Audrey Aliterno Cosentini, a lifelong resident of Stamford, CT, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 1, 2024. She was 90 years old.

Audrey was born on July 18, 1933 to the late Oreste and Margaret Faugno Aliterno. She was the youngest of four daughters and remained close throughout her life to her sisters (all deceased), Eleanor (Mrs. James) Genovese, Marilyn (Mrs. Leonard) Tiscia and Lois (Mrs. Felix) Trimboli. She was also pre-deceased by her husband and love of her life Peter D. Cosentini (d. 2001), his three sisters RoseMarie “Sina” (Mrs. Victor) Carlucci, Stella (Mrs. John) Dorish and Catherine (Mrs. Armand) Maida, and by her nieces Anne Longo, RoseMarie Carlucci, Marie (“Tria”) Scanlan, Leanore (“Lee”) Battinelli, and her nephews Peter Maida, Armand Joseph (“AJ”) Maida, and Joseph (“Joey”) Trimboli.

Audrey is survived by her loving daughters Caryn Cosentini (Mrs. Joseph) Maida and Cathy Cosentini (Mrs. John) Bonczek, two grandsons Peter Chun and Jamie Hyun Bonczek, three step-grandchildren Michael Maida, Emily (Mrs. Michael) Ferro and Elizabeth (Mrs. Michael) Fusaro and seven step-great grandchildren.

Audrey was known for her keen intellect and love of education. She graduated with honors from Stamford High School in 1951 and New Haven State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State College) in 1955. She received her Master of Arts in Education in 1972 and her sixth year Certificate of Advanced study in 1984, both from Fairfield University.

She was an inspiring teacher, often working with gifted children. Audrey could bring history, language and math to life. She taught in the Wilton Public Schools for many years and was proud to have launched the Critical Thinking Skills study series.

After her children began elementary school Audrey became an active participant in various PTAs, the League of Women Voters, the Citizen Caucus for Education and the Mayor’s Conference on Education.

Over time these roles led to Audrey to become a strong and decisive leader within the Stamford Republican Party. She was known for her unflinching honesty and integrity. Her candor and clarity often made an impression. She could always make the hard, right choice. She cared deeply about keeping Stamford vital and livable and dedicated herself to improving the City through her many public roles. These included:

Member (1970-1973) and President (1972) of the Stamford Board of Education
Member of the Republican Town Committee (1974 and again in 1995)
Member and Co-minority Leader of the Board of Representatives (1975-1977)
Vice Chairman (1977-1980) and Chairman (1980-1983) of the Police Commission
Trustee of the Police Pension Board (1977-1981)
Member and Chairman of the Zoning Board (1996-2013)
Board Director of the Stamford Land Conservation Trust

Her achievements were many; from participating in the committee that spearheaded the desegregation of the Stamford Public schools, to being the driving force behind creating the first magnet school in Stamford and CT, to being named the first woman Police Commissioner in the City’s history.

In 1999, Audrey was recognized by the Stamford Historical Society as one of Stamford’s “Notable Women”.

For all that she was a formidable presence in the Stamford political arena, she was first and foremost a warm and wonderful wife and mother, and a doting grandmother. She enjoyed a 48-year marriage with Peter D. Cosentini, after meeting at St. Mary’s church when they were in middle school. They loved to laugh, dance, travel and spend time at the beach.

Audrey used to say her proudest achievements were her two daughters. She believed in broadening their horizons and in giving them “equal M&Ms” in all things. After the death of her husband, she and her daughters became even closer and dubbed themselves the “three-legged stool”. When her grandchildren arrived, Audrey devoted herself to their happiness and well-being.

Audrey maintained a life-long sisterhood with her 3 J’s: Joan Jaworowski, Janet Sarno (deceased) and June Carroll.

The last of her generation on both sides of the extended family, she loved her many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

There will be a wake at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home,104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 4:00 – 8:00pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Leo’s Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT on March 8, 2024 at 11:00am.

Donations may be made to the Stamford Land Conservation Trust, 22 First Street, Stamford, CT 06905 or to the Stamford Historical Society, 1508 High Ridge Road, Stamford. CT 06903.

For online condolences go to www.cognetta.com.

Bruce Robert Ritchie, 87, passed away on February 27, 2024. A lifelong resident of Stamford, CT, he was born on May 7, 1936, and was one of four sons born to the late Will and Agnes Ritchie.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 44 years, Eileen (Sheehan) Ritchie, brothers Neil Ritchie (Sarah) and Wayne Ritchie (Ginny), many Ritchie nieces, nephews, and extended family. Bruce is also survived by his sister-in-law, Cathy Morelli, and her son, Steven Morelli. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother Bill Ritchie.

Bruce was born and raised in Stamford. He proudly served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1957. Upon his return home to Stamford, he married his beloved Eileen and made a home in Stamford. He worked as a plumber for Local Union #777 for 40 years. When he wasn’t working, he loved to work in his garden and spending time with his family and friends. He was an avid and skilled golfer. He loved playing rounds at Sterling Farms and was proud to be associated with the “Has Beens” golfing group and the Glenbrook Athletic Club. Upon retiring Bruce loved spending his time traveling with Eileen – visiting 29 states by car, just taking in the sights along the way. He was also a skilled artist with stained glass – creating beautifully detailed lamps and decorative pieces of stained glass adorned items. Bruce will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved him, and his memory will live on in their hearts.

Bruce’s funeral services were held privately. To leave a condolence message online please visit the family guestbook hosted on www.cognetta.com.

Alvar O. Miraballes, 89, of Stamford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Alvar was born in Uruguay on July 29, 1934, to the late Lazaro and Rosa Miraballes.
Loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was happiest when surrounded by his family and friends, cooking on his parrilla, and listening to the music of Gardel. He will be forever missed.
Alvar is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Rosa Miraballes, his daughter Anny Lesko and her husband Bill, his son Eddie Miraballes, his grandson Billy Lesko and his brother Rene Miraballes and his wife Sylvia, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Alvar is predeceased by his brother Johnny Miraballes.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue. Stamford, CT on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with a service being held at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at St. John’s RC Cemetery, Darien.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.

Lynn Ann Soffio (née Settle), aged 69, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2024 at Stamford Hospital. She was born on March 19, 1954 in East St. Louis, MO to Herbert & Jean Settle.

A woman of immense strength and compassion, Lynn dedicated her life to nurturing her family and building her community in Connecticut and abroad, with friends spanning the globe from Scotland, to South Africa, to Latvia and beyond. Before landing in Connecticut, life brought her to Texas, Georgia, and New York—a path charted not by caution, but by the free-spiritedness and generosity. And through every state, through every chance encounter, she left an indelible mark.

Lynn was an avid music collector and, in her youth, a concert-goer. While she famously did not make it to Woodstock because her van broke down, she was fond of sharing her concert experiences with her friends and family. Her infectious kindness, sharp intuition, love of UK band UB-40, and delicious chicken soup with dill will be sorely missed, but her spirit lives on in the stories shared and memories made.

She is survived by husband Nate of Stamford, son Nathan with wife Tess of Philadelphia, PA; mother Jean of Columbia, MO; sister Deborah with children Bianca and Kyle of Conway, SC; and David with wife Shquita of Las Vegas, NV. And the family cat, Shiloh.

She was preceded in death by father, Herbert, and brother, Kenneth. And the other family cat, Olive.

A celebration of her life will be held at Cognetta Funeral Home in Stamford, CT on Saturday, February 24 at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the American Lung Association.