Stratford Death Notices: Sept. 24 Through Oct. 2, 2026

STRATFORD, CT — Below are recent death notices from Stratford.

Robert Charles Kaeser, 96, died Sept. 24, 2026. He was a retired General Electric executive who spent 42 years with the company, holding engineering and management positions before retiring as plant manager in 1990, and a lifelong aviation enthusiast who served as a cadet captain in the Civil Air Patrol.

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Joseph R. Castellon, 90, died Sept. 26, 2026. He was a longtime math and science teacher and guidance counselor who served eight years in the U.S. Naval Reserves and volunteered at hospitals in Connecticut and Florida, enjoyed swimming, singing in church choirs, dancing, opera, crossword puzzles, photography, cooking and baking.

John "Jack" Dempsey, 74, died Sept. 26, 2026. A lifelong Stratford resident, he owned J.M. Dempsey Mechanical, belonged to Plumbers Union Local 777 and served eight years on the Stratford Town Council and eight on the Zoning Board of Appeals, six as chairman.

Estelle Bedard Phelps, 99, died Sept. 27, 2026. Born in Nashua, N.H., she retired from the Connecticut Bank and Trust Co.

Matthew John Chauvin, 60, died Sept. 29, 2026. He worked in the construction industry for most of his adult life and enjoyed rock music, particularly the Rolling Stones, and following his favorite sports teams, the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Red Sox and New York Jets.

Viola A. Klimaytis, 104, died Oct. 2, 2026. Born in Bridgeport in 1921, she worked in retail at Howland's and Barker's in Bridgeport. She was the wife of the late Alexander Klimaytis.