Resident dies from generator fumes

SHARON — Sharon resident Richard Rothschild was found dead in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, the day after the massive snowstorm that took out power for most of the Tri-state region. The 85-year-old artist was discovered after a neighbor came to check on him, found him and telephoned police.State police said the generator supplying power to his home was properly vented, but a broken muffler allowed carbon monoxide gas to fill the house.State fire department officials warned last week that generators should not be used indoors under any circumstances. Generators and other devices which emit carbon monoxide become highly lethal when used indoors. One fire official said, “Gas grills, charcoal grills, propane heaters should never be used indoors or even on porches near homes.”An emergency dispatcher, who would not give his name, said Pippi, Rothschild’s 2-year-old golden retriever, was also found dead in the home, lying next to her owner.Rothschild and his wife, Ilene, moved to Sharon from Greenwich in 1994, after he retired from a career in electronics marketing. He renovated a barn on the property, turning it into an art studio where he made life-sized and larger-than-life sculptures of animals from reclaimed barn siding. The animals had a cubist quality and seemd to always be in motion. His works were well-received and have been exhibited at Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford and the National Academy of Design in New York.Ilene Rothschild continued her long career as a journalist and magazine writer until her death in December 2010 after a brief illness. The couple has five children. No obituary is available at this time and no memorial service has been announced.