STONINGTON, CT—Stephen Owen Monson, 76, of Stonington, CT passed away on December 11, 2024, after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his daughter Kimberly Monson, granddaughters Elisabeth Monson Viera and Renee Monson Viera, son in law Michael Viera, honorary son and apprentice Chris O’Grady, his two sisters, Julia Launer and Dale Naehr, nephews, Joe and Greg Naehr and nieces Katie Launer-Felty and Krislyn Launer.
Stephen’s greatest loves were his work in carpentry, his daughter, his granddaughters, horseshoes, beer and the German Club. He was very proud of being a Veteran and his service as a Sonarman in the Navy. Stephen had a child-like enthusiasm, was terminally optimistic and never met a parade or fireworks display he didn’t like. To many he was quiet, but with those that paid attention he had an understated wit that was both quick and hilarious. He was stubborn and fiery; he fought to the end and will be genuinely missed by those who took the time to get to know him.
A short gravesite service will be held on Friday January 3rd, 11 am at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT with a potluck gathering of friends and family at the Social Society Frohsinn directly after.
OLD LYME—We wish all our readers, advertisers and friends a very Happy New Year 2025!
We hope it brings you and yours peace, prosperity, good health and much happiness.
Thank you so much for all your support this past year and we look forward to serving you with even stronger coverage of the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme in the coming year.
OLD LYME—The Ruth Ann Heller Music Foundation Board of Trustees has announced it has awarded private study music scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year to students from both Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Middle School and LOL High School.
Award recipients from the LOL Middle School are: Natalie Gibbons, Conor Buckeridge, Estelle Filardi, Isla Morrissette (winner of the Dr. Stephen Crites Scholarship for Low Brass), Olivia Rozanski-Rose, Mary Kane, Max Mooney, and Anna Paris William.
Award recipients from the LOL High School are: Avery Zbierski, Ceciley Buckley, Caterina Wilson, Morgan Buerger, Emelia Munster, and Oliver Wyman.
As a supporting organization for LOL Schools, the Ruth Ann Heller Music Foundation awards scholarships that are to be used for private music instruction to students participating in the LOL Schools Band Programs.
The 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation was formed in 1999 after the retirement of Ruth Ann (King) Heller from LOL High School, with a mission to strengthen and improve the instrumental music program in LOL Schools.
Donations to the Foundation in any amount are gratefully accepted. The mailing address is the Ruth Ann Heller Music Foundation, PO Box 298, Old Lyme, CT 06371.
While I personally do not consider Robert Eggers’ horror films to be my cup of tea (mainly due to his non-traditional narrative style), I cannot deny his artistic merit and accomplishments with every film he has released (including The Witch and The Lighthouse).
His most recent film, Nosferatu, a remake of F. W. Murnau’s iconic 1922 silent movie of the same name (also an adaptation of Bram Stroker’s 1897 Dracula novel), is cut from the same cloth. I emphasize this simply because of my opinion, but the critic within me is obliged to promote and share his accomplishments with others who seek new movies worth checking out.
I first discovered Murnau’s original “Symphony of Horror” through pop culture references as a child (one that comes to mind is the title character flicking the lights in the SpongeBob episode that depicts the first 24-hour shift at the Krusty Krab). Even at a young age I could appreciate the creepy factor in this silent movie, particularly the famous shot of Orlok rising from his coffin.
The appearance of Count Orlok, alone, is enough to chill you to the bone. When I learned Eggers planned to direct a new adaptation of this classic, I knew that, despite my opinions, he was the one contemporary filmmaker who should be trusted with this task.
Again, I am not a fan of Eggers’ non-traditional style of directing but can acknowledge his talent. His unusual choices for cinematography leave you scratching your head, but you are captivated and eagerly anticipate what will happen next.
It reminds me of The Green Knight, another movie I reviewed years ago. I noticed that Eggers also makes use of sound to further unsettle his audience (to great effect), as well as emphasizing silence to set the viewer on the edge of their seat.
I was also impressed by the cinematography, particularly the depiction of scenes lit by only candle or fireplace, or even just the moon. His non-traditional methods also apply to his depiction of the vampire tropes we have come to understand throughout the history of movies.
But above all, we cannot overlook the acting. Every performer delivers, especially Lily Rose-Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp) as Ellen Hutter, whose performance shall certainly be hailed as an iconic Scream Queen in the years to come.
And a special round of applause must be given to Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, particularly his voice. After his success as Pennywise the Clown in the It movies, Skarsgård has proved he is not a one-hit-wonder, and with this performance has cemented his legacy in Hollywood and will certainly add more iconic performances to his resume for the rest of his career.
Because this is a horror movie, many readers will automatically rule out seeing it simply due to personal preferences. Make no mistake, there are plenty of horror movies whose merits go beyond the confines of the genre and are worth checking out (think of The Shining and The Silence of the Lambs).
However, I do not think I will go to great lengths to persuade somebody to subject themselves to discomfort and disgust to experience this accomplishment. I will certainly attempt to sway people into getting out of their comfort zone and give it a shot, despite knowing my efforts will be futile.
But for those of us who are fans of horror movies, it is absolutely worth the price of the ticket (or streaming subscription.)
About the Author: Having lived in Old Lyme and Lyme since the age of three, Kevin has always had a passion for movies that is beyond simply watching, but understanding the craft of cinema and and experiencing films as if they were a musical album. Kevin also has his own website devoted to movie analysis, CityOfCinema.com, and also co-hosts a podcast, Moviehouse Mystics, with Koda Uhl (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube).
OLD LYME—Hildegarde Kate Hannum, née Drexl, died peacefully at home on Christmas Eve. Born in 1931 in Springfield, Massachusetts, she was the only child of Karl and Kate Vogeler Drexl, both born in Germany. She graduated from Classical High School in Springfield in 1949 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Connecticut College in 1953, and then spent a year at the University of Munich, Germany, as a Fulbright scholar (one of her fondest memories). In 1955 she received her M.A. in German from Middlebury College. She was then a Teaching Fellow as a graduate student at Harvard University from 1957 to 1959. It was at Harvard that she met her husband of sixty-one years, Hunter Grubb Hannum, who predeceased her. They married in 1959 and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where their only daughter Lisa was born.
After completing a dissertation on Thomas Mann, she received her Ph.D. in German Studies from Harvard in 1968. She taught at Hayward State University and the University of California, Berkeley. The family moved to Old Lyme in 1973 and she then taught for a few years at Connecticut College. In the mid-1970’s she and her husband began a career as freelance literary translators from German to English. In 1986 they were awarded the Lewis Galantière Award from the American Translators Association for their translations of two books by the psychoanalyst Alice Miller.
In 1968 she became a trustee of her husband’s family foundation which she remained devoted to until his death in 2020; their lifelong compassion for humanity and commitment to social justice touched the lives of many. From 1973 to 1985 she was very active with the American Friends Service Committee, and she served as a board member of the E.F. Schumacher Society, an organization promoting local economic revitalization and environmental sustainability, for decades. In that capacity she edited their annual lectures and People, Land, and Community: The Collected E.F. Schumacher Society Lectures. In 1997 she co-founded the Energy Options Study Group, a citizens group promoting the use of renewable energy resources combined with energy efficiency.
She was at her happiest hiking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (which she did every summer into her 70’s), reading, or spending time with friends and family.
She leaves her daughter Lisa Kate Holmes and her partner Robert Stern of Hadlyme, two dear grandchildren; Hunter Holmes and his wife Anna, and Amelia and her husband Daniel Wood; and one great-granddaughter, Fiona.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be in her name to The Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation, PO Box 190, Old Lyme, CT 06371. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Katherine Clark-Nilsson, Virginija Babiliute, Sibiya Sibahle and Rashmi Childress for their loving care; it was because of their dedication that she could remain comfortably at home with her beloved dachshund, Richie.
