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Benjamin H. Segal
WALLINGFORD -- Ben Segal, 83, theatrical producer and founder of the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2002 at the Masonic Healthcare Center, Wallingford, after a brief illness.
A resident of Wallingford for 42 years, Mr. Segal was born in Boston on May 9, 1919, to Frank and Rebecca Segal; the family moved to New Haven in 1924. Mr. Segal served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II, and following his return to New Haven became general manager of the Shubert Theatre, learning the craft of theatre from such masters as Henry Fonda, Richard Rodgers, Elia Kazan, Jerome Robbins and Tennessee Williams.
In 1948, Mr. Segal and Anthony Brady Farrell took over operations of New York's Mark Hellinger Theatre, with Mr. Segal overseeing more than 70 stage productions for the Farrell Organization. In 1951, Mr. Segal produced the award-winning "Billy Budd", and the following year, with George Kaufman, co-produced the revival of Kaufman's "Fancy Meeting You Again" starring Walter Matthau.
Mr. Segal returned to Connecticut in 1954 to found Wallingford's Oakdale Theatre, exploring the then new concept of seasonal theatre-in-the-round.
In partnership with Buster Bonoff, a second theatre was opened in Warwick, Rhode Island, in 1955, and Mr. Segal soon co-developed others in Buffalo, New York, and Framingham, Mass. Mr. Segal went on to co-found the Musical Arena Theatre Association of America, which represented ownership or operating control of over twenty theatres throughout the country.
Oakdale began as a 1,600-seat tent-theatre, presenting summer stock Equity musicals. Within a few years Mr. Segal elevated the stature of the theatre by bringing in such Hollywood and Broadway stars as Van Johnson, John Raitt, Angela Lansbury, Howard Keel, Debbie Reynolds and Ray Milland to star in the stage productions.
Always responsive to changes in public taste, in 1972 Mr. Segal expanded the theatre's capacity to 3,200 and replaced the tent with a permanent wood dome, turning Oakdale into the state's preeminent concert venue. Weeklong engagements by artists such as Danny Kaye, Harry Belafonte, Tom Jones, Jerry Lewis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Sergio Franchi, and Steve & Eydie eventually gave way to one-night performances ranging from singers Tina Turner, Kenny Rogers, to Huey Lewis, and comedians George Burns, George Carlin to Bill Cosby.
Among the hundreds of artists who made their first Connecticut appearances on Oakdale's revolving stage were The Who, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Newhart, Eddie Murphy, Vince Gill, James Garner and Reba McEntire. One of Mr. Segal's proudest accomplishment was the creation of the Oakdale Children's Theatre Series, which to this day remains a prominent part of Oakdale's programming.
Few producers had as great a respect for talent of any variety as Mr. Segal, and as such, few producers were as respected by the artists themselves.
In 1996, Mr. Segal saw the realization of his long-time dream for Oakdale when the theatre opened its doors as a new 5,000-seat year-round proscenium facility, with his wood dome proudly acting as the new theatre's lobby. Riverdance and Bruce Springsteen were soon to follow.
While operating Oakdale, Mr. Segal's other activities included the creation of the Barnum Festival Theatre in Bridgeport; management of the Meriwether Post Pavilion in Maryland; concert presentations at the Hartford Civic Center, New Haven Coliseum, Palace theatres in both New Haven and Stamford, Woolsey Hall, The Bushnell and the Connecticut Tennis Center. In 1976, with attorney Emanuel Zimmer, Mr. Segal built the year-round Sunrise Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Mr. Segal was a founder and charter Commissioner of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts; was a member of the Friars Club, the Quinnipiac Club, and the Masonic Order; and throughout his long career consistently served charitable organizations in the Greater New Haven area and State of Connecticut. Mr. Segal has been honored for his service to the state by Governors Dempsey, Grasso, O'Neill and Weicker.
Mr. Segal's great passion beyond show business was photography, and his later years were spent traveling the world with wife Barbara, his friends, and his cameras. From the Beverly Hills Hotel to a village in Nepal or Ecuador, those who had the privilege to know Ben considered themselves fortunate, as he considered himself even to have simply met them regardless of who they were.
Mr. Segal is survived by his wife, Barbara of Wallingford; son, Beau, daughter-in-law, Nancy and grandchildren, Barrie and Milo of Woodbridge; daughter, Rebecca of Los Angeles, Calif.; son, Mark of Portsmouth, N.H.; sister, Shirley Abramson of Boca Raton, Fla. Predeceasing Mr. Segal were wife, Clarice Cumbley Segal of Southport, England; and brother Maxwell of Hamden.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clarice Segal Fund, Alzheimer's Resource Center, 1261 South Main Street, Plantsville, CT 06479, or the Masonic Healthcare Center, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492. A memorial service open to all friends and family will be held at the Quinnipiac Club, 221 Church St., New Haven, (203) 562-3147, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, with cocktails, of course, to follow. Arrangements with Beecher and Bennett, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Sign guest book at: www.beecherandbennett.com.
Darrell D. Sylvester
MERIDEN -- Darrell Dean Sylvester, 66, husband of Madeline McQuinn Sylvester, of Markham Place, Meriden, died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2002, at his residence in the company of his family.
Born July 6, 1936, Darrell was the son of the late Charles and Vallie Sylvester. For most of his life, he was a resident of Meriden. He was employed as a foreman at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, retiring in 1995 after 33 years of service. Darrell was an active member of the Masons in Pioneer Lodge No. 72 AF and AM, Ashland, Maine. An avid hunter, he was an active member of the Eastside Neighborhood Association in Meriden.
Besides his wife, Madeline, he is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gregory and Cindi Sylvester of Waterbury and Keith Sylvester of Meriden; and a daughter, Ronda Sylvester, also of Meriden; a sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Dale Soucey of Ashland, Maine; a grandson, Eric; and two step-grandchildren, Marc and Michelle.
Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial service on Friday, Jan. 3, 2003, at 8 p.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden. Calling hours will be prior to the service from 6 to 9 p.m. The family requests that donations in his memory may be made to the Connecticut Hospice Inc., 110 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT 06492.
John F. Beatson Jr.
SOUTHINGTON -- John F. Beatson Jr., 80, of Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 23, 2002, in Arizona. He was the husband for 54 years of Carol (Ryder) Beatson.
Born May 26, 1922, in Southington, the son of the late John and Rose (McHugh) Beatson. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army-Air Corp. and had served as a 2nd Lt. Bombardier with the 453 bomb group in the 8th Air Force in Europe until the war ended. He had set up and worked a Veterans Service Center in Southington and then John served in Germany during the Korean War. Prior to his retirement he has worked at Rae Bearings Distributor in New Haven. John was a member of the Southington Board of Education from October 1962 to July 1971. Also a founder of Mountain Grove Swim Club in Southington.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by six children, Stephen and his wife, Betsy Beatson of Glastonbury, Karen and her husband, Bob Smith of Southington, Jean Beatson of Jericho, Vt., Mary and her husband, Mark Johnson of Harwinton, Jackie and her husband, Stan St. John of Southington, Leslie Beatson and her husband, Stacy Starkweather of Wolcott, Vt.; 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Rosemary Peterson of Gorham, Maine, and Doreen McGluckin of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, Richard Beatson of Rockingham, Vt.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial Mass which will be held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at Mary Our Queen Church, 258 Savage St., Plantsville, CT at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in St. Thomas Cemetery. There are no calling hours. DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. has charge of local arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 US Highway 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902, or Odyssey Hospice, 750 E. Foothills Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718.
Therman E. Cox
WEST HAVEN -- Therman E. Cox, 79, of Savin Park, West Haven, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven. He was the beloved husband of Bernice D. Wing Cox.
Born in Sherman Mills, Maine, June 22, 1923, son of the late Raymond and Pauline St. John Cox and had been a resident of West Haven for many years and a summer resident of Maine and a winter resident of Florida. He was employed by Manufacturers Express in New Haven as a truck driver for many years until his retirement, was a member of the Teamsters Union Local No. 443 of New Haven and had been a member of the West Haven Lodge of Elks.
Besides his wife Bernice, he is survived by his three sons and two daughters-in-law, Barry R. Cox of West Haven, James H. and Karen M. Cox of Wallingford and Dale O. and Jane K. Cox of Solon, Maine, formerly of Meriden; seven grandchildren, Rachel and Gregory Sackett of North Carolina, Alison and John Tricarico of Meriden, Daniel and Samantha Cox of Meriden, James Cox and Stephanie Cox both of Wallingford, Kristin Stellato of North Haven and Tina Menze of New York; two sisters, Glenda (Mrs. Stanley) Gadbois of Sherman Mills, Maine and Verda (Mrs. Bill) Keene of Brewer, Maine; a brother and sister-in-law, Clyde and Joan Cox of Maine; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Carolyn Cox; a sister, Eda Powers; and a brother, Cedric Cox.
His family will receive relatives and friends in the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St., Ext., Wallingford, Saturday from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the Wallingford Funeral Home, Saturday at 3 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care, c/o Hospital of St. Raphael, 1450 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511.
Marion T. Donovan
MADISON -- Marion T. Donnelly Donovan, 84, of Green Hill Road, Madison, formerly of Guilford and Holly Lane, Wallingford, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank J. Donovan, former Wallingford Superintendent of Schools.
Mrs. Donovan was born in Fall River, Mass., Oct. 10, 1918, a daughter of the late John T. and Elizabeth Keeley Donnelly, and had been a Wallingford resident for many years, until moving to Guilford, and later Madison, where she had lived for the past several years. She was a parishioner of St. George Church in Guilford, and while residing in Wallingford had been a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church.
She is survived by her three daughters, Andrea Donovan and Marion Donovan of Madison, and Libby Donovan Dunn of Newport, R.I.; two sons, Matthew Donovan and Sean Donovan, both of Wallingford; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Hannon Donovan of Branford; a grandson, Wayne Donovan of Meriden; a granddaughter, Jennifer Pastor of Los Angeles, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Wayne Donovan; and three sister, Dorothy Ryan, Eileen Donnelly, and Veronica Donnelly.
Her family will receive relatives and friends at the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., Wallingford, Friday from 4 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:15 a.m. from the Wallingford Funeral Home, when the funeral cortege will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Church, 84 North Colony St., Wallingford, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery, Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to either The Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106, or to the charity of one's choice.
Susan Judd
WALLINGFORD -- Susan Webster Judd, 53, of Twin Oak Road, beloved wife of David F. Judd, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford.
Born in Meriden, Jan. 13, 1949, she had been a Cheshire and Meriden resident until moving to Wallingford 20 years ago. She was a graduate of Cheshire High School, received her Bachelor in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Guidance Counseling at CCSU. She was a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified School Counselor, a member and Past President of the Connecticut School Counselor Association, and had been employed by the Board of Education in Seymour as an Elementary School Guidance Counselor at the Chatfield School for 15 years. She received the Elementary School Counselor of the Year Award in 1997 and had worked with Family Service Inc., of New Britain as an Adoption Case Worker for 10 years. She was a parishioner of the Church of the Resurrection in Wallingford.
Besides her husband, David, she is survived by her mother, Jane Brodeu Webster Lagace of Yalesville; her two daughters and son-in-law, Amy Judd Petrillo and Gary M. Petrillo, Jr., and Michelle H. Judd; her son, Michael D. Judd, all of Wallingford; her brother, and sister-in-law, Timothy and Paula Webster of Norfolk; her two sisters and brother-in-law, Lisa Webster Vitale and Frank Vitale of Wallingford and Claudia Webster of Boston, Mass.; her nieces and nephews, Abby and Toby Spector of Waterville, Maine, Rachael and Joel Webster of Norfolk, Kelly Hanson and Michelle Hanson Cleland, both of Meriden, Amanda Alaren and Megan Rosenberger, both of Virginia; and her godson, Aaron Craig of Wallingford. She was predeceased by her father, George D. Webster; her stepfather, Albert Lagace; her sister, Christine Webster Spector; and her nephew, Nathan Webster.
Her family will receive relatives and friends in the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street, Ext., Wallingford, Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Wallingford Funeral Home, when the funeral cortege will proceed to the Church of the Resurrection, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to the Nathan Webster Memorial Fund, Region No. 7, 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted, CT 06098.
Teresa Papaluca
CALABRIA, Italy -- Teresa Papaluca, 100, passed away Monday, Dec. 2, 2002. She was the daughter of the late Francesco Papaluca and Filomena Scali.
Born on Feb. 2, 1902, this beloved mother, grandmother and friend was deeply devoted to the Madonna. She prayed the Rosary daily.
She was predeceased by her husband, Gottardo Salvatore Cassala; four children; and one granddaughter.
She is survived by two daughters and two sons, Mrs. Rosina Carabetta of Wallingford, Mrs. Vincenzina Letteri of Grotteria, Salvatore Cassala of Milan, Italy and Raffaele Cassala of Meriden; one sister, Mrs. Josephine Papandrea of Meriden; one brother, Orlando Papaluca of Hornsby, Australia; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, among them Mrs. Theresa Panetta of Lincoln, Mass., Mrs. Vincent (Maria) Fazzolari of Meriden and Francesco Papaluca of Meriden.
The funeral and entombment took place in Italy on Dec. 3. A memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003 at Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford at 9 a.m.
John B. Foffa
NEW BRITAIN -- John B. Foffa, 72, who died Monday, Dec. 16, 2002. Due to concerns about the impending snowstorm Mr. Foffa's Memorial Mass scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. has been postponed with apologies for any inconvenience. His Memorial Mass will be reschedule for early spring. The time and date to be announced by the Smith-Ruzzo Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden.
John F. Kiltonic
SOUTHINGTON -- John Francis Kiltonic, 69, of West Center St., Ext., Southington, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003 at home.
Born in Southington, June 6, 1933, the son of the late Stephen and Helen Golec Kiltonic, John had been a lifelong Southington resident. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was a longtime member of St. Thomas Church. John worked at Tolles Equipment for over 20 years.
He is survived by his three daughters, Karen Bryant of Amherst, Mass., Jeanne Rawdin of San Diego, Calif., Stacey Macdonald of Milford; one brother, Thomas Kiltonic of Plantsville; two sisters, Genevieve Maigarie of Plantsville and Helen Moyer of San Diego, Calif.; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his son, Mark Kiltonic; and his brother, Stephen Kiltonic.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Church. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours are Saturday from 8 to 8:30 a.m. at the Plantsville Memorial Funeral Home, 975 South Main St., Plantsville. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Kiltonic may be made to the Franciscan Home Care Agency, P.O. Box 4001, Meriden, CT 06451.
Winona Andrews
WALLINGFORD - Winona Wentworth Andrews, 93, of 35 Marc Drive, formerly of 374 Village Dr., Cheshire died Thursday, January 2, 2003 at the Skyview Nursing and Rehab Center. She was the wife of the late Andrew C. Andrews.
She was born in Winthrop, MA, March 22, 1909, a daughter of the late Fred and Ethel George Wiggin.
Until her retirement, she was employed as a secretary at the Choate-Rosemary Hall School in Wallingford. She was a member of the Christian Science Mother Church in Boston, MA.
She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral services and burial will be private. There are no calling hours. The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford is in charge of arrangements.
Charlotte Buchman
WEST HARTFORD -- Charlotte Buchman, 87, beloved wife of the late Reuben Buchman, died on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003. The loving mother of Allan Buchman and the late Roberta Gorman, the cherished grandmother of Jessica Gorman, Joshua Gorman, Tara Buchman, and the late Chitra Jhardene Buchman, she was a bright light and a source of great light and strength for her friends and family. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend graveside services to be held on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at 1 p.m. at B'nai Abraham Cemetery, Corrigan Ave., Meriden, with Rabbi Eric A. Silver officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden.
