Connie Klanica
February 21, 1963 - June 1, 2018 Connie Klanica spread joy and kindness within her family and community. She doted over her loved ones and always put the needs of others before her own. A natural caretaker, she always offered a helping hand, often going the “extra mile” to help others. Connie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and toasting over a glass of wine. Her favorite color was purple, which she often wore. She connected to dragonflies because of their symbolic nature of change, and was always on the lookout for dragonflies and other signs that angels and loved ones were near. She loved to laugh, and had a way of making people feel special through her thoughtful gestures and loving words. She is eternally loved and forever missed. |
John Holsworth
1992 - 2020 John graduated from Woodland Regional High school where he met his high school sweetheart Amanda (Jones) Holsworth, who later became his wife. John went off to college to Roger Williams University, where he earned his degree in Construction Management and met lifelong friends. He had a successful career with Whiting-Turner as a Superintendent. In addition to being with his loving family, John enjoyed being outdoors with his wife Amanda and their two beloved dogs Ricky and Dale. He also loved music, nature, comedy, fishing, dirt biking, snowmobiling, sketching, and hanging out with his cousins. His passion was woodworking and building or fixing anything — a true handyman. |
Charlie Sirico
June 4, 1991 - May 7, 2023 Charlie was the son of Mark Sirico and Heather Cates Schweikert, and stepson of Michael Schweikert. Charlie was most recently a taxi driver in New Haven County. In his younger days, Charlie was an avid horse rider. He was most happy with a fishing pole in a canoe. He was also active in helping people in the sober community and a real jokester. |
Jared Coffin
1988 - 2015 Jared attended Southern CT State University, where he was offered access into their Honors Program and given a tuition-paid Presidential Scholarship. At Southern, he was Editor-in-Chief of Folio, the school’s literary magazine, and served on the editorial board of the prestigious Honors Review Journal. He was also named a Connecticut Student Poet and was published in the Connecticut Review. He received a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at the University of South Carolina, where he completed his MFA in Poetry. During his time there he was published in Consequence Magazine, Jasper, Menacing Hedge, Hiedra, and other small presses. Posthumously, Jared’s work has been published in the highly-regarded Wallace Stevens Journal and the Denver Quarterly. Jared’s other love was flying, which led him to a private pilot’s license at the age of 19. When he wasn’t writing poetry or flying, you could find him kayaking, hiking, cross skiing, or visiting the Yale University Art Gallery. |
S.F.C. Gene Briggs
March 6, 1964 - March 21, 2011 Gene had served in the U.S. Army Special Forces in Kuwait and Iraq. He was proud to serve and had received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Star (BSS), Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Mobilization. He had also been employed by ACE Trucking Co. |