Henrietta Harrison of Fairfield died Oct. 28 at home from a rare form of cancer. She was 69.

Henrietta Harrison: marriage and family therapist. Contributed photo

A marriage and family therapist, she maintained a private practice in Westport for more than 20 years, beginning in 1994.

Having worked with hundreds of individuals, couples and families through the years, her special interest was working with couples. She has been credited by many clients with saving troubled marriages and helping divorcing couples maintain the good will necessary for constructive co-parenting following divorce.

She was also known as “the therapist to therapists” as many professionals in her field sought her out for assistance with problems in their own lives.

Jerome T. Spinola of Milford, a former Westport resident, died Oct. 27 in Milford Hospital. He was 56.

He was born in Huntington, N.Y. on Aug. 8, 1960 and was the son of Carl and Ann (Beck) Spinola. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a former volunteer firefighter for Ansonia,  and he enjoyed painting.

In addition to his mother Ann, he is survived by three sons: Christopher Spinola, Jessie Spinola and Chris Spinola, three daughters: Cheryl Spinola, Jen Spinola and Samantha Spinola, one brother: Anthony P. Spinola, two sisters: Valerie Spinola and Susan Jones and her husband Craig and several grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East. Interment will be private. Contributions in memory of Jerry in lieu of flowers may be made to the Ansonia Volunteer Fire Department, 80 Pulaski Highway, Ansonia, CT 06401.

James Gordon MacDonald of Naples, Fla., a former Westport resident, died Oct. 24. He was 91.

James G. MacDonald: former CEO of TIAA-CREF. Contributed photo

He was born June 16, 1925 in New York City, N.Y. to Daniel M. and Anne C. MacDonald.

In 1943, he enlisted in the Navy, attending Hobart College Navy V-12 Officers Training Program. As Lt., J.G., he was shipboard in the Pacific until the end of World War II when he returned to Hobart College to finish his degree and remained in the Naval Reserve until 1955.

He was with Liberty Mutual and New York Life until 1956 when he began his 31-year career at TIAA-CREF in New York. He was president of TIAA-CREF from 1979 to 1984 and CEO and chairman of the board from 1984 to 1987 when he retired but remained on the board.