Sylvia Hotchkiss Strong

Sylvia Hotchkiss Strong, 89, of 15 Old Middleroad Turnpike, Woodbury, died October 16, at home.

She was born September 24, 1910 at 124 Willow Street, Waterbury, the daughter of William Berkeley Hotchkiss and Harriet Eliza Fogg, the year her father was elected mayor of Waterbury. She was the wife of Frederick T. Strong, to whom she was married for 62 years.

Mrs Strong attended St Margaret’s in Waterbury and graduated from Brown University in 1932 with a degree in psychology. She then attended Yale graduate school for one year and trained in mental testing and child guidance work. She worked in this field at Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood, N.Y. and at the Veterans Bureau in Boston. She also was a remedial reading instructor at the Reading Research Center in Waterbury from 1963 to 1974, and later taught privately on an individual basis.

She was a member of the Orton Society of Reading Research; the North Congregational Church in Woodbury; Esther Stevens Brazier Guild of Early American Decoration; Pomperaug Valley Garden Club, winning many awards; American Association of University Women, Waterbury Branch; and Pembroke College Club of the Waterbury area. She was also active in the restoration of the Hurd House, maintaining its herb garden, and restoration of the 1867 District #2 schoolhouse.

She co-authored Homes of Old Woodbury for the Tercentenary Celebration in 1959 and Woodbury Schools From 1674 – 1955.

Her hobbies included crewel embroidery, restoring tin ware and Hitchcock chairs, wall stenciling, and oil and watercolor painting. Her interests included nature, birding, gardening, flower arranging, and photography.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, David A. Strong of Watertown; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held October 23 at 2 pm at the North Congregational Church, Woodbury. Burial will be Friday, October 22, at 2 pm at the Old North Cemetery, Woodbury.

Arrangements are by the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Memorial Fund of the North Congregational Church, PO Box 473, Woodbury, CT 06798.

The Newtown Bee          October 22, 1999

Dr Katharine (Hawley) Martin

Dr Katharine (Hawley) Martin, MD, 83, of Southbury, died October 13 at her home. She was the widow of Willard Shepherd Martin.

Dr Martin was born May 26, 1916 in New Haven, daughter of the late Mae Minor and Ralph Chipman Hawley, one of the founders of the Yale School of Forestry. She graduated from Smith College in 1936 and then received an MPH from Yale University in 1938. Dr Martin completed her medical degree at Yale in 1944. She interned in pediatrics at New Haven Hospital and then was a resident in psychiatry at Bellevue in New York City and at New York State Psychiatric Institute. From 1947 to 1949 she was a Fellow in Child Psychiatry at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. From 1949 to 1959 Dr Martin served as psychiatrist-director of the Child Guidance Clinic of Waterbury. She acted for the next ten years as consultant at the Yale Child Study Center, the Connecticut State Hospital and at the Connecticut Junior Republic.

Dr Martin was one of the pioneers in the field of child psychiatry in this state. She was particularly interested in a family model of intervention and an interdisciplinary approach. In her later years, she studied and worked with non-traditional approaches to therapy. From 1952 to 1987 she engaged in full time private practice of psychiatry at her home in Watertown.

Moving to Heritage Village in 1989, Dr Martin continued practicing part time until retiring later that year. Her primary hospital affiliation over the years was with Waterbury Hospital as attending psychiatrist.

Dr Martin’s life was focused on offering care and support for women and children. She was also deeply concerned about the welfare of our natural world – forests, mountains, and all forms of wildlife. She was an accomplished pianist and loved making music, alone and with others.

The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the wonderful care given to Dr Martin at her home by her nurses.

She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Plouffe, of Southbury; four nieces, Judith Heydt of Atlanta, Ga., Holly Sue Angier and Alexandra Hawley, both of Cambridge, Mass., and Martha Hawley of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and several grand nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends.

The Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main Street North, Southbury, was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to UNICEF or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The Newtown Bee          October 22, 1999

Richard C. Miterko

Richard C. Miterko, 67, of Bridgeport, died on October 18 in Bridgeport Hospital.

He was the brother of Ann Andras of Newtown.

Born in Bridgeport, he was a lifelong city resident. Mr Miterko was a retired toolmaker for Auto-Swage Company and was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the V.F.W. Raymond Goldbach Post 9460, the Male Chorus and choir at St John’s Church.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Margery Ann (Fisch) Miterko; a daughter, Kristina Galpin of Fairfield; two sons, Scott Miterko of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Donald Miterko of Tillamook, Ore.; four grandsons, Edward Galpin, Jr, Joshua, Brian and Christopher; a brother, Peter Miterko of Trumbull; another sister, Mary Stephen of Milford; a special aunt, Margaret Stewart of Devon; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on October 21 in the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, and in St John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport. Interment was in St John’s Cemetery, Stratford.

Donations in his memory may be made to Stratford E.M.S. Association.

The Newtown Bee          October 22, 1999

Frank A. Dzubak

Frank A. Dzubak, 73, died October 14, at his home. He was the husband of Millie (Holick) Dzubak and lived at 285A Kent Road, Kent.

He was the brother of Margaret Wichman of Newtown.

Mr Dzubak was born in Danbury, son of the late Alexander and Elizabeth (Borodach) Dzubak, and received his education in Danbury schools. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and served in Hawaii.

Mr Dzubak was a self-employed heating and cooling contractor and operated the Aaon Sheet Metal Company for 40 years before retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Danbury Exchange Club.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Wayne M. Dzubak of Boise, Idaho, Jake A. Dzubak of New Milford, and Frank D. Dzubak of Saida, Colo; his daughter, Patricia L. Cervera of North Stonington; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Dzubak of North Carolina and John Dzubak of Danbury; five other sisters, Ethel Wilson of Brookfield, Irene Zurinskas, Florence Maroto, and Dorothy Reed, all of Danbury, and Elizabeth Clark of New Fairfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, on October 19, with the Rev R.W. Schell, head master of Kent School, officiating. Cremation followed at the convenience of the family.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897-2523.

The Newtown Bee          October 22, 1999

Ada E. Ransom

Ada E. (Mead) Ransom, 81, of Westwood, N.J. died on October 16.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Jim Ransom of Westwood; two daughters, Elaine McClure of Newtown, and Adele Brown of Vancouver, Wash.; one son, Keith Ransom of Yardley, Penn.; and seven grandchildren, Brittany, Laura and Jeffrey McClure, Mary French and Elizabeth Brown, Julia and Ryan Ransom.

Ada was a kind, gentle person who was loved by everyone she knew. A tireless volunteer, she always put others’ needs before her own. She was an active member of the Park Ridge United Methodist Church and its Corner Stone Club.

The funeral service was held October 20, at the Park Ridge United Methodist Church, 130 Berthoud Street, Park Ridge, N.J. Interment was in Westwood Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Park Ridge United Methodist Church, 130 Berthoud Street, Park Ridge, N.J. 07656.

The Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc, 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, N.J. was in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee          October 22, 1999

Mable Emrie

Mable (O’Hara) Emrie, 83, of Fairfield, beloved wife of Arthur Emrie, died October 19, in St Vincent’ s Medical Center.

She was the mother of Arlene Baldwin of Newtown.

Born in Bridgeport, Mrs Emrie was a Fairfield resident for over 48 years. She has worked in food services for the Easton Public Schools. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting and liked to travel.

In addition to her husband and daughter, she is survived by a son, Arthur John Emrie of Shelton; a brother, Elmer O’Hara of Morris; a sister, Alice Neville of Fairfield; grandchildren, Jennifer Brand, Jill Kennedy, Christopher and Philip Baldwin; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Fred O’Hara.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 22, from 5 to 7 pm in the Frank Polke & Son Funeral Residence, 1546 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport. Prayer services will be held at 6 pm. Friends may call again on Saturday, October 23, from 10 am until the time of service. Burial will follow in Mt Grove Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 607 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 06851.

The Newtown Bee         October 22, 1999