Rotary Club Celebrates First In-Person Guest Speaker with Talk by Westport Local Press Founder, Executive Editor
The Westport Rotary Club celebrated its first in-person guest speaker Tuesday afternoon during their meeting at Christ & Holy Trinity’s Branson Hall. The club had moved to Zoom meetings during the pandemic lockdown, and recently transition back to their traditional in-person meetings - with guest speakers Zooming in to the group through a large presentation screen. The Westport Local Press’ Founder and Executive Editor, Jaime Bairaktaris, was honored with the opportunity to attend live and spoke to the rotarians about the foundation and construction of the Westport Local Press, the values that guide its team, and continuing the tradition of community journalism and photography.
With former WestportNow contributors attending the meeting, Bairaktaris described the positive impact that WestportNow and its team had on him while growing up in Westport. Bairaktaris became a contributing photographer for WestportNow as a high school freshman, and had over 500 photos published before the website’s transition to a digital history in December 2020 after its founder and Westport Rotary Club member Gordon Joseloff’s passing.
The Westport Rotary Club has been in service since 1924, and serves local and international communities through philanthropic actions with donations and fundraisers such as the annual LobsterFest at Compo Beach. Photo by Dave Matlow for WestportLocal.com
Levitt Presents the Big Sound of the Westport Community Band
The Westport Community Band played one more piece as Levitt Pavilion guests began to pack up and move out of light rain this evening. The Band is comprised of sixty members from the community who perform together at various local events and group settings. The Band welcomes new members and donations. For more information on the Westport Community Band, visit their website.
Michele Biro Deitch, 50; “an incredibly special person who always gave so much more than she received.”
Obituary
Michele Suzanne "Mich" (Biro) Age 50, of Westport, CT passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 8, 2021 after a long battle with breast cancer. Michele was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in 1970 to the late Laszlo Biro and Dolores (Macchiaroli) Biro, currently residing in Sarasota, FL. Michele is survived by her loving husband of 18 years, David Deitch, formerly from Rye Brook, NY, and her adoring boys Joshua (16) and Jonathan (13), along with her constant companion, Vinci, the family's endearing Goldendoodle. She is also survived by her older brother Dr. David Biro (and wife Daniella Vitale) and sisters Lisa Biro Finn (and husband Michael Finn) and Debbie Biro Guarna (and husband Anthony Guarna), along with sisters-in-law Donna Rempell (and husband David Rempell) and Deborah Mansi (and husband Bob Mansi). Michele also leaves behind her adored nieces and nephews Emma and Kaila Finn, Benjamin and Xander Guarna, Daniel and Luca Biro, and Dr. Joshua and Ben Rempell.
Michele was a graduate of Music and Arts in Manhattan (now known as LaGuardia HS) where she studied flute and became an accomplished classical performer. Michele went on to graduate from University of Wisconsin with a degree in Philosophy and completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Columbia University before setting up successful OT practices in Manhattan and Westport, CT. She was an expert in working with younger children, developing customized programs to support their unique needs and assist them in overcoming life's obstacles. Michele's empathy, creativity, and incredible competence changed the lives of countless children.
Michele cherished the carefree times growing up at the family's summer home in Seaview on Fire Island, where the only modes of transportation were passenger ferries and old, rusty wagons. Michele and David recreated that magical setting with their own idyllic escape on Chebeague Island off the coast of Portland, Maine with a small bungalow that the family enjoyed among great friends in nature's beautiful garden.
To think of Michele is to think of her intensely caring and empathetic nature, always willing to do anything to support everyone from her closest friends to the receptionist she met one time at her doctor's office. She also loved to travel and explore, whether to distant foreign destinations, across the United States, or in little nooks close to home in Connecticut. Michele was filled with the wonders of nature and the simple joys of being surrounded by people she loved. Everyone who got to know Michele knew she was an incredibly special person who always gave so much more than she received. Michele will live on through us all in the countless memories that we hold so dear.
Services to celebrate and remember Michele's life will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at Temple Israel on 14 Coleytown Road in Westport, CT. The family will receive friends
after the services for a light reception at the temple. The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Michele's exceptional medical team at The Wittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, including a second-to-none support staff and her primary in home care aide, Yolette Jean Francois. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions in honor of Michele to National Public Radio (NPR) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). You can also plant a tree(s) in Israel in Michele's memory at https://www.nationaljewishmemorialwall.com/plant-a-tree. Condolences and your memories of Michele are welcomed and encouraged to be sent to the family at https://memories.net/timeline/michele-birodeitch-44864.