Francis Gage Mason, Former Westporter, Army Veteran, Died
Francis Gage Mason of Groton Long Point, CT. passed away peacefully at home with family by his side February 13th, 2023. Born in Paris in 1928, Frank grew up in Westport, CT. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1950; and was promptly drafted into the Army. He served at Fort Dix, NJ, where he taught radio communications and repair to troops deploying to Korea.
He married Phebe George of Mystic, CT in 1951. He and Phebe built a house in Weston, CT, where they raised their children, Catherine and Christopher. He started his own electronics company when the children were young and employed one other engineer. Over the years, Mason Engineering, Inc. grew, eventually employing as many as thirty people. Frank designed and manufactured sophisticated audio countermeasures equipment for the U.S. and its allies. After buying a shore cottage at Groton Long Point in 1969 he and the family spent summers at the beach, cruising his sloop near and far.
After his retirement and upon the death of Phebe in 1992, Frank continued his lifelong love of sailing the New England coast. He found a kindred spirit in Cynthia Buffinton, a longtime Westport resident. The two were happily married for twenty-six years, sailing and traveling the world together. Their primary residence was "Spindrift" at Groton Long Point, but also shared a nearby home at Mystic Run and spent every winter in Florida at Sanibel Island. Throughout the years, generations of family members and friends met for holidays, birthdays and soirees at Spindrift.
After Cynthia passed away in 2020, Frank remained at the Point and continued many of his interests, including his painting and photography. Under the umbrella of Spindrift Arts, he exhibited his work at the Mystic Art Museum, the Noank Historical Society, Noah's restaurant in Stonington Borough, The Big Arts Gallery in Sanibel, Florida and the Groton Long Point Arts and Crafts Show.
He is deeply missed by his family and many friends in the community. Anyone wishing to express tributes and condolences is encouraged to post them on Legacy.com
Published by Westport-News on Mar. 22, 2023.
Eileen Diana Blau, 92, Died; Longtime Westporter, Artist, Golfer, Tennis Player
Eileen Diana Blau, 92, of Westport, CT, passed away on March 9, 2023 in her longtime Westport, CT home.
Born Eileen Lefkowitz, in Brooklyn on July 8, 1930, she was a first generation American whose Ukrainian born parents immigrated less than a decade earlier. Father Norman (Nachman) was from Bratslav, and a direct descendant of the famed Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. Mother Mae (Manya) was from a business family in Pechera, a nearby village in the same province of Vinnytsia.
Eileen graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Mathematics, and it was at a college Socialist Youth League gathering that she met a fellow student, Barry Blau. They were married in 1948 and enjoyed a fabulous 69 year marriage until Barry’s death in 2017, bringing into the world four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A passionate reader, artist and collector, Eileen filled her stunning mid century modern home with thousands of books and an eclectic art collection ranging from Flemish tapestries to Indonesian Buddhas, ancient Chinese mirrors and sculptures of her own creation. And it was in the basement of this home that she helped her husband launch his business, Barry Blau & Partners which he grew over 20 years into a leading global advertising agency.
Once her children were grown, Eileen pursued a life of almost infinite interests. She was an avid golfer and tennis player at Westport’s Birchwood Country Club. She had a Manhattan apartment, also art-filled, which was a launching pad for attending classes at the China Institute and the Asia Society, and making frequent visits to museums, galleries and auction houses.
For many years, Eileen and Barry also maintained a vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii, which was a frequent winter gathering spot for the entire extended family.
Above all else, Eileen lived for that family -- as the most devoted and loving mom and, after raising her own children, lavishing attention on the grandchildren and great grandchildren, proclaiming each one more amazing than the last.
In addition to her parents and husband, Eileen was predeceased by her elder sister Rita Kannel. She is survived by her younger sister, Anita Metz; her children: Shawn Blau and Emily Blau (Robert Cohen) both of Westport, CT, Peter Blau (Barbara Blau) of Belmont, NC and Juliet Jenkins (Bruce Jenkins) of Belmont, MA. She is also survived by grandchildren Lucy Thomas (Kyle Thomas), James Blau, Michael Blau (Julie Blau), Lucas Jenkins, Maddie Jenkins, Tess Jenkins, Benjamin Cohen, Veronica Blau and great-grandchildren Claire and Charles Thomas.
Funeral services will be held on Monday March 13 at 11:00 AM atAbraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home. Shiva will be observed at the Blau home in Westport, CT the same day from 1:00-6:00 PM. For more information and to share a condolence message, visitwww.greensfuneralhome.com.
William “Bill” Barron, 77, Died; Weston Resident, Y’s Men Member
William (Bill) Barron passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023. He was 77.
A resident of Weston, Conn., since 1954, Barron was born in 1945 in Detroit to John and Eulalia Barron.
He received a B.A. degree from Yale University in 1967, and a J.D. degree from Cornell University Law School in 1970.
Barron worked with several law firms before joining Alston and Bird in 1977 as a partner. After retiring from Alston and Bird, he became a partner at Franzino and Schur.
He was a member of the Art Law Committee of the International Bar Association, the Yale Russian Chorus Alumni, Kiwanis International, and a longtime member of Norfield Church in Weston. Barron joined the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston in 2017 where he participated in several activities including the Book Club, Bridge, the Classical Music Society, and the Global Issues Discussion Group.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, sons David and Will., six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 AM at Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Road, Weston, Conn.
Michael Staley Fleming Jr., 49, Died; “Kindest” Staples Student, Devoted Father, Husband
On Friday, February 10, 2023, the world lost a beautiful soul. Michael Staley Fleming Jr., age 49, of Darien, beloved husband of Adrienne Strouse Fleming, passed away. Michael was born in San Diego, CA on August 27, 1973 to Michael Fleming Sr. and Linda Peck Fleming of Norwalk, CT. Michael spent his early years living in Park City, Utah, where he developed a lifelong passion and skill for skiing while on the US Junior Olympic Ski Farm Team. At the age of 12, Michael moved with his family to Westport, CT where he continued to thrive and make wonderful friends. At Staples High School, he won the award for "kindest," an attribute he upheld for the rest of his days. He was the captain of the boys' ski team at Staples. He graduated from Colgate University in 1996 and moved to New York City in 1999, where he had a successful career in finance, mostly as an institutional broker, and continued to build beautiful friendships.
In 2011, Michael married the love of his life, Adrienne, and they welcomed three beautiful boys, Wyatt McCall, Ford Michael and Charles Morgan Fleming. While living in New York, Michael always said he wanted his boys to grow up in Darien, CT, and in 2020 they moved there. Michael's greatest joy was watching his sons grow and shine. He loved nothing more than teaching them how to ski and spending time with them in the mountains. Michael was his happiest and most at peace flying straight down a mountain on skis and he passed this passion on to his sons. They loved to chase his heels down the slopes, mimicking his every move so they could be just like him one day. His sons are, and forever will be, so proud of him. Skiing is the closest thing to having wings and we will never stop watching for Mikey in the sky. Hawk flying high means a clear sky, hawk flying low prepare for a blow.
Survivors, in addition to his wife and sons, include his parents, Michael and Linda Peck Fleming of Norwalk, sisters, Amy Fleming Kiggins (Andrew) of Rowayton, Ann Fleming of Norwalk, his cherished dog, Utah, and countless friends. Mike is predeceased by his father-in-law, Irving David Strouse of Rumson, NJ, and his grandparents, Edmund McCall and Jewel May Peck.
Michael will be remembered for his incredibly kind soul, his easy way of making others laugh, and his unwavering loyalty to his family and friends. He was a devoted husband and father, and his family was his every joy in this life. Michael will be terribly missed by all those who were fortunate to know him.
Calling Hours will be on Wednesday February 15, 2023 from 4 to 7 PM at the Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien. Mass will be at Saint Thomas More Church in Darien on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
"Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal," St. Thomas More.
Published by Darien Times on Feb. 14, 2023