Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Robert A. Krissel

LAKEVILLE — Robert A. Krissel, 76, died at home, Dec. 4, 2010, surrounded by loving family and friends.  

Bob was well known in Lakeville having been a part-time resident for the past 41 years.  He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 10,1934, to Ricka Rosenfeld and Walter DuPont Krissel.   

He spent his childhood years in Rye and attended the local high school and the Fieldstone School. Bob graduated from Dartmouth in 1956 where he was active in ROTC and was captain of both the tennis and swim teams.  After Dartmouth he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1960 and earned the rank of captain.

He married Janet Meryl Carter of Dallas, Texas, in 1957.
The couple lived in Germany for two years, where their first child, Kimberly, was born in 1958.  They returned to the states in 1960 and resided in Manhattan where Bob began work at Equitable Bag, the family-owned and operated shopping bag business.  He started in sales and worked his way up to CEO and president.  

Bob’s son, Jim, was born in 1961 and youngest daughter, Dina, in 1963. The family built their home in Lakeville in 1969 and spent many holidays, summers and weekends with local friends. In addition to their Lakeville home they spent many winters in Vail, Colo., and summers at their home in Santa Fe, N.M.

Bob supported many non-profit boards and organizations throughout his life. He served on the boards of Beth Israel, the National Museum of the American Indian, Sharon Hospital, the Santa Fe Opera,  as president, the Yale Club and National Jewish Hospital in Denver. Bob was also a member of the Sharon Country Club, the Beaver Creek Club, the Harmony Club and the Young Presidents Organization.

Bob loved to fly. He flew privately in his own plane, commuting between his homes with his wife, Janet, and their loyal dachshunds (first Nina and Oscar and then Baxter and Lulu).  He loved good food, wine, skiing and a game of golf. Bob maintained a very active social calendar, attending various events for the causes he passionately supported.
His wife,Janet, died in 2005.

He married Jenelle Soderquist of Minneapolis in 2007. Bob and Jenelle traveled to Italy, France, England and Argentina. They spent time renovating their Lakeville home and enjoying their grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Jenelle, he is survived by his children, Kim and her husband, Matt Jones, of Denver, Colo., Jim and his wife, Jessica Fowler, of Sharon, and Dina Jaeger of Falls Village; a stepson, William Soderquist of Los Angeles, Calif.; his eight grandchildren;  his sister, Toni and her husband, Jamie Goodale, of Manhattan; a nephew, Timothy Goodale of London; a niece, Ashley and her husband, CJ Muse, of Manhattan; and his cousin Jonathan Canno and his spouse, Pierce Roberts, of East Hampton, N.Y.  

Enjoy your flight, Bob.  

A memorial service will take place in the spring. Donations can be sent to the Salisbury VNA, 30A Salmon Kill Road, Salisbury CT 06068.

Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon.

Latest News

Join us for

Join us for


Keep ReadingShow less
Sam Lardner returns to the Northwest Corner for Vecinos Seguros 2 benefit

Sam Lardner and Barcelona will play a benefit for Vecinos Seguros 2 at Salisbury Congregational Church on Friday, July 24.

Virgo Martinez

On Friday, July 24, musician and educator Sam Lardner and his band, Barcelona, will take the stage at Salisbury Congregational Church for a benefit concert supporting Vecinos Seguros 2, an all-volunteer organization that provides emergency assistance and rapid-response support to immigrant families in Northwest Connecticut affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

Lardner, who attended and later taught at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville before moving to Spain in 1997, still considers the Northwest Corner his home in the United States. “It’s such a special place,” he said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Karina Powers and the power of tradition

Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.

Lucia Iandolo
This is an art and the arts unite nations.
—Karina Powers

Karina Powers began dancing at 4 years old. A professional dancer, singer, performer and Mexican folklore dance professor from Baja California, Mexico, she is the youngest of three sisters who were all involved in the arts. Powers now teaches traditional Mexican dances to adults through her company, Compañía De Danza Folklórica Regional Mexicana, in Millbrook. She said she has a strong passion for the history and art that exist within the dances she teaches, and she hopes to instill that passion in her students.

“Many of them have never danced this type of dance,” said Powers. “They’re from Mexico, but they came to the United States at a young age to work. They have that dream to learn, and now they have this opportunity.”

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Across generations at Litchfield Jazz Festival

Bucky Pizzarelli and Brandon Goldberg at the Litchfield Jazz Festival in 2017.

Lindsey Victoria Photography

The Litchfield Jazz Festival opens its 2026 season on Friday, July 24, at the Frederick Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut. The evening will feature a gala and a concert led by saxophonist Don Braden featuring the Litchfield Jazz Fest Dectet.

The festival began in 1996 and has been going strong ever since. The list of past performers reads like a who’s who of modern jazz greats, including Christian McBride, Soulive, Joshua Redman, Dave Douglas, Brad Mehldau and John Scofield, all of whom helped revive the genre for a new generation of fans at the turn of the millennium. Vocalists like Diana Krall, Dionne Warwick and Dr. John have made appearances as well. And, of course, the festival has been graced by established masters like saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter; guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; bassist Rufus Reid; drummers Roy Haynes and Tito Puente; the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; and pianists Dave Brubeck and local legend Ahmad Jamal.

Keep ReadingShow less
No grumbling here: Children’s theater camp returns

Danny Saed, assistant director of “Pinocchio”; his mother and co-founder of Grumbling Gryphons Leslie Elias; theater arts camper Joyce Sun; artist and counselor Natalie Resto; and Steven Sun, Joyce Sun’s father.

Jack Sheedy

Leslie Elias wants you to understand something about the group she calls Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater: “I like to say that we try not to grumble.”

For 46 years, she has used the nonprofit to educate and entertain children in the performing arts. Summer after summer, young campers learn about acting, singing, mask-making, costume-making and scenery painting. This year, as in years past, a five-day theater arts camp will culminate in a live performance of one of Elias’ original plays, guaranteed, she hopes, to quell all grumbling.

Keep ReadingShow less

Sea bass and shrimp gumbo

Sea bass and shrimp gumbo

Sea bass and shrimp gumbo

Bobby Graham

Each month, Dugazon owners Bobby Graham and Matthew Marden share a recipe inspired by the traditions, stories and sense of welcome at the heart of their shop in Sharon, Connecticut. Visit Dugazon at 19 W. Main St. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online at dugazonshop.com.

This month we’re sharing one of our favorite comfort foods: sea bass and shrimp gumbo. While gumbo has a reputation for being a labor of love, this version skips the traditional roux, making it surprisingly approachable. The ingredient list may seem long, but once everything is prepped, it comes together quickly, rewarding you with a rich, flavorful bowl that’s perfect any time of year. Many of the pantry staples you’ll need for this recipe can be found right here at Dugazon.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.