Celebration of Life

Eli Mathew Leyko

A Celebration of the Life of Eli Mathew Leyko will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 30 at the West Thompson Dam Outlook Shelter. Leyko died June 1, 2015. 860-315-9457.

 

 

Henry Doughty

S. WOODSTOCK — Henry Doughty, 83, of South Woodstock, died Aug. 20, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth (Clapp) Doughty for 61 years and the father of Paul Doughty of Crofton, Md., Priscilla Colwell of Woodstock, and Christine Wecker of northern California, grandfather of Emily and Ian Colwell, Caroline and Lydia Doughty, brother of Faye Banks and Carol Woodford. 

Henry was born and grew up in Arlington, Mass..  He attended Providence Bible Institute and received his masters in Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Seminary in 1957 and started serving the South Woodstock Baptist Church.  After post-seminary training at Harford Seminary his family moved to Woodstock in 1959. Henry worked in the securities field as well as pastoring several Baptist churches in the area until opening Pine Knoll Real Estate in 1972. The Putnam Rotary Club was an important part of his life for many years, as well as the Republican Town Committees in Woodstock and Eastford. 

Henry had an incredible passion for connecting with people as well as an insatiable thirst for knowledge.  He enjoyed the challenge of bringing buyer and seller together in the real estate field, and didn’t give up his broker’s license until shortly before his death. He cared for his congregations until his retirement in 1996 from the Sterling Hill Baptist Church.  Henry always saw the best in everyone, had a genuine smile for all, and treasured his wide circle of friends and acquaintances.  He knew all of the local birds by their song and loved staying active with yard work.  Selections from his large collection of classical music CDs could usually be heard in the background by visitors to the house, and he enthusiastically supported PBS.

The Funeral was Aug. 23 at the South Woodstock Baptist Church. Burial was private. Donations: South Woodstock Baptist Church, 23 Roseland Park Road, PO Box 86, South Woodstock, CT 06267. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Bruce D. Anderson,

U.S. Army vet

E.LONGMEADOW — Bruce D. Anderson, 71, of Maple Street, formerly of Sabin St. in Putnam, died Aug. 17, 2015, at East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center. He was the husband of the late Margaret A. (Boucher) Anderson. 

Born in 1944 in Portland, Org., he was the son of Marjorie (Salholm) Anderson of Oregon, and the late Walter H. Anderson. Mr. Anderson owned and operated EastConn Industries, LLC. and also worked for Delta Rubber Company.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served abroad as an engineer during the Vietnam war.  More recently, he enjoyed golfing and repairing old clocks.  He will be remembered as a skilled handy-man with a generous heart and a great sense of humor. 

He leaves his daughter, Stephanie Bradshaw of Springfield, Mass., her husband Shiloh, and grandson, Micah; brothers, Jim Anderson of Oregon, and Doug Anderson of Oregon; his sisters, Kathy Minsky of Nevada, Nancy Mullard of California, Peggy Spencer of Oregon, Diana Mikkelsen of Oregon, and Janet Anderson of Michigan; good friend Richard Cardinal of Moosup.  He is predeceased by his brother, John Anderson and his sister, Donna Anderson. 

The funeral was Aug. 24 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wauregan. 

 

R. ‘Pete’ M. Bellerive

PUTNAM — Ronald M. “Pete” Bellerive, 72, of Woodside St., died Aug. 17, 2015, in UMass Memorial Hospital.  He was the husband of Cecile M. (Joyal) Bellerive.  Born in 1943 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Marcel and Lillian (Grenier) Bellerive.

Mr. Bellerive worked with the Highway Department of Public Works for the Town of Putnam for 27 years.  He was a member of the Putnam Fire Department for more than 40 years and also a member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks.  

In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Daniel Bellerive (Jacqueline) of Pomfret; his daughters, Lisa Kring (Ralph “Rik”) of Ghent, N.Y., Lynne Camera of Orange Park, Fla., and Kim Bellerive Bosworth (Newton) of Pasadena, Md; his brothers, Gerald Bellerive of Killingly, Norman Bellerive of New Hampshire, and Michael Bellerive of Putnam; grandchildren, Sarah, Jillian, Matthew, Kelsey, Brianna, Carly, Charles, and Lillian; and his great-grandson, Holden.  Pete is predeceased by his sister, Theresa Gorski.  

The service was held Aug. 22 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in St. Saint Mary Cemetery. Donations: South County Dialysis Center, 336 Thompson Road, Suite 1, Webster, MA 01570.  

 

Ronald Webster

WOODSTOCK VALLEY — Ronald Paul Webster, 52, of Woodstock Valley, died Aug. 16, 2015, at home. Husband of Becky (Brimberry) Webster, they were married May 10, 1996. 

He was born Feb. 24, 1963, in Putnam, son of Robert and Carole (Paradise) Webster.

He was a lieutenant and life member of Putnam EMS, past chief of the Bungee Fire Brigade. Ronald was an ordained minister, avid hunter and fisherman and loved to ride his motorcycle.

He leaves his wife Becky; parents, Robert and Carole of Woodstock; children, Nicholas Ronald Webster (Erica Parks) of Woodstock, Ashley Dorothy Smith, Katie Carole Webster (Beth Lestage) of Putnam, Robyn Lynn Webster, Erica Lynn Brimberry of Woodstock, Tiffany Nichole Brimberry of Woodstock, siblings, Michele Holt of Willington, Barbi-Lyn Chappell of Freehold, N.J., Shawn Webster of Woodstock.

A Memorial Service will beat 11 a.m. Sept. 4 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Special Olympics Connecticut, 2666 State St. Suite 1, Hamden, CT 06517. 

 

Richard G. Cinami

CENTRAL VILLAGE — Richard G. Cinami, 62, of Central Village, died Aug. 18, 2015, at home. He was born March 21, 1953, in Putnam, son of the late Angelo and Marie (Baribeau) Cinami Sr. He was married to Patricia Brunsdon. She died in 2015.

Richard was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson and also attended St. James School. He was a member of The Putnam Elks Club, The Danielson Knights of Columbus and Foresters Club in Sterling where he was treasurer. He loved to go camping and golfing. He enjoyed playing basketball.

 Richard worked as the warehouse manager for BCS Systems in Thompson. 

Richard leaves his son Ricky Cinami (Julie) of Hampton; daughter Deanna Elliott (Glenn) of Woodstock; brothers Angelo Cinami Jr. (Pamela) of Moosup, and Michael Cinami (Cynthia) of Woodstock; sister Joan Selby (Ricky) of Vancouver, Wash.; two grandchildren Hurley Cinami and Hudson Cinami; aunt Rose Cinami; brother-in-law Richard Brunsdon; his doggie Sammy. He was predeceased by his wife Patricia Cinami and his sister Rose Cinami.

A Memorial Mass was Aug. 22 at St. James Church, Danielson. Donations: Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, PO Box 632 Putnam, CT 06260. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. 

 

Laurette A. Daigle

KILLINGWORTH — Laurette A. Daigle 82, of Killingworth, died Aug. 18, 2015, at the Middlesex Hospital, Middletown. She was the wife of George A. Daigle. He died in 2013.  

She was born April 23, 1933, in Putnam, CT, daughter of the late Alfred G. and Laurette E. (Gravel) Mayotte. She was a devoted communicant of St. Lawrence Church in Killingworth.  In 1949 she entered the convent and served as a Dominican Nun in Camden, N.J., and also served for more than 10 years in monasteries in Rome, Italy, Fatima Portugal, and remained a third order Dominican tertiary after exiting the convent. She enjoyed traveling to Denmark to visit her grandchildren. Laurette enjoyed helping her neighbors and had a strong sense of charity.  

She leaves two sons Kenneth (Karen) Daigle of Madison, and Michael (Christine) Daigle of Killingworth; her sister Mina Santomenno (Tony) of Glastonbury; grandchildren Thomas, Mathew, John and Gabrielle.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 24 in St. Mary Church, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Dr., Killingworth, CT 06415. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

M. ‘Tina’ Witkowski

DAYVILLE — Martha “Tina” M. Witkowski, 77 of Dayville died Aug. 16, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam. She was born Feb. 28, 1938, in Freising, Germany. She was the wife of Stanley P. Witkowski, who died in 1997.

Mrs. Witkowski worked for many years at Belding Heminway in Putnam. Martha worked for 22 years as a crossing guard for the Putnam school system. She was also a caretaker for many people. She enjoyed planting flowers, playing bingo, cooking. 

She leaves her children, son John “Tony” Witkowski of Dayville; daughter Susan Fontaine of Woodstock; daughter Ingrid Crane of New Jersey; daughter Theresa Lucas (Mark) of Woodstock; son Teddy Witkowski of Dayville; son Marc Witkowski (Ioana) of New Mexico; son Michael Witkowski (Kim) of Dayville; daughter Christine Kipp (Benjamin) of Woodstock; 15 grandchildren, Matthew, Angela, Nathan, Bethany, Timothy, Stephen, Heidi, Joseph, Nicholas, Michael, Chelsea, Megan, Hannah, Benny, Noah and five great grandchildren.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 20 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: To her family to help with final expenses. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.