Every life leaves an impact on the people they leave behind. Obituaries are a lasting tribute where generations from now people can look back on to get a glimpse into a person’s life. They are reminders that can give comfort to family, as well as become a historical marker for the time period.

The Newtown Bee is shining a light on a handful of locals who died this year. Some were familiar faces from businesses, town committees, or community members looking to make a positive difference in the world in their own way. All were and are important to their family, friends, and the fabric of what makes Newtown special.

On January 1, 2022, Raymond C. Michaud died surrounded by his family. He not only served in both the United States Navy Reserves and Army, but he also went on to become a pioneer in developing the science of microlithography. According to his obituary, “He was one of the individuals responsible for creating the process which produces the microchips that have transformed the world as we know it today.”

The following day, Joan Carol Elliott passed away. Many in town may remember her from being a fixture behind the counter at Dodgingtown Market and Deli, where she started working in 2013.

Anyone who has enjoyed a treat at The Ice Cream Shop, known today as Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop, on Church Hill Road has Charles E. White to thank for founding it in 1969. At the age of 90, the Woodbury resident died on January 3.

Lois Regina McAuliffe, 87, was a 25-year resident of Newtown who died on January 8. She was active in serving the community through organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Newtown Woman’s Club, Newtown Literacy Program, Newtown’s Commission on Aging, and St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

At the age of 93, Paul Gehrett, of Newtown, died January 16. He was community focused, serving as secretary and personnel committee member for Newtown Congregational Church, member of Friends of Music in Newtown, and member of the Newtown Rotary. For the latter he helped organize the annual Pancake Breakfasts, Labor Day Parades, and Golf Tournament Fundraisers.

In Sandy Hook resident Lincoln Raymond Sander’s retirement, he became president of the Newtown Historical Society Board of Trustees, member of Newtown Lions Club, and a consultant with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage on the purchase and sale of antique homes. He died on January 24.

Anne Russel Treadwell, 84, known as Newtown’s “First Lady” while her late husband Timothy Treadwell served as First Selectman (1968 to 1972), died January 29. She was active in leading Brownies and Girl Scouts, supporting the Striders Drum Corps in practices at the Sandy Hook firehouse, helped launch the Labor Day Parade in the early 1960s, helped build the Lake Lillinonah Park and Boat Launch with the Jaycees, and participated in the Rotary Pancake Breakfast at the Edmond Town Hall. She served on the Republican Town Committee and advocated for establishing Treadwell Town Park, named in memory of her husband, next to Sandy Hook School, where she had been a bus driver and a librarian.

David Everett Brown was an educator, entrepreneur, accountant, and community leader, who passed away on February 28. He taught in the Newtown school district and left teaching in 1976 to manage Edmond Town Hall for three years. In town he was active in the Newtown Jaycees, Town Players, Friends of Music, and Newtown United Methodist Church, as well as served on the Newtown Board of Selectmen and Legislative Council.

On March 29, Earl Gordon passed away. He was a resident of Newtown since 1980 and was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, president of Newtown’s Hook & Ladder Fire Department from 1984 to 1987, and was on the Newtown Board of Education from 1999 to 2003.

Barbara Ann Borst, 87, of Sandy Hook, passed away on May 17. She worked for the Newtown Board of Education for 32 years as an education assistant, was involved with the Newtown High School Band Parents Association, was a member of St Rose of Lima Church, served on the board for Newtown Scholarship Association, and the Board of Directors for The Newtown Children’s Adventure Center.

On May 13, 95-year-old Charlie Fadus passed away. His family in Newtown paid homage to his life by dedicating Castle Hill Farm’s bee-themed maze design to him, as he was affectionately known as “Bee” by his grandchildren.

Tom Gleason, 26, was born and raised in Newtown, and tragically lost his life due to unsuspected fentanyl poisoning on the weekend of May 15. His obituary shared, “It would surely be Tom’s wish, that his passing serves as a lifelong mandate to all those that knew him, as well as all those that they in turn love, to never drink, eat, or ingest anything whose origin cannot be identified.” While his time on earth was cut short, he accomplished much success in his lifetime, including co-founding a successful real estate firm.

Former Newtown resident Howard Lasher died on May 15 at the age of 81. Many may know him for having the American flag painted on trees in his front yard in Dodgingtown. He created the flag memorial to honor nine friends lost on 9/11, and for many years, conducted a ceremony to continue to honor those friends. He was also a supporter of Newtown Parks and Recreation to help send children to summer camp and Newtown Scholarship Association to help send graduating high school seniors to college.

Ronald Carl Pratt was a 1971 Newtown High School graduate who died on June 11. He was proud to serve in the United States Army and later became a member of Botsford Fire Rescue, where he served as chief engineer.

Newtown resident Richard K. Brady, 63, died on July 2. He was a member of Botsford Fire Rescue, where he served as a past chief, and a founding member of Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue.

Lifelong Sandy Hook resident and Newtown High School graduate, William Halstead, Sr, passed away on July 8. He had been a member of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co for more than 57 years, and served continuously as chief of the department for 44 years. He worked for the State of Connecticut at Fairfield Hills Hospital for 25 years, was the chief of the hospital’s fire department, served as Fire Marshal for the Town of Newtown, and served as Newtown’s Emergency Management Director.

Sean Michael Stutman was just 7 years old when he passed away on July 15. He was an active member of St Rose of Lima Church and attended every week. He also completed an overnight backpacking expedition along the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and frequented many Newtown trails, Main Street, and Fairfield Hills for outdoor excursions.

Marilyn Alexander came to Newtown in 1968 and died on July 24. She lived a life of service, including volunteering as the publisher of the Hawley School Bee Hive, being a Cub Scout den mother, and teaching generations of residents how to swim. She was also a longtime member of Newtown Congregational Church, Regional Hospice, Newtown Meals on Wheels, and Newtown Woman’s Club.

Longtime Sandy Hook resident Eileen E. Gallo, 75, passed away on July 25. She was an avid and devoted member of Saint Rose of Lima parish for decades and her gardening around the church was treasured.

Kenneth Carlson was a longtime Newtown resident who died on August 13. He was a member of FISH (Friends In Service Here), Newtown United Methodist Church, and volunteer at FAITH Food Pantry. He was also a firefighter with Dodgingtown Fire and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue companies.

The Newtown Bee lost its beloved patriarch when its publisher R. Scudder Smith died on August 14, at the age of 87. He was a leader in many ways: as a United States Marine, as the founder of the Antiques and the Arts Weekly, and as a family man. His love of antiques, bow ties, and dogs was unparalleled.

Longtime Newtown resident Diana Johnson died on August 19. She loved horseback riding and made use of Newtown’s many wooded trails. She was a member of the Conservation Commission, Town and Country Garden Club of Newtown, and co-president of the Business and Professional Women of Newtown. She even helped conceive the idea of a Christmas tree lighting and luminaria display at Ram Pasture in 1984.

Arthur Phillips was a nearly 40-year resident of Taunton Lake who died on August 31. During his time in town, he was president of Newtown Rotary, a board member of Newtown Friends of Music, and part of the Newtown Planning and Zoning Committee.

Matthew Tullis, 46, of Newtown, was an educator, podcaster, writer, author, journalist, father, and husband. He was heavily involved in the local running community and supported Dylan’s Wings of Change through multiple Ragnar races. He died on September 23.

Ninety-year-old Maxine Narotski Ginn passed away on October 8. While in Newtown, she was executive officer of the Board of Realtors, on the Planning & Zoning Commission, a life member and judge emeritus of the National Garden Clubs belonging to Newtown, and even ran for first selectman.

Nico David Saraceni, 29, of Newtown, passed away on October 10. He graduated from Newtown High School in 2011 and was enrolled in Southern Connecticut State University, where he would have graduated from in May 2023. He was an extremely talented writer, poet, and an avid enthusiast of all things film and cinema.

Newtown resident James Juliano died on October 12. He served the community in a variety of ways, including as chairman of Newtown Democratic Town Committee and member of the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers.

On October 17, longtime Newtown resident Janet Woycik passed away at the age of 77. On her 37th birthday, she started her dream job as the director of C.H. Booth Library. She helped with the 1998 library expansion, organized the first Newtown Turkey Trot — a benefit for her beloved library — worked with the Friends of the Library on their annual book sale, and helped bring the annual Ram Pasture Tree Lighting to life.

Sandy Hook resident Rev Jane Sibley, 77, passed on November 28. Her final pastoral assignment was as Pastor of Visitation for Newtown United Methodist Church.

At the age of 90, Virginia Joan Alex passed away on December 19. She was a member of Newtown Congregational Church, where she would volunteer at the thrift store, and she volunteered to take monthly blood pressures at St Rose of Lima church. She also loved to square dance with The Rocking Roosters in Newtown.

Take a moment to reflect on these lives and going forward take time to read future obituaries in the paper to understand more about Newtown’s community.

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Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.