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Death Announced of Roxanne Teguis Pappas, Mother of Althea Caulkins of Old Lyme

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Roxanne Teguis Pappas

DANIELSON, CONN. – Roxanne Teguis Pappas, 92, a longtime resident of Killingly, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday morning, July 12, 2024, at Westview Health Care Center. She was the loving wife of the late George Peter Pappas, and the daughter of the late Nick Peter and Irene (Karapanos) Teguis.

Roxanne was born in the former Yugoslavia and came to the United States when she was just three months old. She was a graduate of Tourtellotte High School and Annhurst College. On June 22, 1952, Roxanne and George were united in marriage at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Webster, MA. She worked for many years for the Killingly Board of Education as an executive secretary to the Superintendent of schools.

Roxanne was very active in her community, and her love for her town and its government led her to take on many active roles. Most notably, Roxanne was a member and former Vice Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, and she was elected as Chairwoman to the Killingly Town Council where she served for many years. She was chairperson to the Board of Directors for the Killingly Elderly Housing, and was a liaison for the Killingly Housing Authority. Roxanne was the Chairperson for the KELP subcommittee, which took major steps at the time to preserve the clean air quality for Killingly. In addition, she also served on the Council of Governments, Northeast Visitor’s Group, Quinebaug and Heritage Corridor. Roxanne was also a Justice of the Peace.

In 2013, Senator Blumenthal presented Roxanne a special recognition award for her service and dedication to the Democratic Party and she also received an award from the State of Connecticut General Assembly for her years of service to the Democratic Town Committee and the Killingly Town Council.

Roxanne’s love for the arts, led her to be on the Board of Director’s for Opera New England, and she was a patron of the Goodspeed Opera House, often going there with her late husband. She was artistic and creative, and she loved to paint and stencil on velvet canvases, often framing her pieces. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed keeping up with national issues. Roxanne enjoyed summers by going to the beach in Watch Hill, RI, sailing with her family on the boat “Roxanne” and playing tennis. She enjoyed spending time with her sisters’ Eleanor and Mary, and with the many longtime friends that she has had through the years.

Roxanne was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Danielson and had a deep faith in God. She was proud of her Greek heritage and made the best Spanakopita and Koulourakia (Greek Easter cookies) rivaled only by her sister Mary.

Roxanne will be fondly remembered as a very loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was very good at offering advice and wise words of wisdom to whom was ever in need. She could make you smile and laugh and was positive in her thoughts. Roxanne could be heard saying, “Make the most of each and every day.” She would always ask how you were doing, and she wanted to make sure you were doing okay, and would always put others first.

Roxanne is survived by her daughter, Althea Caulkins and her husband Richard and her son, Michael Pappas all of Old Lyme; her sisters, Mary Teguis Fatsi and Eleanor Teguis both of Thompson; and her grandchildren, Nicole Caulkins and her husband Chris Doyle of London, England, Micaela Caulkins of East Lyme, and Samantha Caulkins of Watertown, MA. She was predeceased by her sister Dorothy (Dina) A. Teguis.

Roxanne is also survived by a goddaughter, Roxanne P. Broulliard as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Roxanne’s family from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. On Friday, July 19, 2024, in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 80 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Westfield Cemetery, Danielson.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made in Roxanne’s memory to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 236, Danielson, CT 06239. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.

The family would like to thank Dr. Joseph Botta, her primary care physician, and Dr. David Candow as well as Westview Health Care Center for their exceptional care of Roxanne.

May her memory be eternal.

Death Announced of Paul H. Holt of Old Lyme, Longtime Trustee of Florence Griswold Museum

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OLD LYME — Paul Francis Hugo Holt died at his home in Old Lyme, CT, on June 18th at age 78. He was the only son of Henry and Clara Holt (née Purslow), born in London, UK in 1946. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Linda; daughters Nicki Brown (George) and Melissa Rowles (Terry), and son Andrew Holt (Mary Grace); and grandchildren Chelsey, Benji, Lily and Hugo …

… He was dedicated to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, serving as a trustee for many years … He was an equally dedicated compiler of histories: of his family, of the town of Old Lyme, and of his beloved Black Hall Golf Club.

… A celebration of his life will be held in Old Lyme in due course. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Florence Griswold Museum.

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read the full obituary published on Legacy.com by Abbey Cremation Service – Rocky Hill on Jul. 16, 2024.

Looking Back at the Always Extraordinary ‘White Elephant Sale’, 10 Facts You May Not Know About It

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Dressed for the rain, but still ready to spend!

OLD LYME—It may have been a little damp but the eagerly-anticipated White Elephant Sale hosted by the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme duly opened yesterday on the first strike of the church clock at 9 a.m. It was open again Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, when most items were half-price. 

Waiting for the bell to peal — but all ready for the crowd to surge!

Organized by the LBS (Ladies Benevolent Society) of the church, the sale has been a summer mainstay of the area since 1936 (except for two years due to the pandemic).

It was all action both inside and outside at the sale yesterday.

Here are 10 facts about the White Elephant Sale that you may not know:

  • In the earliest years of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme – in the mid- to late 1600s – the women of the church cooked food and sewed clothing to raise money to help support the church’s charitable projects.
  • In 1888, the women of the church officially formed the Neck Road Society and, over the years, the Society held concerts, socials and other events to raise money for local causes.
  • By 1917, the Society was holding suppers for the men in the Connecticut National Guard.
  • In 1920, the Society held its first-ever rummage sale – a small event confined to a single room of the church – which raised $200 for charity, a surprising amount of money at the time.
  • The name, “White Elephant Sale,” was given to the event in 1936 and it thereafter became an annual tradition.
Umbrellas were the early order of the day yesterday.
  • In the 1950s, the sale briefly expanded to include a country fair, horse show and square dance; then in subsequent decades, evolved into the popular, two-day local tradition we enjoy today.
  • During and after World War II, the Society used the proceeds of the sale to support a variety of international charitable causes – including helping an orphan from Czechoslovakia, a church in England and children in China. (Today it benefits more than 25 nonprofit organizations across our region and around the world.)
  • Sometime during mid- to late- 1900s, the name of the group was changed to the Ladies Benevolent Society. Since that time, as the Society has expanded to include men as well as women, and people of varying faiths and backgrounds, the Society has increasingly gone by just its initials, “LBS.”
  • In 2020 and 2021, the sale was canceled for the first (and only) times in its long history due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Proceeds from the sale benefit the many ministries of the church, including a wide variety of local, national, and international endeavors such as food pantries, health organizations, family support centers, children’s programs, literacy volunteers, affordable housing, native American causes, social justice initiatives, and disaster relief.
Plants, pots, vases and so much more.

While there are other garage and rummage sales throughout the year, few can match the size, color, camaraderie, and excitement of this one.  Renowned for its quality merchandise, you will find antiques, art, books, bikes, canoes, clothing, collectibles, kayaks, kitchenware, musical instruments, shoes, ski equipment, tools, toys and more.

Jim Fairfield-Sonn (left) and Roger Nosal joined the throng in the search for bargains.

Volunteers are needed in every area of the sale. If you would like to volunteer, call the church office at 860-434-8686.

For more information on the sale, visit this link.

Death Announced of Daniel E. Lynch, Former ‘Mayor’ of Old Lyme Shores

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Daniel E. Lynch, formerly of West Hartford and Old Lyme, and loving husband of Alice (Walsh) Lynch for 69 years, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024.

Dan was born in Hartford, Connecticut on July 7, 1933, the youngest of three sons to Margaret (Shea) and William Lynch. He was educated locally and attended Providence College …

… Later years were spent at Old Lyme Shores where “The Mayor” would proudly sit on his porch engaging in pleasantries with each and every person walking by the house and taking immeasurable pride in his grandchildren as they participated in the annual July 4th bike parade.

… Dan is predeceased by his beloved sons and law partners, Danny Lynch and Kevin Lynch, with whom he is with once again. He is also predeceased by his brother William Lynch.

In addition to his wife Alice and brother Robert Lynch, Dan is survived by his daughter Susan Galeota, her fiancé Michael Giliberto … ; his daughter Dr. Particia Fagan, her husband Christopher Fagan … ; and his daughter in law Amy Lynch …

… A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday July 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery …

Visit this link to read the full obituary published July 12, 2024 by the Hartford Courant.

Weather Cancels Sound View Parade … But It Happens Anyway … on Much Smaller Scale!

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“This sense of community – of caring – is what makes Sound View special” (Mary Daley)

Whatever the weather, we are having a parade! Photo by Debra Tulisano.

OLD LYME— Rain may have canceled Sound View’s traditional parade but Joann Lishing, who assists with organizing the parade, tells LymeLine, “Decorated people, golf carts, and so forth, showed up and had their own parade!”

Rain did not dampen the spirits of these folk, who had planned to participate in the parade. Photo by Joann Lishing.

Sound View resident and LymeLine reader Mary Daley adds, “The children, parents and residents of Sound View marched anyway during a break in the rain and completed the route in red, white and blue splendor.” 

Carousel owners Dee and Jerry Vowles generously offered free rides to all the parade participants. Photo by Debra Tulisano.

She notes, “Many thanks to the Shoreline Community Center for their generosity in providing ballons and participation prizes to the children and many thanks to the Vowles Family for opening up the carousel free of charge this [Saturday] morning.” 

It may have rained on our parade—but we’re having it anyway! Photo by Debra Tulisano.

Daley concludes, “This sense of community – of caring – is what makes Sound View special.”