https://www.kennyfuneralhomes.com/

The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT (2026)

01/25/2026

MILLERTON, NY - James (Jimmy) Cookingham, 51, a lifelong local resident, passed away on January 19, 2026.

James was born on April 17, 1972 in Sharon, CT, the son of Robert Cookingham and the late Joanne Cookingham.

He attended Webutuck Central School.

Jimmy was an avid farmer since a very young age at Daisi-Hill & eventually had joint ownership of Daisey Hill Farm in Millerton, NY with his wife Jessica. He took great pride in growing pumpkins and sweet corn.

He was very outdoorsy and besides farming, loved to ride four wheelers, fish, and deer hunt. He also loved to make a roaring bonfire.

He was a farmer, friend, husband, father, son & brother. He will be missed by many.

He is survived by father, Robert Cookingham, wife Jessica (Ball) Cookingham, daughters, Hailey Cookingham-Loiodice (Matt), Taylor Ellis-Tanner (Jimmy) and sister Brenda Valyou. As well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by mother, Joanne (Palmer) Cookingham.

His daughter, Hailey, will always keep his legacy alive by their father-daughter antics, such as their handshake, nicknames and making “quacking noises” at each other.

Services/Memorials will be held at a later date.

01/25/2026

WINDHAM — George Martin Fischer, 70, of Windham, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026.

George was born in Velbert, Germany, to Elisabeth and Franz Fischer, and later grew up in New Jersey, the eldest of three brothers. He attended college in New York City before returning home to learn the mason’s craft under his father’s guidance. That early training became the foundation of a life defined by skill, integrity, and pride in building things that last. George went on to own his own masonry company before transitioning into corporate sales in the commercial brick industry. In that role, he worked closely with architects and builders, helping construct iconic buildings across cities throughout the Northeast—landmarks he would often point out during family travels.

On August 23, 1980, George married the love of his life, Gail Susanne Miner. Married for 45 years, they built a life rooted in devotion, hard work, and shared purpose. Together, they built their first home in Lakeville, CT, and later lovingly restored and fully remodeled two historic homes, one in Newport, NY—where they raised their daughters—and one in Windham, CT. Together, they brought new life to old spaces with the same care George brought to everything he touched.

Above all else, George was—by every meaning of the word—an extraordinary father. He was the proud and joyful father of his two daughters, and those who knew him best often said they had never seen a man express such pure, unwavering delight in his children. His pride was constant, his love unmistakable, and his devotion absolute. Over the years, George also became a second father to many, offering wisdom and steady guidance through stories, humor, and an ever-watchful presence that was calm and steady, but never judgmental.

George is survived by his beloved wife, Gail; his daughters, Stefanie (and her fiancé, Thomas Moulton) and Victoria; his brother, Robert; and his nephew, Nicholas. He was predeceased by his brother, William.

A memorial service will be held at Salisbury Congregational Church on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. Family and friends are invited afterward to a reception at The Interlaken from 2:00–5:00 p.m. to celebrate George’s life. If you are able to attend the reception, please R.S.V.P. to his daughter, Stefanie, at Stefanie.Dianna.Fischer@gmail.com by February 20. If you have stories you would like shared during the service (which his family warmly invites), or photos you would like included at the reception, please email Stefanie at the address above.

Although flowers are appreciated, donations in George’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.

01/22/2026

SAILSBURY - Herbert Raymond Franson, 94, passed away on January 18, 2026. He was the loving husband of Evelyn Hansen Franson. Better known as Ray, within his family, and Herb elsewhere.

He was born on February 11, 1931 in Brooklyn, N.Y. When he was three years old, he emigrated to Sweden with his mother, Amy (Larson), father Carl Herbert and sister, Ruth. He was nurtured by members of his extended family. Being owners and managers of manufacturing plants in rural Sweden, they gave this curious “nuts and bolts kind of guy” access to machinery where he could satisfy his needs to repair and build parts for his kid-style projects. At 18 he returned to relatives in Marlborough, CT who encouraged him to continue high school. He met classmate Evelyn, his English tutor and future wife, at East Hampton High School and they graduated in the class of 1949.

He joined the US Navy and served in the Mediterranean aboard the USS Midway and, during the Korean conflict, aboard the USS Pine Island. Upon discharge he attended Porter School of Machine and Tool Design under the GI Bill. He then apprenticed as a tool and die maker for Pratt Whitney Aircraft, then worked for Stirling Engineering, culminating as a mold engineer with Becton Dickinson, Canaan, CT; much closer to his home on Twin Lakes. At B-D he was involved in molding technology and traveled to plants worldwide overseeing production of syringes used to deliver vaccines.

Along the way, he renovated and constructed three homes in Marlborough and Salisbury, CT and in Rangeley, ME.

Ray and Evelyn retired to Rangeley in 1992 after living at Twin Lakes for 25 years. He joined the Rangeley Congregational Church just in time to coordinate renovation of the church’s old barn into a community center. This led to the position of “clerk of the works” when the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association renovated and enlarged their clubhouse in Oquossoc. RRG&SA honored his dedication with a Lifetime Membership. He also volunteered driving the RRHAT van and coordinated meal deliveries for the Housing Development. He served on various boards of the church chairing Buildings and Grounds for many years. In his eighties, Ray turned to designing and building scratch built wood models including the Drottningholm (on which he had emigrated), the USS Midway and the steamship Rangeley to mention a few.

Ray leaves his wife of 72 years, Evelyn (Hansen), his sister, Astrid F. Harrison of Cromwell, CT, brother, Carl B. Franson of Lime Rock, CT, son Kenneth and wife Christine of Wolfeboro, NH and Rangeley, ME, daughter, Jean F. Bell and husband Rick of Salisbury, CT. Grandchildren Kayla J. (Bell) Johnson and husband Brett of Salisbury, CT and Cody J. Franson, wife Maria and great granddaughter Francesca Evelyn Franson of Rangeley, ME.

In lieu of flowers, monetary remembrances may be made to the Rangeley Congregational Church, PO Box 218, Rangeley, ME, 04970.

01/19/2026

CORNWALL - Alex North of Great Hill Road in Cornwall slipped away from his physical form on January 8th, 2026.

Alex was a wonderful man who lived his life with a tenacious spirit and a full heart. He was always willing to lend a hand to people in need and developed supportive relationships with several elders in the area whom he regularly helped with tasks that they could no longer perform on their own. A life-long learner, he developed a love of farming & machinery at an early age. He showed his studiousness and physical skills and achieved his Tang Soo Do Blackbelt degree. Though he was challenged from birth with a rare condition, he lived life to its fullest and embraced every challenge. An exceptional skier, he was a bit of a daredevil and pushed himself to the limit for the exhilaration. Everything he would attempt to do he would give it his all.

With the unwavering support of his devoted parents, he defied expectations time and time again. He spent countless hours working alongside his father, Mark, often helping him on emergency calls to Kent School. Alex enjoyed working with his Dad on their shared collection of antique cars and machinery. As a result he developed a mechanical talent that few could match. Together they brought old machines back to life—restoring a ’67 Chevy truck, reviving a 1929 Studebaker “Doodle Bug,” which he often displayed at the CT Antique Machinery’s Festivals where he was a lifetime member for all his work staffing the events. He kept his John Deere Gator running through all kinds of weather to care for the Gracey Family's herd of cows in Coltsfoot Valley. His greatest passion, though, was operating heavy equipment. He took pride in restoring a ’49 Ford 8N tractor, which he used for mowing and brush hogging the family’s North Kent pasture, and the maintenance of his Kubota backhoe which he relied on for landscaping work both in town and the surrounding areas.

Alex was a dedicated farmer who cared deeply for all animals. He raised several cows of his own in addition to lending a hand to many farmers in town. He bottle-fed his beloved “ Little Man”, and nursed back to health after a broken leg as a calf. Little Man grew into a 2,000‑pound “Ferdinand”, a testament to Alex’s patience and compassion.

Apprenticing with some of Cornwall’s finest: Debra Tyler, Chris Hopkins, Jonathan Kirschner, Dan Gracey and Ken Gladding. He loved lending a hand during the haying season, an intense time of hot weather and hard work. Another testament to his strength and work ethic. He had strong bonds with many of the young local farming talent including Jed & Angus of the Gracey family, Tommy Eucalitto, Patrick Beal and Jon Old —friends who shared his love of reviving the once thriving agricultural community in Cornwall. Together they built a tight-knit support system, one that meant the world to Alex. Despite the challenges he faced, he lived a rich and meaningful life surrounded by people who admired his strength, humor, and determination.

As he aged, Alex’s life was fraught with medical procedures and interventions. His health presented constant obstacles, yet he faced every one of them with remarkable courage, incredible tenacity and the best attitude he could muster.

Alex is survived by his loving parents, Mark and Alicia, his brother, Ben and wife Molly, his Uncle Chris and Aunt Lynn Harrington, cousins Colby & Chase; his Aunt Jen & Uncle Mike Sherman, cousins Kora, Marlie and Kassandra, as well as his Grandparents Skip & Susan North, Dianne Conboy and the rest of his ever-expanding clan across the globe will miss him beyond measure.

He was a gift to his family and to the entire community with his can-do spirit and friendly nature traits that we need in this world now more than ever!

A service in his honor will be held at the United Church of Christ in Cornwall, located at 8 Bolton Hill Road in Cornwall Village, on Saturday, January 17th at 2 p.m. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

All who loved Alex are welcome to gather to celebrate his extraordinary life.

01/15/2026

SHARON - Thomas Brod passed away at home in the early hours of New Year’s day after enjoying a New Year’s dinner with his family.

Thomas was born in London, England, May 1, 1945.

His parents had left Germany in 1938 and arrived in England by way of Prague.

Thomas grew up in London and followed his father into the Brod Gallery, specializing in Dutch 17th century paintings and drawings.

When he was eighteen, his father sent him to the United States for the first time. His assignment was to travel the country visiting collectors and museums. This would be his first trip, but many would follow.

Thomas loved art, music, travel, skiing, woodworking, and everything that went up in the air (he was a private pilot and also enjoyed flying radio control model airplanes). But there was nothing he loved more than his family.
His four children, Alex, Jonathan, Julian and Amelia, their spouses, and his grandchildren.

Thomas had Parkinson’s disease for 36 years, which progressively hindered many of his usual activities. But time spent with his family, children, grandchildren and his wife, Brenda, always brought him joy and increased energy.

He always had a wry and surprising sense of humor, and laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, or a raised eyebrow, when someone made a joke.

Thomas, Brenda and family lived in Sharon for part of each year, beginning in 1983. In 2018, Thomas and Brenda moved permanently to Sharon. Thomas felt a strong kinship to this area from his first visit. It is where he, and his family, spent many of the happiest moments of their lives. We are glad that his last years were spent here.

01/12/2026

SHARON - Theodore Ned Drumm passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2026 after a long battle with heart failure.

Ted Drumm was born Nov. 26, 1932 in Sharon to the late Julia and Ned Drumm. He lived all his life in Sharon.

Ted was a loving father and husband. He was a member of the First Church of Christ Congregational and the Taghhannuck Grange No. 100 for more than 50 years. He served on the board of Deacons and was the first moderator of the church. He also served on the Sharon Board of Finance. He ran a paint contracting business for more than 35 years.

He is predeceased by his wife and son. There are no survivors.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 11:00AM at The First Church of Christ Congregational in Sharon.

Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257. People can also donate online here: https://berkshiretaconic.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1357

01/07/2026

SALISBURY - Jill Scott passed away peacefully on January 2nd after 93 years of a wide-ranging and well-travelled life.

She was born in Essex, England in 1932. She attended a girls’ boarding school, then went on to complete a year of college. Unfortunately, the need to educate two younger brothers and the second world war (during which she was evacuated to Oxford) interrupted her studies.

She briefly worked assorted jobs in the London area and attended her brother’s sporting events at the King’s School, Canterbury. It was at King’s that she met and married her husband Neil, a teacher. She was soon hired by King’s as a “house matron,” essentially taking on the household management and “mothering duties” for a large dormitory of teenaged boys.

Prior to starting a family, she and Neil went on a motorcycle camping trip to Scotland. Later, summers were spent camping with her growing family in nearby European countries.

Jill and Neil needed new horizons, so they moved with their three children to Quebec, Canada for a year, then down to the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut in 1970. Jill immediately became engaged in supporting all the activities of her family, and, once the children were old enough to be home alone, she started working part-time for the Lakeville Journal as a copy editor. Always a supporter of Hotchkiss, Jill frequently worked in the Hotchkiss School store.

A teaching exchange year in New Zealand provided additional adventure in 1986-1987, and Jill thoroughly enjoyed traveling throughout those islands with Neil and with visiting friends.

Upon Neil’s retirement in 1993 Jill continued her family support work, taking special joy in spending any time possible with each of her four grandchildren as they grew. Jill and Neil also traveled overseas and around the globe, visiting family and friends, and just enjoying new people and experiences.

Besides being family-centered, Jill was a lifelong learner. She read voraciously and thoroughly enjoyed discussing world events with anyone and everyone. She took a multitude of classes, from ceramics to world history, and always enjoyed learning something new. She also believed in community service and was a long-time member of
the Salisbury Garden club. Indeed, she was a passionate gardener and, as one friend put it, she could plant a broomstick in the ground and make it grow. She thoroughly enjoyed her time reading to younger students at Salisbury Central School and working with the Noble Horizons Auxiliary. She thrived being outdoors, whether camping, canoeing, skiing, sailing, playing golf, just going for walks, or, in her last years, riding the pathways at Noble Horizons in her electric chair.

Jill was very practical, and in a file designated for after her passing she left us all a note written long before:
“No pain, no senility. I am just in the next room. Laugh and enjoy every day”.

Jill is survived by her son David (Kari), daughter Carol, grandchildren Harry (Samantha), Alexandra, Philip, Spencer, and son-in-law Paul. She is predeceased by her husband Neil, daughter Kathryn, and brothers Jack and Robert. We all miss her greatly.

A celebration of life will be held in the dining room at Noble Horizons at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jill’s name to Noble Horizons Auxiliary, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.

01/05/2026

SHARON - Steven Michael “Bird” Willette, 76, of Silver Lake Shores, passed away on December 25, 2025 at Vassar Brother Medical Center, with his family at his side.

Steve was born in New York City to Dorman Willette and Ann (Sabol) Willette.

He grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, where he fell in love with doowop, a ca****la, and all things music.

As a teen he spent summers in Sharon, where he and his family built a cabin near Mudge Pond; he relocated here permanently in the early 90s to raise his children amid the strong community and natural beauty.

Steve was a vocalist, a genuine classic car lover, and a silversmith; he operated a jewelry business with his wife for a number of years, after which he worked as a bus driver, safely driving children for CT Region 1 as well as the Webutuk school.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Maureen; his son, Ryan; and his daughter, Desirée.

The family has chosen to temporarily hold off on memorial services to allow more time for loved ones to join us. Details will be made public as they are decided on.

12/31/2025

CORNWALL - A good man has passed. Gerald “Jerry” Blakey, 89, of Cornwall, CT passed on December 20th, 2025.

He was predeceased by his parents Ernestine L. Blakey and Burt Blakey of West Cornwall, CT, his brother Tom Blakey of Falls Village, and his daughter Karen B. Fisher of Cornwall.

He leaves his wife of 70 years, Patricia “Pat” Blakey of Cornwall, his son David M. Blakey of Cornwall Bridge, his daughter Lori B. Welles and her husband David Welles of West Cornwall, his granddaughter Melissa B. Root of Terryville, great granddaughter Devyn Root of Terryville, and his niece Pam B. Hart and her husband Doug of Belencia, CA. Brother James Blakey of Florida.

Jerry graduated from HVRHS in 1954. He started dating Patricia “Pat” Blakey in high school, and they were married on Sept. 3rd, 1955.

Their first challenge as newlyweds was hearing their new furniture had washed away in the flood of 55!

After high school, Jerry began working at Housatonic Valley Rug Shop in Cornwall Bridge.

In 1979 he bought HVRS with his partner Ed Kenniston. He retired in 2006.

Early on in his adult life he began getting involved in all things Cornwall. A member of the UCC in Cornwall, he served on numerous boards and committees there. Always ready to fix or fabricate, clean or repair whatever was needed. He served on the town's P&Z committee, building committees and more, he was elected tax collector. He was proud to serve in the Cornwall Fire Dept. Where there was a need he found solutions.

Pat and Jerry volunteered at the Soup Kitchen in Torrington, CT and slept in the shelter for Operation Overflow also in Torrington. Together they started the medical equipment loan program out of the UCC. Volunteering 100s of hours and traveling 100s of miles delivering and picking up medical equipment for those in need.

Jerry and Pat opened their garage after the tornado of ‘89 and started the Blakey Family Restaurant to feed the town’s people and volunteers as the clean up continued. Jerry organized Blood drives, built houses in Mexico through the La Casa Project, hosted tornado anniversary parties and so much more.

Jerry amassed numerous awards, citations and recognitions for all he did. Each was carefully put away, not to be displayed, because it never was about those. As one friend said, Jerry didn’t know he did extraordinary things, it’s just what you're supposed to do. He was talented, humble and generous. He loved the community and the people and always was there to help. He was a family man, caring for them up to the end.

Among the many awards he was particularly proud of his Public Service award from the State of CT in 2001, The Connecticut Conference, UCC Living Waters Award in 2015 and an honoree with Pat on The HVRHS Alumni Wall of Honors 2023.

Anyone who ever met Jerry would know that he was a man of many words and always a man of his word, he will be missed.

The family would like to thank his Smilow Cancer Hospital team in Torrington, CT.

Services will be held on January 10th, 2026 at 1:00PM, at the UCC, Bolton Hill Road, in Cornwall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cornwall Volunteer Fire Dept. and EMS, American Cancer Society, or the UCC Cornwall capital improvement fund.

12/29/2025

FALLS VILLAGE - Francis J. “Bosco” Schell of Falls Village passed away peacefully on December 20th at East Mountain House in Lakeville surrounded by members of his family.

Born in Kosice, Slovakia, in 1934 to a family of landowners in their ancestral home, he came to the United States in 1947 following the wreckage of the Second World War.

He gained full scholarships to the Montclair Academy in New Jersey and to Williams College in Massachusetts before serving in the US Army in Germany.

Soon after his return to New York City he began work at the Reader’s Digest where he would stay for his entire professional career, starting in Paris at the International Edition, and returning to the US to create Families, and then on to leading the non-US editions of the magazine, the International and global Condensed Books.

He married Natalia Gortchacow in 1962, who pre-deceased him in 1992, and Page Dickey in 2000. He was devoted to his family and children, and to the huge cohort of friends he kept, who shared his relentless joie de vivre, his love of gardens, music, parties, dancing and drama.

Bosco was deeply involved in charity work, becoming by family tradition a member of the Catholic Sovereign Order of Malta, where he reached the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion. He worked tirelessly to channel funds and medical equipment to his beloved Hungarians writhing under the Soviet yoke and then in aid of their successful quest for economic and political freedom. He headed the Hungarian Association of the Knights of Malta in Exile which led to the re-creation of the Hungarian Delegation in Hungary.

In his later years, he chaired the board of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village where he could be found raising funds by selling cuttings from his own greenhouse along with his legendary home-made jam.

Bosco’s two lifelong passions were gardening and music. Always an enthusiastic dabbler, retirement enabled him to attend the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where he earned his degree in horticulture in 1997 before settling down with Page in her published garden at Duck Hill in North Salem, NY. They eventually moved to Falls Village in 2015 where they established Church House and its garden. He took great pride in its opening to the public and last gave a virtual tour of his greenhouse in 2021 to benefit charity.

He is remembered by his loving wife Page, his two children Peter Schell and Marie-Elizabeth Offierski and their spouses Blandine and Stefan, his four step-children Keith Dickey, Kim Dickey Ambrose, Scott Dickey and Jean Dickey Quaintance and their spouses Ally, Kirk, Ilia and Don, by his eight grandchildren Irène, Valentine, Anastasia, Paul, Frederic, Conrad, Gregor, and Olga and his six step-grand-children Claire, Helen, Freddy, Charlie, Alex and Keala.

A funeral mass will take place at 11:00AM on January 5th, 2026 at St. Martin of Tours Church of St. Mary in Lakeville. Burial will follow at Sleep Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to East Mountain House in Lakeville.

12/24/2025

SHARON - Austin Howard Barney—known simply as “Barney” to many, of Sharon, CT, age 87, died on December 23rd after his heroic battle with the black breath, hanahaki disease, cooties, simian flu and feline leukemia finally came to an end.

Austin was born on July 26th, 1938, son of Sylvester and Iva Barney.

He leaves behind an overwhelming amount of junk—sorry, treasures. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a console TV roughly the size of a Buick, a soot-encrusted coffee pot that hasn’t been properly cleaned since the Reagan administration or creatively bent hangers that he had hanging in his living room windows to dry clothes on, give us a call. Please wait for the appropriate, respectful amount of time. Tomorrow should be fine.

Austin was frugal to the extreme; some may have called him “cheap,” but he preferred to think of himself as a pioneer in recycling—decades before it was cool. His kitchen was home to a vast collection of cool whip and country crock containers. The biggest challenge was finding actual cool whip or butter in his refrigerator with all the containers of leftovers that looked the same. “Open at your own risk” was our motto.

He leaves behind a wonderfully dysfunctional family—a group he tolerated, loved and occasionally avoided.

Austin was world-renowned for his lack of patience, grossly excessive extreme sarcasm, not holding back his opinion and knack for telling you exactly how wrong you were. One of his favorite quotes was, “I was only wrong once in my life. I thought I made a mistake.”

He always preferred his own cooking to anyone else’s—and to be fair, it was actually pretty good.

Austin served proudly with the 6th Marines in the United States Marine Corps from February 10, 1958, through February 9, 1962. Semper Fi!

He was also a volunteer fireman for several years, until he realized that sprinting in the opposite direction from fire was more aligned with his personal survival goals.

A natural mountain man, he ate things from the swamp that most people avoid and cooked on a wood stove for many years. He was an avid bird watcher and found joy in feeding all the animals that frequented his property.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Sylvester Barney, Louis Barney and his sister Shirley MacDougall.

He is survived by his daughters Darlene Hardzog, Margaret Gdovin (Mike); his son, Austin Barney Jr (Kate); his grandchildren, Savannah Hardzog, Jordan Gdovin, Violet Barney, Amethyst Barney and Austin Barney III; and his sister Anita Baird along with various other relatives. You know who you are. He will be greatly missed.

There will be no viewing, as his children refused to comply with his request to be taxidermied and propped in the corner with a beer or a glass of scotch in his hand so guests could admire him in his natural state.

Services are pending and details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross in his memory.

Austin Barney has approved this message. Approval notwithstanding, it would have read the same.

12/22/2025

SALISBURY – Bob Weber, age 84, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 14, 2025 in his favorite chair in the home he built and loved in Salisbury, CT. He was married to Jeanette Weber for 57 years.

Robert Allen Weber was born March 1, 1941 in New York City, the son of the late Harold and Theresa Zeitler Weber.

Bob graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and City College where he majored in Industrial Engineering.

An outstanding athlete, he played lacrosse and ran track, primarily on a record-setting mile relay team. For many years, going on long runs after work was his stress-reducer.

Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended the Harvard Business School Management Program. He was employed by Bulova Watch Company for 43 years as an Industrial Engineer and rose to Vice President. Since his retirement in 2007, he served as a consultant to Bulova on environmental sites until his death.

Bob and Jeanette were married on May 4, 1968. Their son, Eric, was born in 1970 and twin daughters, Laura and Christine, followed in 1972. Having three babies in two years was indeed a “fun but challenging experience” for two parents who were only children. Bob and Jeanette moved from New York City to Glen Rock, NJ in 1970 where they raised their family, made many friends, and became involved in the community.

After searching for a weekend home for several years, Jeanette urged Bob to follow his dream of designing and building a house. His specifications were: a gravel road, an open meadow setting, and a western view of the mountains. And they found such a site north of Salisbury. The house was completed in 1998, and they were weekenders until becoming full-time residents in 2014. Why Salisbury? When the children were young, the family often traveled from New Jersey to Vermont, driving through Salisbury and stopping at the White Hart Inn where Elyse Harney had a general store with penny candy. There the children got to select candy for the rest of the drive. Each time, Bob would say: “I would love to live in Salisbury some day…”

Bob had a wide range of interests: landscaping and gardening, sports, cooking and grilling, U.S. history, music, dinner parties, travel, cars, NY Times, good wines, long walks with his dog – and most of all, spending time with his family and friends. He attended all the children’s soccer games, wrestling matches, and other events. He served on the Glen Rock Sports Association, was treasurer of the Salisbury Congregational Church, and grilled hundreds of hot dogs for the Salisbury Fall Festival for many years.

He had long-time close friendships from his single days in New York City, his many years at Bulova, and raising his family in New Jersey.

He and Jeanette enjoyed wonderful trips together throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Some trips were by themselves and others with family or close friends. Bob was usually the designated driver and learned to negotiate roundabouts, drive on the left, wait for herds of sheep, end up in very narrow lanes, discover too late the sign indicating “pedestrians only,” and numerous other funny memories.

Bob was a devoted husband to Jeanette. He was a beloved father to his children. Having lost his own father at age 7, Bob always tried to be the father that he never had. And he so enjoyed each grandchild as he or she joined the family.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son Eric and wife Kristie of Brooklyn; daughter Laura and husband Timmy of El Cerrito, CA; Christine and husband Scott of Cromwell, CT; and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 22 to 1: Madison, Belle, Cooper, Ryan, Skyler, Theo, and Ethan. He was Robert, Bob, Dad, Papa, Weber, or Webs to those who knew him, loved him, and will miss him so very much.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, PO Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in Salisbury in Spring 2026.

The Kenny Funeral Home

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