Catherine (Rea) Baum Tussup

Remembered For

Strength Of Character, Good Humor

Catherine (Rea) Baum Tussup, 94, wife of the late Julius V. Tussup, died January 17. Born in Washington, D.C., on September 25, 1912, she was the daughter of Minnie Cecilia Parker and William Rea Baum.

Mrs Tussup is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Thomas Steck of Newtown and Sandra and Donald Melvin of Port Richey, Fla.; granddaughter Julienne Steck Finnegan and husband, Gerald, of Hollis, N.H.; grandson Douglas Melvin and wife, Elizabeth, of Branford; grandson Gregory Melvin of Sydney, Australia; great-grandsons Ayden and Ronan Finnegan of Hollis, N.H.; and sister Ada LaPorte and husband, Chet, of Boynton Beach, Fla.

After attending Columbia University and working for a time in Manhattan, she married her high school sweetheart, “Tex,” in 1936. They later moved their family from New York to Philadelphia, and then to Bethel in 1951.

Devoting her life to her daughters and growing family after the premature death of her husband in 1960, Mrs Tussup still managed to maintain a successful career. She worked twenty-five years for James Brunot, founder of the game Scrabble, eventually achieving the position of vice president. After retiring, her love of people and books found its way to a perfect part-time job at The Book-let, a specialty gift and book shop in Bethel. She worked there many years for Ruth and Edna Terry, her dear friends and travel companions.

She moved to Heritage Village in Southbury and resided there for 28 years before moving in 2001 to The Homesteads, an assisted care community in Newtown.

Mrs Tussup’s elegance, strength of character, and sense of humor will be greatly missed and remembered always by those who loved and admired her.

Her family wishes to thank her compassionate caregivers at The Homesteads, Maria Ortiz from the Registry of Nurses, Deiann Frank from Live-Ins for the Elderly, and Vitas Hospice for their loving care and devotion.

Contributions may be made in her memory to Vitas Hospice Care, 777 Commerce Drive, Suite 220, Fairfield CT 06815.

A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced.

The Newtown Bee       January 26, 2007