Friday, June 02, 2023

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Obituaries

Sylvia Weinberg, 92

Sylvia Weinberg died suddenly Aug. 9. She lived most recently at Meadow Ridge, a retirement community, where, as always, she was surrounded by a large group of loyal friends. Prior to that she lived in Westport, Stratford and then Florida after retiring from teaching. She was 92.

She was born in New York City to Edward and Ella Stein. She had an idyllic childhood, shared with her brother, Joel, who died two years ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She attended Walton High School, graduating at 15 years of age.

She attended Hunter College as an undergraduate and obtained a master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She then taught school in one of New York’s rougher neighborhoods. 

In 1946, a serendipitous referral to a new dentist on the Grand Concourse introduced her to the love of her life, Jack Weinberg. They married in 1948 and their son Larry was born in 1950, and daughter, Louise in 1953.

Frederick Pascariello, 90

Frederick Pascariello, husband of Erika Safren Pascariello of Westport, died Aug. 8 at Norwalk Hospital. He was 90.

Born April 30, 1929 in Norwalk, he was the son of the late Fred and Jenny Martorello Pascariello,

He was a self-employed mason and contractor for 50 years. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the V.F.W. in Westport. He also served as a volunteer fireman in Westport.

In addition to his wife Erika, he is survived by his two sons Fredrick John Pascariello of Maryland and Chris Pascariello of Westport, by two grandchildren Anthony Pascariello of Seymour and Pauline Pascariello of Maryland, and by sisters Rose Kovacs and Francis Kelly.

Glenn L. ‘Tommie’ West

Glenn L. West, known as “Tommie” to her family and friends, a former Westport resident, died Aug. 1 in Lake Oswego, Oregon while enjoying her passion of gardening at home. She was 81.

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Tommie West: former Westporter. Contributed photo

She was born in Montclair, New Jersey on June 6, 1938, to John and Katharine Litch. The daughter of a career U.S. soldier, she moved around the world as a child.

Graduating from Alcee Fortier Senior High School in New Orleans, she attended Louisiana State University (LSU) as an active member of the Tri Delta sorority, pursuing a degree in education.

Married for 24 years to James L. Smith, they raised three children together in Westport’s Greens Farms section. In addition to being a loving mother, Tommie was an engaged member of the local community as a volunteer, active in the PTA, the Westport Garden Club, Westport Woman’s Club, Girl Scouts and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Elizabeth Caprio, 96

Elizabeth Caprio, wife of the late Joseph A. Caprio Jr. and longtime Westport resident, died Aug. 4 at the Notre Dame Health and Rehab Center in Norwalk. She was 96.

Born Nov. 3, 1922 in Edgar, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Jennie (Petty) Quillen. In addition to living in Westport, she was a resident of West Palm Beach, Florida from 1983 to 2005. She was member of the Catholic Daughters Court of Assumption.

Survivors include two daughters: Virginia Grant and her husband John of Westport, Linda Greco of Hilton Head, South Carolina, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband Joseph she was predeceased by one son, Joseph A. Caprio III.

Family and Friends are invited to attend a funeral on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m.meeting directly at Notre Dame Health and Rehab Center, 76 West Rocks Road, Norwalk for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Willowbrook Cemetery 395 Main St. Westport.

Shivaun Mahony, 64

Shivaun Mahony of Westport died of breast cancer after a long and arduous struggle. She was 64.

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Shivaun Mahony: loved to travel. Contributed photo

Born June 1955, she spent most of her life in Westport, California, and New York City. She loved to travel and loved adventures. She was a longtime student of the Diamond Approach, a contemporary spiritual path of human realization and development.

She joined an ongoing group in New York City in 2002 and began studying with the founder of the teaching, A.H. Almaas, in 2011. She was a cherished member of the Diamond Heart community, forming deep relationships that enriched her life.

Survivors include her only son, Keith Coulston in New York City, as well as three sisters, Nicola and Kerry in Connecticut and Moira in England, four nieces, Corey, Devon, Briana and Anna, and one nephew, Jack. She was predeceased by both parents, Brian and Ruth Mahony, longtime residents of Westport.

Joanna Farber, 79

Joanna Farber of Westport died Aug. 2 at home. She was 79.

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Joanna Farber: a Francophile. Contributed photo

She was born in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of the late Abe and Marilyn Brodsky.  She studied at Boston University and lived in many places including New Jersey, Westport, Paris and Roussillon in France, and New York City. 

She was an entrepreneur and became the very proud owner of Parc Monceau French Country Antiques in Westport from 1983 to 2007.  She was a enthusiastic Francophile. 

She is survived by her children Jonathan Farber and Samantha Farber, her grandchildren Nikki, Allie, Jake, and Reagan, and by her sister Francine Schweiger. She was predeceased by her husband Eugene Farber in 2003.

Francis W. ‘Hank’ Mergenthaler, 83

Hank Mergenthaler, a longtime resident of Westport and Naples, Florida, died July 30 at home. He was 83.

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Hank Mergenthaler: noted heart surgeon. Contributed photo

He grew up in Sayville, Long Island where he learned to sail at the age 12. He won midget and junior championships on Great South Bay as a youth. His family moved to Garden City, New York in 1950 where he met Janet Rowden who later became his bride of 62 years.

After graduating Tufts University in 1956, he completed his medical and surgical training at NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital from 1957 to 1966. Hank and Janet finally settled in Westport in 1968 where they raised their five children.

He became a celebrated heart surgeon when he performed the first-ever coronary bypass operation in New England in 1969 at Bridgeport Hospital.

Edward F. Williams Jr., 79

Edward Fuller Williams Jr., the husband of Karen Williams, died on July 29. He was 79.

He was born in the western Berkshires of Massachusetts. He spent much time in Vermont hiking and skiing as a member of Vermont Ski Patrol. He was valedictorian of his high school class, a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and held an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.

Son of the late Edward and Marguerite Williams, he leaves his wife Karen, daughter Tracey Ann, granddaughter Nina du Rocher of France and brother James (Karen) of Maryland, two sister in laws Linda Mitchell of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Mary Jane Kirkwood (Stephen) of Inverness, Illinois, together with many nieces and nephews who love their uncle Ed.

A man of strong faith and many interests, Ed enjoyed his work at Reed Elsevier interacting with folks over world.

Sharon R. Boroskey, 76

Sharon R. (Burke) (Giglio) Boroskey of Stratford, a former Westport resident, died July 27 at Bridgeport Hospital. She was 76.

She was born in Norwalk, March 19, 1943, a daughter of the late, John R. and Marie (Swetts) Burke and, was a graduate of Staples High School in Westport. She had worked at the Westport Public Library and retired in 2018 from the Connecticut Post, where she had worked for over 25 years.

She is survived by her life companion, Richard Biscoe of Stratford; one son, William Boroskey and his wife Kirsten of Sandy Hook; three sisters, Patricia Biehl of Boynton Beach, Florida, Elizabeth Cachetto of Webster, New York, and Maryann Callahan of Fairfield; four grandchildren, Madison and William Boroskey and Amanda, and Justin Baxter. She was predeceased by her daughter Karen Baxter and a sister, Jackie Paul.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Aug.2 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family R. C. Church, 700 Old Stratfield Road, Fairfield. Friends are asked to meet directly at the church prior to Mass. Burial will be in Assumption- Green Farm Cemetery, 73 Green Farms Road,, Westport. There are no calling hours.

Austen Doolittle, 89

Austen Doolittle of Weston, long active in Westport area volunteer causes, died July 16. He was 89.

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Austen Doolittle: active volunteer Contributed photo

Austen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, one of five siblings. At 22, he enlisted in the Navy and flew as a radar radioman for search and rescue and typhoon-tracking missions during the Korean War from 1950-1954.

On Dec. 15, 1953, Austen was assigned to base-radio, rather than on-board radio, and narrowly avoided perishing when his plane, crew, and close friends disappeared in a typhoon. He referred to this as both the best and worst day of his life.

After the Navy, Austen returned to finish his bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah where he met his wife, Patricia Edgley. They were married in 1956 and started their life together in Long Island, New York.