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Peter R. Palo,
WWII vet
PUTNAM --- Peter R. Palo, 95, died Dec. 11, 2012, at home.
He was born and lived in Stamford, , the son of the late Pasquale and Graziella (Lambaise) Palo, who together immigrated from the Naples area of Italy. He was the last survivor of his brothers and sisters: Andrew (Babe), Carlo (Cappy), William (Butch), Edith, Fay and Tina.
He was a WWII, U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran, attaining the rank of corporal, stationed at Maxwell Field, Ala., he worked as an airplane mechanic and heavy truck driver. Peter was honored at a ceremony in DC in May of 2010. He was a proud officer locally in the Civil Air Patrol and was a commercial pilot and daredevil (flying until he was well into his 80s). Later he was a pilot and soldier of fortune in West Africa during the Congo Crisis in the '60s, narrowly escaping with his life. His adventures in those days were akin to those of Indiana Jones.
He loved sports, Including NASCAR and sailing, football, baseball, golf and ice skating (he was an expert skater).
He was an honorary faculty member at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and a member of the Vassar Experimental Theatre. He was always happy among the hundreds of lovely ladies at school. Although he never married, he had two loves in his early life, Dolly and Evelyn Dorflinger. His was a consummate storyteller and loved to entertain and make people laugh. He could accurately recount detailed events of his unusual life that movie writers can only dream about. Ask any of the nurses and aides in the Putnam area he kept entertained in the last few years.
Peter was a stellar automobile salesman in Washington, D.C., and he managed a hotel there. He also managed a taxi cab company in Poughkeepsie. He had a business idea that brought him to Putnam in 1971. The buying and selling of sealed bid military surplus items (trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, buses, planes, automobiles). It was a remarkable business, and he and his brother Cappy also had the state AAA contract for towing and rescuing distressed vehicles on the area roads. He was a natural mechanic and many in the area benefitted from his skills and super deals. He never stopped planning his next venture (or adventure).
The Funeral was private. Donations: Hospice and Pallative Care of NE CT, 320 Pomfret St., Putnam, CT 06260. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Dorothy S. Johnston
BROOKLYN — Dorothy S. Johnston, formerly of Putnam, died Dec. 14, 2012, at Pierce Baptist Home in Brooklyn.
She was born Nov. 17, 1918, in New London the youngest of nine siblings.
She leaves a daughter Barbara Woodcock of Nantucket, son Lloyd (Joan) of Maine, son Donald (Denise) of Putnam; daughter Carolyn and Charles of Willington; grandchildren: Douglass from San Diego, Daniel from Chicago, Sara from Dayville, Alaina from Pawcatuck, Lindsay of Nantucket, Matthew of Ft. Myers, Christopher of Westbrook and five great-grandchildren She was predeceased by all of her brothers and sisters and her husband for 35 years Robert D. Johnston.
A Service was Dec. 18 at the Congregational Church of Putnam with burial in Grove Street Cemetery. Donations: Congregational Church of Putnam, 175 Main St., Putnam, CT 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Charles Breton,
WWII vet
DANIELSON — Charles R. Breton, 89, of Birchwood Terrace, died Dec. 12, 2012, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was the husband of Barbara (Drapeau) Breton for 65 years.
He was born April 16, 1923, in New Bedford, Mass., son of the late Joseph and Esmerelda (Menard) Breton.
Charles was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII serving in the Pacific on the aircraft carrier, USS Bunker Hill. He worked for CIGNA for 15 years retiring in 1984. Charles was an avid golfer.
Besides his wife Barbara (Drapeau) Breton, he leaves two daughters Carol Carstens (Howard) of Poinciana, Fla., Diane Palazzi (Peter) of Dayville; grandchildren Michael and Stephen Palazzi and Paul, Peter and Howard Carstens, two great-grandchildren Michael Anthony Palazzi and Kylie Ryan Palazzi. Charles was predeceased by a granddaughter Susan Carstens Steele.
Calling hour is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 22 with a service following at 10:30 a.m. at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery Danielson. Donations: American Warrior, PO Box 337, Versailles, CT 06383 or Hospice of Northeast CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT.
Ruth M. Gallerani,
athlete
WOODSTOCK — Ruth Marguerite (Duda) Gallerani, 88, wife of George L. Gallerani, of Woodstock, and Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., died Dec. 13, 2012.
Born Dec. 27, 1923, in Northampton, Mass, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Catherine (Adams) Duda .
Ruth was a star athlete in basketball, softball and tennis during her high school years at Northampton High School. Wearing her lucky #13 basketball jersey, Ruth was before her time in women’s athletics. It seems fitting that her final day was the 13th of the month. During WWII, Ruth served as a phone operator often riding to work at night on her bicycle wearing an arm badge giving special permission to be out after the 9 p.m. curfew.
Following her marriage to George L. Gallerani in 1954, her life joy was supporting her husband and caring for her six children. Ruth was an active volunteer throughout her life in scouting, church activities, craft bazaars, Meals on Wheels delivery, and an active fund-raiser for parochial schools and supported the works of the Sisters of her parish providing them with transportation. The family had also lived in Milford, Louisville, Ky., and York, Penn., following George’s career, and Ruth served the community in all locations. She loved to drive and following her husband’s retirement, traveled the U.S. going to the national parks and historical sites. They covered 48 states, many more than once. She loved to take care of her lawns and gardens in both Connecticut and Florida where she walked the beach and swam daily until just a few months ago. She also loved antiques and auctions. She was an active communicant of St. Mary’s church in Putnam, and Saint Rita’s in Santa Rosa Beach.
Along with her husband George L. Gallerani, she also leaves her six children and their families: son Michael (Sharon Goodwin) Gallerani of West Simsbury, and their children, Catherine (Frank) Herrington Jr. of Nashville, Tenn., Robert of San Diego, David of Columbia, S.C., and Thomas of West Simsbury; son James (Virginia Ambrose) of Fairfield, and sons Matthew and Michael; daughter Laura Perednia (Donald) of N. Granby, and children Hilary Jacobson of Harrisonburg, Va., and Rachel Jacobson of Ashburn, Va., and Greg of Hawaii, Rick of New Hampshire and Daniel of Boston; daughter Carol Otto (Bill) of Lake Tomahawk, Wisc., and their children Jonathan, Tyler, Alyssa and Jennifer; son Paul (Mary Walker) of Woodstock and children Cailyn of Pomfret and Keith of Eastford, and Robert Newton of Woodstock; and daughter Beth DiPilato (Nicholas Jr.) of W. Boylston, Mass., and daughters Angela of Portland, Org., and Staci and Serena of Worcester; sister in law Virginia Duda of Florence, Mass. She was predeceased by her brother, Joseph Duda and nephew Joseph Duda.
A memorial service will be held on Memorial Day, which would have been the 59th wedding anniversary of George and Ruth. Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, P.O. Box 632, Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
James R. Browne,
Air Force vet
WOODSTOCK — James R. Browne, 74, of Woodstock died Dec. 11, 2012, in Webster Manor after a short illness.
He was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of James and Teresa (Scales) Browne. He graduated from Saint Augustine High School in Brooklyn. He lived in Florida for many years before moving here in 2000.
He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Mr. Browne was a technician for the Verizon telephone company for many years, retiring in 1998. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Dudley. He was active in the Cornfield Point Association and belonged to several gun clubs. He enjoyed fishing, kayaking and spending time with his family.
He leaves a sister, Barbara T. Heider of Webster; four nephews and two nieces; eight grandnephews and four grandnieces.
The Funeral Mass was Dec. 15 in St. Anthony of Padua Church. Donations: Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
Edwin H. Perry,
Navy vet
SPENCER, Mass. — Edwin H. Perry, 74, died Dec. 15, 2012, at Life Care Center of Auburn.
Ed was born in Worcester, son of the late Harold and Alice (Woifenden) Perry and lived in Spencer all of his life. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He owned and operated Eddie’s Bakery in Spencer. He enjoyed horse racing.
He leaves five daughters, Nancy Gately (John) of Spencer, Joanne Perry of Cocoa, Fla., Lee Perry of Cocoa, Karen Perry (Joseph) of Port Saint John, Fla., Michelle Hager (Jake) of Port Saint John; two brothers, John Perry and Frank Perry, both of Spencer; four sisters, Pat Ensom of Spencer, Alice Mulvey of Woodstock, Janice Fall of Liverpool, N.Y., and Nancy Bedigian of Uxbridge; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Lee Watson.
Donations: Spencer Rescue Squad, 6 Bixby Road, Spencer, MA 01562. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Richard L. Johnson
THOMPSON — Richard L. “Dickie” Johnson, 76, of the N. Grosvenordale section of Thompson died Dec. 12, 2012, in UMass Medical Center.
Mr. Johnson was born in Binghamton, N.Y., one of nine children of Walter and Edyth (Crispell) Johnson.
He worked as a construction superintendent with Tilcon retiring in 1990. He enjoyed snowmobiling, ocean fishing, the mountains and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren.
He was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard.
He leaves his wife of 54 years, Ann R. (Kozlowski) Johnson; five children, Brenda L. Johnson of Cocoa, Fla., Brian R. (Brenda) Johnson of N. Grosvenordale, Pamela A. (David) Charbonneau of Thompson, Richard K. Johnson of Boston and Lynn A. Johnson of N. Grosvenordale; four grandchildren, Heather Johnson, Joseph Charbonneau, Christopher Johnson and Joshua Charbonneau; four brothers, Donald Johnson of N. Grosvenordale, Charles Johnson of Florida, John Johnson of Pomfret and Gregory Johnson of Sutton, Mass.; three sisters, Kay Fafard of Thompson, Brenda Vandernoot and Lee Rolfe both of Florida. He was preceded in death by a sister, Caroline Jones.
Services will be announced later. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster. Donations: SPCA of Connecticut, Inc. 359 Spring Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468.