Lewis Levetown
Lewis Daniel Levetown, 71, of Rye, formerly of West Palm Beach, Florida, died peacefully on December 21, after a long and valiant battle with melanoma.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, he was the son of Alfred and Corinne Levetown. After graduating from Pace College, he enjoyed a 40-year career in human resource management, retiring from Health Management Systems, Inc. in 2005.
Mr. Levetown was a proud veteran, serving in the US Coast Guard. An accomplished trumpeter, in his retirement he also enjoyed playing piano and golf.
Mr. Levetown is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Frances; his brother Robert Levetown of Paradise Valley, Arizona; his son, John Levetown of New Fairfield, Connecticut; stepchildren Jennifer Martel of Atlanta, Kathleen Glassie of Middletown, R.I., Thomas Wade IV of Rye, and Tina Stapkowski of Wilton, Connecticut; and ten grandchildren, who simply adored their “Papa Lew.”
A mass celebrating Mr. Levetown’s love of life will be held January 24 at 11 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection in Rye.
Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Hospital, 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461.
Rose Carducci
Rose Scinto Carducci, a longtime Rye resident, died peacefully at home on January 3. She was 97.
She was born in Castelfranco in Miscano, Provincia Benevento, Italy on November 18, 1916, and emigrated with her mother, Immaculata Riccio Scinto, to join her father, Rocco Scinto, in the United States on July 4, 1928. Throughout her life she marveled at seeing fireworks and hearing bands playing as they landed, thinking as a child that the excitement heralded her arrival. The family settled in Port Chester, where she attended school. She later worked in the fashion industry as a dressmaker.
She married John Dominick Carducci in 1938. They settled in Rye. While raising her four sons, Mrs. Carducci actively participated in the management of her husband’s landscape construction company.
In mid-life she took up painting. She received awards for her oils, which were exhibited locally.
Mrs. Carducci was a dedicated homemaker who loved her family, her friends, and her community. She had many friends who appreciated her enthusiasm and ability to accomplish whatever she chose to achieve.
She was active with Resurrection Church, the Cub Scouts, the Rye Seniors, and the Catholic Daughters, and received an award for lifetime contributions to her community from the Triple A Italian-American Club.
She is survived by her sons and their wives: Larry (Elizabeth) of Auburn, Calif., John D. (Theresa) of Hollywood, Fla., Richard (Dolores) of Rye, and Ronald (Beverly) of Rye; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband and her brother, Victor Scinto.
A mass of Christian burial was held January 9 at Church of the Resurrection.
Donations in Mrs. Carducci’s memory may be made to the Rye Seniors.
Roger Olsen
Roger F. Olsen, 80, passed away peacefully after a prolonged illness January 5 in South Orleans, Massachusetts, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Port Chester, on December 12, 1933, the son of Charles and Anna Olsen.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. In 1958, he married Gladys Smith. Four years later, the couple moved to Rye, where they raised their children. Mr. Olsen served as a firefighter for the City Of Rye from 1963 until his retirement in 1988. During this period, he also served as first President of Local 2029 of the International Association of Firefighters.
Upon retirement, the Olsens relocated to Cape Cod, and enjoyed extensive travels and spending time in the company of their many grandchildren.
“We rejoice that we were able to have Roger in our lives for so many years,” said his family. “We will always remember him for the wonderful husband, father and grandfather he was. We will miss him deeply and know that he is at peace and watching over all of us always.”
In addition to his wife, Gladys, Mr. Olsen is survived by his three children: Roger Olsen Jr. and his wife Astrid of Stamford, Christy and her husband Steven Groglio of Garrison, N.Y., and Cynthia and her husband Wayne Sevecke of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Katherine Olsen, Charles Olsen, Andrew Olsen, James Detlefs, Christopher Groglio, Marissa Groglio, Mikayla Groglio, Karina DiPippo, Kyla DiPippo, and Nicholas Sevecke. He was predeceased by his brothers, Charles and Robert, and his sisters, Mary, Anna, and Eleanor.
A mass was held at Church of the Resurrection on January 10, followed by interment at Greenwood Union Cemetery.
Robert Andrews Izard
Only special people leave this world on special days, so it is fitting that Bob Izard, 88, passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, after an extended hospital stay.
He was born on May 17, 1925, in Hartford, Connecticut, to John and Elizabeth Izard. Raised in Asheville, North Carolina, he graduated from The Hotchkiss School, and, at 19, from Yale University, class of February 1945. He served in the Navy and was stationed in Japan, before returning to Yale to complete a second degree in English.
After college, he started the Carpet Tuft Company in Dalton, Georgia. He sold this venture in 1954. He later joined Galaxy Carpet Mills, leading their International Division, and for the next 25 years traveling to the Middle and Far East and spending almost six months of every year abroad.
Mr. Izard was the definition of a gentleman, living a life of quiet service to others. While he refused recognition or honors, he gave more than two decades of leadership to the Carver Center in Port Chester, serving on its board and spearheading development efforts. He also served on the boards of Rye Country Day School and United Way and on the vestry of Christ’s Church Rye.
Above all, he loved his family: Jean Owen, his wife of 58 years, and their five children and spouses, Bob and Susan Izard, Nancy Engen, Charlie and Kathy Izard, Elizabeth and Dinah Apelles-Nissen, and David and Pamela Izard. He cherished his sixteen grandchildren: Catherine, Thomas, Margaret, Jon, Trygg, Peter, Kris, Lauren, Kailey, Emma, Maddie, Phillip, Isabella, Katie, Hayden, and John. Family get-togethers were of upmost importance to him and he arranged many family trips over the years. This past summer, he gathered the family one last time for a special reunion and birthday celebration for his wife.
Mr. Izard loved his home in Rye, where he and his wife raised their children and spent 47 years together. Throughout the seasons, he could be found in his gardens, tending his vegetables or puttering in his greenhouse with his dachshunds, Ziggy and Angie, following at his heels. His life was centered in a faith and integrity that was, and will continue to be, an inspiration for all his family.
A service to celebrate the life of Robert Andrews Izard was held Saturday, January 4 at Christ’s Church in Rye, with the Reverend Susan Harriss officiating. Interment followed in Asheville, N.C. on January 6.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ’s Church Rye, 2 Rectory Street, Rye, NY 10580, or The Izard Prize Fund for Cardiology. (Checks should be made payable to: The Trustees of Columbia University. Please note in the memo line: Izard Prize Fund/In Memory of Robert Izard. Mail to: Julie Fisher, Administrator, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, 622 West 168th Street, PH-3-345, New York, NY 10032.
Claire Dutton
Claire Audrey Lyon Dutton, a longtime resident of Rye, died peacefully on December 22, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was 89.
Born December 2, 1924, at United Hospital in Port Chester, she was the daughter of Walter and Claire Turnau Lyon.
She worked as a medical secretary in the medical records department at United Hospital before stopping to raise her family. Later, she returned to work as a childcare provider for 25 years for a local Rye family. After retiring, she moved with her daughter to Trumbull, Conn.
Mrs. Dutton will be remembered for her caring and loving ways. “She always thought about everyone else before herself,” said her family.
She is survived by her children, James Winfield Dutton and Barbara Lyon Dutton-Piro, both of Trumbull; a sister, Gloria Edna Stroetzel of Larchmont; a brother, Walter Winfield Lyon Jr. of Coconut Creek, Fla.; two grandchildren, Ashleigh and Tyler Piro of Trumbull; and a niece, Judith Ann Nelson of Norwalk. Her sister, Joan Barbara Wilfred, predeceased her three months ago.
A funeral service was held December 28 at Rye Presbyterian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund.
Daniel O’Keefe
Daniel O’Keefe, a longtime resident of Rye and Surfside, South Carolina, passed away November 29 with his family at his side. He was 81.
Born July 7, 1932, he was the youngest child of Dennis and Marie White O’Keefe. “Chubby,” as he was called, was a graduate of Harrison High and an accomplished football player at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.
When he retired, he was Director of Trade Relations at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of NY.
Mr. O’Keefe was a Life Member of the Old Guard Association, Third US Infantry of Arlington, Va., and a member of The American Legion Post 178 of Murrell’s Inlet, S.C. He was an expert bag piper, an avid golfer, he loved playing football at his home in Rye with his extended family and horseback riding in Montana in his later years.
Devoted husband of Joan (Kirby) his wife of 57 years, and loving father of Dennis O’Keefe (Angela) of Rye, Suzanne Hammer (Paul) of Norwalk, Conn., Joe O’Keefe of New York City, Katie O’Keefe of Palm Coast, Fla., he was affectionately called “Poppi” by his grandchildren Paul, Kathryn, Lars, John, and Anna. He is also survived by two brothers, Richard and Donald, and a sister, Catherine Garwick. He was predeceased by three of his siblings: John, Bob, Bill, and Barbara Pumphrey. Beloved “Uncle Chubby” to many nieces, nephews, and countless extended family members, he will always be remembered for his devotion to family, his faith, and his love for his country.
A mass of Christian burial was held December 9 at Church of the Resurrection.
