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- Category: Past Issues
Douglas Zimmerman,
environmentalist
WOODSTOCK — Douglas Craig Zimmerman, 52, Woodstock Valley, on June 8, 2010, collapsed while on a lunchtime run. Medics were unable to revive him.
Doug was born happy in Beverly, Mass., on July 26, 1957. He graduated from Penney High School in E. Hartford in 1975 and from Eastern CT State University in 1980 with a degree in environmental earth science.
His career in public service spanned 27 years with the state Dept. of Environmental Protection. Doug started at DEP as an intern, then became a hazardous waste inspector, and ultimately his hard work and technical skills were rewarded by promotion to supervising environmental analyst. In college, he was co-president of the Outing Club, and later he volunteered for eight years with the Woodstock Historical Society as vice president and program chair.
Doug was an avid mountaineer, rock and ice climber. From the time he was a young boy, he loved the outdoors, and hiked the trails in Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York with his father, brother, and friends. He went on to become a technical mountain climber. With his climbing buddies, he traveled to various places in the U.S, Canada, Alaska, and Peru. Doug and his friends Bob Plucenik and Doug Bonoff were first ever to conquer South Kennedy in the Yukon Territory in Canada. Bob commented that, of all the men he climbed with, Doug was the one he trusted most to be there when needed.
Doug was also a reckless softball player, giving all he could to help his team. He dislocated his shoulder three times flinging himself after balls. He could fix just about anything. No task was too big for him to tackle. He was always there for his wife, family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, ready to lend a helping hand. He had a great sense of humor and lived life with gusto.
He leaves his wife Bet; parents Larry Edwin and Joan Lorraine (Fraser) Zimmerman of Amston; sister Julie Miller (Charles) of Leander, Texas; brother Glen Zimmerman (Therese) of Hooksett, N.H.; his mother-in-law Kay; brother-in-law John and sister-in-law Tina Gallagher.
A Memorial Service was June 12 at the First Congregational (The Hill) Church, Woodstock. Donations: Founders of Environmental Earth Science, c/o ECSU Fund, 83 Windham St., Willimantic CT 06226; or the American Alpine Club, 710 10th St., Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401; or the Woodstock Historical Society, PO Box 65, Woodstock CT 06281. Doug’s last act was giving the gift of sight and healing through tissue donation. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Lois M. Brandt,
church member
ABINGTON — Lois Marie Brandt, of Abington died June 7, 2010, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was born March 21, 1943, in Putnam, daughter of John and Irja (Klemola) Brandt Sr. She had made her home all her life in the Elliot section of Abington. Lois was a graduate of the Putnam High School and the Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson where she received an associate’s degree in secretarial sciences. She was a devoted member of the Abington Congregational Church, the Wolf Den Grange where she had held several offices, and the Abington Social Library. Lois worked many years for the State of Connecticut, was the office manager at the Homer Babbidge Library at UConn in Storrs. She enjoyed rug hooking with her friends and the love of her life her little dog “Beau.”
She leaves her twin brother John Brandt Jr. and many close friends.
A Memorial Service will be at 10 a.m. June 19 in the Abington Congregational Church, Hampton Road, with burial in Abington Cemetery at a later date. Donations: Abington Congregational Church, PO Box 289, Abington, CT 06259; or the Pomfret Ambulance Corp. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
William Blakely Jr.,
WWII vet
PUTNAM --- William H. Blakely Jr., of Sabin St., died June 7, 2010, at Day Kimball Hospital after an illness.
He was born in Worcester, the son of the late, William H., Sr. and Leah (DeRoche) Blakely, and grew up in the Southbridge area. He graduated from the Mary E. Wells School and the Cole Trade School. Mr. Blakely worked as a machinist at Hydes Manufacturing, AO and Simmons Machine Co. before enlisting into the U.S. Navy during WWII. He served on a destroyer in the North Atlantic for three years, for which he earned two Bronze Stars. He then worked for Pratt & Whitney and served on the Cohasse Country Club’s Board of Governors for nearly a decade. Mr. Blakely and his partner Russ King won the Four Ball Invitation at Cohasse Country Club, Champion Flight in 1951, 1953 and 1954. He was awarded the Hole-In-One Club certificate from Spaulding Brothers Inc. acing the 4th hole on Aug. 15, 1962 at Cohasse Country Club . He then pursued a career of passion as a superintendent of many golf courses: Nichols C.C., Heritage C.C., Quinnatisset C.C., and constructed Round Hill on Cape Cod, now named Sandwich Hollow Golf Course. He later retired in 1984 from Commaquid Country Club in Yarmouth, where he was also a superintendent for eight years, moving to S. Woodstock..
He leaves two sisters, Nancy B. Blakely, of Woodstock, and Bertha B. Dresser, of Sandy Spring, Md.; a sister-in-law, Lorraine V. Blakely, of Stoughton, Mass. His wife, Ruth M. (Mahan) Blakely, sisters Mae and Irene Blakely and brothers John H. and Abraham ‘Linc” Blakely predeceased him.
A service will be at 10 a.m. June 19, in the Holy Trinity Church, Southbridge. Burial will follow in North Cemetery, Sturbridge. Donations: The First Tee of Massachusetts - Main Headquarters, MGA Links at Mamantapett, 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766. Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, , Southbridge.
Concetta Minio,
church member
DAYVILLE — Concetta Minio, 98, of Dayville, died June 10, 2010, at Westview Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Carmelo Minio. They were married in October 1928 in St. Joseph Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died March 6, 1986.
She was born in Cattolica Eraclea, Italy, daughter of the late Joseph and Antonina (Borsellino) Curreri. She had made her home in Danielson since 1941 moving from Brooklyn. She was a communicant of St. James Church. She enjoyed knitting and sewing. She worked for the former Gant Shirt Factory in Wauregan, a job she held until its closing. She retired in 1974 after working 16 years for Acme Chaston of Dayville.
She leaves her children: Joseph Minio (Cathy) of Greenwich, Richard Minio (Claire) of Dayville; daughter in-law: Michelle Minio of Rockville Center, N.Y.; sisters: Josephine and Teresa Curreri of Seaford, Long Island; grandchildren: Joseph, Christopher, Richard, Kristen, Carl and Michelle and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Anthony Minio in 2001; brother Alfonse Curreri; sister Angelina Maltese.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 12 in St. James Church with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Westview Recreation Fund/ Concetta Minio, c/o Westview Healthcare, 150 Ware Road, Dayville, CT 06241. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Dorothy Renaud,
church member
BROOKLYN --- Dorothy Renaud, 83, of South Main Street, died June 13, 2010, at Lanessa Extended Care in Webster.
She was born September 1, 1926, in Brooklyn. She worked at Arrow-Hart in Brooklyn for about 32 years until it closed, then she was employed at Garrity Flashlight Company until her retirement. She was a communicant of St. James Church and a graduate of the St. James School. She was an accomplished flower gardener.
She leaves a brother Robert Renaud (Linda) of Brooklyn; a sister Marguerite St. Jean of Brooklyn. She was predeceased by her mother, Mary Rose (Gosselin) Renaud, her father Leon Omer Renaud, nine brothers and four sisters.
The Funeral will be at 11 a.m. June 17 from Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Chester A. Cole Jr.,
WWII vet
DAYVILLE — Chester A. Cole Jr., 98, died June 4, 2010, at Westview Healthcare Center in Dayville, where he had lived for over five years.
He was born July 11, 1911, on Staten Island, N.Y. He graduated from Columbia University in 1934 and married Ruth Joline in 1937.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Chester had an interesting and varied career as an executive in several international shipping businesses in New York City, Tokyo and Seattle. He and Ruth retired to Francestown, N.H. and later lived in Woodstock and at Creamery Brook in Brooklyn.
As a young man “Chet” was an avid and accomplished sailor in the waters around New York City. In his retirement he studied watercolor painting and his work was shown in several galleries.
Chester was predeceased by his wife and son Christopher. He leaves a granddaughter D’Arcy Cole LaVigne (Joseph) of St. Augustine, Fla.; and her mother, Kathleen Cole of Stonington.
Burial was in the historic Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
John Gregory Jr.
POMFRET CENTER --- John Matthew “Big Guy” Gregory Jr., 27, of Pomfret Center died June 5, 2010. He was born Sept. 14, 1982, at Windham Hospital.
John was a 2000 graduate of Woodstock Academy. John accepted the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into his life two years ago. This had a profound effect on him and everyone around him.
He leaves his parents John and Robin (Setterberg) Gregory of Woodstock; a sister Laurie (Gregory) Merrill (Ernie) and son Rylan of Littleton, Mass.; grandfather Albeni Cyr of Scotland; former wife Tiffany Clough of Woodstock; a very special friend Kristen Barlow.
A Memorial Service was June 12 at the Eastford Baptist Church. Donations: Eastford Baptist Church 133 Union Rd., Eastford, CT 06242. Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic.
James Macdonald
loved animals
POMFRET --- James “Sandy” Macdonald, 53, formerly of Pomfret died on May 25, 2010, in Georgetown, S.C., where he had lived for 23 years.
He was born Sept. 28, 1956, in Putnam, the son of John T. and Mary (Ryan) Macdonald of Alexander’s Lake, Dayville. He was a graduate of Putnam High School and Northeastern University cum laude and also attended Annhurst College in Woodstock.
Sandy worked for Maygold Farms in Pomfret; Doring Labels in Danielson; Guardian Glass in Webster; AVX Corporation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Green Electric in Georgetown. An avid gardener, he enjoyed planting and harvesting crops and growing plants in his greenhouse. He developed recipes and canned many goods including “Sandy’s Hot Sauce”. He was an animal lover having cared for many dogs, cats, goats and chickens over the years.
He leaves his father and three brothers: John Macdonald Jr. of West Hartford, Jeffrey Macdonald of Vienna, Va., and Scott Macdonald of Media, Penn..
He will be buried in Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam in a private service. Donations: Local ASPCA or any animal rescue organization.