Mort Silverberg, 92, Died; MIT Graduate, Y’s Men Member

Morton Silverberg, age 92, passed away on December 25, 2022 from heart disease. Mort had a lively, perceptive and deeply intelligent mind. After graduating from MIT in 1953, he began an impressive professional career as an engineer working at Remington Rand, RCA, Xerox and Pitney Bowes. He has over 100 patents in his name, ranging from copier technology to the perfect paper clip. When he and his wife Phyllis moved to Westport, Connecticut in 1985, they began the best years of their lives. He sailed and played tennis. He became involved in Y’s Men of Westport / Weston, an organization of retired and semi-retired men. He frequently remarked that he never had so many friends in his life and loved participating in the club’s activities. They both loved Westport and all it had to offer.

He is survived by his two daughters, Judy Ross, Lynn McDonald, and by three grandchildren, Ben Ross, Tyler Ross and Amy McDonald. His wife Phyllis Silverberg passed in November of 2022. Memorial contributions may be made to the Y’s Men of Westport / Wilton. (www.ysmenwestportweston.org)

Gary Miller Stuart, 82, Died; Local Volunteer, “enjoyed being a grandfather”

Gary Miller Stuart of Westport, Connecticut died on November 27, 2022, at the age of 82 due to complications related to Alzheimer’s. 

Gary was born on May 8, 1940, to H.W. and Ruth Stuart in Normal, Illinois.  After graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1958 at Normal Community High School, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1962.  Following M.I.T., he earned his Master’s degree in economics from Harvard.  He then joined the renowned training program at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan as a financial analyst. 

He and his wife Sylvia lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, where they raised four boys.  Gary had a successful career in corporate finance serving in various financial and operational roles at Ford, the General Foods Company and Union Pacific Corporation, where he was the Chief Financial Officer when he retired in 1999. 

Following his retirement, he traveled, became an avid cyclist, volunteered at the Saugatuck Congregational Church and the Westport Public Library, took a serious interest in genealogy and enjoyed being a grandfather. 

He is survived by his wife Sylvia (Rowayton, CT), his four sons David (Peggy) (Fairfield, CT), Peter (Lona) (Derby, VT), Paul (Lesley) (Southlake, TX) and Michael (Vanessa) (Madrid, Spain) and his eight grandchildren Maggie, Emma, Sam, Abigail, Vicki, Nicholas, Celeste and Sofia.  The family requests that memorial contributions go to the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, Connecticut or the Westport Public Library.

Bashkin “Bash” Derti, 56, Died; LA Rams Fan, “loved a good joke.”

Bashkim "Bash" Derti, of Westport, Connecticut passed away peacefully at home while in the presence of his loving wife on December 1, 2022 after a long struggle against Glioblastoma. He was 56 years old.

Bash was born in Manhattan, New York on November 16, 1966. Bash graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Political Science in 1988. He later attended Duke University and received his MBA in Finance in 1997.

Bash was predeceased by his father, Nazmi Derti and his mother, Lihe Derti. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Melissa Kindle, and his two children, daughter Laura Granda and son Knox Derti. He also leaves behind his two brothers, Gzim Derti and Petrit Derti as well as many nieces, nephews and sisters-in-law who adored him.

While Bash had many interests, he most enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, playing golf, reading, and watching football. He was especially passionate about his Los Angeles Rams. He loved a good joke. Most of all, Bash will be remembered for his sense of humor, genuine interest in others and his unfailing kindness to friends and strangers alike.

Bash will be missed by his family and the many friends and acquaintances whom he has left a mark on forever!

Friends may greet his family on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m.

To sign his online guestbook, please visit www. shaughnesseybanks.com

Charlie Brooks, 68, Died; Staples Grad, Air Force Veteran, Talented Jet Mechanic

Charlie of Safety Harbor Fl died suddenly from previous health conditions while on a trip, visiting relatives in Connecticut.

Charlie was born in Winchester MA on October 11, 1954, he lived in MA until 1965 when his family moved to Westport Connecticut. Charlie attended Greens Farms Elementary, Long Lots Junior High, and Staples High School.

After High school, Charlie enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1971 and worked as a jet mechanic repairing and maintaining the single seat jet fighter A-7 Corsair. During this time Charlie was stationed in Myrtle Beach South Carolina with the 354th Fighter Wing.

In 1976 Charlie began working at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT, and did so for almost 20 years. During this time Charlie earned his A & P license which qualified him to perform almost any repair on any type of aircraft. For many years Charlie worked exclusively on the fleet of Presidential VH-3 Sea King, which is operated by the Marines Corp in transporting the President of the United States.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary as well as his younger brother Daniel, he is survived by his sisters Martha (Tom Donaher) of Fairfield CT, and Mary Hart (John Wagner) of Trumbull CT, and a younger brother Robert of Blue River Colorado and many nieces and nephews.

Published by Westport-News on Nov. 30, 2022.