MaryLou Bell, 83, Died; Staples Class of ‘56, Beloved Westporter
MaryLou Bell, 83, of Westport, CT, died Thursday, June 30, 2022 peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family.
MaryLou is survived by her daughter Kathy Santarella and husband Scott of Westport, CT; son Bob Stephens and wife Marybeth of Suffolk, VA; her six grandchildren, Jordan & Jamie Santarella, Weston, Tyler, Ashley & Will Stephens; her sister and brother-in-law Annette & AJ Izzo of Westport, CT; her brother-in-law Ray Barry and his wife Linda of Fairfield, CT. She is also survived by many cousins (especially her 'ABC' cousins) and many cherished nieces and nephews.
MaryLou was preceded in death by her spouse of 35 years, William E. Bell in 2000, and her youngest sister Angela M. Doddo in 2001.
MaryLou was born in Norwalk, CT to the late Patsy and Antonette Doddo. She was the eldest of three daughters and a lifelong Westport resident. She graduated from Staples High School in 1956.
MaryLou was a well-loved and respected local banker. She began her banking career with The Westport Bank & Trust company while in high school, often telling stories of sun-bathing on her lunch breaks with fellow employees on the roof of the downtown building which is now home to Patagonia. She amassed a loyal customer base during her career which would faithfully follow her to the newest bank branch in her capacity as Branch Manager, AVP. Throughout the years she worked with Connecticut Bank & Trust, The Bank of Darien, The Bank of Westport and many others, ending her career in 2012 at Fairfield County Bank.
She enjoyed her annual NYC outings with her network of bank colleagues, taking in Broadway shows and dinner. Her vacations in North Truro on Cape Cod were very special to her. She volunteered her time at the Westport Sons of Italy's Festival Italiano, the Westport PAL's Annual Memorial Golf Tournament and was a member of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club. She was very active in local politics during the 1970's and 1980's as a member of the Republican Town Committee and Save Westport Now. She had multitudes of friends, co-workers and customers whom she loved very much. She always enjoyed spending time at the Westport Senior Center and sharing laughs with her friends and family. She was fiercely independent, a straight-shooter and was never afraid to express her thoughts to others. MaryLou lived life "her way."
MaryLou's family would like to thank her exceptional caregivers Millie and Thomasine for providing friendship along with compassionate care during the years MaryLou was not able to care for herself.
Friends may greet the family on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 from 4-7pm at Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East, Westport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, 98 Riverside Avenue, Westport on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 10:00 am. Entombment will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in MaryLou's memory to the American Heart Association or to the charity of your choice
Mary Ann Baldwin, 78, Died; Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club Member
Mary Ann Baldwin, a fifty-two-year resident of Ridgefield died on June 22, 2022. She passed away comfortably at home with her husband holding her hand.
Mary Ann was born on January 29, 1944, to Michael Sudzina and Elizabeth (Gregus) Sudzina in Perth Amboy, NJ. She grew up in Metuchen, NJ and graduated from Michigan State University and subsequently received a master's degree from Fairfield University. She married Dr. Randall Baldwin in 1966 and had two children: Geoffrey and Matthew. She was the proud grandmother of Sarah, Nathaniel, Lindsey, and Abigail. She is also survived by a brother, Michael R. Sudzina and two favorite nieces: Christine Shutt and Susan Brandon.
Mary Ann loved the Town of Ridgefield and was very active in town affairs. Among her many positions were nine years of service on the Board of Education, including four years as Chairman. In 1991, she took the responsibility of Director of Social Services for the town. She served in that capacity until her retirement in 2010. Mary Ann and Randall were also members of the Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club for over forty years. She was a faithful member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 11:00 AM at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; 353 Main Street, Ridgefield. Interment will take place privately.
Mary Ann may be remembered with a gift to the Ridgefield Social Services Emergency Fund or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which were her favorite charities. Kane Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.
Mary Bath, 67, Died; Former Westporter, “selfless to a fault”
Mary Frances Bath, 67, passed away on June 22, 2022.
Mary was born November 27, 1954 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England to Stuart Howard and Pamela Joy Lomax. Mary spent almost half her life living in the United States firstly in Westport, Stamford and Glastonbury Connecticut, before retiring to the sunshine in Parrish Florida.
Mary was a paralegal and fitness instructor. She bravely battled cancer with courage and dignity and was a fighter to the very end. Mary was a beautiful soul inside and out, selfless to a fault, and a true lady in every sense of the word.
Left to cherish the memory of Mary are her loving husband Michael J Bath, beloved children: Philippa, Simon and Nicholas and three grandchildren Madison, Sebastian and Alyssa, who were Nanny's angels and her pride and joy and mother Pamela Joy Amos and a host of other family and friends she made along the way. Please check back for dates and times for a memorial service in Parish, FL. Online Condolences at Skywaymemorial.com
Russell G. Slayback, 85, Died; Greens Farms Resident
Russell G. Slayback - 85, of Greens Farms, died peacefully in the arms of his daughters and long-time caretaker, Monica, on June 20th.
Russ was born on September 19th, 1936, in New York, New York, to Russell B. Slayback and Doris (Dolly) E. Gardner. He earned a B.S. degree in geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1959. By 1960, Russ began work as a hydrogeologist for Leggette, Brashears & Graham Inc. (LBG), where he later became Vice President and Director before ultimately ascending to President and Chairman of the Board. Russ also worked to expand the scope of geoscience through his volunteerism. He held twenty different positions at the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), including as the national president. In addition, Russ served in several positions at the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), including as the foundation's chairman and the president of the Institute.
While in his role as Chairman at AGI, Russ championed the creation of the endowed AGI Fisher Congressional Fellowship. Russ also sat on the University of Texas at Austin Jackson School Geology Foundation Advisory Council, rising to the chairman. Russ was honored with many awards throughout his career, with some of the most notable being the AIPG Martin Van Covering Award, the AIPG Ben H. Parker Medal, the William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI, the AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell, and the Russell G. Slayback Award of the AIPG Northeast section.
Russ joins his beloved Judy, the light of his life, who he has missed dearly. He is survived by his daughters, Leigh Reed of Highland, Maryland, and Lynn Sikora of Manassas, Virginia, and his four adored grandchildren, Derek and Kelly Sikora, and Taylor and Dana Reed. He was also blessed with a cherished son-in-law, Rob Reed. Russ is also survived by his dear sister, Ava Burkard.
Russ' family will receive friends at the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Rd. E., Westport, Saturday, June 25th from 2:30 to 5:00 pm. No flowers, please. Memorial contributions in honor of Russ may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, stjude.org/onlinegiving