Janet Cook Marino, 88, Died; Former Daybreak Nursery Employee, “quick to smile”

Janet Cook Marino, age 88, of Shelton, beloved wife of the late James V. Marino, Jr., passed away in her home on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, with her daughters by her side.

Born on October 16, 1933, in Bridgeport, she was a daughter of the late John and Lucille Carbone Cook. Janet was a graduate of Harding High School and grew up in Bridgeport and was formally a longtime resident of Trumbull before moving to Shelton.

She worked for Park City Hospital as a keypunch operator. After retirement she enjoyed working part time at Daybreak Flower Shop in Westport. She was on the Harding High School Reunion Committee and a member of the St. Catherine of Siena Ladies Guild, where she served as President (1975-1976).

Janet was an excellent cook and loved nothing more than entertaining and cooking for her family and friends. There was always room for one more at the table. She was quick to smile and was happiest when surrounded by her family.

She will be greatly missed by all that were lucky enough to know her. Survivors include two daughters, Joy Marino and her husband Robert Sardaro of Trumbull and Jill Marino and her husband Michael Shandrowski of Stratford, two adored grandchildren Skylar and James Shandrowski of whom she was very proud of, two sisters, Rosalie Pauciello of Bridgeport, and Lynda Cook-Lawrence of Trumbull, as well as several nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 31, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 200 Shelton Rd., Trumbull. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. Face masks must be worn for both funeral home and church services. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to The Thomas Merton Center, 43 Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.abriola.com.

Marjorie Joan Salembier Hurley, 92, Died; Staples Grad, Realtor, “always the best dressed”

Marjorie Joan Salembier Hurley, aged 92, passed away on October 12, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Florida. "Marj" was born on January 10, 1929, in Mineola, NY to Richard Van Zandt Salembier and Jesse Marjorie Forester Salembier.

Marj was the third of eight children in the Salembier family. Prior to Marj's high school years, the entire Salembier family moved to Westport, Connecticut where she attended Staples High School.

It was during her high school years, Marj developed an interest in fashion which, after graduation led her to the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Fashion design quickly became the first of Marj's life passions. On return from a business trip to Europe her father brought back some exotic fabrics; Marj went straight to work designing evening gowns. And after the designs were finished, she worked with a seamstress to complete the garments which were scoffed up by her sisters to wear at Westport functions.

Marj married Arthur Hunter, Jr., in 1948 and started a large family. One son and five daughters kept Marj very busy.

As the youngest of her six children approached her junior high school years, Marj decided to enter the workforce. While working at a clothing store in downtown Westport, Marj realized she could move onto something bigger. With an eye for design and detail it was not surprising that she found her way to real estate sales. Her third life's passion evolved into a successful career in real estate at both the Hunter Agency, and the William Pitt agency both of Westport, Connecticut.

After some life changes, Marj married Jim Hurley. When Jim invested in a Vermont business they moved north. Marj continued in real estate, but instead of sales she spearheaded the building of an extraordinary house.

Marj was always the best dressed and had the most beautiful eye for decorating. You always knew when Marj was a visitor in your house; with the move of a vase or the puffing of a sofa pillow she'd create a fresh look and feel to any space. She never lost her eye and touch for fashion.

Marj is survived by her son Arthur Hunter, III, daughters Wendy Hunter Widman, Sally Hunter Uccellini, Stacy Hunter Holstein, Dana Hunter Harrity, Liz Hunter Koscinski, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty great grandchildren. As well as sisters Sandra Eskey, Sharon Lawson and brother Jeffery Salembier.

A full military ceremony will be held for the burial of Marj and her husband Jim (predeceased) at 3pm on April 8 at the Veterans Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida.

Verne O. Sedlacek, 67, Died; Respected Businessman, Philanthropist

Verne O. Sedlacek died suddenly of a heart attack on December 10, 2021, while vacationing in the Caribbean. Maura, his loving wife of 40 years, was by his side. He was 67 years old. Verne was a proud native of Havre, MT, where he was born May 20, 1954, to Vernon and Signe (Martinson) Sedlacek. He graduated from Havre High School in 1972. During his time at Havre High, he was a starting offensive tackle for the Blue Ponies football team, which won the Class A State Championship in 1970.

Verne attended Princeton University, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. While playing football at Princeton and hospitalized with an injury, Verne met his future wife, Maura Mitchell, who happened to be working as a nurse in that same hospital. They were married in the Princeton Chapel in October 1981, on a day that Verne called the happiest day of his life.

After graduating, he was employed by Arthur Andersen & Co. in New York City in their Audit Division while simultaneously studying Accounting at the New York University Graduate School of Business. After working with investment and Wall Street firms as clients at Arthur Andersen, Verne entered the world of investment management himself after being hired by Harvard Management Company, which manages Harvard University's endowment, in 1983. He worked there for 15 years, ultimately serving as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. Verne moved with Maura to Boston, where their family became complete with the births of their two sons, Ryan and Connor. It was shortly thereafter that he developed his lifelong passion for the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics.

In 1998, Verne was hired as President of the John W. Henry & Company, an investment management business based in Westport, CT, to which Verne and his family moved shortly thereafter. Since then, he has resided in Westport, and his family still lives there today, having established deep roots in the community.

In 2003, Verne became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonfund, a not-for-profit organization providing investment management, advisory and consulting services to nonprofit institutions (primarily colleges and universities) in nearby Wilton, CT.

Verne was highly respected in the investment and endowment management fields for his insights and ability to identify and anticipate important trends affecting those industries. In 2013, the National Association of College and University Business Officers awarded Verne the Rodney H. Adams Endowment Award for his outstanding individual contributions to professional development activities in the area of university endowment and investment management. Verne was a steadfast believer in the power of philanthropic giving, responsible management and altruistic investment to ensure and improve the accessibility and quality of education for current and future generations.

Verne retired in 2015 but remained active on several boards of directors for financial, investment and educational organizations, providing investment and endowment management consulting services to several organizations. Verne had served on the board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and on the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. At the time of his death, he was a senior fellow with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver, Wash., on the investment committee for the William Penn Foundation, and on the Dean's Advisory Board of the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University. He was also a member of the boards of the Thrivent Mutual Fund Complex, Valparaiso University and the Museum of American Finance in New York City.

Verne was a devoted husband and father as well as a loving and generous man. He enjoyed annual beach vacations with extended family, date nights with his loving wife, and watching movies and Boston sports with his sons. Verne loved watching TV (from WWI documentaries to American Ninja Warrior), but also reading: he was rarely seen without a book in hand. His competitive nature was legendary in the family– whether it was football, ping-pong or Monopoly, he always wanted to win and would do whatever it took to do so. He was known to friends and family for his quick wit and self-deprecating humor, as well as his deep humility and heartfelt concern for the people around him.
Verne lived a full life dedicated to his family and friends and considered himself a very lucky man. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maura, sons Ryan and Connor, his brother Stuart, and many loving members of his extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Signe Sedlacek. His absence will be felt by his many friends and colleagues.

A funeral will be held in honor of Verne at St. Paul Westport in early January at an undecided date. Further details will be forthcoming.

Donald Elliott Reilly, 99, Died; Staples grad, Navy Veteran, “ truly a good man”

Donald Elliott Reilly, age 99, beloved husband of the late Nancy Reilly, of Westport passed on peacefully on November 20, 2021 surrounded by his family.

Don was born on September 1st, 1922 in New York City and his family moved to Westport in 1934. He attended local schools, graduated from Staples High School and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Naval Aviation Program. With the advent of World War ll, he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and later as a flight instructor based at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Following his military service, he joined the firm of Koller and Smith Company, a printing company based in New York City where he began his career in sales. He advanced to President and co-owner over the course of his 40-year career.

He met and married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1949 and together they raised their three sons. Nancy and Don enjoyed many years of designing and building their home and gardens; collecting and restoring antique furniture and art and travelled extensively with family and friends. Don was also an avid tennis player. He loved the outdoors and particularly enjoyed many rafting and canoe trips with his sons. Don will be remembered for his sense of humor, love of nature, his meticulous woodworking skills, antique restoration and his epic annual barn sales.

He was truly a good man and a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather who freely gave of himself and taught us many life skills. We will miss him greatly, mindful that that he had a long and good life filled with adventure, love, family and many friends. We will remember him for his humor, warmth, strength of character, dedication to his family and his love of his golden retrievers.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Kevin Reilly and his wife Leslie (Carrere) of Newfield, NY, William Reilly and his wife Laura (Gottfried) of Enfield, NY and Peter Reilly and his wife Mary (Picard) of Rye, NH; his grandchildren Colin and his wife Lauren, Marissa and her husband Zach Beauchamp, Mia, Megan and Conor Reilly; his great-granddaughter Kendall and his sister, Eloise Reilly of Westport, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A special thanks for Carla Wilson, his personal caregiver, for her loving care and the staff at Visiting Angels of Fairfield, Ct for their support. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor can be made to the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue at 110 Chapin Rd., Hudson, MA 01749-08081.

SERVICES: Family and friends will be invited to attend a memorial service planned for the spring of 2022 in Westport. Specific details will be provided at a later date. Visit: www.hardingfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook