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

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Thomas Haugh, 80, U.S. Marine

Thomas B. Haugh, 80, Norwalk native and former Fairfield teacher, passed away.

Thomas B. Haugh, 80, of Blue Hill Road in Monterey, formerly of Norwalk, Conn., died Tuesday April 17, 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Born in Norwalk on July 17, 1931, he was the son of John Denis Haugh, DDS and Anne Burke Haugh. He graduated from Fairfield Preparatory School in Fairfield, Conn. in 1949 and went on to Columbia College where he obtained a BA degree in 1953. Tom served in the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton from 1954-1956 where he earned the rank of Captain. Following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps he attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Master’s degree in Biology. Tom began his teaching career at Andrew Warde High School and later went on to teach Biology/Chemistry and …

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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.

[Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Darien Patch.] 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 he was the second-most read critic in the arts world, according to one survey. Kramer was said to be the kind …

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Eleanor Kleban Levin, 82, of Fairfield

Obituary for Eleanor Kleban Levin, 82, of Fairfield

Rye Town: Carvin Wins, Council Races Remain Close

Republicans jumped out to early leads in the races for Rye Town supervisor and council seats.

Incumbent Rye Town Supervisor Joseph Carvin leads his opponent by more than 700 votes with half of districts reporting, according to unofficial election results. Carvin, a Republican, has taken a commanding lead over Democrat Rico Dos Anjos, receiving 64 percent of votes so far. Council races are closer, with Republican Christina Collins leading the pack. Only 74 votes separate Democrat Gary Sullivan from Republican Robert Nioras. Check back for updates. Update, 10:36 p.m.: With more than two thirds of districts reporting, Collins has built a comfortable lead, but about 100 votes separate Sullivan and Nioras for the second seat. Update, 12:15 a.m.: Rye Town council results remain at 83 percent. Check back Wednesday for the latest.

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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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Ronald A. Clayton, 64, Longtime Resident

The New Jersey native lived in Fairfield for 36 years, according to his obituary.

Ronald A. Clayton, resident of Fairfield for 36 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 14, according to an obituary posted on the Spear Miller Funeral Home website. He was 64. A native of Freehold, NJ, Mr. Clayton practiced intellectual property law for 39 years. He joined Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto in 1981 and became partner in 1983. He was Chair of the firm's Copyrights Practice Group and practiced in all phases of Appellate, District Court and inter partes Patent and Trademark Office litigation, as well as trademark acquisition. Mr. Clayton was a member of the Board of Directors and past Chair of the Copyright Committee of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association. He was also a past Chair of the Patent, …

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Robustelli Brought Defense to the Fore

Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end succumbs; Stamford native was 85.

Few fans thought about the defensive side of football until Andy Robustelli and several of his New York Giants teammates turned it into an art form during the 1950s. With Robustelli and Jim Katcavage at defensive end, Sam Huff at middle linebacker, and Rosey Grier and Dick Modzelewski at defensive tackle, the Giants’ defensive unit developed a rabid following. Indeed, with most of this unit intact, the club competed in no fewer than six National Football League championship games in an eight-season span, winning it all in 1956. Robustelli, the Stamford native who rose from an obscure small college program – Arnold College in Milford – to become a seven-time All-NFL selection and a 1971 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died …

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A Death Untimely, and Many Mourn

Operator of Lucy’s Kitchen described as ‘good-hearted, kind.'

James Pinson-Rose was a big man with a kind heart. That’s the verbal picture painted by many who knew the longtime Fairfield resident and owner of Lucy’s Kitchen, who died suddenly on his 31st birthday on March 24. Fairfield police believe his death was attributable to an accidental overdose. “He was very pleasant, generous, self-effacing and” – pausing for a chuckle – “he made a lot of good sandwiches,” said Kathryn Braun, a local attorney who was an occasional customer at Lucy’s and also familiar with the man’s generosity. “He was good-hearted. He would donate a couple hundred dollars of food to non-profits,” Braun added. “If he said he was going to bring food (to an event), he’d be there.” Also a caterer, Lucy’s Kitchen provided the …

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Fair View

Marjorie Doty, Dogwood Festival Inexorably Linked

Woman who devoted her life to giving dies at 91.

I met the matriarch of the Dogwood Festival this spring, on a sunny, crisp Friday afternoon. On this first day of the 75th annual Dogwood Festival, she was here to enjoy a leisurely lunch with friends under the large tent adjacent to the stately Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. Until a year ago, Marjorie Howe Scott Doty had volunteered at virtually every festival since 1959, when she and her husband, Leete, moved into the Victorian, behind the church, on Meeting House Lane. Upon seeing her, two of the festival's tri-coordinators bolted from their folding chairs to greet her. The silver-haired Doty exchanged pleasantries with the younger women, Dawn Lauf and Karen Mitri. "We learned from our interview with her that she lived behind …

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