Ridgefield Author Maurice Sendak Dies At 83

The celebrated children's author was best known for his book "Where The Wild Things Are."

  Ridgefield's famed children's book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak died Tuesday. The celebrated children's author, best known for his book "Where The Wild Things Are," was "widely considered the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century," the New York Times reports. The Times reports that Mr. Sendak died of complications from a recent stroke, according to his longtime editor, Michael di Capua. "Where The Wild Things Are" was published in 1963, and the story of a little boy named Max who sails into his dreams to have a "wild rumpus" with imaginative, sometimes nightmarish monsters was a bestseller. Mr. Sendak wrote and illustrated more than a dozen solo picture books and over 80 books in all -- one more posthumous …

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Hilton Kramer, 84, 'Scourge of the Art World'

The late art critic and editor Hilton Kramer was feared for his lashing critiques of modern art movements and artists, but his thunderbolts were hurled by a mild-mannered man who lived on a quiet lane in Westport.

  Hilton Kramer, a widely read art critic who died Tuesday at the age of 84, hurled thunderbolts at major figures and movements in the art world for decades, often from his home on a quiet back road in Westport. He wasn't just admired for his insights and knowledge. He was also feared for his courage in identifying what he found awful, no matter how popular it was or how many enemies he made by saying what, according to his best judgment, he thought was true. New York magazine dubbed him the "scourge of the art world," and Newsweek reported in the mid-1990s that according to one survey he was the second-most read critic in the arts world. Kramer was said to be the kind of critic that "the galleries and museums of New York keep an eye out …

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Former Westport Selectman Dies, 74

Gavin S. Anderson died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport Monday.

Gavin S. Anderson, 74, served on the RTM for two years, the board of finance for seven years and on the board of selectman before resigning in November, 2010 due to health related issues. Anderson, who spent his career traveling around the world,  spoke highly of Westport. "People always say the grass is greener on the other side," he said. "I haven't found anywhere on this planet Earth where the grass is greener than Westport." First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said it was a very sad day for Westport.  “He served Westport and its citizens over the years with devotion, perseverance and a profound commitment to make our town a better place," said First Selectman Gordon Joseloff." “Indeed we are a better town because of Gavin’s hard work and …

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Westonite's Parents Die Six Days Apart

Samuel and Miriam Goldstein were married for 64 years.

Samuel Charles Goldstein died November 25, 2011 in Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Boca Raton, Fla. a few weeks short of his 90th birthday. His wife, Miriam Goldstein, best known as Micki, died six days later, December 1, 2011 at the Wellington Community Medical Center, in West Palm Beach, Fla. She was 85. They met in 1946 on a blind date arranged by her mother and his father’s sister and were married four months later, a marriage that lasted 64 years. They were residents of Westport since 2006. Mr. Goldstein was born to Albert Goldstein and Yetta Fogel of The Bronx, New York on December 17, 1921. Certain that a war with Germany was imminent, Sam enlisted in the U.S. army in 1939. He served in the army for five years, including four years …

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Agnes Susan Pesak, 82, of Norwalk

Obituary for Agnes Susan Pesak, 82, of Norwalk

Agnes Susan Pesak, 82, of Norwalk, died peacefully at the Golden Hill Convalescent Home in Milford. Born in Norwalk on May 29, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Anna Baran Pesak and has lived locally all of her life. Agnes attended Norwalk Schools, graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and received her degree as a registered nurse from St. Raphael’s Hospital in 1952.  She worked as a registered nurse in a private practice in Westport for many years. Agnes loved working in her garden, a joy she passed on to her nieces and nephews who fondly remember her spectacular flowers. She was also an avid fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball. Survivors include a brother, William Pesak of El Cajon, Calif., and several nieces and nephews. She …

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Andy Rooney, Writer, '60 Minutes' Commentator, Dies at 92

The long-time Fairfield County resident passed away due to complications from minor surgery.

Andy Rooney, a long-time resident of Fairfield County who still has a home in Rowayton, died on Friday in a New York City hospital from complications following minor surgery. He was 92. Rooney was a staple of "60 Minutes", capping the show off with his brilliant and often funny commentary about the little things in life that we sometimes make a big deal of — and the big things in the world that are sometimes really small. Rooney, who began his commentaries in 1978, railed about how unpleasant air travel had become. "Let's make a statement to the airlines just to get their attention. We'll pick a week next year and we'll all agree not to go anywhere for seven days," he told viewers. October 2, 2011, after his 1,097th essay, Rooney announced…

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Obituary for Liliane Bonora

Liliane Bonora, owner of Lili’s Fine Food and Catering, died quietly of heart failure on October 20, 2011 at Norwalk Hospital. She was seventy two years old.

Lili was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco. She arrived in Canada in the l960s, and came to this country in the early 1970s. She became an American citizen just in time to cast her first vote for Bill Clinton. Lili was an accomplished cloisonné artist and designer. She was a concert pianist, and also played violin, flute and guitar. For a period of time, she offered lessons in piano. In 1979, a job at Soup’s On in Westport, Ct. revealed Lili’s talents as a chef. With the help of the late Dr. Alan Lieberson, Lili’s Fine Food and Catering came into being, and a legend was born. For the past 28 years Lili has been a mainstay for commuters and for Westporters who have stopped in for a delicious cup of coffee, and for an equally delicious …

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Clare Cusack Donoghue

The following obituary was sent from the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Clare C. (Cusack) Donoghue of Fairfield, mother of John Donoghue of Westport, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2011 with her family by her side. Born in New York City to the late Thomas and Margaret Cusack, Donoghue was a longtime Fairfield resident. In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, Rebecca Martin, in Westport, she is survived by her husband of 44 years, John Donoghue; daughter Kristen Donoghue and her husband, Jonathan Hacker of Chevy Chase, Maryland; her grandchildren, David, Maggie, John, Maeve and James; her extended family and her many friends. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 13, 2011 at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Dr. in Fairfield. Interment will be private. Friends may greet the family…

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B.V. Brooks, 84, Westport Resident and Businessman

Co-founder of weekly newspaper Westport News, Brooks was a Staples High School graduate and merchant marine.

Tess Meisel Obituary

Funeral services have been scheduled for the 12-year-old Westport resident.

TESS JACQUELINE TANNER MEISEL Tess Jacqueline Tanner Meisel, 12, of Westport, passed away due to a tragic accident on Aug. 17, 2011. Born on Dec. 27, 1998, in Westwood, Los Angeles, Tess was the beloved daughter of Suzanne Tanner and Gary Meisel, of Westport and Los Angeles; adored sister of Jacob Meisel, 15; cherished granddaughter of Mary Tanner and the late Jack Tanner, of Mashpee, Mass.; and Harriette and Emiel Meisel, formerly of Westport and currently of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; valued niece, devoted cousin, faithful friend; and proud owner of her new 7-month old puppy, Celli, named for the orchestra section at Coleytown Middle School, where she was to enter eighth grade. Tess was first and foremost a healer. Her tenderness, …

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