Obituaries - CT Genealogy Trails

The Honorable Joseph F. Dannehy of Willimantic, retired justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, who had a long and distinguished career in the Connecticut judiciary, died December 16, at Windham Community Memorial Hospital. Born in Willimantic on May 28, 1917, he was the son of Michael F. and Bridget Rawley Dannehy. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Riordan Dannehy, who died in 1997. He leaves two daughters, Attorney Nora R. Dannehy of Glastonbury and Mary Ellen Dannehy of St. Paul, Minnesota and two sons, Judge Michael R. Dannehy and his wife Rhonda of Manchester and Patrick T. Dannehy of Willimantic, two beloved grandchildren, Thomas F. and Ruth R. Dannehy, and a sister Teresa Daniels of Willimantic. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Michael and James Dannehy. Justice Dannehy attended St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, received a bachelor's degree from Boston College and a law degree from Cornell University Law School in 1943. From 1943 to 1946, he served in World War II with the Counter Intelligence Corps of the 17th Airborne Division in Germany. Justice Dannehy was a member of the Windham County Bar Association and began his law career Willimantic where he was assistant prosecuting attorney in the Police Court and Corporation Counsel for the city. In his 42 years on the bench, Justice Dannehy served on every court in the Connecticut judicial system. In 1961, Governor Abraham Ribicoff nominated him to the Circuit Court. In 1965, Justice Dannehy was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas by Governor John Dempsey and served as the Chief Judge of that court from 1967-1968. In 1968, he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court. In 1983, Governor William O'Neill nominated Justice Dannehy to be the Chief Presiding Judge of the newly-created Appellate Court where he served until 1984 when he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Justice Dannehy retired from the Connecticut Supreme Court in May 1987 and served as a Judge Trial Referee until his death. During his distinguished legal and judicial career, Justice Dannehy also served on the Judicial Council, the Sentence Review Division of the Superior Court, the Commission on Adult Probation, and the State Bar Examining Committee. He also was the Administrative Judge of the Windham Judicial District and a member of the Executive Committee of the Superior Court. In addition to his work as a judge, Justice Dannehy also was active in politics and community affairs. He served as assistant clerk of the State Senate and also was Chairman of the Windham Democratic Town committee and president of the Windham County Democratic Association. Justice Dannehy was governor of the Willimantic Country Club, director of the Willimantic YMCA, trustee of the Windham Community Memorial Hospital, president of the Windham Visiting Nurses Association, president of the Greater Willimantic Community Chest, first vice president of the Willimantic Chamber of Commerce and director of the Chronicle Printing Company and the Willimantic Savings Institute. Friends may call at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street (Rte. 195), Willimantic on Friday, December 19 from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20 at St. Joseph's Church, 99 Jackson Street, Willimantic with interment to follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph's Capital Fund, 99 Jackson Street, Willimantic, Connecticut 06226. Please visit www.potterfh.com for online expressions of sympathy and directions.

ASHFORD/STAFFORD SPRINGS - Robert A. Martin, 63, of Ference Rd., Ashford, died Tuesday, October 10, 2000 at Rockville General Hospital, Rockville. He was born in Newton, MA, son of the late Arthur D. and Mary (Burrill) Martin. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked at WESTVACO in Springfield, MA for 24 years and then retired May 1st fro the State of Conn., UConn Chemistry Dept. Purchasing and Receiving and drove a school bus as a sub. Since his retirement he enjoyed making maple syrup, traveling, horse back riding and golf. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Norumbega & Brookline Lodge AF & AM, Corona Chapter #205 OES, Melha Shrine, Ashford Senior Citizens and Cardiac-Rehab, Southbridge, MA. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 23 years of marriage, Jane (Colby) Martin; a son, Robert A Martin, Jr., both of Ashford; two brothers and a sister-in-law, David and Carol Martin of Windsor and Donald Martin and Ingrid Colby of West Hartford and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral will be held Saturday, October 14, 2000 at the Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs with the Rev. Sharon Miesel officiating. Burial will follow in Westford Hill Cemetery, Ashford. Calling hours will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Ashford Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 1, Ashford, CT 06278.

(transcribed by Nancy Washell with permission from the Chronicle - published Oct 12, 2000)

DANIELSON, Conn. -- Frank W. Burditt Jr., 61, of 42 Tom St., died Tuesday, July 3, from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident that day on Route 101, East Killingly.

He leaves his wife, Joan (Harvard) Burditt, formerly of Webster, Mass.; two sons; a daughter; nine stepchildren, including Trina Holub of Shrewsbury, Mass., and David Matteau of Webster; his father; several brothers and sisters; and 19 grandchildren. His former wife predeceased him. He was born in Rutland, Vt.

Mr. Burditt was a truck driver for M&M Transportation, Putnam, and a member of All Hallows Church, Moosup.

The memorial Mass was held in Moosup. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, Connecticut Affiliate Inc., 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450; or to American Cancer Society, 238 West Town St., Norwich, CT 06360. Tillinghast Funeral Home, 433 Main St., directed arrangements.

(Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) - July 11, 2001 - transcribed by Nancy Washell)
"Miss Mix"

EXCITEMENT IN WINDHAM.--Not a little gossip has been occasioned in the generally sedate and quiet town of Windham, Connecticut, by the sudden death of a strange young lady, who was brought to that place by a gentleman and his wife, from Middletown, some weeks since. The young lady, in due course of time, gave birth to a child, and was doing well, when about two weeks after the birth she received a letter from her mother, which contained threates of abandonment, unless she disclosed the father of the illegitimate. This she had steadily refused to do, and being greatly excited by the receipt of the letter, fainted, and died before relief could be administered. The body was taken from Windham by the same person who carried the young woman there. She was introduced by her attendants to the family in which she was placed in Windham, as Miss Mix. But this is presumed to have been an assumed name. The marks on her linen were picked out. "She was elegantly attired and seemed to have belonged to the higher ranks to life.-- Norwich News

[transcribed by Nancy Washell Aug 13, 2008]
(from The Constitution, Jan 26, 1848)