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Obituaries
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death 'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death A Connecticut community is preparing to bury one of its heroes after the longtime Fairfield County firefighter died earlier this week.  John "JB" Pyrek-Bennett, of Monroe, was just 55 when he died on Monday, Oct. 14, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, his obituary said. His wife of 29 years and three children survive him. Bennett spent his life giving back to his community, his family said. He served as assistant chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department in Stamford and was a lifetime member of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department.…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91 Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91
Semi-Pro Football Player From Prospect Killed In Rollover Crash On I-91 A 22-year-old man who was a star running back for a Connecticut semi-pro football team was killed after crashing his car on I-91 in Hartford County, authorities said.  Davian Andrew Pallotto, of Prospect in New Haven County, died after he rolled his 2007 Cadillac CTS around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, Connecticut State Police said.  Pallotto was driving north on I-91 when he veered across a lane of traffic onto a grassy median, where the car lost control near Exit 23 and began to tumble, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Pallotto played running …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend 'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend Friends and family of a 40-year-old Connecticut woman who was killed earlier this week when the car she was riding in crashed into a stone wall say she was kind, caring, and effortlessly cool.  Marie Nieves, of Bridgeport, died on Friday, Oct. 11, in a single-car crash on Route 8 in Trumbull, Connecticut State Police said.  Investigators say the Mercedes she was in suddenly veered onto the grassy shoulder near Exit 6 around 11 a.m. before crashing into the wall. The driver, a 60-year-old Bridgeport man, was seriously injured in the crash.  Paramedics rushed them both to …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child
Mom Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had Announced She Was Pregnant With Second Child A 26-year-old Connecticut mother killed last week by a suspected intoxicated driver is being remembered for her sense of humor, her faith, and compassion for her friends and family.  Jada "Jay" Marie Upshaw was killed in a chain-reaction crash on I-91 in Rocky Hill in Hartford County around 8:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, Connecticut Police said.  Original Report: Jada Upshaw Killed In Multi-Car Crash In Rocky Hill Jay leaves behind a young daughter, and, according to a Facebook post she made last month, the Bloomfield native was pregnant with her second child — a baby boy du…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Ethel Kennedy, Who Went From Greenwich To Head Of Nation's Most Famous Family, Dies At 96 Ethel Kennedy, Who Went From Greenwich To Head Of Nation's Most Famous Family, Dies At 96
Ethel Kennedy, Who Went From Greenwich To Head Of Nation's Most Famous Family, Dies At 96 Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of America's most famous political family, died Thursday, Oct. 10. She was 96.  Ethel Kennedy was wife to Robert "Bobby" Kennedy Sr., sister-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, and mother to 11 children, including former presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  She suffered a stroke at her home last week, her grandson, former Rep. Joe Kennedy said on X, formerly Twitter.  It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She died this morning from complications related to a stroke su…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Mom Of 3 Jhoseline Nelson Dies, 42: 'Always Had An Open Door For Others' Mom Of 3 Jhoseline Nelson Dies, 42: 'Always Had An Open Door For Others'
Mom Of 3 Jhoseline Nelson Dies, 42: 'Always Had An Open Door For Others' A Connecticut community is rallying around a family suffering after their matriarch, a mother of three boys, died late last month.  Jhoseline Nelson, of Trumbull, died surrounded by her family on Sept. 29, her obituary said.  The Westchester County native from Port Chester leaves behind three sons — ages 13, 11, and 6 — and a husband of 17 years, Raney Nelson Jr. She was known for her fierce love of her family, her openness to anyone in need, and her compassion, according to her obituary. "From her earliest days, she was known for her strong will, unwavering determination, a…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Mom Of 2 ID'd As Victim Of 'Suspicious' Death At Apartment: Report Mom Of 2 ID'd As Victim Of 'Suspicious' Death At Apartment: Report
Mom Of 2 ID'd As Victim Of 'Suspicious' Death At Apartment: Report The body of a 37-year-old Connecticut woman found inside a Hartford County apartment has been identified as a mother of 2, NBC Connecticut reported.  Lisa Beebe was found on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Parkridge Condominiums at 1320 Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield. She leaves behind a young son and daughter, her obituary said.  Paramedics were called to her apartment after receiving a report of a medical emergency. Authorities have not said what that was, but police ruled the circumstances "suspicious," officials said at the time. Investigators do not believe there is an ongoin…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'We Are Devastated': Meriden Baby ID'd As Victim In Fatal Turnpike Crash 'We Are Devastated': Meriden Baby ID'd As Victim In Fatal Turnpike Crash
'We Are Devastated': Meriden Baby ID'd As Victim In Fatal Turnpike Crash A 1-year-old baby in Connecticut was killed last week in a multi-car pile-up in Hartford County that sent several others to the hospital, authorities said.  Ella Salgado, of Meriden in New Haven County, was killed in the three-car crash on the Berlin Parkway just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, police said.  Several people in one of the vehicles were ejected when their vehicle rolled over. Multiple people in the car Ella was riding in were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police did not release an update on their conditions.  Ella was taken to the hospital, but doct…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Organs Of 17-Year-Old Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Will Help 3 Others Live Organs Of 17-Year-Old Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Will Help 3 Others Live
Organs Of 17-Year-Old Killed In Triple-Fatal Crash Will Help 3 Others Live Bella Trezza’s final act of generosity will help others live. Just days after the 17-year-old high school senior and aspiring nurse from Babylon was taken off life support following a car crash that killed two others, doctors removed her organs to help three strangers in need. An honor walk was held at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, before Trezza’s kidneys and liver were recovered, LiveOnNY confirmed to Daily Voice. Earlier Report: 'Ray Of Sunshine' Mourned As County Opens Traffic Study At Troubled Long Island Intersection “Two women in their 30’s received her ki…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Enfield Dad Killed In Crash Remembered For Smarts, Heart: 'Your Laugh Will Echo In Our Hearts' Enfield Dad Killed In Crash Remembered For Smarts, Heart: 'Your Laugh Will Echo In Our Hearts'
Enfield Dad Killed In Crash Remembered For Smarts, Heart: 'Your Laugh Will Echo In Our Hearts' A 37-year-old Connecticut father and husband who was killed in a crash over the weekend is being remembered for his quick wit and love of his family and music.  Dan Jeannotte, of Enfield, was killed Sunday, Sept. 22, when his car veered off the Exit 40 ramp on I-91 in Windsor and hit a tree around 2:30 a.m. He died at the scene. Earlier Report: Enfield Man Killed In I-91 Crash The 2005 Enfield High School graduate leaves behind a wife and daughter along with many family and friends.  "He was the most caring and considerate friend I’ve had," Nate Silliman said in a message t…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Hiker Finds Missing Man Dead In His Truck Hiker Finds Missing Man Dead In His Truck
Hiker Finds Missing Man Dead In His Truck A 64-year-old Connecticut man who went missing earlier this week was found dead on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  Ronald Lavoie left his Hartford County home in East Windsor around 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, but did not return, his family told police.  A hiker called police on Wednesday morning to report they found a man dead and slumped over in a truck. Police responded to the area around 12:30 p.m. to find Lavoie in his Chevrolet Silverado. Police do not suspect foul play, but the death remains under investigation.  Police did not say exactly where they found Lavoie's body or how …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
School System Promotes Mental Health After Student's Death: 'We Don't Worry Alone' School System Promotes Mental Health After Student's Death: 'We Don't Worry Alone'
School System Promotes Mental Health After Student's Death: 'We Don't Worry Alone' Leaders of a Connecticut school district announced a new effort to promote suicide prevention following the death of a 16-year-old Fairfield County high school senior.  Superintendent of New Canaan Public Schools Bryan D. Luizzi thanked parents and students in an email on Sunday, Sept. 22, for the outpouring of support following the sudden death of Elliott Kropf, a senior at New Canaan High School.  Related: Memorial Service Set For Elliott Kropf; Parents Have Request For Mourners Kropf was hit and killed by a train on Saturday, Sept. 14, around 11:30 p.m. at the Talmadge Hi…

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by Josh Lanier