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CT Mom, Former School Librarian Erica Alterio Dies Suddenly, 33: Her 'Presence Was Magnetic'
A beloved former teacher, librarian, and cancer survivor who was a devoted mother has died at 33, leaving behind her husband and young daughter. Now, friends are rallying to support her grieving family.
Erica Leigh Alterio, of Newtown, died on Jan. 14 after a brief illness. She would have turned 34 on Feb. 7.
A graduate of Central Connecticut State University and Fairfield University, Erica worked as a librarian at the Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies in Danbury, her obituary said. She also spent several years as a computer teacher at St. Mark School in Stratford.
Dozen…
CT Mom Killed In Wrong-Way Crash Remembered For Her Love, Devotion To 5-Year-Old Daughter
A 23-year-old mother who died in a wrong-way crash last week is being remembered for her love of dance, country music, and her dedication to creating a bright future for her daughter.
Kelly Lynn Caldwell, 23, of Vernon, died Thursday, Jan. 18, after a wrong-way crash on Route 5/15 northbound in Hartford. She leaves behind her 5-year-old daughter, Ella Rodriguez, who family members say was the most important person in her life.
Original Report: 23-Year-Old Mom Killed In Wrong-Way Hartford Crash
The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. near Exit 90, Connecticut State Police said. Caldwell…
CT Woman Killed In NJ Crash Was Animal Lover Who Worked At Model Horse Corporation
A 40-year-old Connecticut woman who was killed last week in a chain-reaction crash in New Jersey was known for her compassion and care for her loved ones and her remarkable generosity, her family said.
Lauren Kopko, of Stratford, died on Thurs., Jan. 16, when her Honda was involved in a four-car pileup on Route 287 in Mahwah, NJ. She would have celebrated her 41st birthday on Sat., Jan. 25.
The Bridgeport native rose through the ranks at Breyer Horses in Pequannock, NJ, to become project manager, her obituary said. However, it was her personality that truly shone.
"Lauren’s prof…
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires
A former child star and motivational speaker is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family has confirmed.
Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed
Rory Sykes, 32, an Australian who gained media attention as a boy for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at his family’s estate in Malibu, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X.
“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yeste…
Journalist Richard Cohen, Husband To Meredith Vieira, Dies After Half-Century MS Battle
Journalist and author Richard Cohen has died after inspiring countless people through his decades-long battle with MS and cancer.
Cohen, the husband of former TODAY anchor Meredith Vieira, died on Tuesday, Dec. 24, TODAY reported. The Plainview, New York, native was 76 years old.
A veteran reporter, Cohen lived with multiple sclerosis for more than 50 years and overcame two cancer diagnoses during his life. He was also legally blind.
Cohen, who worked for CBS News, was given his MS diagnosis in 1973.
"I was diagnosed when I was 25 years old and essentially told there is no…
CT Man Killed In 3-Car Pile-Up On Icy Durham Road ID'd; 2 More Injured: Police
An elderly Connecticut man died earlier this week after he was involved in a three-car crash on Route 17 in Middlesex County, authorities said.
John Festa, 86, of Northford, was driving south on New Haven Road in Durham around 1:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, when a car traveling in the opposite direction crashed head-on with his Dodge Ram truck, Connecticut State Police said.
Authorities said a third vehicle, also driving south, could not stop because of icy road conditions and collided with the passenger side of the second car.
Paramedics rushed Festa, his passenger, and the 21-year-old driver …
Francisco Alves Ribeiro, Of Danbury, Killed In Haddam Crash
Police have identified the 61-year-old man who was killed on Thursday, Jan. 2, when his car crashed on Route 9, authorities said.
Francisco Alves Ribeiro, of Danbury, was driving south around 6 a.m. when his Honda Accord left the roadway and crashed into a tree in the grass median near Exit 19, Connecticut State Police said.
Police closed the highway for several hours as they cleaned, cleared, and investigated the scene.
It's unclear what caused him to lose control and leave the highway.
Investigators ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information about it to …
CT Boy Dies After 18-Day Battle With Cancer: Remembering Lucas DeLaurentis
A Connecticut community is rallying around a family suffering the unimaginable: the death of a child.
The DeLaurentis family of Trumbull lost their son, Lucas, 8, after an 18-day battle with leukemia on Sunday, Dec. 29, a GoFundMe for them said. But despite his young age, Lucas leaves a legacy that will survive for years.
His spirit, kindness, and strength were beyond measure, and he made his parents very proud. His unyielding resilience and courage carried him through to the very end. Lucas will forever be our hero, and his presence will always remain with us.
His loved on…
'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33
The world lost an extraordinary spirit on Friday, Dec. 27, with the passing of Maggie Kudirka, lovingly known as the "Bald Ballerina. "Maggie, 33, succumbed to metastatic breast cancer at her home, surrounded by family, loved ones shared on Instagram.
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A post shared by Maggie Kudirka (@baldballerina)
The Joffrey Ballet School, where Maggie trained, mourned her loss, calling her a “beautiful warrior.” “Maggie’s passion and grace will forever inspire us,” they wrote, reflecting on her profound impact on the dance and c…
New Englander Linda Lavin, 'Alice' Star Dies, 87
Linda Lavin, the two-time Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated actress whose career spanned six decades on stage and screen, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, at the age of 87, according to The New York Times.
Born in Portland, Maine, Lavin studied acting at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she was deeply involved in the theater program. Her career took off with her iconic role as Alice Hyatt on the hit TV series "Alice," which earned her two Golden Globes and cemented her as a household name.
A force on Broadway, Lavin captivated audiences with performances in multiple …
Jimmy Carter, Longest Living American President, Dies At Age 100
The longest living president in US history, Jimmy Carter, has died at the age of 100.
The death of the 39th chief executive was announced by the Carter Center.
He died Sunday afternoon, Dec. 29 at his residence in his lifelong hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he was born in October 1924.
James Earl Carter Jr., was the first ex-president to reach the age of 100.
Carter, then the Democratic governor of Georgia who had worked as a peanut farmer, defeated Gerald Ford in the 1976 race, the first presidential election after Richard Nixon's resignation in August 1974 following the Watergate af…
Charles Dolan, Founder Of HBO, Cablevision, Dies At 98
Charles Francis Dolan, a pioneer in the cable television industry and founder of HBO and Cablevision, died at 98.
Dolan died Thursday, Dec. 28, of natural causes.
Born Oct. 16, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio, Dolan began his career producing and distributing sports and industrial films.
In the early 1960s, he founded Sterling Manhattan Cable, the first company to wire buildings for cable access in New York City. This led to exclusive deals with teams like the New York Knicks and Rangers.
In 1972, he launched HBO, the first premium cable channel, changing television by offering uncut movies and …
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Daily Voice
MLB Stolen Base, Runs Scored King Rickey Henderson Dies At 65; Played For Yankees, Red Sox
Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball’s career steals and runs scored leader, widely considered to be one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball history, has died at age 65.
Henderson, who would have turned 66 on Christmas Day, died while hospitalized with pneumonia, according to multiple reports.
Persuaded by his mother to pursue baseball over football, Henderson began a 25-year career that saw him redefine speed and swagger in the sport.
Henderson debuted with the Oakland A’s in 1979, quickly capturing fans' hearts with his record-breaking stolen bases, powerful leadoff…
Clinton Driver Killed, Another Hospitalized In Westbrook Crash
A Connecticut man was killed and another person was hospitalized in a crash this week.
Michael Sutyla, 76, of Clinton, died on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in Westbrook Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 18, Connecticut State Police said.
Police believe Sutyla ran a stop sign at the intersection of Boston Post Road and Hammock Road, causing a crash with another car around 4 p.m.
Paramedics took Sutyla to Middlesex Shoreline Clinic, where he later died of his injuries. The passenger in another vehicle, who is from Louisa, Virginia, was taken to the same hospital with min…
CT High School Junior Dies Suddenly, 16: Remembering Tommy Lowell
A Connecticut community is reeling after the unexpected death of a 16-year-old boy remembered as a cherished son, friend, and classmate. Now, many in the community are stepping up to help his grieving family navigate the unthinkable.
Thomas "Tommy" Edward Lowell IV, who lived in East Windsor and Bristol before moving to Avon, where he was a high school junior, died unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 9. His family wrote in his obituary on the Vincent Funeral Home website that he was known for his quick wit, love of silly jokes, and devotion to his cats, Milo and Ollie.
“Whether shar…
Loving CT Mother Known For Humor, Devotion To Teen Daughter Dies At 33
A 33-year-old Connecticut mother known for her sense of humor and endless love for her young daughter died on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Lauren Dibble, a vibrant and cherished figure in the Danbury community, left an indelible mark on her family and friends with her warmth, humor, and unwavering devotion to those she loved, her obituary on the Green Funeral Home website reads. Her family did not disclose her cause of death.
"At 33 years old, Lauren held many roles," reads a GoFundMe campaign launched by Allison Smith. "Daughter, sister, friend, instigator of all the funniest cousin shenanigans, and …
