OLD LYME—Thomas “Tom” Grasselli Fowler was born on April 25, 1958, in Houston, Texas. He died peacefully on July 22, 2024 at his home in Old Lyme,Connecticut with his beloved wife Liz and daughter Mary at his side.
… Tom led the charge to move back to New York and Connecticut in 2018 after two decades in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He delighted in his deep and long-lasting friendships. …
… Tom is survived by his wife of 36 years, Elizabeth Traynor Fowler, and their daughter, Mary Williams Grasselli Fowler Lovejoy (Donald Lovejoy) of New York. Tom also leaves behind his siblings William H. Fowler II (Deborah Branciforte Fowler), Robert S. Fowler (Constance Pierce Fowler), and Marya Fowler Muehlegger (Marty Muehlegger), …
A celebration of his life will be held at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme. The family will also gather for a private interment at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
White Elephant Sale Chairman Bob Davis (second from left) stands with some of the other volunteers, who helped to run the Sports Department at this year’s White Elephant Sale.
OLD LYME—We wondered how the rain had impacted this year’s White Elephant Sale (WES) and so we asked WES Chairman Bob Davis about the sale results.
He said via email, “The 86th White Elephant Sale was another huge success in spite of the torrential rains on Saturday. It was another record sale and the proceeds will go a long way to supporting various charities.”
He added, “Friday we were greeted by a large enthusiastic crowd waiting for the church bell to strike nine. We had two hours of sun and clouds before the rains came, but that didn’t stop the shoppers on both days.”
The rains may have come but they did not impact bargain-hunting enthusiasm!
Noting, “Channel 8 [WTNH] was there to film the event,” Davis then shared this delightful anecdote, “One shopper even asked the price for a certain tripod … then we realized it belonged to the cameraman, who was walking around filming!”
He concluded, “All in all, 2024 had lots of bargains, wet feet and memories as we look forward to next year’s sale on July 11 and 12”
Shown accepting the award in photo above are, from left to right, Essex Printing’s President: William McMinn, Old Lyme Fire Department’President: Rob McCarthy, book designer: James Meehan, and author: Michaelle Pearson.
OLD LYME—The Print Industry of New England (PINE) announced on May 9, 2024 that Essex Printing and the Old Lyme Fire Department (OLFD) have received the Pinnacle Award in PINE’s New England Regional Awards of Excellence competition.
Judged anonymously on its own merit in the soft cover book category with similar printed pieces, the award was for the Old Lyme Fire Department 100th Anniversary (1923-2023) book.
The Pinnacle Award is given to the most outstanding entry in each category, and must be flawless to win.
Congratulations from all of us at LymeLine to you all!
Dr. Chris Shepard Appointed to Replace Bruce, Associate Music Director Susan Saltus Also Retiring
Dr. Stephen Bruce is retiring as Founding Music Director of Con Brio Choral Society in July 2025.
After 28 years as the Founding Music Director of Con Brio Choral Society, Dr. Stephen Bruce of Groton has announced his retirement, commencing in July 2025.
Dr. Bruce has directed the group since the organization’s founding in 1997. Under his baton, Con Brio has grown to be one of the leading choruses in the region, regularly performing to packed houses.
Con Brio’s Associate Music Director Susan Saltus is also retiring.
Dr. Bruce has also led eight highly successful European Concert Tours. Following his retirement, he will not be leaving, but will join the bass section, and will hold the honorary title of Music Director Emeritus.
Also retiring in July 2025 will be Con Brio’s Associate Music Director Susan Saltus of Essex. Saltus has served in that role since 2009 with great distinction and has played many key roles in Con Brio’s success.
Con Brio wishes to thank Stephen Bruce and Susan Saltus for their extraordinary service and looks forward to the 2024-2025 concert season, which will celebrate their unique contribution, culminating in Gala Farewell Concerts on April 5 and 6, 2025.
Appointment of New Music Director
Con Brio’s Board has announced the appointment of Dr. Chris Shepard of Clinton as its new Music Director, commencing in August 2025. He is a renowned choral conductor, voice coach, arts ambassador, pianist, organist, and distinguished Bach scholar.
Dr. Chris Shepard of Clinton takes over as Con Brio’s new Music Director in August 2025.
In addition to this new position, Shepard continues—now in his 10th year—as Artistic Director of Connecticut Choral Artists (CONCORA), the state’s oldest professional choir and as Director of The Complete Bach, a project that will be America’s first presentation of all of Bach’s works. Based in Worcester, Mass. The project’s performances will occur over the next 11 years.
Shepard is also in his 16th year as Music Director of the Worcester Chorus in Massachusetts.
He holds degrees from the Hartt School, the Yale School of Music and the University of Sydney. He researched the performance history of Bach Mass in B Minor for his PhD—his dissertation won the American Choral Directors Association’s 2012 Julius Herford Prize for outstanding doctoral thesis in choral music.
For more information about Con Brio Choral Society, visit www.conbrio.org.
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.
