Blanche L. Sims, accomplished illustrator of more than 100 children’s books, winner of the Parent’s Choice Foundation Commendation for Television, 2000 for Beyond the Butterfly, died May 19 in Fairfield. She was 92.

Blanche Sims: illustrator Contributed photo

Her career began at the Famous Artists School in Westport as a researcher before being promoted to art Instructor for their young peoples art course.  The school closed in 1972 and Blanche joined Xerox Educational Publications as an illustrator for Weekly Reader. She later launched her freelance career as an illustrator of children’s books working from her studio in Westport. 

Blanche moved to Newtown, where she lived with her son Bill and his family for 17 years. She found continued 
inspiration for her illustrations from her grandsons, Billy and Henry, their black cat Boo-boo, their Great Pyrenees dog, Buddy who appeared in several of her books. 

Some of her favorites include, the George and Diggety series, the Sally Ann series, and I Took My Frog to the Library

Nan Richards of Westport died June 7 at home from a sudden heart attack. She was 61.

Nan Richards: graphic artist Contributed photo

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She is survived by her husband, Daniel (Dan) Richards (Westport), her two children, Casey and Peter Richards (both in San Francisco), her brother, Peter Guastamachio, and his wife, Marlene Kosinski (Fremont, California).

Nan was born on April 28,1959 in Castro Valley, California daughter of the late Carmine Guastamachio and Michiko Ando. She lived her formative years on Kwajalein Missile Base in the Marshall Islands, spent junior high in Castro Valley, California, the beginning of high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the end of high school in Glastonbury, where she graduated NHS in 1977.

She then went on to Boston College where she graduated with a BA in English literature in 1981. Nan immediately moved to San Francisco, where she spent days as a patent law paralegal, nights sailing a yawl in the bay, weekends skiing in Tahoe or camping in Yosemite, and years falling in love with Dan whom she married in 1986. 

Allen Kantor of Norwalk, formerly of Westport, died June 15 at his home. He was 91.

Allen Kantor: former Westporter. Contributed photo

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of the late Irving and Frances Kantor.

He was a land developer who enjoyed playing tennis, reading, cooking, and most of all, his loving family.

He is survived by his children, Stephanie Pasquella of Norwich, David Kantor and his wife Lisa of Sandy Hook, his grandchildren Michael Pasquella and Kaitlyn Kantor, his brother Marvin Kantor of Boynton Beach, Florida, and many other close relatives. Allen was predeceased by his wife Gail Homan-Kantor.

Ellen M. Rose of Westport, wife of the late Reginald Rose, died, June 13. She was 85.

Ellen Rose: longtime Westporter. Contributed photo

Born in Bayside, Queens, New York the daughter of the late Edward and Katherine McLaughlin, she had been a Westport resident since 1974.

She was a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was a patron of the arts and numerous feminist and political causes. She loved the music of Mozart, touring museums, and going to theater.

She was loved and appreciated by all who were fortunate to know her. She is survived by two sons, Thomas R. Rose of Westport and Christopher E. Rose of Edmeston, New York. The kindness in her eyes, her laugh, and her gentle and generous manner, will be dearly missed.  Funeral services will be held privately.

Rosalie Marie Frank battled ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) for over a year until the day she died on June 9. She was 75.

Rosalie Frank: animal lover Contributed photo

Born in 1944 to Rosalia and Antonino Calabrese in San Fratello, a small village in Sicily, Italy, she immigrated with her family to the United States in 1955.

They passed through Ellis Island and eventually moved to New Jersey. She met Rocco J. Frank in Palisades Park, New Jersey, and they married in 1965.

They moved to Westport in 1982 where she and her veterinarian husband, Rocco, founded Westport Animal Hospital and continued together their life’s calling of helping countless animals.

Jayne Elizabeth Bowman (Duffy) of Marshfield, Massachusetts, formerly of Westport, died June 1 at home. Se was 83.

Jayne Bowman: former Westporter. Contributed photo

She is survived by her son Marc Bowman (Jill) of Marshfield, and their sons Bryan and Kyle Bowman and her daughter Karin Bowman of Westport, and Cotuit, Massachusetts, and her children Jeffrey, Lila, and Fredrick Chickvary.

The oldest of seven, Jayne is also survived by her six siblings: Judy Carroll (John) of N. Falmouth, Massachusetts, Susan Bonnel of Mechanicsville, Maryland, Richard Duffy of Acton, Massachusetts, Christopher Duffy (Leslie) of Surprise, Arizona, Michael Duffy (Susan) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Lisa McNamara (John) of Chesterfield, Virginia.

After receiving her B.A. from Wheaton College, Jayne enjoyed a long career as an editor and writer. She and her late husband, Verne, raised their family in Westport.