by Arthur Andersen in New York until her engagement to Lieutenant Colonel Hugh B. "Jim" Sweeny, Jr. Married on June 3, 1942, she became a military wife, relocating, enduring the long absence of her husband and managing as mother of a newborn.
A devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Sweeny volunteered her time and energy to many causes. She taught Sunday School at Fanwood (NJ) Presbyterian Church and was a Cub Scout Den Mother for both her sons.
Mrs. Sweeny actively supported her husband in his position as National Program Director and National Conference Director for Junior Achievement(JA). Her relationships with many JA young people have endured until this day. In 2017, she was elected Board Member Emeritus of the Achievement Foundation in New York.
In the mid-1960's, she revived her career, working as the executive assistant to the founder of the Koos furniture chain where she broadened her finance and investment skills. She actively invested and managed her own accounts until she was well past 100 years young. She and her husband had an ongoing competition with their respective portfolios. Mrs. Sweeny's returns, more often than not, were better.
After moving to Westport, CT in the mid-1970's, she continued her community involvement, volunteering with many organizations including the Westport Women's Club's Curio Cottage for many years. Mrs. Sweeny channeled her love for books by volunteering with both the Westport and Easton libraries. She also enjoyed a lively (and very competitive) bridge game well into her 90's.
Mrs. Sweeny was predeceased by her husband of 74 years, Hugh B. "Jim" Sweeny, Jr., son David Alling Sweeny, and sister Patricia Alling Peterson. She is survived by her eldest son, Hugh B. Sweeny, III (Amy O'Donnell Sweeny) of Jersey City, NJ; daughter-in-law Andrea(Mooney)Sweeny of Venice, FL, step-grandson Jeffery Delauter (Claire) of Brooklyn, NY, nieces Laura Peterson Starrantino and Barbara Rice, nephews Carl Peterson (Andrea), John Peterson and Andrew Peterson(Debbie), and cousin Marian Bradley of Southport, CT, many great nieces and nephews, and special friends Carol and Paul Wolff of Trumbull, CT .
Friends are invited to a memorial service on Sunday, June 5, 2022, 2:00 p.m., at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 25 Cross Highway, Redding Center, CT 06875. A reception will follow in the church hall. Interment will be private at another date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. Sweeny's memory to:
First Church of Christ, Congregational, P. O. Box 1055, Redding Center, CT 06875.
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Bridgeport Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 9057, Bridgeport, CT 06601
Robert Darefsky, 61, Died; Westporter
Robert J. Darefsky, 61, of Westport, CT, husband of Amy (nee Brown) and father of Jordan and Carlie, passed away at home on May 11, 2022.
Rob grew up in West Hartford where he attended Hall High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Vermont and later received his MBA from the University of Chicago. Rob was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Business Recovery Services practice before becoming a senior managing director at FTI Consulting.
Rob is survived by his wife, children, mother Rosalyn Darefsky of West Hartford, sisters Marla (Mark) Severance of Stamford and Elyse Darefsky of Bloomfield, and niece Kayla (Josh) Jarnagin of Phoenix, Arizona. He was pre-deceased by his father, Leon Darefsky and nephew, Jared Bergman. Graveside funeral services were held on May 12, 2022 at The Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield, CT.
The family is observing a private mourning period. Contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of your choice or the Jared Bergman Scholarship (New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence, 265 Clove Road, New Rochelle, NY 10801).
Richard Hannes PhD, 80, Died; Former Westporter, “an intelligent, playful, warm soul that loved his family”
Obituary:
It is with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of my father, Richard Hannes, an intelligent, playful, warm soul that loved his family, enjoyed the company of his friends, appreciated a spirited debate and dazzled academically.
A self-proclaimed royal smart person, he was an actual rocket scientist, holding a PhD in mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, a master's degree in computer science and a master's degree in physics.
Rich began his professional career as a professor at the University of Hartford in the 1970's before contributing his intelligence working on multiple foundational projects that fostered our nations national defense in the 1980's and 1990's as a civilian computer scientist at United Technologies Norden Systems and later on at Sikorsky Aircraft before concluding his career at Verizon Wireless.
His brilliant brain never ceased to dazzle his peers and colleagues. To see him in action was to realize that he had an intellectual super power. He could skim a new computer programming book over a weekend, re-read it over a week's time and apply the subject as if he were well seasoned in the subject that he had just picked up. As an adult I witnessed with wonder my father in action as I could never master the subjects that he could pick up in a week and apply immediately.
As down to Earth as one comes, he rarely went by Dr. He was Rich and he was dad. In his youth he felt at home on a basketball court, mastering a hook shot and shooting with both hands. He has a love for HIS Knicks of 1969 and 1973 and that glory of the past seeded a belief that each new season would be a turnaround season (not so much the Jets). At home at Yankee Stadium old and new, he was readily recognizable wearing his number 7 aging into the mantle of the senior bomber at the stadium playing witness to some of the great games of the turn of the century dynasty Yankees with his son, David.
Richard loved reading, with an affinity for science fiction novels, a fondness that he passed on to his daughter, Sheri. He was a fan of the original Star Trek from the time of its debut and enjoyed a good sci-fi adventure. He was a movie enthusiast with an appreciation for new technologies that matched his interest. With every new generation of large screen TV he wanted one and would come to own one.
Rich was cultured; he enjoyed dining out with his wife, Janie, of 52 years, and appreciated music from the Beetles to the Doors to folk musicians the 1960's that epitomized his young adulthood. He enjoyed live concerts of the Levitt Pavilion with Janie and Barry, his friend of decades, and would frequent the summer plays performed at the Playhouse in Westport Connecticut, where his resided from 1979 until 2018. It was here where he raised their two children, Sheri Hannes Norton and David Hannes to adulthood.
A family man at his core he welcomed back his family both immediate and extended hosting Passover and Thanksgiving reunions annually for 40 years. His favorite days were those the house was full again with the return of his family; Sheri and her husband Tad Norton, grandchildren Erin and Jessie and later on David with his wife Shawn Whitney, grandchildren, Jacob and Jenny.
Rich's story would not be complete if one were not to mentioned that he struggled with his health in his later years, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the outset of the millennium, it would be a shadow that followed him for the duration of his later life. He fought the disease with a brave front, toured the world with his wife while he had the physical capacity to travel. Even as the disease continued to stake claim to his body, his heart continued to evolve into the soft warm soul we would come to know him for. He loved his family, appreciated his friends and spoke his mind right up until the end.
One of the smartest people I have ever met, Richard Hannes, you've been my father, my friend and my go-to life advisor at every phase of my life. You were the first one I thought to consult with whenever I had a problem in life regardless what the issue may have been. You almost always had the answer. I'll always be grateful for having you in my life as a father. It's as if you were hand selected for me. You were my rock. I love you dad. I'll miss you forever. Your recent suffering has come to an end, may you rest in peace.
George Franciscovich, 67, Died; Past RTM Representative, CERT Volunteer, Justice of the Peace
George Franciscovich, 67, passed away at home in Westport, CT, April 17, 2022. Devoted to the love of his life, wife Linda of 33 years, and to his entire family, he was the eldest son of Lynda Bostrom (Donald) and the late George Franciscovich; brother of Robert (Cheryl Linscott), James (Pamela), William (Diane), Gina Seward, John (Barbara), and Daniel (Jillian); brother-in law to Elisabeth Saxe; and uncle to many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Born in Astoria, NY, George was a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University (BS), Albany Law School (JD), and New York University (LLM). A media and commercial attorney, George's career spanned television, radio, digital media, data and technology law. Most recently he was Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Sqad, LLC, New York, NY, and a passionate adjunct faculty instructor of Media Law at Newhouse. Dedicated to the Westport community, he served as a Justice of the Peace and CERT volunteer, and was a past member of the RTM, and Charter Revision Commission.
Traveling frequently to remain close to friends overseas, he and Linda also opened their Westport home as a welcoming gathering place. An avid classic car enthusiast, George was a longtime member of the Austin Healey Club, and a graduate of the Skip Barber Racing School. A gifted photographer, he captured the beauty of nature and architecture through his lens.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in George's memory to The George Franciscovich Scholarship Fund at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Gifts may be made to Syracuse University designated to The George Franciscovich Scholarship Fund, and sent to Syracuse University, 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244, or contact Ed Gorham, ejgorham@syr.edu, (315)-443-4926.