Sunday, December 03, 2023

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Obituaries

Charles F. White, 94

Charles Francis White, a Fairfield resident for over 60 years, died May 4. He was 94.

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Charles White: former Westporter.  Contributed photo

He was raised in Westport, the fourth son of Nora O’Sullivan and James Edwin White. Charlie attended Staples High School, Admiral Billard Academy and Western New Mexico University.

During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps. He was a high school teacher in Norwalk for 35 years, teaching mechanical drawing, math, horticulture and printing.

Charlie was artistically talented in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, leather, wood and metal work. He sent funny missives with character drawings to his children and grandchildren when they were at camp or in college, often from the family dog’s point of view.

Florence Temko, 90

Florence Ruth Schwartz Temko died April 29 at Meadow Ridge Nursing Home in Redding where she had been a longtime resident. The former Westport resident was 90.

She was a wife of Charles Temko for nearly 60 years and is survived by her son, Jerrold, and daughter, Erika, as well as three grandchildren: Susannah and Juliet Temko and Brian Kitano to whom she was a wonderful parent and grandmother.

Florence graduated from Smith College in 1951 with B. A. degree in Early Education.

She began a long and distinguished career as an elementary school teacher in Rockville Centre, Long Island where she taught such future notables as Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Doris G Johnson, 87

Doris G Johnson of Allentown, Pennsylvania died April 28 at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem from the coronavirus. She was 87.

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Doris Johnson: former Woman’s Club member. Contributed photo

Doris was born in Brooklyn New York to Trophim and Mary (Kazanowsky)  Greck. She is predeceased by her brother Eugene Greck of Westfield, New Jersey. Doris was married to her husband, Nicholas Johnson for 41 years until his death in 1995.

She had several types of work in her early years including dental hygienist, telephone operator, secretary, loan officer and homemaker. She spent over 30 years in southern Connecticut, Westport and Norwalk.

Doris and Nick both worked for the White Plains Hospital Phobia Clinic in White Plains New York, helping individuals with a variety of issues. Doris truly enjoyed helping people in this line of work.

Jack B. Allen, 89

Jack B. Allen of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a former Westport resident and father of Elaine Allen Daignault, director of Westport Human Services, died, May 3 at Troy Beaumont Hospital. He was 89.

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Jack Allen: former Westporter. Contributed photo

Jack was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Chandra (Camp) Allen, who died n 2016.

A legendary character, Jack lit up every room he entered. His warmth, generosity, good nature, and famous sense of humor brought joy and companionship to all those who were lucky enough to know him.

He will be dearly missed by his 10 children and the family’s expansive network of friends, near and far.

John Ollweiler, 87

John Ollweiler of Westport died May 3 after a five-year battle with cancer. The loving husband, father and grandfather was 87.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1950 and served in the Korean War from 1953-1955.

After his service, he attended classes at night and worked during the day to earn his college tuition.

Graduating cum laude from New York University School of Commerce with a Bachelor of Science degree, he also received a Master of Business Administration, with honors, from New York University.

Estelle Goldman, 99

Estelle “Stemmie” Goldman, a resident of Westport for 60 years, died Feb. 16 at home. She was 99.

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Stemmie Goldman: longtime Westporter. Contributed photo

Stemmie lived a full and exceptional life. One characterized by determination, strength, poise, and optimism. Stemmie was loving and caring and always showed great interest in whomever she was with.

She treasured entertaining family and friends in her Westport home.

She was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. one of four children to Samuel and Rebecca Kapstein. She was raised in Brookline and graduated Framingham Teachers College in 1941. In 1943, Stemmie married the love of her life, Bob Goldman.

Linda Palmer, 72

Linda Yolanda Palmer of Monroe, a former Westport resident and loving mother and grandmother, died April 22 of complications from coronavirus. She was 72.

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Linda Palmer: former Westporter.  Contributed photo

Linda spent most of her life as a homemaker, cooking delicious food and caring for the people she loved. She was kind, gentle, and charitable—a family woman who had a special gift of seeing only the good in people.

She was born Nov. 21, 1947, and raised in Westport, graduating from Staples High School.

She spent her last few years in Monroe, living with her daughter and son-in-law, Yolanda and Stephen Kostenko. She enjoyed her essential role in helping raise her grandchildren, Kyle and Alyssa, who called her “Grangra.”

Mark R. Suda, Sr., 69

Mark R. Suda, Sr. of Norwalk, a former Westport resident, died April 21 at Norwalk Hospital of the coronavirus. He was 69.

He was the loving husband of Patricia “Patti” Rogers Suda for 49 years. 

Mark was born in Norwalk on Nov. 18, 1950, the son of the late Frank and Ethel “Etta” Suda. He was raised in Westport and was a graduate of Staples High School.

Mark had been the service manager at Norwest Marine in Norwalk for 32 years and also helped coach Cranbury Baseball and NAA Pop Warner football.

June B. Mervine, 95

June B. Mervine of Westport died April 24 at Norwalk Hospital of coronavirus. She was 95.

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June Mervine: former Rockette.  Contributed photo

She was a force of nature that could only be taken down by a pandemic.

June was born in Mt. Vernon, New York on May 7, 1924, daughter of Francis A. Miller and Edna Klett Miller. The family later moved to New Rochelle, where June attended the Ursuline Academy.

June’s lifelong love of dance began when she was 4 years old, studying ballet and tap. As a teenager, she performed for local World War II troops, and became a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall when she was 19.

Miriam Lepofsky, 95

Miriam “Mimi”Lepofsky of Westport died May 5 from complications from the coronavirus. She was 95.

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Sam and Miriam Lepofsky: longtime Westporters. Contributed photo

Miriam lately was a resident of the The Carolton Chronic Convalescent Home in Fairfield.

Born March 18, 1925, she was the second of three children of Dr. Isidor and Suzanne Rosenthal of South Norwalk. She had attended Connecticut College for Women.

She was a resident of Westport since 1956, involved in numerous community affairs, which included a position as a teacher’s aide at Coleytown Junior High, numerous years of involvement in the Little League and Babe Ruth programs of Westport and a volunteer for over 20 years on Election Day as a poll worker.