George Frank Struzynski

KENT — George Frank Struzynski, 59, died March 29, 2010, after battling a recent neurological illness. Private burial has taken place in Florida. George was born Oct. 1, 1950, in New Haven, Conn., and grew up in the Westville neighborhood.

After graduating from James Hillhouse High School, George furthered his education and attended Yale, American University, University of Ibadan (Nigeria, West Africa) and University of Miami,  where he earned degrees in history, economics, business adminstration and health-care management. Former residences included Washington, D.C.; Alexandria, Va.; Coral Gables, Fla.; and South Kent.

George loved to talk but he also loved to write and had outstanding penmanship. In college he was a volunteer member of the White House calligraphy staff. Throughout the course of his life, George took the time to handwrite countless letters, cards and notes to people all over the world, including patients, residents and families he met throughout his long and illustrious career as a health-care executive and business consultant.

Most recently, George served as the director of admissions and marketing for Apple Rehab/The Kent Specialty Care Facility in Kent.

Volunteerism mattered to George. Over the past 25 years, he had the privilege of serving in various capacities for several town and regional organizations including opening the first Kent Film Festival as master of ceremonies. He was also at one time a Kent Planning and Zoning commissioner; vice president of the Kent Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Kent Affordable Housing Task Force, the Kent Democratic Town Committee, Partners in Education and the 21st Century Committee; and advisor to the BINA Foundation.

And he was a longtime supporter and member of the Kent Lions Club.

 George is survived by his wife, Carrie (Madio) Struzynski and daughter, Evelyn, a freshman college student, both of Kent; a brother, the Rev. Wendell Ashby and his wife, Lonnie, of Spencer, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews; and a great-nephew.

George was predeceased by his mother, Evelyn Jeannette Edele (Ashby) Struzynski; his father, George Walter Struzynski; and a brother, Robert Ashby.

 Friends, colleagues and acquaintances are invited to gather together to celebrate George’s life by  bringing their favorite George stories, photos, news clippings, memories, etc., to a celebration of life service on Saturday, May 15, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Swift House in Kent.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Evelyn Struzynski Scholarship and mailed to Evelyn Struzynski Scholarship, c/o Union Savings Bank, 15 Green Blvd., Kent, CT 06757.

 

Latest News

Club baseball at Fuessenich Park

Travel league baseball came to Torrington Thursday, June 26, when the Berkshire Bears Select Team played the Connecticut Moose 18U squad. The Moose won 6-4 in a back-and-forth game. Two players on the Bears play varsity ball at Housatonic Valley Regional High School: shortstop Anthony Foley and first baseman Wes Allyn. Foley went 1-for-3 at bat with an RBI in the game at Fuessenich Park.

 

  Anthony Foley, rising senior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, went 1-for-3 at bat for the Bears June 26.Photo by Riley Klein 

 
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit lakevillejournal.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less