Memorials
What would you like your classmates to know about your life since Staples?
Bill Briggs
Birth Date:
1946-03-19
Graduation year:
1964
Deceased Date:
2024-03-26
Obituary:
Bill and I were in the same science class at Long Lots Jr. High School, Westport, CT. I think Bill knew that I had been playing in rock and roll bands in Greens Farms Elementary School and in Long Lots Jr. High School. Anyway, after class one day, Bill said, "Do you want to start a band?" So it sort of took me on, the idea anew, of making rock and roll in a band. So Bill and I worked with Bill on drums and Eric on saxophone and we did good! A good job in Long Lots mixers and Staples High School mixers! Then after New Year's 1964, I was panicked about my academics, so I left The New Schemers band.
But by the next year, Bill was ( life long founding member ) pianist/background vocalist/songwriter/blues harmonica player in The Remains. But wait, by an important connection, The Remains were to open for the Beatles in 23 cities across the USA!!! What proved to be the final Tour of the Fab Four!
Bill did well in the Downshifters car club based in Westport, CT. as well!
Bill and I were in the same science class at Long Lots Jr. High School, Westport, CT. I think Bill knew that I had been playing in rock and roll bands in Greens Farms Elementary School and in Long Lots Jr. High School. Anyway, after class one day, Bill said, "Do you want to start a band?" So it sort of took me on, the idea anew, of making rock and roll in a band. So Bill and I worked with Bill on drums and Eric on saxophone and we did good! A good job in Long Lots mixers and Staples High School mixers! Then after New Year's 1964, I was panicked about my academics, so I left The New Schemers band.
But by the next year, Bill was ( life long founding member ) pianist/background vocalist/songwriter/blues harmonica player in The Remains. But wait, by an important connection, The Remains were to open for the Beatles in 23 cities across the USA!!! What proved to be the final Tour of the Fab Four!
Bill did well in the Downshifters car club based in Westport, CT. as well!
Dennis Jackson
- May 22nd, 2024
Bill and I were riding bikes in 8th grade (Long Lots) when he encouraged me to join him in smoking a Marlboro. When I didn't cough, he said I was the first person he'd given a cig to who didn't. He also did a show on my homebrew AM radio station WJX. So glad to have been able to chat at our 50th, and later in an extensive phone call where we shared stories of our careers. Sad to lose "Billy" so soon. He was a super guy.
Bill Briggs
Obituary:
Easter Sunday Remembrance
There are currently no tributes.
Bill Briggs pt.2
Obituary:
Flowers, in Memory of
There are currently no tributes.
Arline Gertzoff
Birth Date:
1946-06-24
Graduation year:
1964
Deceased Date:
2022-09-27
Obituary:
Arline Patricia Gertzoff, 76, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent’s Hospital on September 28 from esophageal cancer. She is remembered as a true daughter of Westport, a dedicated, tireless volunteer for many organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of the town.
Arline was born in Norwalk. Her family moved to Westport, establishing a local dry cleaning business, where she often worked after school. Arline was active in Staples Players and SSTS, the backstage crews. She was head of costumes for several productions, and SSTS President as a senior.
Arline was a proud graduate of Staples and Westport schools, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston University in history and education. She taught in New Canaan, and at the International School in Antwerp, Belgium for 25 years, where she was involved with the Model UN.
Arline enjoyed people, the arts, travel, good food and wine, and Belgian chocolate. Students and friends from around the world stayed in touch with her. She returned to Westport in 1979 to help care for her mother, and dove into her community activism.
She loved Westport, and took great pride in its history and contributions. She was filled with local lore and stories, emphatically setting the record straight on Westport history with people newer to town.
For 20 years Arline was a tireless poll worker with the Westport League of Women Voters. Active with Westport’s Democratic Town Committee, she co-chaired the Community Outreach Committee. Arline served on the Board of the Democratic Women of Westport, and in 2016 received the DTC Dora Stuttman Campaign Leadership Award.
She was a familiar face and trusted cashier at the Library Book Sales, and a longtime member of the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut, often bringing interesting speakers and dialogue to the community.
One of Arline’s favorite activities was jUNe Day, which for more than 55 years has welcomed UN delegates and staff to Westport for a day of food, fun and friendship. Serving on the board of directors as membership chair, she was also treasurer of UNASWCT, and on the advisory body for the national UN Association.
Long-time friend Melody James says, “Arline earned a seat at the leadership table of our town the old-fashioned way: through volunteerism, pitching in, and showing up. She was a doer. You could count on her. True in high school; true in 2022.”
When Arline died, she was serving a 3rd term as a District 3 member on Westport’s non-partisan Representative Town Meeting.
Another classmate remarks, “Arline was a connector. She had the ability to connect with different types of people, across age, sex, class, race, religious and nationality lines. She was the thread that joined together a very wide community.”
Back in Westport, Arline became lead coordinator for her Staples Class of ’64, orchestrating several class reunions. At the 50th she appeared with arms full of roses to cast on Long Island Sound for fallen classmates.
She was the confidante, treasurer and detail master who tracked marriages, divorces, deaths, births and career changes. Arline supported her friends and local artists, showing up often to performances and exhibits.
Arline was a leading voice to establish the Laddie Lawrence Track at Staples High School, challenging the argument that a great teacher and coach could only be honored after they died.
Her friend Jennifer Johnson calls her “a lifetime Westporter, and a citizen of the world. She was a champion of democracy and international understanding.”
DTC chair Mark Friedman adds, “Through her work, she strengthened the fabric of our civil society and touched the lives of people in Westport and around the world, creating a family of friends and admirers, imbuing her friendships with insight, wit and love.”
Arline was predeceased by her brother Stewart. She is survived by cousins Steven Gertzoff of Florida, Ken Bean of Colorado and their families. A memorial service is planned for November 12th (Westport Town Hall, 2:30 p.m.).
Arline Gertzoff, at the Grand Canyon: see image.
======================================================
Arline Patricia Gertzoff, 76, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent’s Hospital on September 28 from esophageal cancer. She is remembered as a true daughter of Westport, a dedicated, tireless volunteer for many organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of the town.
Arline was born in Norwalk. Her family moved to Westport, establishing a local dry cleaning business, where she often worked after school. Arline was active in Staples Players and SSTS, the backstage crews. She was head of costumes for several productions, and SSTS President as a senior.
Arline was a proud graduate of Staples and Westport schools, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston University in history and education. She taught in New Canaan, and at the International School in Antwerp, Belgium for 25 years, where she was involved with the Model UN.
Arline enjoyed people, the arts, travel, good food and wine, and Belgian chocolate. Students and friends from around the world stayed in touch with her. She returned to Westport in 1979 to help care for her mother, and dove into her community activism.
She loved Westport, and took great pride in its history and contributions. She was filled with local lore and stories, emphatically setting the record straight on Westport history with people newer to town.
For 20 years Arline was a tireless poll worker with the Westport League of Women Voters. Active with Westport’s Democratic Town Committee, she co-chaired the Community Outreach Committee. Arline served on the Board of the Democratic Women of Westport, and in 2016 received the DTC Dora Stuttman Campaign Leadership Award.
She was a familiar face and trusted cashier at the Library Book Sales, and a longtime member of the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut, often bringing interesting speakers and dialogue to the community.
One of Arline’s favorite activities was jUNe Day, which for more than 55 years has welcomed UN delegates and staff to Westport for a day of food, fun and friendship. Serving on the board of directors as membership chair, she was also treasurer of UNASWCT, and on the advisory body for the national UN Association.
Long-time friend Melody James says, “Arline earned a seat at the leadership table of our town the old-fashioned way: through volunteerism, pitching in, and showing up. She was a doer. You could count on her. True in high school; true in 2022.”
When Arline died, she was serving a 3rd term as a District 3 member on Westport’s non-partisan Representative Town Meeting.
Another classmate remarks, “Arline was a connector. She had the ability to connect with different types of people, across age, sex, class, race, religious and nationality lines. She was the thread that joined together a very wide community.”
Back in Westport, Arline became lead coordinator for her Staples Class of ’64, orchestrating several class reunions. At the 50th she appeared with arms full of roses to cast on Long Island Sound for fallen classmates.
She was the confidante, treasurer and detail master who tracked marriages, divorces, deaths, births and career changes. Arline supported her friends and local artists, showing up often to performances and exhibits.
Arline was a leading voice to establish the Laddie Lawrence Track at Staples High School, challenging the argument that a great teacher and coach could only be honored after they died.
Her friend Jennifer Johnson calls her “a lifetime Westporter, and a citizen of the world. She was a champion of democracy and international understanding.”
DTC chair Mark Friedman adds, “Through her work, she strengthened the fabric of our civil society and touched the lives of people in Westport and around the world, creating a family of friends and admirers, imbuing her friendships with insight, wit and love.”
Arline was predeceased by her brother Stewart. She is survived by cousins Steven Gertzoff of Florida, Ken Bean of Colorado and their families. A memorial service is planned for November 12th (Westport Town Hall, 2:30 p.m.).
Arline Gertzoff, at the Grand Canyon: see image.
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There are currently no tributes.
Jeffrey Simon
Graduation year:
1964
Obituary:
This is a photo that Jeff took at our 50th Reunion Sunday at Compo
This is a photo that Jeff took at our 50th Reunion Sunday at Compo
There are currently no tributes.