LEDYARD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF '73 MEMORIALS
D - G
William G. Atkinson III
John Ayers
Thomas Bakke
Bruce Bearden
Kim Chadwell
Pam Cleary
David Cochrane
Charles Dewey
Robert Eichler
Richard Emery
James Fuller
Sidney Gibbs
Ralph Graham
Lynn Holdridge
" What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."
- Pericles
Edward Huntley
Joanne Langford
George Marshall
Michael Morich
Peter Paradiso
Dwaine Patenaude
Neal Picklesimer
Jeffrey Ross
Peter Stanko
Tracy Thayer
Margaret Troy
Kim Vorra
Wendy Wickham
Full text and photos of each classmate are coming soon. Please check back.
If you have a memory you would like included in one of your classmates memorials please submit to: lhs73website@lhs73.com
Charles Michael Dewey
November 2, 1954 - August 27, 2018
“Chuck” was born in San Diego, California.
He was a:
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Son to Charles and Kathryn Dewey
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Husband to Jo Ann.
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Father to Melissa.
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Grandfather to Atticus, Hazel and Edith.
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Brother to Angela and Jon.
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Uncle to Leigh-Anne and Tina.
As a teenager, Chuck played bass guitar in the award winning Battle of the Bands group “Ultimate Sounds” in Massachusetts. Following high school, he worked for General Dynamics in Groton as a certified Non-Destructive Welder building nuclear submarines for the navy. In partnership with his wife, he operated computer sales and repair stores on the West Coast, Florida and in Cumberland. After she passed away in 2006, he worked with FEMA in transportation, computer support and as a technical writer. He assisted during disaster missions including Hurricane Katrina and floods/mudslides in Texas and California. He pursued interests in technical fields, amateur radio, and gun-smithing. In 2015, he relocated from California to live with his mother in Cumberland, MD. He enjoyed cooking and became their gourmet chef. Charlie was proud of his parents, both Navy military veterans, and their life work accomplishments, as well as his Dewey heritage. He was the 11th generation and last Charles M. Dewey in his family lineage of Thomas the Settler, from Kent, England.
“Chuck was a Renaissance man. He spent time restoring Corvettes, motorcycles, boats & computers. He was a back to nature guy, and especially loved hunting, fishing, panning for gold & searching for Bigfoot. His quick wit & dry sense of humor is remembered by all his friends & family.”
- sister, Angi Walsh
“This is me installing the interior in a 1967 Mustang I was restoring. It came out pretty good!"
-Chuck Dewey
"Hi Susan - thanks for including Chuck. As you can see "Arnold" is in the photo I sent. My brother was so excited to meet him while working for FEMA during Hurricane Katrina." – Angi Walsh
Robert Eichler
November 21, 1955 - February 25, 2016
Bob was born in Hartford, CT.
He was a:
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Husband to Carol.
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Partner to Vicky.
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Father to William.
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Brother to Gary and Kim.
Bob was proud to say he grew up in the New London, Ledyard area of Connecticut before the Casinos were built. He lead a very lively and full life, those who knew him all agreed he was quite the character. He had the gift of gab and could strike up a conversation with anybody. He was well traveled, visiting just about every state you could get to by way of car or bus. He was an avid fan of the San Francisco 49’ers and the New York Yankees. He was also a friend of Bill W.
He was also a friend of Bill W. Robert is survived by his wife Carol Kurpiewski; his partner Vicky Bragdon; his son William Eichler; and numerous extended family members. Robert was predeceased by his brother Gary Eichler, and his sister Kim Eichler Ruffo.
Richard W. Emery, Jr.
June 20, 1955 - August 31, 1994
Richard was born in Groton, CT.
He was a:
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to Richard Sr. and Gail.
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Brother to Michael, Guy, Timothy, Susan, Patricia,Tracey, and Anita.
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to several nieces and nephews.
Richard was a credit manager in Honolulu, HI. He returned to Manchester, CT in January of ’94.
“Rick was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back and would do anything to help you no matter what the circumstances. He was one of a kind.”
- sister, Sue Emery
James A. Fuller
August 10, 1955 - January 10, 2021
Jim was born in Corpus Christi, TX.
He was a:
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to Harold and Dorothy.
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to Diane.
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Uncle to Michael and Jordyn.
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Partner to Regina.
Jim was raised in a Navy family and traveled with his family to many various locations. Jim was an avid fisherman, an accomplished flute player and aquarist, and he wrote for Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine.
He passed away in Norwich, CT after a short battle with COVID-19.
“Jim was my brother, a Christian, a flutist, a published aquarist, and deemed ‘The Mayor of Apple Rehab’ and I loved him. There was more to my brother than anyone knew. We had so many animals, birds, reptiles and way too many fish. He was so good with animals that he held a wild skunk who was suffocating with a yogurt cup over its face, and he cut the cup off without being sprayed. How many people would do that?”
- Diane Fuller Schrage
Sidney Warren Gibbs
April 19, 1955 - June 18, 2004
Sidney was born in San Gabriel California.
He was a:
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to Robert and Eleanor.
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to Linda.
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to Michelle, Heidi and Vicki.
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Brother to Shep, Charles and Martin.
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to numerous nieces and nephews.
Sid accepted God’s gift of salvation at the age of 22 and for the remainder of his life he lived what he believed.
He owned and operated Continental Carpet Services. His customers became his friends because he always did the best possible job and treated them with respect.
Sid loved his family more than anything else in his life.
He will be remembered by his wife as a tenderhearted man, easy to live with and love, and by his daughters as a caring, devoted father, and by his friends (Team Sid!) as a kind, hardworking individual who took pride in his work and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Sid passed away from cancer in 2004.
Ralph N. Graham
1955 - May 30, 2022
Ralph was born in Jersey City, NJ.
He was a:
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to Richard Sr. and Irene.
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to Cindy.
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Brother to Sharon, Richard and Rodney.
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to one niece and one nephew.
Ralph grew up in Ledyard and in his later years, returned to Ledyard. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.
Ralph truly shone when enjoying his varied hobbies. A man of many interests and passions, in his free time he could be found flying his drone, taking beautiful pictures, hunting for treasure with his metal detector, strumming his guitar, throwing strikes at the bowling alley or exploring on his bicycle - all with a Dunkin’ coffee in hand. Despite the effects of cancer, Ralph was determined to enjoy life and stay active. He was happiest when doing the things he loved with the people he loved, and cherished spending time with his wife Cindy and their beagle Oscar.
“I had the pleasure of training Ralph when he joined the Bob’s family. He was the sweetest, most caring, and generous man who wanted nothing more than to always do the right thing. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
- Jessica Hemingway
“I knew Ralph in high school. He was always a kind, loving and generous spirit.”
- Robin Campbell deMonch
