Douglas W. Valentine

BROOKLYN — Douglas W. Valentine, 68, of Brooklyn, died May 20, 2016, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He was the beloved partner of Barbara Rasmussen. He was born May 26, 1947, in New Haven, son of Marjorie (McFarland) and the late George Valentine.

Douglas was a graduate of Quinnipiac University, an avid golfer, enjoyed vacationing on Cape Cod, and most recently was a board member of the Northeastern Connecticut  Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Putnam Rotary Club. He retired as a commercial lender at Citizens National Bank in Putnam.

Douglas leaves his partner of 15 years Barbara of Brooklyn; her daughter Samantha Rasmussen and granddaughter Nova Stiles of Putnam; mother Marjorie of Wallingford; sister, Sandi Cunningham (Jack) of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and his nephew Ross Cunningham of Mount Pleasant.

Services were private. Donations: Putnam Rotary Club, PO Box 604, Putnam, CT 06260; or Masonicare Health Center, PO Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Joseph Szarkowicz Sr.,

WWII vet

DAYVILLE — Joseph J. Szarkowicz, Sr., 91, formerly of Mason Hill Rd., Dayville, died May 17, 2016, at the Autumn Lake Facility in New Britain. He was born Dec. 7, 1924, in Killingly, son of the late Frank and Magdalena (Stojda) Szarkowicz. 

Joseph was a 1943 graduate of Killingly High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation. Joseph was assigned as a Medic with ‘L’ Company of the 63 infantry division serving in France and Germany. During action on Jan. 3, 1945, in Gros-Réderching, France, though injured himself, with disregard for his own safety crawled foxhole to foxhole under heavy fire treating the wounded. For this he was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. 

Upon his discharge in 1946 Joseph returned to Dayville and married Theresa (Lada) Szarkowicz, who predeceased him June 23, 2012, after 64 years of marriage. Joseph was a lifelong resident of Killingly, working for numerous manufacturing firms while also running the family dairy farm with his brother Raymond. Joseph loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing, was an avid reader, a fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. Joseph loved animals, never without a dog and never left his role as a medic, whenever anyone was hurt the response was “go find Joe.”

He leaves his children: Joseph Szarkowicz Jr. (Cheryl) of Brooklyn, his twin daughters Joanne Laflamme of Bristol and Jackie Nair of W. Hartford; grandchildren Alex Szarkowicz, Robyne Joslyn (Steve) and Christopher Laflamme; great-grandchildren Grady and Kinley Joslyn and Jacob Laflamme. Joseph was predeceased by his brothers Frank, John, Stephen, Raymond; sisters Frances Luczak, Victoria Samborski, Anne Rzeznikiewicz and Mary Chrabaszcz and his son-in-law Robert Nair. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was May 20 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial with military honors in Holy Cross Cemetery. Danielson. Donations: Your local VFW. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Kevin A. Moyer,

Army vet

DANIELSON — Kevin A. Moyer, 59, of Danielson, died May 19, 2016, at home. 

He was born Nov. 29, 1956 in Sunbury, Penn., son of the late Melvin and Violet Moyer. He enjoyed golfing with his sons, Penn State football, the Philadelphia Eagles. He would offer a helping hand to anyone that asked because he enjoyed helping others in need. He loved family vacations, and Virginia Beach was his favorite location, especially with his extensive family of origin that lives in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Kevin served in the U.S. Army as a civil engineer and then as an explosives ordinance disposal specialist. He worked for the U.S. Secret Service during the 1980 Presidential campaign. He provided protection detail to VIP dignitaries during his military career, received the Soldier of the Year award, an Army Commendation medal and a Humanitarian Service Medal. After his military career he moved his family from Pennsylvania to Connecticut in 1985, continuing his career in the explosives industry. He eventually opened his own computer consultation business, Computer Age, and was also employed at ECSU as an IT Technician until he left his position in late 2015.

He leaves his wife Debora Moyer of Danielson; two sons Nathaniel Moyer and Joshua Moyer of Brooklyn; his daughter-in-law Amber Moyer of Brooklyn; three grandchildren , Logan Moyer, Ella Moyer and Ava Moyer of Brooklyn; brothers Larry Moyer of Virginia and Melvin Moyer of Pennsylvania; sisters Sheri Spickler, Sharon Landis, Julie Ranck, Melanie Moore, Melinda Wieand and Tammy Gallo of Pennsylvania.

The funeral was May 23 with burial with military honors at the New South Killingly Cemetery, Killingly. Donations: UMass Memorial Medical Center, Cancer Care Center, Clinical Trials Research Department, 55 Lake Ave. North, Worcester, MA 01655. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Christopher S. Collins

PUTNAM —  Christopher “Chrispy” Collins, 41, of Woodside St., died May 19, 2016, in Hartford Hospital. He was the husband of Kristin (Preble) Collins.  Born in 1974 in Norwich, he was the son of Charles G. Collins and his wife Barbara of Taftville, and Joyce (Santerre) Postovoit of Moosup.   

Chris was a mechanic for 12 years for King Cadillac in Putnam.  He was a member of the Putnam Fire Department where he rose to the rank of captain engineer.  He was a member of the Putnam Fish & Game Club and the Ronin Wheelers Jeep Club.  He participated in Tony’s Track Days in Louden, NH and was an avid motorcyclist who also enjoyed off-roading and four wheeling. 

He was a part of “Off Camber Produkshuns” where he filmed many drone videos in the local area.  

Chris also enjoyed vacationing in Maine with his family.  

In addition to his wife Kristin and his parents, he leaves his daughter Grace Collins; his sister Marie Dupre (Kevin) of Putnam; his brother Charles J. “Chuck” Collins of Middletown; his sister in-law Debi Collins of Middletown; his father in-law Richard Preble of Putnam; his brother in-law, Jon Preble of Putnam; his nieces Lexi, Kylie, and Erin; and his nephews, Colin, Devin, and Dominic. He was predeceased by his mother-in-law, Ruth Holly Preble.  

Visitation is from 9 to 11 a.m. May 28 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

Donations: Chris’ Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/24epgvw

 

Kathleen Champagne

DUDLEY — Kathleen M. (Borski) Champagne, 65, died May 17, 2016, in Harrington Hospital, Southbridge.  

She was born in Webster daughter of the late Joseph A. Borski Sr. and Alice (LaPlante) Borski and lived in Southbridge most of her life.  

She leaves two brothers, Joseph Borski Jr. of Webster and William Borski of Charlton; and two sisters, Shirley Rekowski of Webster and Jacqueline Arpin of N. Grosvenordale. She was predeceased by five brothers and two sisters.

There will be a private celebration of life for the family and burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace.  Donations: Charity of donor’s choice.  The Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Gagne Service

POMFRET  --- The Memorial Service for Simonne Morissette Gagne will be held at 11 a.m. on June 4 at the Holy Trinity Church.

 

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