David E. Moore
David Moore, a distinguished publisher and extraordinary civic volunteer, died at his home August 2 after a short illness. The longtime Rye resident was 88.
Born June 10, 1923 in Bar Harbor, Maine, he was the youngest of five sons of William Scoville Moore and Edith Pulitzer Moore.
A graduate of St. Mark’s School and Harvard College, he served as a lieutenant in the 70th Armored Infantry Battalion, 20th Armored Division in Europe during World War II.
After marrying Katherine Cromwell June 12, 1948 in New York City, Mr. Moore worked with the Marshall Plan in London and as Executive Officer of the mission to Portugal in Lisbon.
Following their return to the United States, the Moores settled in Rye in 1951. As a grandson of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, and with journalism in his blood, he soon went to work as a reporter, first at Greenwich Life, a new weekly paper in Greenwich, and then at the Port Chester Daily Item, where he covered sports, police, and local government.
In 1961, Mr. Moore founded the Harrison Independent, a weekly newspaper serving that Westchester community. Three years later, he acquired a countywide weekly, renamed it the Independent Herald of Westchester, and changed its focus from social to business news. He then merged it with the Westchester Business Journal and soon thereafter launched the Connecticut Business Journal. He remained editor-in-chief of the latter two publications until 1987. In a further publishing venture, he founded Northeast International Business magazine in 1987, which he later expanded to International Business magazine.
In 1979, he was the first journalist to receive the Service to Exporters Award from the Connecticut-Rhode Island District Export Council. The following year the U.S. Department of Commerce presented the Connecticut Business Journal with the prestigious President’s “E” Award, in recognition of its contribution to increasing U.S. trade and investment abroad. He served as Chairman of the Connecticut and Rhode Island District Export Council from 1982-1995. He was a director and officer of other trade groups, including WestConn International Trade Association, the largest such organization in New England, and the Westchester World Trade Council. For many years, he also served as a director and member of the executive committee of the Pulitzer Publishing Company.
Always willing to give of his time and energy, his local civic activities over the years included: serving as a Rye City Democratic Committee district leader, a director and treasurer of the Westchester Urban League, a trustee of Rye Country Day School, one of ten founders and first chairman of the Rye Art Center, a board member of the Westchester Council for the Arts, and board chairman and a director of the Westchester-based social service agency FIRST. His other volunteer work included Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, Port Chester Hope House, and Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry. Most recently, he served on the boards of New York Community Media Alliance, Westchester Community College Foundation, Port Chester Carver Center, and the Doolittle Lake Company, and was a founding trustee of the Pulitzer Center for Investigative Journalism.
Throughout his life, Mr. Moore pursued his passionate interests in freedom of the press and in international economic development, which later he considered “the hope of the world”.
His wide-ranging interests also included international travel, political history, tennis, rowing, the outdoors, and painting.
Mr. Moore enjoyed spending time at their second home on Doolittle Lake in Norfolk, Conn., said his wife Katherine. “It’s an overlarge house and has become a center for all our children, grandchildren, and now great-granddaughter to gather. David loved it there — walking, rowing his ancient shell, puttering in the woods, canoeing, enjoying the children.”
Mr. Moore was a member of The August Group, so called because it was formed in August 11 years ago and was an august group. Speaking on behalf of the entire group, Paul Hicks said, “We are sorry to lose such a good man and will miss the wit and wisdom he added to all our discussions.”
He was much loved and will be sorely missed by both family and friends.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, Katherine Cromwell Moore, he is survived by his sons, Richard, David Jr., and Timothy, and their wives, Barbara, Leni, and Debby; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. His daughter Kate predeceased him.
A Memorial service is planned for Friday, September 16 at 11 a.m. at Christ’s Church in Rye.
Donations in Mr. Moore’s memory may be sent to Westchester Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund, Hartford Hall, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY 10595, or Port Chester Carver Center, 400 Westchester Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573.
Gloria Ackley
Gloria L. (Verrilli) Ackley passed away July 31 in Warwick, R.I. The former Rye resident was 82.
Born in Stratford, Conn., to Anthony and Josephine (Morzello) Verrilli, she graduated from Rye High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and a standout athlete. After attending Hunter College, she worked in New York City as a paralegal.
In 1977, Mrs. Ackley moved to Warwick, where she was a special education teacher’s assistant until her retirement at age 70.
An avid golfer and member of the Warwick County Club, it was not unusual to see her on the course on a blustery day in March getting her swing in shape for summer.
Mrs. Ackley is survived by her son, H. Sprague Ackley; four grandchildren: Lucien, Graham, TJ, and Jenny; a great-granddaughter, Michelle; and two brothers, Anthony and Bob Verrilli. She was predeceased by a son, Anthony J. Ackley, and her sister, Rose Verilli. She was the former wife of Jerry Ackley.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held August 11 at St. Kevin’s Church. Interment was private.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886.
Theodore Konopka Sr.
Theodore Robert Konopka Sr. of Rye died July 31 after a brief illness. He was 89 years old.
Born February 26, 1922 to Amelia and William Konopka of Greenwich, Conn., he grew up in Greenwich and graduated from Greenwich High School.
During World War II, he served his country as a Staff Sgt. in the United States Army Air Corps. Upon his return from service in 1946, he was an estimator and superintendent for the plumbing and heating company of Hauxwell and Smith in Port Chester for many years. He was also a high-pressure boiler engineer.
On June 1, 1946, he married Jean Lawrence at Rye Presbyterian Church.
For many years Mr. Konopka served on the Port Chester Board of Governors and on the Board of Directors of the Port Chester YMCA. He was also former President of the Rye Fish and Game Club, Chairman of the Mechanical Installers of Rye, and Chairman of the Rye Boat Basin Commission.
Mr. Konopka was an avid boater and enjoyed several boats, all Lar-Kons, with his family. In his later years, he loved to take walks down through the park and by the beach with his faithful little dog, Buttons. In addition to his family, he will be greatly missed by his many friends and neighbors.
Mr. Konopka is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean Lawrence Konopka; and his children, Judy (Bill) Lennon of St. Augustine, Fla., Theodore Robert (Liza) Konopka Jr. of Rye, and Lynn Latiak of Greenwich. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Bill (Debbie) Lennon and Shawn Lennon, of St. Augustine, Ted Latiak and Noelle Gmitter of Greenwich; and great-grandchildren Cali and Kendall Lennon of St. Augustine. His sister, Emily Merry of Vero Beach, Fla., also survives him.
A funeral service was held at Graham Funeral Home August 4.
Patricia Conway
Patricia Conway, of Rye, died August 7 at Calvary Hospital. She was 63 years old.
Born in New York City to John A. and Eudora Ward Conway, she was a graduate of Syracuse University. For over 30 years she worked as an editor for Newsweek International Magazine.
Ms. Conway is survived by her sister, Pam Fazzino and her husband Joseph, of Rye.
A Funeral Mass was held at Resurrection Church August 10 at Resurrection Church.
To place an online condolence, visit www.coxeandgraziano.com. Memorial donations may be made to ny-petrescue.org or just strays at info@simplycats.org.
Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson, formerly of Rye, died peacefully at The Baptist Home in Rhinebeck, New York, August 9. He was 95.
Born June 19, 1916, in Glen Ridge, N. J., he grew up on a farm in Shokan, N.Y. He attended Yale University, where Mr. Lawson majored in art and was a member of the crew and sang in the glee club.
During World War II, he served in the Marine Corps on Peleliu, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, New Britain, and Okinawa.
Mr. Lawson then worked for advertising firms in Cleveland and New York City before being named art director of Shell Oil Company. He went on to a career as a freelance artist, retiring in 1983.
A Rye resident for 32 years, Mr. Lawson was a member of Christ’s Church, the PTA, the YMCA, and the Rye High School Dad’s Club.
He moved to Cape Cod, where he continued to paint and often contributed his work to local fairs and galleries. “c/o Fleet P.O.”, his book about his experiences during World War II, was published in 1998.
Mr. Lawson’s first wife, Audrey, died in 1991, and his second wife, Helen, in 2010. He is survived by his sons, Steve of Williamstown, Mass., and Jon of Rhinebeck.
He will be interred at Christ’s Church in Rye.
