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Peter Forcelli, 87, longtime resident
Peter Anthony Forcelli, a longtime Branchville resident, died Thursday, Nov. 27, at Haven Health Care Nursing Home in St. Albans, Vt. He was 87 years old.
He was born Sept. 7, 1916 in Yonkers, N.Y., the son of the late Antonio and Antoinetta (DiBerardino) Forcelli.
At the age of seven, his family moved to the Branchville section of Ridgefield, where he lived until 1998 when he moved with his sister, Edith, to St. Albans. He had lived with his sister Edith and her family his entire life.
Mr. Forcelli worked for 45 years for the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Co. in Georgetown, retiring in 1977.
“He did not have children of his own but was a beloved and special uncle to all of his nieces and nephews,” his family said.
Mr. Forcelli was a longtime fan of the New York Yankees and at the age of 13 he saw Babe Ruth play. “Later in life he enjoyed walking and spending time with his great-grandnieces Rachel and Megan who were the light of his life,” his family said. “He always dreamed of winning the lottery, but not for himself, but so he could share the money with his family.”
He is survived by two sisters, Edith M. Dodd of St. Albans and Anne Frulla of Washington, Conn., and a brother, John Forcelli of Ridgefield. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including the following with whom he was very close, Suzanne Burt and her husband Basil of Georgia, Vt., Nancy Rodgers and her husband Wade of Alstead, N.H., Eric R. Dodd and his friend Joyce Stowe of Enosburg, Vt., Melissa Buckley, her husband Doug and their daughters, Rachel and Megan all of Georgia, Vt., Jason Burt and his wife Christina of Georgia, Vt., Lisa Methven and James Methven both of Alstead, N.H.
Services were Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Avenue, Enosburg Falls. Burial was in the Missisquoi Cemetery in Enosburg Falls.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Franklin County Home Health Agency-Hospice Program, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478.
Joyce Fries, eight-year Ridgefielder
Joyce Ann Fries of 25 Gilbert Street, an eight-year resident, died on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Danbury Hospital. She was 63 years old.
Ms. Fries was born in White Plains, N.Y., on May 26, 1940 and attended White Plains schools.
Survivors include a son, Gregory Fries and daughter in law Liz of South Salem, N.Y.; two daughters, Lisa Seymour and son-in-law Daniel of North Salem, N.Y., and Valerie Baumler and son-in-law Eric of South Salem, as well as grandchildren Catherine, Christopher, Lauren, Lucy, William, Jack and Gregory.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will follow in South Salem Cemetery in South Salem.
Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah Street, on Friday from 9 to 10.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church Building Fund, 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield 06877.
James E. Gay Jr., 68, Ridgefield native
James E. Gay Jr. of Bethel, a Ridgefield native, died Monday, Oct. 6, at Danbury Hospital. He was 68 years old and the husband of Charlene A. Muhlfeld Gay of Bethel.
Mr. Gay was born June 19, 1935 in Ridgefield, son of James E. Gay Sr. of Norwalk and the late Ruthamae Finney Gay.
He had been an inspector for Nash Engineering of Trumbull, retiring in 1989 after many years. He had lived in Bethel for the past 37 years.
Besides his wife and father, he is survived by a son, James E. Gay III and his wife Karen of Danbury; three daughters, Jill Sousa and her husband John of Danbury, Joy Steinmiller and her husband Fred of Bethel and Bonnie Northrop and her husband Mark of Hobart, N.Y.; and two grandchildren, Devon and Samantha.
Cremation will take place at Charter Oak Crematory, Oxford.
There are no calling hours. The Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Padanaram Hose Volunteer Fire Co., 17 North Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
Robert Hannah, former Ridgefielder
Robert L. Hannah of Temple Terrace, Fla., a former Ridgefielder who had been a chemist with Perkin-Elmer, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, at his home. He was 65.
Mr. Hannah was born Jan. 23, 1938, in Felicity, Ohio, and grew up in Ohio. He was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
Mr. Hannah had worked at Perkin-Elmer from the mid-1960s until the mid-1980s. He was a co-owner of Bailey’s Restaurant in Monroe and subsequently retired to Temple Terrace.
Survivors include two daughters, Cindy Stephens and her family of Land o’ Lakes, Fla., and Jeanne Hannah of Danbury; a son, Michael Hannah and family of Killington, Vt.; three grandchildren; and his former wife, Linda R. Hannah of Ridgefield.
Private services will be held at convenience of the family.
Kirk L. Johnson, active in sports
Kirk Lowell Johnson, 46, of 29 Indian Cave Road died on Tuesday morning, Dec. 2, at Danbury Hospital.
Mr. Johnson was born in Kokomo, Ind., April 30, 1957, a son of Joan (Lowell) and David L. Johnson of Kokomo.
He attended Kokomo schools and graduated from Haworth High School in 1975, where he lettered in swimming and competed with the debate club.
He was also a member of the National Honor Society. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1979 and he then was employed by Delco Electronics, a division of General Motors, for eight years.
He belonged to Alpha Tau Omega, a social fraternity at Purdue, the Indiana University Alumnae Club of New York City, and served on the finance committee of the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield.
Mr. Johnson began a career in financial services after earning a master of business degree in finance, with honors, from Indiana University in 1987.
At the time of his death he was vice president of institutional trading at Adirondack Electronic Market in New York City. Known for his keen intelligence and memory, he would often regale friends and colleagues with an incisive understanding on a myriad of topics, from Middle-Eastern geopolitics to Hollywood film history to complex financial formulas. His enthusiasm for all of this was contagious, his family said.
An avid sports fan, he was particularly devoted to coaching his son's teams, including soccer and basketball at an early age, and then focusing on baseball for the past four years. He was a constant presence on and off the fields. If there had been a torrential downpour Friday night, for example, Mr. Johnson was there on Saturday morning, sweeping the mud off bases and readying the fields for play. He actively participated in the Craigs' Jewelry team and became even more committed to several Babe Ruth League teams, co-coaching Ridgefield Supply and Parma Deli teams of 2002 and 2003 and assisting the other coaches during the fall seasons.
For instance, immediately after a four-week in-hospital chemotherapy ordeal, he traveled directly to Playground Field to watch his son and the other team members play. Mr. Johnson also loved the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 car races and was a loyal supporter of Purdue and Indiana University football and basketball.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Johnson is survived by his son, Alexander S. Johnson of Ridgefield; two sisters: Jane A. Johnson and Jill D. Hilgemeier, both of Indianapolis. An infant son, Andrew D. Johnson, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Ridgefield Babe Ruth, P.O. Box 1211, Ridgefield, CT 06877, would be appreciated.
Paul E. Mangold, 47, RHS 1974
Paul Edward Mangold, who had been a commercial fisherman in Alaska, died Nov. 8 at his home in Juneau. He was 47 years old.
Mr. Mangold was born Aug. 10, 1956 in Silver Springs, Md., a son of James and Mary Mangold. He moved here with his family in 1970 and lived on Standish Drive. He graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1974.
Mr. Mangold had lived in Juneau for 25 years and worked as a fisherman, in construction and had owned a business.
“Paul loved Alaska and he loved fishing,” his family said. “It was his love to be with his children, and he spent most of his life taking his children outside and he loved hiking, skiing and fishing with his children. There was nothing he would not do for them.”
Mr. Mangold is survived by sons Shane Mangold and Simon Mangold of Juneau; daughter, Savannah Mangold of Juneau; his father, James Mangold of Florida; brothers, Rick Mangold of Florida, Bill Mangold and John Mangold of Connecticut; sisters, Judy Crane, Barbie Mangold and Tricia Heiser of Connecticut; and his former wife, Julie Morris of Juneau.
Services took place Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Shrine of St. Therese in Juneau.
James Moriarty, pilot, Marine
James Moriarty of Branford, a former Ridgefielder who once ran for state representive, died recently after a brief illness. He was the husband of Shirley Janes Moriarty.
A native of Norwalk, Mr. Moriarty was one of seven children of John and Theresa Moriarty. While still in Norwalk High School, he worked part time for an ice cream store and upon graduation was asked to stay on and manage a chain of stores. He declined and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during World War II in the Pacific Theatre and seeing combat on Saipan and Guadalcanal.
He and his wife met as children and, in fact, he saved her life when she was 13 years old. As Shirley Moriarty described it 40 years ago, “My friends and I had been playing a dangerously foolish game at the high diving board. As I dove into the water, someone rapidly followed and accidently hit my head, rendering me unconscious. Jimmy, nearby, noticed I did not come to the surface and started swimming under water looking for me. He is why I am alive...”
After the war, Mr. Moriarty graduated from Bridgeport Aero Flight College and became a flight instructor for many years.
The Moriartys came to Ridgefield around 1960, and lived on Limestone Road. He became active in the Jefferson Club, a social group of Ridgefield Democrats. In 1962, when Ridgefield had two representatives in Hartford, he ran for state representative on the Democratic ticket.
“The people’s representative should be like a diamond, having many facets, since he is many things to many people,” his wife Shirley said during the campaign. “He should not represent a majority group nor should he represent a minority group. He should possess an open clear mind for all. Jimmy is such a man.”
Mr. Moriarty lost to Romeo G. Petroni and John C. Kelly, both Republicans.
In Ridgefield, Mr. Moriarty had been a building contractor. He was also president of the Greater Danbury Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His daughter, Colleen, died of the disease when she was an 18-year-old student at Central Connecticut State College.
In honor of Colleen and their other daughter, the Moriartys donated 3.5 acres of lake-front property on Waters Edge Way to the Town of Ridgefield, naming it The Colleen and Jamys Moriarty Wildlife Refuge.
Mr. Moriarty later worked for the Exide Corp. and Summit Handling as a consulting engineer. He retired to Branford where he served on the Board of Police Commissioners and as a president of the Civic Association of Short Beach.
Mr. Moriarty enjoyed flying, aerial photography, conservation, and sports of many kinds. He had played both football and baseball in his youth. Early in their marriage, the Moriartys raised purebred cocker spaniels, Irish setters and collies.
Besides his wife and his daughter Jamys of Canton, Conn., Mr. Moriarty is survived by another daughter, Romona Watras; a sister, Jean Beale of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and a nephew, John AnteDominico of Tequesta, Fla.
A military service will take place in Canton.
Jack Nalley, 54, Ridgefield native
John R. “Jack” Nalley III of Danbury, a Ridgefield native who had worked for the town highway department for 13 years, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, at his home. He was 54 years old and the husband of Ellen O’Donnell Nalley.
Mr. Nalley was born in Norwalk on Oct. 5, 1949, son of Anna Anderson Nalley of Ridgefield and the late John R. Nalley Jr. He grew up in Ridgefield and graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1969.
He graduated from Teterboro School of Aeronautics in Teterboro, N.J., in 1971 with a degree in mechanics. He then joined the highway department as head mechanic, working there for 13 years, and then worked for Morganti Inc. in Ridgefield as a mechanic.
Mr. Nalley later worked as head mechanic at Heritage Village in Southbury and then the Bartlett Tree Company. Most recently he had been with LoStocco Services in Danbury.
He met his future wife on a blind date, and the two were married Sept. 18, 1976 in Herkimer, N.Y.
Mr. Nalley had been a stock car racing enthusiast and had worked with the pit crew on his father’s car at the Danbury Racearena years ago. He was also a volunteer with Little League in Danbury.
For relaxation, he enjoyed hunting.
Besides his wife and mother, he is survived by three children, Elizabeth Nalley of Oakville, John R. Nalley IV of Danbury, and Patrick O. Nalley of Danbury; two sisters, Charlotte Vena and her husband Andrew of Bethel, and Pamela Williams of Ridgefield; and two grandsons, Chase and Reese Nalley of Oakville; a brother-in-law, Philip D. O’Donnell Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Herkimer; father-in-law Philip D. O’Donnell Sr. of Herkimer; and by several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday at St. Gregory the Great Church, Great Plain Road, Danbury. Burial will be in Wooster Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Milford Regional Oncology Center, 21 Elm Street, New Milford, CT 06776, or Immaculate High School, 73 Southern Boulevard, Danbury CT 06810.
Timothy Phillips, real estate educator
Timothy Scott Phillips of Ridgefield, a Realtor who had operated a school for real estate professionals, died on Tuesday, Oct.7, of cancer at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, surrounded by his family. He was 64 years old and the husband of Christina Brod Phillips,
A native of New York City, Mr. Phillips was born on Dec. 2, 1938, a son of Everett Franklin and Charlotte Dowrie Phillips. He was raised with his family in Darien and graduated from Darien High School in the Class of 1956. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Class of 1961. He served in the Connecticut National Guard, attaining the rank of lieutenant.
Mr. Phillips began his career as a banker with the State National Bank at its Brookfield office. In 1965, he established T.S. Phillips Real Estate Company of Brookfield. An advocate of high standards and professionalism of Realtors, Mr. Phillips acquired and developed the Connecticut Real Estate School teaching continuing education and career development courses. He was a senior instructor of Certified Realtor Broker (CRB) programs for The National Marketing Institute of Chicago and taught Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) programs throughout New England.
He had lived in Ridgefield twice, first coming here in 1963. He moved to Brookfield in 1968, where he lived many years. He returned to Ridgefield in 1983.
Mr. Phillips had many and varied interests and hobbies. A sailor and a descendant of a family of sailors and lovers of the sea, Mr. Phillips owned a 1927 Herreschoff, a 12.5-foot long wooden sailboat that he would sail alone each spring from Woods Hole on Cape Cod to Nantucket.
Mr. Phillips was active in the formation of the 11-7 Flotilla Coast Guard Auxiliary on Nantucket Island and was its commander at the time of his death. He is also a member of the Corinthians, a national sailing organization. He belonged to the Angler’s Club of Nantucket and was a Nantucket Lightship basketmaker, creating finely woven baskets to give to friends and family.
Mr. Phillips also enjoyed flying and held his own pilot’s license. He would often fly family and friends from Connecticut to Nantucket.
An avid skier, Mr. Phillips had been a ski instructor at Birch Hill in Patterson, N.Y. for 15 years. He was a former volunteer of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company.
Mr. Phillips enjoyed beekeeping, a family tradition and interest for many years. He was a beekeeper on Nantucket and would bottle honey and bee products.
He was also a 26-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and would often tell friends he was proud of that fact.
“This is not a dress rehearsal,” he would often tell friends, explaining his passion for so many and varied interests and activities.
“He was an expert at everything,” Mrs. Phillips said. “He had the most curious mind and had to know how everything worked. He was always the teacher. He wanted people to do things correctly — whether it be real estate, sailing, skiing, flying.”
Besides his wife, Mr. Phillips’ surivivors include six children, Maria Phillips of Cambridge, Mass., Todd Phillips of Ridgefield, Mark Phillips and his wife Ellen of Hanover, Mass., Scott Phillips and his wife Patricia of Wallingford, Anthony “T.J.” Czyr and his wife Cathy of Spring Hill, Fla., and Christopher Czyr and his wife Donna of Bethel; and nine grandchildren, Mark Phillips, Ryan Phillips, Christopher Phillips, Colin Phillips, Cameron Phillips, Chloe Phillips, Nicholas Czyr, Katie Czyr and Matthew Czyr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church. Burial will take place on Nantucket Island.
The family will receive friends following the service.
Conributions in his memory may be made to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405 or to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Brant Point Station, Nantucket, MA 02554.
The Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
