Richard "Ben" Cartwright, 69, of Monroe died Wednesday, June 8. He was born February 10, 1947, to the late Sylvia and Cyril Cartwright in Ealing, England.www.woundedwarriorproject.org.www.parentelauro.com.

His wife, Joan (Desarli), of 48 years, four children and their spouses: Jennifer and Matt Green of Newtown, Scott Cartwright of Monroe, Lynn and Ken Starr of Trumbull; and Nicholas and Amanda Cartwright of New Milford; and his nine grandchildren survive him. His brother Peter, and his wife Doreen, predeceased him.

Mr Cartwright came to America when he was 13, and graduated Central High School in 1964. He served in the army in Vietnam as a combat engineer with the 101st Airborne Division. He was an automation/robotic engineer at Unimation/Westinghouse of Danbury and Schick of Milford. He volunteered in Monroe as an EMT and at Stepney Baptist Church.

Mr Cartwright was passionate about football and the Giants. He spent several years coaching Pop Warner football. He enjoyed woodworking and making items for his grandchildren.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, June 18, at 10 am, in Stepney Baptist Church, 423 Main Street, Monroe. He will be laid to rest at The Huntington Lawn Cemetery in Shelton.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675 or online at

The Parente-Lauro Funeral Home of Bridgeport is handling the arrangements. To sign an online guest book or to send private condolences visit