News Archive

It was recently brought to our attention that alumnus John P. Wozniak, Class of 1957, of East Haven, died on July 7, 2025 at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Loretta Noeline, four children, and ten grandchildren.

Peter Lefeber of Branford, died on October 10, after a short illness. He was 71 years old. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Catherine, and three children, two of whom are Hamden Hall alumni, Sarah Lefeber, Class of 2006, and John Lefeber, Class of 2010, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.

It was recently brought to our attention that past parent, Marcia (Caplan) Witten of New Haven, died on October 1 at the age of 91. Marcia was predeceased by her husband Dick. She is survived by her three children, two of which are Hamden Hall alumna, Karen Witten Golobiewski, Class of 1977, and Nancy Witten Bartell, Class of 1980, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

We recently learned that Jeffrey Goldman, Class of 1964, died on September 17, 2025 in Boynton Beach, Florida, from heart related issues. Jeffrey is survived by his wife, Cynthia M. Goldman.

It was recently learned that 1965 Hamden Hall alumnus, Stephen "Steve" Horne, of South Carolina, died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 78. Steve was predeceased by his wife, Joani Tara Horne. He is survived by two daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.

Past Parent, Valentino Caruso, a lifelong resident of Hamden, died on September 26 at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was predeceased in 2025 by his wife Linda, his high school sweetheart. He is survived by his son, Dr. Valentino Caruso, Hamden Hall Class of 1999, and his daughter Dawn Stannard, two grandchildren, siblings. and extended family.

Jacqueline L. "Jackey" Gold, of New Haven, died peacefully at her home on September 27, surrounded by her family. She was 97.  Jackey is survived by her three children, including Hamden Hall past parent Heidi Dworkin and Ronda Margolis. Four of her grandchildren are graduates of Hamden Hall; Amanda Margolis Mariam, Class of  2002, Aviva Gold Dworkin, Class of 2008, Dr. Olivia Gold Dworkin, Class of 2011, and Robert Gold-Dworkin, Class of 2015. Jackey's niece, Lindy Lee Gold is a Hamden Hall alumna, Class of 1962.

Hamden Hall recently learned that the Rev. Joseph Arthur "Duke" McAlpine Jr.. of Raleigh, NC, died on October 31, 2023, at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife, Jean Seely McAlpine, two children, one of which is Joelle Duren, a Hamden Hall alumna, Class of 1997, six grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

It was recently brought to our attention that Eric B. Perkins, Class of 1967, of Virginia, died on June 26. He was 78. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Eberly.  He is survived by his four children, and six grandchildren.

It was recently brought to our attention that D'Nesse Young Dudeff died peacefully on March 8, 2026, of natural causes, in Sarasota, Florida, with her daughter Georgette, and grandson James, by her side. She was 79. D'Nesse was the parent of Hamden Hall alumna, Georgette Young, Class of 1989, and previously served on the Hamden Hall Board of Trustees.

Dr. John E. "Jack" Bobinski, Class of 1958, died on July 8, surrounded by his family and dear friends, at his home in Rothschild, Wisconsin. He was 85.

Past parent, Irma Elders Shutan, died on July 16, in Boynton Beach, Florida. She was 97. Irma is survived by three children, two of which are Hamden Hall alumni, Caron Shutan Yospe, Class of 1975, and Bruce Shutan, Class of 1979, nine grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband of 71 years, David Shutan.

Richard Bell Davis, 89, of Thornton, New Hampshire, died peacefully at home on June 27, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Sally, Sally's sons, David, Kevin, and Dan Smathers, his former wife, Hamden Hall alumna, Etta Lappen Davis, Class of 1969, and their daughter, Sarah Davis, one grandchild, and extended family.

Eleanor Russell, Class of 1953 alumni, died on June 17, at her home in Shelburne, Vermont, surrounded by her family. She was 90.

Past parent Louise Brooks Rasmussen, of California, died in April at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her husband, John.

Nancy Liveten, of Bethany, Conn., wife of Hamden Hall alumnus Andrew Liveten, Class of 1974, died on April 11 surrounded by her family, after a valiant fight against cancer. She was 68.

Former Headmaster Richard “Dick” Dolven, of Palm Springs, Calif., died on May 11. He was 93.

David is survived by his children, Hamden Hall Alumni, Noah Wortman, Class of 1993, and Shoshana Wortman, Class of 1997, and his wife, Judy Wortman.

Gwenn was the mother, and Allen was the stepfather of Hamden Hall Alumni, Noah Wortman, Class of 1993, and Shoshana Wortman, Class of 1997.

It was recently brought to our attention that Nancy McKinster Margeneau, Class of 1952, of Alpharetta, Georgia, died in September 2025. She was predeceased by her husband, Rolf Margeneau, who also attended Hamden Hall, Class of 1952. Rolf and Nancy met at Hamden Hall, and were married for 70 years.

Surrounded by family and friends, Cheryl Ann Abella, of Bethany and Westbrook, died on April 5 at her home, after a four-year long courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 65.

It has recently been brought to our attention that Class of 1965 alumna, Donna Delfini Ely, of Branford, died on January 8, 2019, at Connecticut Hospice after a long and brave battle with breast cancer. She was 70 years old. Donna was predeceased by her husband, Charles B. Ely.

World-renowned Forensic Scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee, died peacefully on March 27. He was 87. He was the grandfather of Hamden Hall alumnus, Alexander Lee, Class of 2022.

George Whitaker Fouser, Hamden Hall Class of 1943, died peacefully at his home in the Short Beach area of Branford, on February 25, at the age of 100.

Richard Hooker III, of Pittsford, New York, an alumnus of the Class of 1964, died on February 8 at the age of 80. Richard is survived by his wife, Donna, his two siblings, nieces, nephews, and numerous cousins. 

Joan Rosenberg, died on January 30, at Whitney Center in Hamden. She was 93.

Carol Taylor Lake, of Acton, Mass., an alumna of the Hamden Hall Class of 1954, died December 6, 2025. She was 89. She was predeceased by her husband, Norman, and her younger son, Chris. She is survived by her oldest son, Jeff, her brother, and two nephews.

Louis S. Perfetto Jr., of St. Petersburg, Florida, alumnus from the Hamden Hall Class of 1976, died on December 24, 2025, in Largo, Florida. He was 67 years of age.

It was brought to our attention recently that Nina Kaye, alumna of the Hamden Hall Class of 1976, of Delray Beach, Florida, died on September 10, 2014, at the age of 56. 

Richard Craig Hitchins, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, died on December 30 at the age of 80. His wife of 37 years, Betsy, was by his side.

Hamden Hall has recently been notified that Judith Goble Brown, Class of 1962, of Arlington, TX, died on August 14, 2025, at the age of 81.

Former Hamden Hall Extended Day and Fun Day Program staff member, Lil Mincey, of Hamden, died on January 3. She was 79.