All Obituaries

      On January 29, 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital, Jean Martha Hedden Murray died, with her loving daughter, Cathy Murray Clark at her side.   Jean was born on February 21, 1933 in New Haven to Beatrice and Lindsay Hedden.  She lived most of her life in New Haven and Hamden.  She attended Bowling Green State University and received her Masters in Music from Westminster Choir College.  She was the music director at several school systems in Virginia...

  Dawne Brownell Nolan, 73, of Woodbridge, asked to be with our Lord surrounded by her devoted daughters on January 13, 2023. She was born February 14, 1949, to the late Ethel Yale Shutter and Charles Wood Brownell. She grew up in Orange. Dawne graduated from Emerson College and later received her Masters from Wesleyan University. She enjoyed her years teaching, especially at Savin Rock Community School and Our Lady of Victory, and her summers spent at Woodbridge Rec, where she...

  Wayne Atherton Meeks, born January 8, 1932 in Aliceville, Alabama, died peacefully just after his 91st birthday, on January 10, 2023.       Wayne was Woolsey Professor of Biblical Studies, Emeritus, in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale, where he taught for 30 years and served in leadership positions in the Department and the University. Earlier, he taught briefly at Dartmouth College and Indiana University. His B.D. was from Austin Theological Seminary....

Josephine Broude, a longtime resident of New Haven, died at her home on December 22 at the age of 95. For over thirty years, starting in 1965, Broude managed the Office of the Provost at Yale University. Her book, The Provost of Yale University: a history of the office 1919-1994, which provided the history of the office as well as its incumbents, was published by Yale University Press in 2002. In addition, Broude was a fellow of Silliman College, a member of the Board of...

  Elizabeth (Betty) Zorn Mettler died on December 9, 2022 in Hamden, Connecticut at the age of 92. Betty was born to Paul Manthey Zorn and Ruth Stephan Zorn in New Haven, Connecticut on September 14, 1930. After graduating from Hamden High School, she entered Connecticut College but left after two years to raise a family of four children.  No doubt a difficult decision given her commitment to education throughout the rest of her life.  Later, as her children grew up, she...

Catherine “Cathy” Carroll Petroni, born April 23, 1929 died peacefully in her home at Whitney Center, Hamden, CT on December 5, 2022. She was the daughter of Louise Gorman, a school teacher, and Leo F. Carroll, former State of Connecticut Liquor Commissioner and Lt. in Command of the State Police Troop in Westport, Connecticut.  Cathy graduated from Ridgefield High School and St. Joseph’s College for Women in West Hartford. She then attended the University of...

Wilfred G. Mango Jr., “Bill”, 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Madison, CT on November 29 with his loving wife, Charlene, and his children by his side.   Bill was born on July 11, 1940 in Weehawken, NJ to Wilfred G. and Mildred Holberg Mango. He attended Lehigh University where he was a member of the Alpha Tao Omega fraternity. He graduated from Lehigh with his bachelor’s degree in 1963. Later, Bill moved to New York City and attended the New York University...

  MacMullen, Dunham Professor Emeritus of History and Classics and one of the greatest Roman historians of his age, died on Nov. 27. He was 94. MacMullen is best known for his writings on the ancient Roman world, including early Christianity. He was extremely prolific, the author of more than a dozen and a half books on Roman history alone, and upwards of 80 articles. In monographs such as “Christianizing the Roman Empire,” in which he addressed how the early Church found...

  On November 26th, 2022, at the age of 94 years, Mae Festa left this world, surrounded by friends and family at her home in New Haven, Connecticut. After a long and rich life, she died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, and will be remembered in the hearts of those she touched.   Mae grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, close to the riches of New York's art museums and galleries. Spending untold hours wandering the halls of these great institutions was...

  Gerald Harris Pollak of Madison, CT, died Monday, November 21st at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. He was 67, a beloved son, nephew, father, husband, and friend. Gerry was the son of Gerald and Marian (Harris) Pollak. To know Gerry was to love him, and he has kept in touch with friends from everywhere he lived or worked.   Gerry received his bachelor’s from SUNY Plattsburg, a Master's from the University of South Carolina, and his MSW...