Sara ‘Sally’ Korswig May
Sara (Sally) Korswig May passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2025, at Day Kimball Hospital following a brief illness.
She was born on Sept. 10, 1931, to Alfred and Vivian (Newton) Korswig in Bristol, and spent her childhood in Thompson before moving to East Woodstock in 1945. She married Wesley May in 1951 and they spent nearly 50 years together until his passing in 2001, raising their four sons in the village of East Woodstock.
Sally graduated from The Woodstock Academy (Class of 1948) and earned a business degree from Bryant University. In addition to managing the household she worked in administrative roles for the Woodstock public schools, the Woodstock town hall, and for 20 years at Day Kimball Hospital, retiring in 1995. She enjoyed reading, music, art, nature, and animals. Sally was a caring person known especially for her spark and her dry sense of humor.
After retirement Sally became an intrepid traveler. Her journeys took her to Norway, Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, and across much of the continental U.S. At home she was deeply involved in the East Woodstock Congregational Church and community affairs and had many lifelong friends in the town.
Together with her sons, she entered into conservation easements that will preserve the 125-acre family farm against development in perpetuity. She gratefully appreciated her life in the village and her ability to live independently in her home until 2025 when she relocated to Westview Health Care Center.
She took her greatest joy spending time with her family and her home was often the gathering place for holidays and special events.
She leaves her brother Karl (Ann) of Woodstock; sons Dale (Kate) of Hampton, Doug of Pomfret, Darrell of Dayville, and Derek (Valerie) of Pomfret; grandsons Daniel, Aaron, Trevor, Jordan, and David, and granddaughter Emily Brown; four great-granddaughters (Lucy, Ariel, Mia, Evelyn); and nieces Karen Doyle, Terri Ducharme, Joann Ainslie, and Jamie Thompson. The family would especially like to thank all of the care assistants from Assisted Living Services and Westview who provided care and friendship to Sally in her later years.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 17 at the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, East Woodstock, with a reception to follow. There are no calling hours. Donations: the May Memorial Library, P.O. Box 14, East Woodstock, CT 06244; or to the Muddy Brook Fire Dept., P.O. Box 222, East Woodstock, CT 06244. The Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
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Wed. Jan. 14
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present “Change Comes in Layers” by Wendy Forbes for the month of January. In the Display Case: Theresa Walsh.
Photo Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History is presenting a photo exhibit, "Woodstock Through the Camera's Eye in Post-Civil War America." Please call for more info: 860-928-1035.
Art Show
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library is hosting its third annual Tiny Art Show and is looking for artists to take part. The show involves free form art by teens, adults and seniors. The theme is “Remembering the Revolution” in honor of next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Call or stop by to register and pick up the 3x3” canvas and the materials. Completed artwork is due by Jan. 31 and the exhibit in the library starts Feb. 2. 860-963-6826.
Sun. Jan. 18
Film
POMFRET --- A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life—SUGARCANE, the debut feature documentary, will be shown at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Great Hall at Christ Church Pomfret. Christ Church, in cooperation with the Pomfret Historical Society, is offering the screening at no charge. For tickets, visit: https://kinema.com/events/Sugarcane-unoywy. Reservations requested but not required.
Mon. Jan. 19
MLK Jr. Program
PUTNAM --- The Living Faith UMC on Grove Street will present a Martin Luther King Jr. Lunch. The 11 a.m. program includes Rev. Tom Lank and music by Sally Rogers and G. Leslie Sweetnam. Lunch is at noon. $10 at the door.
Tues. Jan. 20
Al-Anon Meeting
POMFRET --- Al-Anon will meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Christ Church, 527 Pomfret St. Please use the lower level door, near the flagpole. All welcome.
Tues. Jan. 27
Community Film
POMFRET --- The Winter 2026 free Community Film Series in Pomfret will present “Ocean” with David Attleborough at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Connecticut Audubon Center on Day Road. Next in the Series, starting at 6:30 are: Outgrow the System (2/17), Food Inc. 2 (3/3), and The Little Things That Run the World (3/24).
Fri. Jan. 30
Schwartz Lecture
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present its Schwartz Public Lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hard Auditorium. Kobie Boykins, NASA engineer, is the speaker. Free and open to the public. Registration required: pomfret.org/schwartz.
Sat. Feb. 7
Fire & Ice
PUTNAM --- The 15th annual Fire & Ice event will be held from noon to 8 p.m. around downtown Putnam. Ice sculptures, food, drinks, entertainment and much more, all centered around fire and ice themes. www.discoverputnam.com. In addition the Gertrude Chandler Warner Children Boxcar Museum will be open then.
Wed. Feb. 11
'Slavery' Program
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present "Slavery in New England" with Tom Kelleher of Old Sturbridge Village at 6 p.m. (snow date Feb. 18). Free. It's part of the America's 250th Anniversary of the Revolution program.
Thur. Feb. 19
Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- A Celebrity Bartender fund-raiser will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Montana Nights Axe Throwing. It will benefit IHSP.
Sat. March 21
'Revolutionary Women'
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present "Women in the American REvolution" with Eric Chandler at 1 p.m. It's part of the America's 250th Anniversary of the Revolution program.
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Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association leadership elected
WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association announced its leadership recently. They also thanked Chief Eric Young “who accomplished so much for our Department and our community,” and outgoing Lieutenant Adam Plona “for his years of dedicated leadership and Captain Tony Foote for years of dedication and guidance.”
The newly elected WVFA officers include: Chief William Skene, Deputy Chief Joshua Bottone, Captain Eric Young, Captain Lucas Young, Lieutenant Matt Cimochowski, Lieutenant Kyle Gemmill, Safety Officer Chris Mayhew. Board officers include: President Russell Downer, Vice President Matt Cimochowski, Treasurer Mark Collins, Assistant Treasurer Sabrina McCallum, Secretary James Dunlea.
Skene said he is “Looking forward to fostering the growth and development of our newest firefighters and maintaining a high level of expectations for all members.”
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Counting eagles, plus
A hearty crew of volunteers recently took part in the Midwinter Eagle Survey coordinated nationally by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Participants were assigned sections of area rivers, streams and lakes counting the number of eagles seen, location, time of morning and if they were adult or juvenile eagles. This information is then gathered, tallied, and analyzed showing how the state’s eagle population is faring. The Putnam crew walked the banks of the Quinebaug River, started at the Farmer’s Market and continuing along Kennedy Drive to the junction of Providence Street. The crew one eagle passing directly overhead, a giant Blue Heron and one juvenile mute swan. From left: Kirk Begg, Mansfield; Steve and Jane King, Exeter, R,I.; Joanna Borucinska, Mansfield, and Patricia Hedenberg of Putnam. Not shown: Marcy Dawley of Putnam. Photo by Marcy Dawley.
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