Mort Silverberg, 92, Died; MIT Graduate, Y’s Men Member
Morton Silverberg, age 92, passed away on December 25, 2022 from heart disease. Mort had a lively, perceptive and deeply intelligent mind. After graduating from MIT in 1953, he began an impressive professional career as an engineer working at Remington Rand, RCA, Xerox and Pitney Bowes. He has over 100 patents in his name, ranging from copier technology to the perfect paper clip. When he and his wife Phyllis moved to Westport, Connecticut in 1985, they began the best years of their lives. He sailed and played tennis. He became involved in Y’s Men of Westport / Weston, an organization of retired and semi-retired men. He frequently remarked that he never had so many friends in his life and loved participating in the club’s activities. They both loved Westport and all it had to offer.
He is survived by his two daughters, Judy Ross, Lynn McDonald, and by three grandchildren, Ben Ross, Tyler Ross and Amy McDonald. His wife Phyllis Silverberg passed in November of 2022. Memorial contributions may be made to the Y’s Men of Westport / Wilton. (www.ysmenwestportweston.org)
Gary Miller Stuart, 82, Died; Local Volunteer, “enjoyed being a grandfather”
Gary Miller Stuart of Westport, Connecticut died on November 27, 2022, at the age of 82 due to complications related to Alzheimer’s.
Gary was born on May 8, 1940, to H.W. and Ruth Stuart in Normal, Illinois. After graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1958 at Normal Community High School, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1962. Following M.I.T., he earned his Master’s degree in economics from Harvard. He then joined the renowned training program at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan as a financial analyst.
He and his wife Sylvia lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, where they raised four boys. Gary had a successful career in corporate finance serving in various financial and operational roles at Ford, the General Foods Company and Union Pacific Corporation, where he was the Chief Financial Officer when he retired in 1999.
Following his retirement, he traveled, became an avid cyclist, volunteered at the Saugatuck Congregational Church and the Westport Public Library, took a serious interest in genealogy and enjoyed being a grandfather.
He is survived by his wife Sylvia (Rowayton, CT), his four sons David (Peggy) (Fairfield, CT), Peter (Lona) (Derby, VT), Paul (Lesley) (Southlake, TX) and Michael (Vanessa) (Madrid, Spain) and his eight grandchildren Maggie, Emma, Sam, Abigail, Vicki, Nicholas, Celeste and Sofia. The family requests that memorial contributions go to the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, Connecticut or the Westport Public Library.
Bashkin “Bash” Derti, 56, Died; LA Rams Fan, “loved a good joke.”
Bashkim "Bash" Derti, of Westport, Connecticut passed away peacefully at home while in the presence of his loving wife on December 1, 2022 after a long struggle against Glioblastoma. He was 56 years old.
Bash was born in Manhattan, New York on November 16, 1966. Bash graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Political Science in 1988. He later attended Duke University and received his MBA in Finance in 1997.
Bash was predeceased by his father, Nazmi Derti and his mother, Lihe Derti. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Melissa Kindle, and his two children, daughter Laura Granda and son Knox Derti. He also leaves behind his two brothers, Gzim Derti and Petrit Derti as well as many nieces, nephews and sisters-in-law who adored him.
While Bash had many interests, he most enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, playing golf, reading, and watching football. He was especially passionate about his Los Angeles Rams. He loved a good joke. Most of all, Bash will be remembered for his sense of humor, genuine interest in others and his unfailing kindness to friends and strangers alike.
Bash will be missed by his family and the many friends and acquaintances whom he has left a mark on forever!
Friends may greet his family on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m.
To sign his online guestbook, please visit www. shaughnesseybanks.com
Charlie Brooks, 68, Died; Staples Grad, Air Force Veteran, Talented Jet Mechanic
Charlie of Safety Harbor Fl died suddenly from previous health conditions while on a trip, visiting relatives in Connecticut.
Charlie was born in Winchester MA on October 11, 1954, he lived in MA until 1965 when his family moved to Westport Connecticut. Charlie attended Greens Farms Elementary, Long Lots Junior High, and Staples High School.
After High school, Charlie enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1971 and worked as a jet mechanic repairing and maintaining the single seat jet fighter A-7 Corsair. During this time Charlie was stationed in Myrtle Beach South Carolina with the 354th Fighter Wing.
In 1976 Charlie began working at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT, and did so for almost 20 years. During this time Charlie earned his A & P license which qualified him to perform almost any repair on any type of aircraft. For many years Charlie worked exclusively on the fleet of Presidential VH-3 Sea King, which is operated by the Marines Corp in transporting the President of the United States.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary as well as his younger brother Daniel, he is survived by his sisters Martha (Tom Donaher) of Fairfield CT, and Mary Hart (John Wagner) of Trumbull CT, and a younger brother Robert of Blue River Colorado and many nieces and nephews.
Published by Westport-News on Nov. 30, 2022.
Frank Richard Mori, Westporter, Died
Frank Richard Mori, of Westport, CT, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2022, in the company of loved ones. Mr. Mori graduated summa cum laude Dartmouth College and went on to earn his master's degree from Harvard Business School. Frank was a titan of industry, starting as a manager at the General Foods Company and working his way toward what would be a long and distinguished career as President and CEO of Anne Klein and CEO of Donna Karan International, where he played an instrumental role in developing the foundations of the fashion industry as it is known today. He was a philanthropic man who served on the Board of Directors of the Stride Rite Corp., Barington/Hilco Acquisition Corp., Dillards Inc., and Horizons.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8pm in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, Fairfield CT. Funeral services will take place on Thursday at 11am in the Funeral Home, with a reception to follow. A private interment will be held on Friday in Putnam Cemetery, Greenwich, CT. To read his complete obituary, for travel directions or to sign his online guest registry, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneral Home.com
Published by New York Times on Nov. 29, 2022.
Joseph Louis Veno, 96, Died; Born in Saugatuck, WWII Navy Veteran
Joseph Louis Veno passed away peacefully on November 16, 2022, at the age of 96. Joseph was born on May 10, 1926, in Saugatuck, Connecticut to Louis and Mary (Dorta) Veno and was a lifelong resident of Westport and Norwalk.
As a teen, he worked as a caddie at Longshore Country Club and enjoyed swimming in the Saugatuck River. At age seventeen, Joseph enlisted in the Navy where he served on the USS Apollo submarine tender in the Pacific during WWII. After his return from the war, Joseph met and married the love of his life, Madeline (Cenatiempo) Veno. They settled in Norwalk, Connecticut and had three sons, Louis, Joseph Jr. and Steven.
Joseph had a tireless work ethic and worked in the flooring industry as a business owner and expert installer of linoleum, tile and carpet. He later worked at St. Thomas the Apostle church in Norwalk, St. Cecilia church in Stamford and Christ & Holy Trinity church in Westport until he retired at the age of 85. He returned to Saugatuck in 1997 and lived in the same building where he had once attended elementary school. He lost his beloved wife, Madeline, twenty years ago in November 2002.
Joseph was a faithful Catholic who appreciated the simple joys of life. He enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and took great pride in their accomplishments. He loved Italian food, ice cream sundaes and baseball (the New York Mets), and kept an exceptionally clean home. He also enjoyed countless visits to Compo beach with his brother, Angelo Veno, and other friends. He maintained an active social calendar and met regularly with his friends. His sharp memory allowed him to share detailed stories from his youth well into his tenth decade, recalling Saugatuck at a time when Italian families shared a communal baking oven and kept pigs and chickens.
Joseph was predeceased by his wife, Madeline, brother Angelo and sister Ida. Joseph is survived by his sons, Louis Veno (Marlene), Joseph Veno, Jr. (Anne), Steven Veno (Sara), his sister Theresa Valentine (Richard), grandchildren Alison Larsen (Jared), Jason Veno (Lauren), Tyler Veno, Michael Veno (Kristin), Nicole Veno, Natalie Veno, Steven Veno, Jr., Brendan Veno, Christopher Veno (Courtney), and great-grandchildren Spencer, Trevor, Benjamin, Lucia and Nicholas. He is also survived by Sylvia Pack, whose companionship he was blessed with in his later years.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at 12:15 p.m. at St. John's Cemetery, 223 Richards Ave., Norwalk, CT.
The Raymond Funeral Home, 5 East Wall Street in Historic Norwalk has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit www.norwalkfh.com to leave an online condolence.
Noelle Anastasia, 32, Died; Staples Grad, Loving Mother
Noelle Anastasia of Fairfield, formerly of Westport, passed away unexpectedly on November 16, 2022 at the age of 32, but her kind heart and bright smile will not be forgotten.
Noelle was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1989. She was the youngest daughter of Michelle and David Anastasia. She grew up in Westport and attended Westport schools. Despite the growing pains that accompany the life of a student, Noelle loved to learn, a passion that she carried into her adult life.
Noelle had many loves. As a girl at Bedford Middle School, she loved to sing in the choir. Years later as a woman, she confessed that she still loved to sing in the shower. For many years, Noelle served as an alter server for Assumption Church in Westport. Throughout her life, Noelle kept her faith close to her heart. Determined to pursue her enthusiasm for learning, she attended classes at Norwalk Community College and had planned to return to school. She loved to cook and had learned to master the talents of many professionals. It was a wonder to watch her casually prepare a meal with all the skills of a master chef.
Noelle had a kind soul and a deeply loving heart. More than anything, she loved her daughters Isabella, 5, and Ella, 3. They were the lights and loves of her life. She loved her stepson, Jesus, and was proud of all he accomplished. Her family was the cornerstone of her life, but Noelle also cared for those who needed it. She gave freely of herself, of her time and energy, to help when help was needed. This generosity of spirit did not extend only to people, but to animals as well. Noelle was known to take in more than one kitten in need of a home and add them to her family.
Preceding Noelle in death was her uncle, Robert Thompson.
Noelle is survived by her parents, David and Michelle, her husband Jesus, her sisters Denise and Nicole, her brother Steven, her nieces Michayla, Dianna, Marissa, Danniella, and Brianna, her nephews Matthew, Tyler, and Jace, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins who are all heartbroken at the loss.
Noelle will be missed the same way she loved. Deeply.
Friends are invited to attend a funeral on Tuesday November 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM meeting directly at Assumption Church 98 Riverside Ave. Westport CT for a Mass of Christian Burial. Condolences for Noelle's family may be left on line at www.hardingfuneral.com
Mimi Dimeling Girard, 84, Died; Former Westport Teacher
Madeline (Mimi) Dimeling Girard, age 84, recently of Long Island, NY, passed away on 9/13/2022.
Mimi was born on 6/21/1938, a day she insisted meant that summer could start. This is probably how her fervent interest in plants started.
Mimi met Lucien Girard III at Penn State University where they both earned Master's degrees. They were married on September 1st, 1962 in Westport, CT where Mimi was employed as a teacher. They then started a world tour, with destinations including Morocco, Ghana, and quite a few states in the US, with longer stints in Evergreen, CO and Royal Oak, MD.
Hugs and Kisses was the first, a small puppy that Mimi tried to keep quiet while grocery shopping. There are many other tales of dog exploits including one slapstick encounter Bradshaw had with a trailing dishwasher rack hooked in his dog collar.
The chapter on Ghana, has far too many excellent stories to tell, and includes her teaching, supporting local organizations and families, designing functional kitchens that were adopted in future builds, and pushing the local wicker man with her latest grand designs.
In Royal Oak, Mimi and Lu settled down to a different type of travel - Galapagos, cross Atlantic sailing, along with the occasional kayak during the DFR with the hoards that invaded. Mimi continued to be a terror on the tennis court along with organizing the Christmas parade in St. Michaels.
Throughout these stories weaves a tangle of different plants including an oleander the dog ate (both survived), working with botanists in Ghana to find the latest catch of a rare bloom, and helping revive wayward orchids in MD.
Mimi is survived by her brother George, her two sisters Dee and Carol; two sons, Peter and his wife, Michele, of CO, and Matthew and his wife, Andrea, of NY; and five wonderful grandchildren.
Services will be held at Crown Crest Cemetery in Clearfield, PA on November 19th at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Easton Garden club or to your local Red Cross.
David Zenreich, 36, Died; Staples Wrestler “whose warmth, charisma, and generosity were limitless.”
David Zenreich died tragically in an accident on September 8, 2022. He was 36. David was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, whose warmth, charisma, and generosity were limitless.
David grew up in Westport, Connecticut and was known by those close to him for his humor, creativity, brilliant writing, and storytelling. From a young age, David was a voracious reader and a master of words, which was the foundation upon which he built a successful career in digital marketing. An entrepreneur at his core, David launched his first business while still an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2008, he graduated from the Olin Business School, which helped springboard what would become a portfolio of businesses he developed and launched over the next 15 years. David became a leader in his field, and was frequently invited to speak at industry conferences, sought after by other marketing professionals for consultation, and asked to mentor younger, aspiring entrepreneurs and friends.
While cut far too short, David lived a rich and substantial life. He was an avid and accomplished high school wrestler at Staples High School, which is where he first fostered a deep interest in bodybuilding and combat sports that he would carry on throughout his life. David was also a passionate traveler who visited dozens of countries and spent time living across parts of Asia, Europe, and South America. Although he lived in Miami towards the end of his life, New York City was always David's home-which was fitting, given his love for comedy, art, and fashion.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fraternity brothers. David is survived by his parents, Michael Zenreich and Carole Roller; his sister, Sara Weiss; his brother-in-law, Eric Weiss; and his niece and nephew, Hannah and Jesse Weiss.
Published by Legacy Remembers from Nov. 2 to Nov. 3, 2022.
Dr. Murray Simon, 85, Died; US Navy Lieutenant, Westport Dentist
Dr. Murray Simon, 85, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 29, 2022. He was born on May 15, 1937 in Malden, MA, son of the late George and Anne Goldstein Simon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Linda Simon; children, Julie Tracey (Mick), David Udell Simon (Cathi) and Daniel Aaron Simon (Evelyn); grandchildren Alix Thairuammit (Alexander), Claire Simon, Jake Tracey, Max Tracey and Sara Tracey.
Murray had many "faces". Most important was husband to Linda, father to his children and "playmate" to his grandchildren. He was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, a dentist in Westport, Ct., and president of D/R/S Healthcare Consultants and on the Board of Temple Solel. He served as president of The Charlotte Gem & Mineral Club and was a volunteer at Atrium Healthcare - Pineville. Murray and Linda shared hobbies and interests in travel, magic and making fine art jewelry.
Memorial and graveside services for family and close friends was held at the Hebrew Cemetery Chapel 1801 Statesville Ave., Charlotte, NC on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Heart Assoc. or to your favorite charity.
Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, 2022.