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Obituaries
Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28 Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28
Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28 Donations are pouring in to support the family of a late 28-year-old man who worked at multiple schools in Fairfield County. Edwin Ordonez died from injuries sustained in an accident on Tuesday, Aug. 2, according to the organizers of a GoFundMe set up for his family. He is survived by his wife, Aracely, and his 4-month-old daughter, Sarah, the organizers said.  According to the GoFundMe, Ordonez worked as the interim director at the Danbury War Memorial, and he also worked for Ridgefield Public Schools at Scotland Elementary School and at Ridgefield High School. As of Sunday, Au…

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Longtime Local Police Officer In CT Killed In Crash Just Days After Retiring Longtime Local Police Officer In CT Killed In Crash Just Days After Retiring
Longtime Local Police Officer In CT Killed In Crash Just Days After Retiring A 24-year veteran of a local Connecticut police department was killed in a crash just two days after he retired. Hamden Police Officer Michael Pantera died in the crash in North Branford on Tuesday, Aug. 2, the Hamden Police Department announced. He retired on Sunday, July 31, the police department said. "Mike Pantera was a compassionate and caring Police Officer who was very proud to serve in the town where he was raised and still had family living here," Acting Chief of Police Timothy Wydra said. "He was always ready to lend a hand or volunteer to help an Officer or community member. We …

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Stamford Native Dies Unexpectedly At Age 25 Stamford Native Dies Unexpectedly At Age 25
Stamford Native Dies Unexpectedly At Age 25 A man who grew up in Fairfield County and pursued higher education opportunities out of state has died at the age of 25. Luke Walter Kostrzewski, a former resident of Darien, died unexpectedly in Charleston, South Carolina, on Tuesday, July 19, according to his obituary. He was born in Stamford and graduated from Darien High School. According to his obituary, Kostrzewski also graduated from the College of Charleston, and he had plans to continue his education. "Luke was outgoing and energetic enjoying Skiing, Golf, Ice Hockey, Music, Boating and the beach," his obituary reads.  …

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Loved Ones Honor Connecticut Couple Killed In Massachusetts Rollover Crash Loved Ones Honor Connecticut Couple Killed In Massachusetts Rollover Crash
Loved Ones Honor Connecticut Couple Killed In Massachusetts Rollover Crash Tributes are pouring in for a Connecticut couple who lost their lives in a rollover crash in central Massachusetts last week.  Luc Morin, age 65, and Christine Banavige, age 52, both of New Britain, died when their pickup truck was struck and rolled over on I-290 in Worcester on Saturday, July 30. The couple was apparently heading to their cabin in Maine, according to a GoFundMe organized in their honor. "Christine has two young adult daughters who are just starting out their adult lives," the campaign read. "They were Christine’s world and are completely unprepared and blindsided by these…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Lifelong Fairfield County Resident Who Was Beloved Preschool Teacher Dies At 28 Lifelong Fairfield County Resident Who Was Beloved Preschool Teacher Dies At 28
Lifelong Fairfield County Resident Who Was Beloved Preschool Teacher Dies At 28 Friends and loved ones are mourning the death of beloved Fairfield County preschool teacher, Emily Griffin. The lifelong Ridgefield resident died Thursday, July 21, at the age of 28 following a long illness, according to her obituary.  “It is with a heavy heart that I must advise my Facebook friends that my beloved daughter Emily Nora Griffin passed away this evening after a long and difficult illness,” Griffin’s father, Tim, wrote on Facebook. “She was a fighter to the end. She was an angel on earth. Kind and loving to all. God has called her home.” After graduating from Ridgefield Hig…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Acclaimed Actor James Caan Of 'Godfather' Fame Dies Acclaimed Actor James Caan Of 'Godfather' Fame Dies
Acclaimed Actor James Caan Of 'Godfather' Fame Dies James Caan, the New York-born actor best-known for his highly acclaimed roles in “The Godfather,” “Elf,” and “Misery,” has died at the age of 82. His death was announced on Caan's official Twitter account: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time." Caan, who will forever be known for playing “Sonny” Corleone, the brother to Al Pacino’s Michael, in the "Godfather," was honored for his work …

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
22-Year-Old Killed In I-84 Incident 'Loved Spending Time With Family, Friends' 22-Year-Old Killed In I-84 Incident 'Loved Spending Time With Family, Friends'
22-Year-Old Killed In I-84 Incident 'Loved Spending Time With Family, Friends' A 22-year-old man who was fatally struck by a vehicle on I-84 in the Hudson Valley is being remembered for his love of spending time with friends and family. Dutchess County resident Fabian Tirado, of Wappingers Falls, was one of the two men who were fatally struck by a vehicle on I-84 in the Putnam County town of Kent on Saturday, July 2, police reported. Police said 38-year-old Mark Hall, of Holmes, and Tirando stopped in the right lane of travel and exited their vehicles due to a road rage altercation, and they were both struck and killed by a third vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. Earlier r…

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Cause Of Death Revealed For Ex-Yale Football Star Who Died During Navy SEAL Hell Week Training Cause Of Death Revealed For Ex-Yale Football Star Who Died During Navy SEAL Hell Week Training
Cause Of Death Revealed For Ex-Yale Football Star Who Died During Navy SEAL Hell Week Training The cause of death has been revealed for a former Yale University football standout and Navy SEAL candidate who died during "Hell Week" training in February. Kyle Mullen, age 24, of Manalapan, New Jersey, died as a result of pneumonia during the training at Naval Base Coronado in California, his mom tells NJ Advance Media citing an autopsy report from the  Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Mullen, who played defensive end for Yale where he was team captain in 2018, was unable to stand or walk on his own and wheelchair bound before he died, and had been coughing and spitting up red-tinged flui…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Realtor From Westchester With Family In Fairfield County Dies At Age 57 Realtor From Westchester With Family In Fairfield County Dies At Age 57
Realtor From Westchester With Family In Fairfield County Dies At Age 57 A realtor and longtime resident of Westchester County has died suddenly at age 57. John Vrooman, who resided upstate at the time of his death in Lewiston, New York, in Niagara County, died at home on Sunday, June 5, while watching "60 Minutes" with his parents, according to his obituary. "His sudden and untimely death was a shock to his family and friends, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew his kind, friendly, smiling, and humorous personality," his obituary reads. Vrooman was born in White Plains and lived there for many years, working as vice president of technology for t…

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
CT Woman Killed In Tractor-Trailer Crash At 37 Remembered For 'Heart Of Gold' CT Woman Killed In Tractor-Trailer Crash At 37 Remembered For 'Heart Of Gold'
CT Woman Killed In Tractor-Trailer Crash At 37 Remembered For 'Heart Of Gold' Loved ones are mourning the loss of a Connecticut woman who was killed in a tractor-trailer crash in Vermont.  New Haven County native Nicole Ende, of Milford, died Thursday, June 2, at the age of 37 when the truck she was riding in lost control and drove off an Orange County highway before flipping onto its roof, according to WCAX in Vermont. Investigators believe mechanical failure may have been to blame, as witnesses told police the tractor-trailer's brakes were smoking just moments before the crash, Vermont State Police said.  Ende was pronounced dead at the scene while …

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Fairfield County Native Shot To Death At Age 35 Remembered As 'Kind, Gentle Person' Fairfield County Native Shot To Death At Age 35 Remembered As 'Kind, Gentle Person'
Fairfield County Native Shot To Death At Age 35 Remembered As 'Kind, Gentle Person' Family and friends are remembering a Connecticut man who was shot to death at his home. New Haven County resident Justin Spray, of Milford, died at the age of 35 on Wednesday, May 25, after he was shot “by a mentally ill person with a gun at his home,” his obituary said. Police had been called to his home on Edgefield Avenue just before 1 p.m. with reports of a fight and possible gunfire, according to Milford Police. Officers found Spray lying in the yard with a gunshot wound to his upper body, police said. He later died at Yale New Haven Hospital.  Witnesses held the alleged gunman,…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Fairfield County Man Killed In Crash Remembered As ‘Loyal Friend' Fairfield County Man Killed In Crash Remembered As ‘Loyal Friend'
Fairfield County Man Killed In Crash Remembered As ‘Loyal Friend' Support is on the rise for the widow and two children left behind by a Fairfield County native killed in a crash. Stephen Pease died October 23, 2021 at the age of 34 when his motorcycle crashed on a highway in Garden City, South Carolina, according to police. Pease’s motorcycle was the only vehicle involved in the wreck, police said. Family and friends gathered at St. Ann Church in Bridgeport Sunday, June 5, for a celebration of life for the “accomplished athlete and skilled entrepreneur,” according to his obituary. Born in New Haven, Pease was raised in Fairfield, where he was an avid…

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by Michael Mashburn