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. Sendak, 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. The Times described his work: "In book after book, Mr. Sendak upended the staid, centuries-old tradition of American children’s literature, in which young heroes and…

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Betty-Jane Fannon, 88, Former Actress and Wilton Resident

Donations may be made to the Wilton Playshop.

Betty-Jane Fannon, 88, died on April 24, 2012 at Palm Meadows Court on Hilton Head Island following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. ‘BJ’ was a long time former resident of Wilton and is the mother of current resident. BJ and her twin sister Geneva were born in Ogden, Utah, on April 2, 1924, to Eva Lee and Judge Eugene Elliott Pratt. After growing up in Utah, her father’s responsibilities took the family to Washington, D.C. where during World War II she worked at the Pentagon with the O.S.S.  At war’s end she moved with her sister to NYC to attend Barnard College. She began her long love of theater while at Barnard, where she and her sister starred in the College production of Arsenic and Old Lace.  After graduation she took a position at…

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Gerardo “Jerry” Zezima, Jr., 80, Former Business Owner

A resident of Wilton, he attended local schools, served his country during the Korean War and worked as a carpenter and owner of the former Zezima Paint and Hardware store in Norwalk.

Gerardo “Jerry” Zezima, Jr., age 80, of Wilton, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.      He was the loving husband of Toni Lodato Zezima.  Jerry was born in Stamford on April 12, 1931, son of the late Gerardo Zezima, Sr., and the late Petronilla Vitti Zezima. He attended local schools, served his country during the Korean War and worked as a carpenter and owner of the former Zezima Paint and Hardware store in Norwalk.  Jerry sang in the choir at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton and was a volunteer at the Norwalk Soup Kitchen for 23 years. He was also an avid golfer and Mets fan and loved spending time with his family. Survivors also include his son, Gerard Zezima, his daughter Terri Sargent…

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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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Wilton Patch In

Death of Trayvon Martin is 'My Greatest Fear for My Son'

“I am already teaching him how to act around police officers—and he’s only 8,” a college friend of mine told me.

I’m a smart, progressive, socially aware white woman, and I am ashamed of myself. Last week I read a Facebook post that my college friend, Chuck, wrote, and I was ashamed that it never occurred to me what he has felt, and will feel, his entire life. “I support Trayvon Martin. This is my wife's greatest fear for my son, Chas, when he becomes a teenager: being harassed by the police or rogue individuals. I am already teaching Chas how to act around police officers. I have personally been thrown in jail and handcuffed to a prison wall when I was driving a new car in a nice neighborhood. This happened to me when I was in college—an Ivy League school at that. I mean, what decade are we in anyway? This has got to stop! I am talking to all …

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joe

11:07 am on Monday, April 9, 2012

israel does racial profiling @ their airports. it works!   more ›

Wiltonian Remembered for his Passions

A 20-year-old graduate from Wilton High School passed away earlier this month.

By Christine Peterson of the Daily Campus Pawel Sywak, 20, died on January 26. Pawel graduated from Wilton High School in Wilton, Connecticut in 2009 and was a University of Connecticut junior majoring in engineering. He was also a member of Alpha Delta Phi, a fraternity on campus. His mother, Monika Sywak, said that Pawel loved being at UConn. He identified with the school, and was a big supporter in UConn basketball. "He was living and breathing UConn," said Mrs. Sywak. He was very involved on campus and was proud to be a part of the campus community, she said. Mrs. Sywak said Pawel wanted to work for the military when he graduated with his degree in engineering, out at sea fixing the equipment in planes. "He really wanted a more hands-…

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You Said It: Wilton

'Let's Look in the Mirror and Decide to See the Truth'

The best of today's comments from Patch account-holders in your town and neighboring communities.

DARIEN: "Sometimes we ALL forget that youth sports mean different things to different people. We should acknowledge that if you want your child to just be active a recreational league is wonderful. If you believe your child needs a more competitive atmosphere than youth sports leagues are the way to go. Be mindful of what Your child needs first and it should work out, its when we as parents project our past experiences that there are issues. Let's look in the mirror and decide to see the truth." This is one reader's response to an opinion piece by Heather Borden Hervé about politics, competitiveness and machinations in youth sports. NEW CANAAN: "Thank GOD for Zira! Without her there would be giggly passengers running all over town in cars …

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Jerry Sullivan, 78, Loving Grandfather and Husband

Jerry Sullivan's funeral services will be held this Friday, Dec. 16.

Jerry Sullivan a resident of Wilton, CT for over 30 years, formerly of Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburg, Penn. passed away Saturday, December 10, 2011 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Chicago, Ill. August 21, 1933, he was the son of the late Jeremiah and Evelyn Moriarty Sullivan. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margaret (Peggy) Ann Quinlan Sullivan. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four sons, Mark (Elaine), Thomas, Daniel (Pamela), Michael (Kelly) and his daughter Mara (Ben) Lamanna all of Wilton, Conn. and a daughter-in-law Sarah Sullivan of Ridgefield, Conn. He leaves behind sixteen grandchildren: Jay, Kelly, Camie, Lexie, Katie, Maggie, Kurt, Erin, Reilly, Matthew, Sean, Kathleen, William, Kaitlyn, …

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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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Margaret "Peg" Kunkel Ploss, Friend of Wilton

Margaret lived in New Canaan and was an active volunteer in Wilton.

Margaret “Peg” Kunkel Ploss, long-time New Canaan resident, passed quietly in her home August 30, 2011 after a valiant fight with cancer. Peg was born February 9th 1932 in Clifton Springs New York to Robert Scott Kunkel and Martha Burt Kunkel as the oldest of five but grew up in Gloversville. She was known for her love of music, the outdoors, the theater and children both hers and others. Peg held sort of a dual citizenship between New Canaan and Wilton. In New Canaan she was known for her work with kids at The YMCA while her husband, the late Richard M Ploss was on staff there. After joining The Methodist Church Peg became active in the Children’s Service Circle making friends she kept for the remainder of her life. At The Day Care Center…

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