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Ruth Munkoff, 88, artist, decorator
Ruth Loyce Munkhoff of Ballard Green, a Ridgefielder for many years, died Friday, June 3, 2005. She was 88 years old and widow of Edward W. Munkoff, who died in 1982.
A native of Merrillville, Ind., Mrs. Munkoff was born on June 29, 1916, daughter of Lydia and George Loyce. She grew up in Merrillville and attended art school to pursue her love of painting.
She married
Edward Munkhoff of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1935 and they remained in the Midwest till the start of World War II when assignments took Mr. Munkhoff, who was an Army major, from Georgia to New York, inspecting troop training camps.
In 1943, his post as commandant of the ROTC unit at St. John's University brought the couple to Baldwin, Long Island. With a young family and a desire to have vegetable gardens and pastures for horses and cows, Mrs. Monkhoff looked around New England for a new home, and discovered Ridgefield and a farm on Wooster Street, where they moved in 1952.
Mrs. Monkhoff used her keen eye for color to help many homeowners choose paint and wallpaper at the family's business, Monkhoff Paint and Power Shop, which was located for many years on Catoonah Street.
She was also a professional interior decorator and antiques restorer.
Mrs. Monkhoff was active in girl scouting and was also an artist who painted in oils.
She is survived by two daughters, Karen Conklin of Rhode Island, and Linda Harrison of Connecticut; a son, Gary Munkhoff of Oregon; a sister, Audrey Szatyari of Florida; a niece, Susan Sewall of North Carolina, formerly of Ridgefield; and a nephew, Ed Graham of Redding; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. A brother, Heber Loyce, died before her.
'Her family of five generations kept her active and involved,' the family said. 'They will forever miss her wisdom and experiences.'
Private services will be at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in Mrs. Munkhoff's memory may be made to the Ridgefield Ambulance Fund, c/o Ridgefield Fire Department, 6 Catoonah Street, or to Meals on Wheels, 25 Gilbert Street, Ridgefield CT 06877.
Bonnie Hansen, former Ridgefielder
Bonnie Scates Hansen, 68 of Carmel, Ind., a former Ridgefielder active in the community, died June 3, 2005, of cancer.
Born in Oconomowac, WI, she was raised in Seattle, Wash.. She was a graduate of the University of Washington where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and a senior class officer.
Married for 45 years to Barry Hansen, she lived in San Diego, CA, London, England, Ridgefield, CT, and Carmel, IN. She served as the president of Women's Committee at the Ridgefield Community Center, president of both the Ridgefield Newcomers Club and Carmel Newcomers Club, and was involved in the Indianapolis Assistance League.
Bonnie's family and friends were the center of her life. She is survived by her loving husband, Barry Hansen; daughter, Laurel Gagné and son, Brent Hansen, both of San Diego; grandsons, Billy and Peter Gagné and brothers, Bill Scates of Lacy, WA and John Scates of San Juan Island, WA.
'While she was happiest in her garden, she will be remembered by her boundless energy and her compassion for others,' her family said. 'She will be greatly missed by all.'
A memorial celebration will be held on June 27th at 2pm at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA. Contributions in memory of Bonnie Hansen may be sent to St. Vincent's Hospice, 8450 North Payne Road, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46268.
Arrangements entrusted to Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center-Carmel.
Louise K. Kolb, teacher and tutor
Louise Keyes Kolb of Ridgefield died on Friday, June 3, 2005, at her home surrounded by her family. She was the wife of Todd L. Kolb.
Mrs. Kolb was born in Syracuse, N.Y., daughter of Robert W. and Olivia Bigelow Keyes. She graduated from Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., attended Syracuse University, and earned her master's degree from Western Connecticut State University in 1995.
Mrs. Kolb was employed by IBM in New York City and had been a teacher for the Utica, N.Y. public school system.
A Ridgefielder since 1981, Mrs. Kolb was a volunteer coordinator at the Ridgefield Family Y and was active in the Ridgefield Coalition for Community Action, which promoted activities for young people in the 1980s. She was also a member and publicity chair of the Ridgefield Woman's Club. Mrs. Kolb was also instrumental in the founding of the Ridgefield Senior Men's Club.
For the past 10 years, Mrs. Kolb had tutored more than 400 students in the Writing Lab at WestConn. 'Louise is a favorite here,' Professor Abbey Zink said in 2004. 'People ask for her, specifically.'
In her honor of her 10 years of volunteer work at the Writing Lab, the university established 'The Louise Kolb Award' to be given each year to two students enrolled at the university's School of Art &Sciences.
Mrs. Kolb was a lifetime member of the Female Charitable Society of Baldwinsville, N.Y., had been a deacon in the Presbyterian Church of Darien, and a member of the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church.
Besides her husband of 39 years, Mrs. Kolb is survived by a son Michael B. Kolb of Danbury; two daughters, Molly Olivia Roffman of Yonkers, N.Y., and Nancy Lee Cook of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a brother, Dr. Robert W. Keyes III of Harrisburg, Pa.; and three grandchildren, Otis B. Roffman, Benjamin L. Roffman and Lauren Grace Cook.
Memorial services took place on Wednesday in the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital Development Fund for Oncology Nursing Education, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810.
Erwin Holmes, World War II veteran
Erwin W. Holmes, a longtime Ridgefielder who had served in the Army in the Pacific Theatre, died on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Danbury Hospital. He was 88 years old and the husband of Teckla Hildegarde Larson Holmes.
Mr. Holmes was born in Trenton, N.J., on Oct. 8, 1914, a son of the late Thomas Bewsey Holmes and Bertha Louise Waidelich Holmes Tripler. He came to Norwalk as a teenager and was a graduate of Norwalk High School, Class of 1933.
He met his future wife at a local church before the war, and the two were married
on Jan. 26, 1945.
Mr. Holmes was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945. He was a corporal stationed in Australia and New Guinea.
Mr. Holmes career included working with Perkin-Elmer Corp. on electrical systems for space equipment, and as a draftsman for Schlumberger-Doll Research Center in Ridgefield. Most recently he worked for the South Norwalk Electric Company, retiring in 1980.
He and his family moved to Ridgefield in 1955
He was a strong Christian man who sought Gods will for all his days, his family said. Mr. Holmes was a very active member of the Danbury Church of Christ, where he had served as a deacon.
Everyone loved him, said his daughter Audrey Hill. We always had friends at the house. He was always helping other people.
She added that her parents placed great importance on education. Many children and grandchildren are teachers and health professionals.
For relaxation, Mr. Holmes enjoyed music he played both the mandolin and the steel guitar and vegetable gardening. He always had a beautiful garden, Audrey Hill said.
Besides his wife, Mr. Holmes is survived by five children: Karleen E. Holmes of Ridgefield; Dr. David L. Holmes and his wife Karen of Stockton, N.J.; Thomas E. Holmes and his wife Denise of Hamden; Audrey Hill and her husband Charles of Fayetteville, Pa.; and Theodore B. Holmes and his wife Susan of Columbia, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, Leslie Harrington, Melissa Burrows and Vanessa Holmes, all of Texas, Paige Selby of California, Corinne Holmes of New York, Nathan Hill of Washington, D.C. (an Army corpsman just back from Iraq), Jessica Hill of Texas, Jonathan Hill of Tennessee, and Lauren, Emily and Rebecca Holmes of Pennsylvania; one great-granddaughter, Lily, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside committal prayers, with military honors, will take place today, Thursday, at 9:30 a.m. at the Branchville Cemetery.
Evangelist Dessain Terry will lead a memorial service today at 11 in the Danbury Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury.
Contributions in memory of Mr. Holmes may be made to the Danbury Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, CT 06810.
The Bouton Funeral Home in Georgetown is in charge of arrangements.
Teckla Larson Holmes, 90, nurse
Teckla Hildegaard Larson Holmes, a retired nurse, died on June 2, 2005, at the age of 90 years and 10 months.
Mrs. Holmes was the youngest of five children of Swedish immigrants Lars and Matilda 'Tillie' Larson. She grew up in Grassflat, Pa., where she completed high school. She then went on to post-secondary school to train as a nurse in New York City.
Upon completion of her training, she moved to Stamford to be near her sister Edith who, with her husband Nils, was raising a family. She became active in the Swedish Congregational Church where she met a soldier about to be shipped out to New Guinea in World War II. Four years later she was married
to Erwin Holmes, and they raised five children.
Mrs. Holmes had worked as a nurse at Norwalk Hospital before her retirement, and lived out her life in a rural section of Ridgefield. She attended the Church of Christ in Danbury and tended to her gardens, home, and family.
'Teckla was a deeply devout Christian,' her family said. 'She never pushed her beliefs on anyone but quietly and resolutely displayed Christian compassion in every aspect of her life. She was a model of what Christ meant when he said, 'Whatsoever you do for the least of these you do unto me.' As a nurse, mother, wife, aunt, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Teckla personified Christianity.'
Her daughters-in-law often said that 'Teckla was truly a mother to them and was just the opposite of those known as suffering from the infamous 'mother-in-law-syndrome.' She was kind and benevolent to everyone she met, no matter the race, religion or political leaning.'
Mrs. Holmes is survived by her immediate family, Karleen Holmes; David and Karen Holmes and their children, Paige and Peter Holmes-Selby, and their son Max, and Corinne Ashley Holmes; Thomas and Denise Holmes and their children, Lauren, Emily and Rebecca; and the many first generation nieces and nephews, Emil Lundin, Daniel Lundin, Peter Lundin and Sara Lundin-Sabo, Dick Larson and Joel Larson, and Kenneth Larson as well as all the greatnieces and -nephews and cousins in America and Sweden.
Friends may call on Friday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 11, at 9:30 a.m. at Branchville Cemetery, Florida Road, followed at 11 by a memorial service and lunch reception in Danbury at the Danbury Church of Christ, 90 Clapboard Ridge Road.
Jeffrey Wurfel, 51, systems analyst
Jeffrey D. Wurfel Sr. of Ridgefield, a systems analyst with Pitney-Bowes Corporation of Stamford, died on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at his home. He was 51 years old.
Mr. Wurfel was born in Huntington Station, Long Island, N.Y., on Aug. 5, 1953, son of Lester E. Wurfel Sr. of Philadelphia, Pa., and the late Lottie Sespaniak Wurfel.
He moved to Stamford with his family at age eight and attended Stamford schools and graduated from Rippowam High School, Class of 1971, and Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1975.
A resident of Ridgefield for the past 13 years coming from Norwalk, he was with Pitney-Bowes for the past 18 years.
Besides his father, Mr. Wurfel is survived by two sons, Jeffrey D. Wurfel Jr. of Los Angeles, Calif., and Andrew J. Wurfel of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, Lester E. Wurfel Jr. and his wife Joan of Wynnewood, Pa.; and his former wife Nancy Fitzgerald Harrison of Tallahassee, Fla.
Memorial services will take place in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, on Wednesday, June 15, at 1 p.m.
The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home at the time of service.
Richard Schultz, former town official
Richard C. Schultz, a former Ridgefield town official who had lived here more than 25 years, died on May 31, 2005, in Palm Desert, Calif., after a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).
Mr. Schultz was born on Dec. 6, 1937, and grew up in Norwalk. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1958 after only three years and embarked on a career in corporate finance. He worked as a senior accountant at Price Waterhouse for six years and then spent a 22-year career at Perkin-Elmer, serving as controller and eventually corporate comptroller.
He was CFO and vice president of Hosokawa Micron before retiring from the corporate world to own and operate an EconoLodge with his wife for nine years in Buellton, Calif.
An active member of the community, Mr. Schultz served on the Boards of Finance and Education, belonged to church groups at St. Mary's and coached soccer as well as Townies basketball.
In Buellton, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of People Helping People, Head Start and the Community Action Commission.
He and his wife, Gwyn, were married
in 1962 and raised a son and daughter on Silver Spring Road, and later on Old Wagon Road.
'They enjoyed 43 years of family, travel, business and great laughs together,' his family said.
Besides his wife, Mr. Schultz is survived by two children, Rick Schultz and his wife, Lara, and Debra Schultz and her husband, Gary, all of northern California, grandsons Jake and Riley, and a sister Nancy Lato.
'Dick possessed a sharp mind, a loving heart, a strong faith and an eternally positive attitude,' his family said. 'He was a devoted father and husband and a savvy businessman who enjoyed sport, travel and competition of any kind. He made friends wherever he went. He faced his illness with great strength and faith.'
Services were in California.
Donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Association, www.alsa.org.
Roger Fingado, IBM retiree, yachtsman
Roger W. Fingado of Ridgefield, a retired IBM employee who was a sailor and conservationist, died on May 31, 2005, after a brief battle with cancer and more than 16 years after receiving a donated kidney. He was 77 years old.
The oldest of 10 children (six of whom survive him), Mr. Fingado was born in Natick, Mass., and grew up in Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school, he volunteered to serve in the Navy. He was a signalman in the Pacific Theatre in Japan, China and San Francisco for three years and was honorably discharged in 1948.
Mr. Fingado graduated from Antioch College with degrees in economics and conservation. He then moved to Detroit, Mich., where he worked for Chrysler and Ford. There he married
his first wife, R. Corinne Brown, in 1954.
Mr. Fingado joined IBM in 1959 and moved with his wife to Ridgefield in 1961. He had a distinguished career at IBM in the marketing and planning areas and received three Outstanding Contribution Awards from the chairman of the company before retiring in 1989.
After Corinne Fingado's death, he married
Judith H. Sternbach in 1971 and enjoyed what he called the 'good years' with her until her death in 1998.
'Roger's interests were varied and he was passionate about all of them,' his family said. He raced yachts on Long Island Sound and was a fleet captain for many years. He served in the Ridgefield Soccer Club and was president of that association.
Mr. Fingado was active in the Unitarian Church, helping to found one in Redding before joining The Unitarian Church in Westport. He championed the dialysis cause through the Danbury Dialysis Fund and served as president of that organization as well.
As a ranger with the Ridgefield Conservation Commission, he took care of open space off Florida Hill Road. One time he came upon some motorcyclists in the preserve. 'I just said, 'Guys, you can't go back there,' and they left,' he recalled in a 2002 interview, adding, 'I happened to have a pitchfork in my hand at the time.'
He enjoyed concerts performed by the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and journeys to New York City to enjoy opera. He was an organic gardener and enjoyed cooking and woodworking.
'A voracious reader, he would occasionally write short biographical essays on the people he loved and on the trips he took with his wife, Judy,' his family said. 'Some of the best moments of his life were on the various cruises he took around the world with Judy and on occasion, his entire family.'
Mr. Fingado is survived by five children and their spouses, Janet Ross of Butler, Pa., Gustav A. Fingado IV and his wife, Pamela S. of Shrewsbury N.J., Lucinda G. Fingado and her husband, J. Michael McCreary of Woodbury, John P. Fingado and his wife, Jennifer A. of Parkville, Mo., and Daniel A. Fingado of Danbury; six grandchildren, Laurie Lynn Gray Ho, Lisa Gorsdorf, Lindsey Ross, Allison Fingado, Melissa Fingado, Alexey Fingado and Fina McCreary; as well as six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place Saturday, June 11, at 11a.m. at The Unitarian Church, 10 Lyons Plains Road, in Westport.
The family requests donations be made to the Judy and Roger Scholarship Fund at the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886. The family also thanks all who read this who have designated themselves to be organ donors.
