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Donna Engler Howard, 67

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Donna Engler Howard was born on January 11, 1958, in Austin, TX and died on April 18, 2025, in Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT, at age 67, after a courageous ten-year battle with ovarian cancer. Donna was raised by her parents Franklyn Raymond and Bessie Wynn Engler in Corpus Christi, Texas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Donna was a good student and from an early stage was attracted to the arts, she played piano, was a keen dancer, and played violin in the school orchestra. She graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1976, where she was a member of the drill team, the Bethettes. Donna then moved back to her beloved Longhorn State and attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

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William Hobart Buchanan, Jr., 87

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Born July 2, 1937 – Summit, New Jersey

William Hobart Buchanan, Jr., known to many as “Bill,” passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025, at the age of 87. He was born July 2, 1937, in Summit, New Jersey and is predeceased by his parents, Margaret Rolfs Buchanan and William Hobart Buchanan, and his sister, Lynnette Buchanan Bennett. Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend. His quick wit, infectious laugh, and playful sense of humor brought joy to all who knew him. A lifelong athlete, he was passionate about tennis and paddle tennis, playing avidly in New Canaan, CT; Southwest Harbor, ME; and Naples, FL.

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In Loving Memory of Dana D. Anthony

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1946 – 2025

Dana D. Anthony, a spirited creative, beloved mother, and tireless advocate, passed away peacefully surrounded by love and comfort after a courageous journey marked by resilience and grace. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1946, Dana’s life was anything but ordinary. From a young age, she followed in the footsteps of her broadcasting father, eventually making her mark as a voice actor and producer. She lent her voice to the airwaves, worked with well-known actors, and produced media that touched countless lives. Dana fearlessly took on new chapters as a skydiver in her 20s, and later in life as an interior designer of luxury homes — always driven by imagination, boldness, and a love of beauty.

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Herbert Thayer West, 76

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Thayer West passed away peacefully on Friday, February 28, at the age of 76 with his children at his side. An avid fly fisherman and paddle player, he was a terrific sport in every sense and will be missed greatly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. 

Born on October 21, 1948, in Charleston, WV, Thayer was the beloved son of Annette Todd West (née Thayer,) and Herbert Margerum West. Following his family’s move to New Canaan, CT, in 1953, Thayer maintained a lifelong connection to his birthplace, visiting often throughout the years. 

He attended elementary school in New Canaan before heading off to Lawrenceville in Lawrenceville, NJ, and The Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1971 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. 

Upon graduation, he began a career in the trade show division of Union Carbide Corporation and studied in the evening to earn his MBA from the University of Connecticut. He continued at Union Carbide in various roles until 1994 when he left the corporate world to join his brother Chris and help expand West Construction Corporation, completing projects that graced the pages of local and national publications including This Old House and Architectural Digest among others. 

Thayer was a member of the Potatuck Club of Newtown, CT, and a former member and past president of the Country Club of New Canaan.

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Ellen Blance, 93

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Ellen Blance, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the age of 93. Ellen was the embodiment of positivity, and the center of her close-knit family. She was born on June 26, 1931 in Whitburn, a small coastal village in the Northeast of England. Like others of her generation in World War II England, as a young child she was evacuated to a family faraway in the countryside – an experience that helped shape her resilient and indomitable spirit. A passionate teacher, Ellen and Ian, her husband and soulmate of 73 years, and young sons Andrew and Carl, left London in the 1970s for New York City.