LYME — Jacquelyn “Jackie” (Kiefer) Mildrum of Lyme, passed away peacefully July 16, 2025. Born in New Haven Dec. 2, 1939, Jackie was the daughter of the late Fredrick and Georgianna Kiefer …
Jackie met her future husband, Louis Mildrum Jr. at Sound View Beach in Old Lyme, while on summer vacation with friends …
Jackie is survived by her husband of 64 years, Louis Mildrum Jr. of Lyme; her daughter Donna Mildrum of Colchester; her daughter Joyce Johnson and her husband John Johnson of Colchester; and her son Michael Mildrum of Fayetteville, N.C. …
… Jackie continued to volunteer well after retirement at places such as Lyme Fire Company Auxiliary, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, and at Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries in Old Saybrook.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday July 21, at Christ the King Church at 1 McCurdy Road in Old Lyme. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Food Pantries …
GREENVILLE, NC—Richard Everett Kyle Jr., of Greenville, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the age of 64.
Born in Hartford and raised in Old Lyme, Connecticut, Richard attended St. Bernard High School and later graduated from Central Connecticut State University. He built a successful and independent career in the field of Information Technology, where his natural curiosity and technical skill helped him thrive.
Richard was a man of deep faith, which guided every aspect of his life. His belief in service to others was evident in his quiet, consistent contributions to his local community—whether helping neighbors with their technology, volunteering his time, or lending a hand where it was needed most.
He had a lifelong love of farms and farming, drawn to the rhythms of the land and the satisfaction of hard work. He found joy in the simplicity and beauty of rural life, and in sharing that joy with those around him.
Richard was known for his insatiable curiosity and wide range of hobbies. Whether it was a new interest or an old passion, he was always eager to explore, learn, and share what he discovered. His warmth, generosity, and gentle presence will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his mother, Elaine; his brother, Christopher (Kate); his sister, Kimberly Champion (Andrew), all of Old Lyme; three nieces—Sophie, Ali, and Bronwyn; one nephew, Henry; and the close-knit community that he held dear. He was predeceased by his father, Richard Kyle Sr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme. Interment will follow at Duck River Cemetery.
in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Heart Association www.heart.org
OLD LYME – Marcia (Sledziewski) Leverone, 82, of Old Lyme, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 5, 2025, in the arms of her daughter, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Born Sept. 23, 1942, in Lowell, Mass., Marcia was a sweet, strong and spirited woman whose life was defined by compassion, humor and fierce independence …
… later working in Old Lyme’s social services and eventually as the office manager at Lyme’s Youth Service Bureau. She proudly called Old Lyme home for over 40 years, and her volunteer work, love of animals, and spontaneous spirit left a mark. She was a member of the Junior Women’s Club for many years and volunteered with many local causes, including food banks, clothing drives and the schools. Animal organizations held a special place in her heart.
Marcia is survived by the love of her life – her devoted daughter, Kristin Leverone – and Kristin’s fiancé, Ed Prendergast. She was predeceased by her loving parents, Walter and Stella Sledziewski of Lowell, Mass. She will be deeply missed by friends, family and all who were lucky enough to know her …
A private graveside service will be held at Duck River Cemetery Saturday, July 12. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Marcia’s honor to the animal shelter in Old Lyme through Old Lyme Animal Control. Alternatively, please consider a donation of pet food, toys or supplies to help care for animals in need …
NIANTIC — Anthony J. Cravinho, “Tony”, 87, a resident of Niantic, died at home in the comforting embrace of his family Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Born in Westerly, R.I., he was the son of the late Antone Cravinho and Dorothy (Bergel) Cravinho … Tony was a beloved teacher in the Stonington School System for many years until his retirement in 1995 …
Tony is survived by his wife of thirty-one years, Karen (Larsen) Cravinho; his five children; Kathleen Cravinho of Stamford, and her children, Allyson and Jessica; Craig Cravinho and his wife Lynn of Old Lyme and their children, Elizabeth and Megan; Robert Fallon and his wife Jurintha, of Southbury and their children, Teagan and Avery; Stephen Cravinho and his wife, Emilie of Pawcatuck and their children, Julia and Caroline; and John Cravinho and his wife, Jennifer of Bellows Falls, Vt. and their children, Abigail and Jack; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Tony is also survived by a brother-in-law … and two sisters-in-law …
Tony’s family will receive relatives and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at the Mystic Funeral Home, Located on Route 1 Mystic. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at St. Mary Church, 22 Broad Street in Stonington. Following the mass, he will be buried at St. Mary Cemetery, Stonington.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Celebration of Life to be held Monday, Aug. 25, 2 p.m., at First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
Jennifer Griswold Hillhouse
OLD LYME—Jennifer Griswold Hillhouse died in her sleep at home in Old Lyme, Connecticut, on June 7, 2025. She was 92.
Jennifer was the daughter of Dr. Matthew and Charlotte Griswold. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut on March 18, 1933, and grew up in New Haven, where her father was an attending physician at Yale University.
She attended the Foote School in New Haven through eighth grade and graduated from the Madeira School in Virginia in 1950. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts until her marriage to Frank W. Smith, a Marine Corps officer and Yale graduate (1950) in 1953. The marriage ended in divorce three years later.
Through mutual friends, she met Dr. Theodore R. Hillhouse (Ted), a widower dentist. He had three sons from his first marriage; she had two daughters from hers. They wed in 1959, and Ted and his boys moved to Jennifer’s home in Old Lyme. Within three years, there were two more boys, raising the number of children to seven, in a classic yours-mine-ours family with the ensuing chaos.
With the family growing up, she acted on a longtime desire to work in health care when she enrolled at Mitchell College, a private college in New London, to study nursing. She received a registered nurse degree in 1978 and was immediately hired at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London. A family emergency caused her to resign from the hospital earlier than expected, but she carried her skill set to Old Lyme’s South End Ambulance Association, where she volunteered, as an EMT and later as a driver, for many years. Her nursing skills and care were also put to use at Red Cross community blood drives (to which she donated 18 gallons of her own in her lifetime).
Jennifer was a community treasure. Following the example of her father, she worked tirelessly to serve and improve the community. She was named Old Lyme Citizen of the Year the first time, in 1970, for creating a town recycling program. She was Citizen of the Year again in 1989, this time for a “lifetime of service to our community that will stand as a beacon of leadership through personal sacrifice and example.”
Her wide-ranging environmental and related interests included natural scenic and historical land conservation, through what is now the Old Lyme Land Trust, and osprey restoration and raptor migration tracking. She also volunteered at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library and BookCellar, the Old Lyme Historical Society, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, and the New London Maritime Society and Customs House. She was a stalwart supporter of animal welfare programs such as Forgotten Felines (for a time, she had 24 adopted cats).
Jennifer was predeceased by her husband, Ted Hillhouse. Survivors include her brother Matthew Griswold; her children, Helen H. Townsend (husband Rhys Townsend), Margaret Hillhouse (husband Steve Patterson), Matthew G. Hillhouse, and Michael C. Hillhouse (wife Aretha Matthis); stepchildren Kenneth N. Hillhouse, Richard J. Hillhouse (wife Virginia) and James W. Hillhouse (wife Starr, deceased April 2025); six grandchildren and step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Old Lyme Land Trust (PO Box 163, Old Lyme, CT 06371) or the Old Lyme Historical Society Inc. (PO Box 352, Old Lyme, CT 06371).
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. A reception will follow at the community meeting room behind the church.
The family would like to thank Hospice for care provided for the last five months.
