Wynne Jillson Abrams, 69, Died; “Her sense of humor and laugh remain with us.”
Wynne Jillson Abrams died April 7th 2022 at home after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Randy of Westport and daughter, Maddie Abrams of Bridgeport.
Born on February 4th 1953 in Port Chester, NY she attended Princeton, NJ schools, graduating from Smith College in 1974. She joined Morgan Stanley’s Merger & Acquisitions Group as an analyst led by legendary investment banker Robert Greenhill. This led to her decision to pursue an MBA at Stanford University, awarded in 1978. Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. offered her a job in the Oil and Gas Group. Following her tour there, she was one of the first women assigned to the International Financial Management group, a high-profile department that provided access to the international capital markets and developed sophisticated financial products for the bank’s clients. There she worked with the top American corporations such as Ford, Mobil and Chrysler. With the fall of the Glass-Steagall Act and investment banking restrictions, Wynne was then tasked with setting up the bank’s US domestic debt underwriting operations. In her final assignment, she worked in a newly formed group, Global Risk Assessment, traveling to JP Morgan offices worldwide to create an integrated reporting system that gave management its first real time overview of its global risk exposures.
Wynne decided in 1992 to devote herself to raising Maddie and by 1996 found herself in Westport. At Christ and Holy Trinity Church she found a community which fitted her views and outlook. She started teaching in its Sunday School which led to heading the program and later leading CHT’s Youth Ministry. A strong believer in the role of community in Westport, she found the Westport Woman’s Club an ideal vehicle to accomplish this. She was a strong capable Board Officer serving most recently as Financial Vice President and chair of the Investment and Finance Committees. As a longtime member of the Yankee Doodle Fair management team, she enjoyed applying her financial skills and keen eye for cost control to optimize the success of WWC’s signature annual fundraiser.
Wynne loved her large extended family - her mother, step mother, three sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews and their families and so enjoyed the marvelous trips and vacations they took together. With many friends across multiple venues – bridge groups, the WWC, Bible study – and much community service from social justice to homelessness. Wynne was loving and supportive with everyone she knew, getting the job done, effectively, quietly and with no ego. Her sense of humor and laugh remain with us. She will be missed.
There will be a memorial service for her at Christ and Holy Trinity Church on April 19th at 1100. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the Westport Woman’s Club 44 Imperial Avenue Westport, Ct 06880 in her name.
Michael Anthony Caputo, 73, Died; Staples Class of 1967, “hard working, kind and loving husband and friend”
Michael Anthony Caputo, Jr., 73, of Norwalk, passed away peacefully in the comforts of his home while holding hands with his heartbroken wife and loving caregiver, Rose (Rubino) Caputo on April 8, 2022. Born in New London, CT to the late Michael Caputo, Sr. and Ann Caputo, Michael grew up in Westport, where he graduated from Staples High School in 1967. He was drafted in 1968 and served 14 months in Korea in the DMZ, where he was a Specialist in Artillery and Special Weapons.
He met his wife when they were just 15 years old, when his wife moved to Westport and lived on the same street. They were immediately best friends and enjoyed each others company and the rest is history. They wed October 1970 and lived a wonderful and adventurous life of traveling to many tropical islands such as Hawaii, many islands in the Caribbean, several cruises and even traveled to Europe more than once. But their home away from home became Vail Village in Colorado, where they both enjoyed many vacations spring skiing.
Michael worked as an Auto Body Technician for over 40 years with the same company. He enjoyed auto racing, skiing, fishing, boating and sailing, among other interests. He was a member of the South Norwalk Boat Club up until his illness and made some wonderful friendships there. He also had a great love of animals and always had pets, but at the height of the pandemic, they adopted a rescue by the name of Lucy who became his sidekick. Lucy never left his side, whether it was just working in the yard, driving to the corner store or visiting a friend, Lucy was always with him and they were inseparable.
Upon his retirement he fulfilled a lifelong dream of his, becoming an artist. He became very skilled in the art of stained glass and a master craftsman in woodcarving. He was self-taught and was particularly fascinated with the beauty of eagles and carved many with great detail.
He wanted no calling hours or funeral, but to just be remembered as a hard working, kind and loving husband and friend. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to either Lustgarten Foundation 415 Crossways Park D, Woodbury, NY 11797 www.lustgarten.org/donate or Looking Glass Animal Rescue PO Box 1175, Ridgefield, CT 06877, www.lgarinc.org/donate
To leave a condolence or to sign our online guestbook, please visit www.magnerfuneralhome.com
Dr. Victor Edward Oliver, 83, Died; Former Westporter, Dentist
Dr. Victor Edward Oliver Jr., 83, formerly of Westport CT, passed away peacefully at home on April 5th, 2022 surrounded by his family.
Victor was born on May 14th, 1938 to the late Victor Edward Oliver Senior and Irene Oliver of Pawtucket, RI. Victor leaves behind his wife of 59 years Pauline Oliver.
After Victor graduated from Providence College in 1959, he went on to study dentistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry in New Jersey. He went on to serve as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force in Albany Georgia for two years. Following his service, Victor and Pauline then settled in Westport, CT, opening his home dental office in 1968, where he practiced for 50 years. In Vic and Polly’s time in Westport they went on to raise their two daughters, Kimberly Oliver Vallieres and her husband Jim Vallieres of West Hartford CT, Robin Oliver Ross and her husband Sean Ross of Holly Springs NC. Between the two of them they gave Victor a house full of love and laughter with 5 grandchildren, Sean Heintz, Emma Heintz, Olivia Heintz and her fiancé Jonathan Davis, Audrey Ross, and Jack Ross.
Victor was an avid tennis and racquetball player. Vic and Polly loved vacationing in Florida and their weekend trips to Nantucket. He will be remembered for his gentle dental care and his dedication to his patients. He was a kind and generous man that always made time to help anyone in need. He was known for being a quiet reserved man unless you happen to be sitting in his dental chair where he was the most talkative, trying to make you at ease.
Graveside Services will be held at the State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane Middletown, CT 06457 on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 10:00 am. Those who wish may make donations in Victor’s name to the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 370036, West Hartford, CT 06137 where Victor for many years enjoyed watching his daughter Kim play violin.
Ben Philip Esselink, 81, Died; “never satisfied to merely be present”
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our beloved Bernard Philip Esselink, of Westport, CT passed away on Saturday, February 5 at the age of 81.
Ben, as he was known by his friends, was a loving and generous husband, father, and grandfather who was shaped by a life spent all over the globe. Ben was exceptional in connecting with and making others feel valued, whether family, friends, or complete strangers, no matter how different from himself. His balance of humor, authenticity, and willingness to serve others was an incredible gift to all of us who loved him.
He was born to Dutch parents, Hendrik and Catharina Esselink, in Indonesia. Educated there, he later earned his degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University in the Netherlands. After graduation he worked for the United Nations in Thailand before moving to Singapore and a career with Colgate Palmolive. He would spend the remainder of his career with them, working in Australia, California, South Carolina, and New York.
Ben was known for his love of sailing and was an active member of the Connecticut Orchid Society. He was also a man of faith, committed to his Church and regularly involved in his local Gideons chapter. He was never satisfied to merely be present, but engaged in his passions with enthusiasm and loyalty to those who were there alongside him.
Ben was predeceased by his wife Helena Tjeenk Willink, daughter Karien, and brother Bert, and is survived by his sons Rik and Frank, grandchildren Saskia, Philip, Marik, Bjorn, Claudia, and Andreas, and other family members including nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his wife Jean McGilvray Watson, who he counted himself blessed to have met and married later in life. Family was especially important to Ben, and his dedication and love for all of them was evident throughout his life.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Bernard will be held at South Church, 90 Main Street, New Britain, CT, April 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 174, Westport, CT 06880. The Connecticut Orchid Society, P.O. Box 198, Farmington, CT 06034-0198 or The South Church Memorial Fund – South Church, 90 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051. Condolences for the family may be left online at http://www.hardingfuneral.com.