Dr. Gary L. Weller, DDS

Dr. Gary Lee Weller of Putnam Heights, departed this earth unexpectedly on Saturday, October 24, 2015, onto his next journey, following an accident while flying his airplane, one of his many passions. 

He was born in 1949.

Dr. Weller received his medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1979 and began practicing his craft in Michigan. Thereafter, he established a thriving dental practice in the Boston area. Concurrent with his medical training and career, he rose through the ranks as an FAA certificated pilot and began flying for various airlines including Eastern and US Airways. Upon his retirement from the airlines, he moved his home and dental office, Weller Dental Associates, to Putnam.

A man of many talents and interests, Gary enjoyed flying most of all. A very accomplished and respected pilot, he never encountered a plane he couldn’t fly. Whether it be one of his vintage or antique airplanes, an ultra modern Mooney, or a passenger jet, he was equally at home behind the controls. His airline colleagues dubbed him “the flying dentist,” others referred to him as a “pilot’s pilot” as well as a teacher and a mentor. 

Gary loved to travel. He and Sharon had many adventures by air to so many wonderful places along with very dear friends. He also owned a BMW motorcycle and would ride frequently with his dearest friend Bill. The two would take weeklong trips over thousands of miles to many interesting places. An accomplished woodworker, craftsman and journeyman electrician, he possessed an uncanny “MacGyver” like talent to fix almost anything and considered it a personal failure to call in a professional!

He truly was a Renaissance man in every sense of the word. He taught himself how to play guitar and enjoyed (in his words) “massacring a song” every now and then and joking with friends and family to “cover their ears” when he picked up his guitar.

A great man with a sharp wit, keen intellect, and a unique sense of humor, Gary made us all laugh. A soft and giving heart, he never said no to a favor or turned away a patient in need. He had the ability to take away pain and make us healthy and whole. He had a zest for life and had the ability to make anyone laugh. 

 Gary leaves his wife, soul mate and best friend Sharon Weller; mother Elsie Weller; his sisters, Jana (Tom) Papke, Jean Weller, and Lori (Dan) Strickler; his stepdaughters Haley Trenholm and Calista (Cody) Thompson; grandson Colgan Thompson; black labs, Lucy and Desi. He was predeceased by his father Duke in 2013..

The Memorial Service was Oct. 31 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations: Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach, 835 West Queen St., Southington, CT 06489.

 

R. ‘Bob’ Hanley Sr.

POMFRET CENTER —  Robert “Bob” P. Hanley Sr., 80, of Bosworth Rd., died Oct. 31, 2015.  He was the husband of Laura (Bourbeau) Hanley.  Born in 1935 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Martina Hanley.

Mr. Hanley worked for many years as shop foreman for the Mathieu Ford Garage in Putnam.

His talents were many and varied, including his ability to fix anything. He enjoyed many years of snowmobiling, snowplowing, and mowing. One of his favorite past times was caring for his many animals.

He leaves his wife Laura Hanley; two sons Robert P. Hanley Jr. of Pomfret and Jeffrey Hanley (Christine) of Putnam; and three grandchildren Kelly Hanley, Thomas Hanley, and Nicholas Hanley. He was predeceased by a daughter Charlene Hanley. 

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Burial will be private. Donations: American Humane Association at 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036  or on their website at www.americanhumane.org. 

 

Tammy J. Meseck

PUTNAM — Tammy J. (Elie) Meseck, 49, of Putnam died unexpectedly Oct. 18, 2015, at home. 

She was born July 2, 1966, in Putnam, daughter of the late Martin and Agnus (Bergon) Elie. She worked for Stop & Shop as a cashier for 17 years. Tammy loved country music, dancing and Elvis and her grandchildren. 

She leaves four children, Ginny Benoit (Jacob) of Dayville, Ronald Meseck III (Rachel) of Thompson, Charles Meseck of Dayville, Tad Elie of Putnam; sisters, Denise Corey of New York, Frances Elie of Moosup; brother Walter Elie of Dayville; grandchildren, Angel, Lucas, Taylor, Madison. She was predeceased by a sister Melinda Elie. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Noah B. Desilet

THOMPSON — Noah B. Desilet, 15, of Thompson Rd., died Oct. 28, 2015, in UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester, from injuries sustained in a four-wheeler accident on Oct. 17.  He was born in 2000 in Putnam, son of Kenneth G. Desilet and Kathleen M. (Lundergan) Desilet.  

In addition to his parents, Noah leaves his sister, Elisabeth N. Zawada (Mark) of Putnam; his maternal grandmother, Barbara A. Meisner of Hopkinton, Mass.; his paternal grandfather, Robert G. Desilet and his companion, Rita S. Bourcier of E. Hartford; aunts, uncles, and cousins; his birth mother, Beth L. Acquarulo of Rogers, as well as his “second family,” the Martiniks of Thompson.

Noah graduated eighth grade from St. Joseph School in Webster in 2015 and was a freshman at Quinebaug Valley Middle College High School.  He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed being outdoors, riding his four-wheeler, kayaking.  Noah also held a brown belt in martial arts.

Noah had a heart of gold, always wanting to help animals and those in need.  He made the most of his short time on this earth, and he will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Donations: NECCOG Medical Assistance Fund, 125 Putnam Pike, Dayville, CT 06241.  

 

Evelyn Ehrlich

Evelyn Ehrlich, 86, formerly of Syracuse, died Oct. 29, 2015. 

She was born Feb. 13, 1929, in Detroit, to Matthew Talvitie and Eva Talvitie (Seppala). She graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit majoring in chemistry. She was an instructor in chemistry at Hobart College where she met her husband and love of her life Robert Ehrlich. While raising four children and helping her husband run a dairy farm she went back to school and earned a Masters of Library Science. She held positions as head cataloger at Alfred University’s Herrick Memorial Library and was chief scientific librarian at NASA’s Wallops Island facility in Maryland.  Following the death of her husband she moved to Syracuse in 1986 where she worked as a computer specialist at SUNY Upstate’s Heme/Onc Research Unit until she retired in 1995.

Evelyn was an avid classical musician and played piano, organ, and clarinet. She was very active in the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse in later years serving as a leader of a Chalice Circle. She was very active in philanthropies and spent untold hours volunteering for Literacy Volunteers, the Red Cross, 4H and other community organizations.  

She was predeceased by her husband and son Miles. She leaves her daughters Karen Ehrlich and Susan Stern; and her son Garth; brother Carl Talvitie; six grandchildren.

Services are private. Donations: Heifer International at www.heifer.org. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Evelyn Trevelin Reiss

SARASOTA, Fla. — Evelyn Trevelin Reiss died Sept. 7, 2015, in her sleep.

She was born Nov. 4, 1928.

She was the former owner of Charlie Brown Campground in Eastford and a nurse in Milford.

She was the wife of the late Robert L. Reiss. She leaves five children, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren (with another one on the way) and nine nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life was held Sept. 27 in Villa Del Sol mobile park in Sarasota Another celebration will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 7 at Charlie Brown Campground in Eastford. Donations: The Alzheimer’s Association or walk for them in your hometown.

 

Rita C. Merchant

PUTNAM — Rita C. Merchant, 69, of Putnam, died unexpectedly Oct. 27, 2015, at Yale New Haven Hospital. 

She was born Sept. 17, 1946, in Putnam, daughter of the late Lional and Esther (Richards) Gaucher. She was the wife of Lockllyn G. Merchant who died in 2008.

Rita lived most her life in Putnam. She enjoyed crocheting, making blankets, hats and slippers for family and friends.

She leaves her two sons; James Merchant (Kim) of Putnam, Randy Merchant and his fiancé Rebecca Dauphinais of Danielson; stepchildren; Scott Merchant and fiancé Rose Gray of Seal Cove, Maine, Greg Merchant and his fiancé Mel Ann Szynal of Jewett City; adopted daughter Kim Preston of Moosup; sister Irene Michaud (Russel) of Putnam; brother Leo and his wife Cindy of Woodstock; grandchildren; Christian Merchant, Jonathan Develder, Savannah Merchant, Justice Merchant, James Merchant Jr., Nicholas Merchant, Elizabeth Merchant, Mariah Travisano and Jordan Travisano; great-grandchild Nikolai Develder.  Services will be at a later date. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

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