Remembering Notable Newtowners Who Died In 2010

By Nancy K. Crevier

"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." —Cicero, Roman orator, 106-43 BCE

Many lives have been placed in the care of others memories this past year. The loss of the following people had particular impact on a great number of Newtown residents.

Dorothy E. Bresson, 83, a longtime resident of the Sandy Hook section of Newtown, died unexpectedly January 1, at her home. She was employed as a cafeteria worker for the Newtown School System for many years.

Folk artist Stephen Huneck, 60, of St Johnsbury, Vt., whose whimsical paintings, sculptures, and woodcut prints of dogs celebrated his love of animals and won him a worldwide fan base, died in New Hampshire, January 7. He was the artist who created the dog walker and five dogs in The Pleasance at 1 Main Street, Newtown.

Alfred H. Penovi, 93, well-known plumber of the Sandy Hook section of Newtown, died January 17. His Plumbing and Heating Shop on Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook became a local landmark. It was well-known for the parts, materials, plumbing, and philosophical advice that could be gotten there. Mr Penovi's shop was within an old New England hay and cattle barn that his father, also a plumbing expert, converted for use as the business shortly after the family moved to Sandy Hook in the late 1920s. Over the years, the property became a repository for plumbing fixtures of all kinds, including 120 colored toilet tank covers. It was the "go to" place for those seeking the difficult to find replacement bathroom fixture or plumbing part, until 2008.

Donald L. Ferris, 83, of Newtown, died January 26, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Craig Avery of Sturbridge, Mass. He retired from Sikorsky Aircraft after 33 years of service. During his distinguished career as a design engineer, Mr Ferris was the holder of 41 patents and was awarded with a lifetime achievement award in engineering named in his honor. A 50-year resident of Newtown, he was a member of the Newtown Lions Club, and active in local politics.

Harvey Hubbell IV, 80, of North Palm Beach, Fla., died February 16, at his local residence on West Street in Newtown. He was born May 8, 1929, in Bridgeport, to Clara (Ham) Hubbell and Harvey Hubbell III. He was a longtime resident of Newtown, and a descendent of Newtown's first town clerk, Peter Hubbell. He worked for the family business, Harvey Hubbell, Inc, serving in various capacities before retiring from the business, which manufactured electrical products for commercial markets. Mr Hubbell held patents in electrical and related fields. An ardent historian, Mr Hubbell was a member and president of The Hubbell Center, a family historical society located in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as a member of the Palm Beach Genealogical Society. He was an avid hot air balloonist since 1978. One of his balloons, the Chanticleer, sported Newtown's "Rooster" logo. Mr Hubbell and his crew flew worldwide, including Poland, where the Chanticleer was the first American hot air balloon to take flight there in 1984. The balloon was also one of only three hot air balloons included in the Ronald Reagan inaugural events in 1981. Mr Hubbell also served as director of the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks.

Longtime Newtown resident Robert Duncan Macdonald, 94, died April 7, in Wheat Ridge, Colo., after a long illness. His career as a mining and metallurgical engineer took him all over the globe. He loved research and the lab, and helped develop several important mining techniques. Mr Macdonald was involved in The Newtown Friends of Music, Newtown Historical Society, The Horticulture Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, The Rotary Club, and became a burgess of the Borough.

Eleanor Holcomb Hubbell, 91, of Vero Beach, Fla., and previously of Newtown and Heritage Village, Southbury, died May 13. She was a resident of Newtown from 1928 to 1978 and was the former clerk for the Borough of Newtown, a former corporater of the Newtown Savings Bank, and was a member of the Newtown Country Club.

Katherine "Kate" Carmody Kearns, 89, died peacefully, May 27, at home, surrounded by her family. She was born October 1, 1920, on the "down side" of a two-family house on Sandy Hook Hill (Church Hill Road). She was a lifelong resident of Sandy Hook/Newtown. Mrs Kearns was the daughter of Winifred (Osborne) and John Carmody. In 1926, she moved with her family to the house at Ram Pasture. Her dad was town benefactress Mary Hawley's chauffeur, and quite often took Kate and her sister, Sally, for a ride in Miss Hawley's Pierce-Arrow automobile.

Edwin F. Dudeck, 85, of Newtown, died June 4. Mr Dudeck was a member of the Newtown Democratic Town Committee and served on the Newtown Conservation Commission. He was also a former president and coach of the Newtown Little League.

James Wanless Lightfoot, 75, died May 12. Mr Lightfoot was a longtime employee of The Newtown Bee Publishing Company. From 1965 until his retirement in 1994, he was the advertising sales manager for The Newtown Bee Publishing Company.

Richard Francis Gretsch, Sr, 101, of Danbury, a longtime former resident of Newtown, died May 22. Born June 14, 1908, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the last surviving grandson of Friedrich Gretsch, the founder of The Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company, renowned manufacturer of professional drums and guitars. In 1988 he was awarded the Connecticut Developer of the Year Award by the Northeastern Industrial Developers Association, and in 2004 received the Charles E. Wrinn Economic Development Award, both for his contributions in attracting industry to Danbury.

Mary Mitchell, 98, of Newtown, died September 9, at Lockwood Lodge Assisted Living. She was the published author of several books and photo essay books about Georgetown, written during the 35 years that she lived in Washington, D.C., with her husband, the late attorney William Mitchell, and her family, prior to moving to Connecticut in 1987: Chronicles of Georgetown Life, 1865-1900; Glimpses of Georgetown, Past and Present; Washington: A Portrait Of A City; Annapolis Visit; Divided Town; and A Walk In Georgetown. Her writing career also included works published in newspapers and magazines. Mrs Mitchell was best known locally for her extensive writings on local history and persona, many of those books co-authored with her good friend, the late Al Goodrich, as well as for her active participation in community organizations, and for her inquisitive nature that inspired many of her books and essays. Mrs Mitchell provided the seed money to raise funds to provide handicapped access to the Newtown Meeting House, an effort she saw realized in January 2010, when the installation of an elevator in the historical building was completed.

Kenneth "Ken" Peck, 83, of Newtown, died October 22. Born in Newtown, May 1, 1927, to one of Newtown's founding families, he was the son of Louise Marie Dubret and John Wesley Peck. He attended Newtown schools, then went on to proudly serve his country with the US Army aboard the Tasker H. Bliss and the General H.W. Butner in World War II, from 1945 to 1947. He returned to Newtown, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Marguerite "Peggy" Budd Hyde, the daughter of a historic Main Street family, married Captain Richard W. Hyde at the height of World War II, at the age of just 17 years. After 65 years of marriage and quiet adoration, together as they were in life, the couple was laid to rest in the Newtown Village Cemetery, September 10, in the town where the first embers of love were fanned. Captain Hyde, 92, died July 21, in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was preceded in death by his wife. "My father and mother always planned to be buried in Newtown," recalled Richard "Todd" Hyde, one of five children who are, he said, a living testimonial to the couple's love.

William F. "Bill" Campbell, 89, of Auburn, Maine, formerly of Newtown and Southbury, died October 16 at his home in Schooner Estates. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where he served as part of the usher ministry. He also was a member of the Rotary Club of Newtown, and the town's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Margaret S. "Peggy" Snyder died October 29, in her Newtown home, surrounded by her family. Mrs Snyder was active in her community, working in the town clerk's office and serving on the Legislative Council, in addition to assisting her husband with his work and his own political campaigns in town.

Frederick Charles Lingenfelser, 82, a former resident of Newtown who was active in establishing the FISH organization, died peacefully at home in Port Orange, Fla., October 31.

Susan K. Toll, 82, of Newtown, died November 16. A self-taught and accomplished equestrian and instructor, horse trainer, and breeder, Mrs Toll went on a teaching practice at Open Gate Stables in Newtown and then to the Mountain Valley Farm in Southbury. An assistant professor at Post University in Waterbury for many years, Mrs Toll also helped to develop the university's equestrian program. She contributed much of her time and leadership to a wide variety of organizations, including 4-H, Pony Club, the Connecticut Dressage Association, the Newtown Garden Club, Friends of the C.H. Booth Library, Newtown Bridle Lanes, the Newtown Forest Association, and as a volunteer at Danbury Hospital.

Myrtle Gisner Botsford, 104, of Newtown, died peacefully, December 7, at her home. Mrs Botsford was a resident of Connecticut for more than 95 years. She was a longtime member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Botsford Fire Company.

The Newtown Bee respectfully bids farewell to these prominent citizens of the town.