NEW LONDON/OLD LYME – Richard Sapia, 60, died unexpectedly in New London, where he lived, Jan. 5, 2024. Richard was born in Wethersfield, April 27, 1963, the seventh of nine children. The family moved to Old Lyme in 1979, where he attended school and graduated from Old Lyme High School.
Richard, also known as Rich and Richie…loved Hawks Nest Beach …
… In the last years of his mother’s life, he loved to take her on walks, boat rides and Teddy’s for lunch …
Richard was predeceased by his parents, Salvatore and Constance Sapia; and his brothers, Michael and Thomas. He is survived by Peggy Sapia (Rob Byrne), Francis Sapia (Gail Sheehan), Roseann Fahrner (John), Paul Sapia (Judy Nadler), Mary Sapia and Salvatore Sapia; nieces and nephews: …
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 12 Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme.
NEW CANAAN, CONN. — Arthur Tappen Soper, 89, of New Canaan, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, at his home.
Born in Manhattan to Leslie Bliss Soper and Talia Fairchild Soper, he resided in Bronxville, N.Y., Kusnacht, Switzerland, and Lyme, Conn., before moving to New Canaan in 2018.
Tappen attended Trinity School in Manhattan, was a member of Lawrenceville School’s class of 1952, and Princeton University’s class of 1956, where he was in the Air Force ROTC and a member of Cottage Club.
After Princeton he was stationed in Bainbridge, Ga. and was part of the first class of pilots to have their primary training on the T-37 jets. It was in Bainbridge where he met the love of his life, Susan Brown. After finishing up his Airforce commitment as an air traffic controller in Greenland, Susan and Tappen were married in September of 1960 and moved to Bronxville.
He spent his entire career with The Bankers Trust Company. In 1979 the bank sent him to Switzerland where he spent the next 13 years as Managing Director and General Manager of Bankers Trust AG, the bank’s Zurich, and Geneva’s offices. His tenure in Switzerland afforded Susan and Tappen an opportunity to travel all over the world and make great friends with his international clients.
Demonstrating a lifelong belief in helping others, Tappen served as chairman of the Board of Governors for Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., chairman of the Board for Andrus Home in Yonkers, N.Y., and while in Lyme he worked alongside his neighbors for the Pleasant Valley Association and Lyme Public Library.
Retiring from Bankers Trust AG in 1992, Tappen became a private investor and pursued his lifelong passion for flying. He purchased his beloved Mooney, a single-engine aircraft, in 1994 and eventually flew to 49 of 50 U.S. states. While his Mooney could not hold enough fuel to get him to Hawaii, he did pilot a small plane over the island of Maui while on vacation one year and was proud to say that he took off and landed in all 50 states. In June 1996 Tappen flew his plane across the country in one day, taking off near Southport, N.C. at dawn and landing in San Diego at sunset.
Tappen was devoted to his family and instilled the importance of hard work, honesty, and love of country. His earliest memory was hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the radio from his family’s apartment on 88th Street in Manhattan. A gentleman to the end, he was loved and respected by all who met him.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan, daughter Laura (Scott) Budd of Norwalk CT, and son Benjamin (Marilyn) of Southington CT, as well as grandchildren Hunter, Davis and Caroline Budd.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National World War II Museum.
The newly-elected Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (right) and Second Selectman Jim Lampos took time out to celebrate their victory Tuesday night before starting work in their new roles.
OLD LYME: A total of 3,535 Old Lyme electors cast their votes in yesterday’s municipal election. This total includes absentee ballots and people who both registered to vote yesterday and voted the same day.
The candidates who have been elected are in bold in the listing below.
A recount is predicted for the third seat on the Region 18 Board of Education between Alexander Lowry and Suzanne Thompson, since they were separated by only five votes.
Some key points from the unofficial results below:
In the Board of Selectmen race, Martha Shoemaker won the First Selectman spot at her second attempt. She ran previously for that position in 2021 and has been a Selectwoman on the board since then.
Jim Lampos was also running for a Selectman spot for the second time. He failed to gain one in 2021 but succeeded in 2023.
Jude Read secured the remaining Selectman spot on the board. She ran for First Selectman in 2017 but failed to gain a seat on the board of selectmen at that time.
The Town Treasurer contest saw incumbent Democrat Michael Reiter unseated from the position and replaced by the current Republican-endorsed Selectman Matt Ward.
Suzanne Thompson was elected Tax Collector, succeeding retiring (after 30 years!) incumbent Judy Tooker. Former Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder failed in her bid to take the position.
Zoning Board of Appeals (Term Begins 2023): Stephanie Mickle (D): 1777 Daniel Montano (R): 1641
Zoning Board of Appeals (Term Begins 2024): Nancy Hutchinson (U)
Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates: Kathleen Tracy (D): 1768 Michaelle Pearson (D): 1821 Brian Cole (U): 1812 Roderick Clingman (R): 1758 Peter Lucchese (R): 1574
Regional Board of Education: Susan P. Fogliano (D): 1864 W. Scott Brown, Ph.D (D). 1772 Alexander Lowry (D) : 1727 Suzanne Thompson (R): 1722 Michael Presti (R): 1614 Steven Wilson (R): 1518
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I am writing this letter to strongly urge the voters in Old Lyme to re-elect Barbara Gaudio and Donald Willis to the Planning Commission on November 7th.
The importance of the Planning Commission’s work cannot be overstated. The Planning Commission members are the gatekeepers for prudent and sensible property development in Old Lyme. These two incumbent Planning Commission members have been endorsed by the Old Lyme Republicans. Both of these folks are long time residents of Old Lyme with deep roots in the community. Both have solid experience on the Planning Commission and both are in favor of development in Old Lyme when it is compliant with development regulations and congruous with the character of Old Lyme.
Barbara Gaudio is an unaffiliated voter and has served on the Commission since 2018. During that time, she has distinguished herself as a fair-minded and prudent Commissioner. Barbara has lived in Old Lyme for 30 years and raised her two children here. Both daughters attended District 18 schools.
Ms. Gaudio has an educational and career background in business. She was an alternate member of the Planning Commission and is currently a full member. Barbara previously served on the Economic Development Commission in Old Lyme for many years. She supports fostering development that is sensible and consistent with the fabric of Old Lyme.
Donald Willis is a life long resident of Old Lyme for over 60 years. Don brings both a salient and unique perspective to the Planning Commission. Don worked for the Connecticut DOT for 29 years prior to his retirement. Hence, he is very familiar with roadway and bridge construction regulations. He was a significant contributor to the Lyme Street Rehabilitation Project. Furthermore, Don has served on the Planning Commission for over ten years and is intimately familiar with the major applications currently before the Commission.
Don’s local ties to the community run deep as he has served as a volunteer firefighter for the Old Lyme Fire Department for 20 years. He attended the District 18 schools and was a past member of the Inland Wetlands Commission.
Both Barbara Gaudio and Donald Willis are experienced and competent gatekeepers for our community. Please vote to re-elect these two exemplary public servants on November 7th to the Planning Commission.
