NIANTIC — On Jan. 29, 2021, Melvin Earl Northrop died peacefully in Niantic. He was 88 years old. Melvin was born Nov. 10, 1932, in Old Lyme.
He graduated from Old Lyme High School in 1950, and entered the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. Melvin was stationed in Landstuhl, Germany in the 8th Evacuation Hospital. He was honorably discharged in February 1955 …
Visit this link to read the full obituary published Feb. 1, 2021 in The Day.
OLD LYME — Guy Randall Mangs, 74, passed away peacefully Jan. 20, 2021, at his home in Old Lyme, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief battle with cancer. Guy was born in New Haven, Sept. 23, 1946, to the late Carl and Margaret Mangs. Guy was the beloved husband of Laura Schneck Mangs for over 35 years and the proud, devoted and loving father of four wonderful children: Chelsea Mangs, Zachary Mangs and his girlfriend, Melody and children, Spencer Mangs and his wife Deanna and Carly Mangs and her boyfriend Bill …
… His memories and life lessons will continue to be passed on for generations to come. Guy had a big heart and enjoyed helping those in need.
Visit this link to read the full obituary published Jan. 31, 2021 in The Day.
Ronald “Ronnie” E. Hedspeth
Ronald “Ronnie” E. Hedspeth, 81, passed away peacefully with family at his side on January 20th, 2021 from COVID complications. He was born on February 16, 1939 to Vera (Hedspeth) Foster in Clinton, SC. Ronnie spent his childhood in Clinton, SC, and joined the Navy after high school graduation.
Following the Navy, Ronnie settled in Springfield, MA where he initially worked as a bartender at the Chessman Lounge. A dance is where he met his future wife, Patricia Ducharme. They married in May of 1966, and thereafter raised their three children.
Many of Ronnie’s favorite days were spent watching his children play sports, coaching their teams, having the house filled with neighborhood kids and visiting his family in South Carolina. He loved all Boston sports teams and the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Ronnie thought being a parent was the best job in the world until his grandchildren were born. He spent the last twenty-plus years of his life attending their sporting events, playing games with them, listening to their stories, telling his own stories, watching any movie they wanted (even those they were not allowed to watch). Ronnie even tried to ride scooters with them; however, that did not end well. Dunkin’ coffee was his favorite. Events or circumstances that embarrassed his children were his device to entertain his grandchildren.
He truly would do anything to make his grandchildren laugh. He enjoyed cutting the line at concession stands because he was “too old” to wait, and would demand his admission fee be refunded if his grandson’s team lost because he didn’t pay to watch the other team win. He would typically yell that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then when the other team scored. Needless to say, his witty, crazy and many times inappropriate humor will be missed forever.
Ronnie leaves behind his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia (Ducharme) Hedspeth, his son Ron Hedspeth and his wife Mary (Murphy) of Monson, daughter Jeannie Goldberg and her husband Jim of Lyme, CT, his daughter Mary Blanchette and her husband Robert of Springfield, his ten grandchildren, Emily, Tim, Luke and Liam Hedspeth, Seth, Meyer and Elias Goldberg, Caitlin, Lauren and Bobby Blanchette.
He was predeceased by his brother Gerald Foster and sister-in-law Sue Ducharme. He also leaves behind his sister Freida Spoone, brothers Stan Foster and Tony Foster, sister Gail Blackwell and her husband Brian, and sister-in-law Kathy Foster, all of South Carolina, and his brother-in-law Gerald Ducharme of Springfield, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Services and burial will be private and for immediate family only at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held later when groups are safe to congregate.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Ronnie’s name to Curable, 818 Saratoga Drive, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, an organization always dear to Ronnie’s heart which works to cure rare diseases.
Wilbraham Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
To view the Live Streaming funeral ceremony at MA Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, please click on the link with the video camera under the services information.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald “Ronnie” E. Hedspeth, visit the Wilbraham Funeral Home’s floral store.
Gary Michael Grisky
OLD LYME — It is with our deepest sadness that we announce the unexpected, but peaceful passing of our brother Gary Michael Grisky on the 24th of December, 2020. He was born April 17th, 1951 in New Jersey, but spent the majority of his life in Old Lyme, Connecticut. He is predeceased by his mother and father Joyce and Donald Grisky of Old Lyme, Conn.
He graduated from Old Lyme High School in 1969 and New England School of Art in 1972 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Family and friends meant everything to him. He is survived by his sisters Donelle Krajewski and her husband Michael Krajewski of Greer, South Carolina, and Mary Sterck and her husband Martin of Uebach-Palenberg, Germany; nieces Amanda van Liessum and her husband Maarten, and Catherine Lowery; his aunts, uncles, cousins, and his very special friends Fern and Michael Salkauskas.
Gary was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, clamming, and crabbing, and sharing his bounty with family and friends. He also loved listening to music and playing his guitar.
He will be missed for his great storytelling, friendship, and his beautiful smile. The world is a little less bright without our beloved brother.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Bonnie (Briggs) Shaw Sturtevant, age 79, passed away peacefully January 12, 2021 after a long courageous battle with cancer.
Bonnie was predeceased by her parents, Harold Briggs and Dorothy (Rich) Briggs, her first husband, Colin Shaw, and long-time companion Donald Nelson. She grew up in East Haven, CT and moved to Northford, CT to start her family. She loved living along the shoreline and most recently lived in Old Lyme, CT …
…Bonnie loved taking care of others …
… Bonnie is survived by her daughter and her husband Heather and Michael Elster of Sutton, MA; son and wife Colin and Tania Shaw of Old Lyme, CT; grandchildren, Ryan, Jordan, Brandon, Skyelar and Justin; and her remaining family and close friends …
… In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bonnie’s name to Old Lyme Animal Control & Shelter at 3 Machnik Drive, Old Lyme, CT 06371.
Visit this link to read the full obituary published Jan. 22, 2021 in the Shoreline Times.