HOYT FUNERAL HOME - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Funeral Director, Embalmer

Brian Garrity is a lifelong resident of Connecticut. He is a graduate of Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. Upon graduation from Iona, Brian then spent many years working in the Financial Services industry, he worked for UBS Investment Bank for 20 years. He then transitioned to the funeral Industry after a successful career in the financial services industry. Brian graduated from American Academy McAllister Institute in 2021 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He is beginning his career at Hoyt Funeral Home in 2024, following several years at Cody-White Funeral Home in Milford CT. In his spare time Brian enjoys spending time with his family and attending their sporting events and dance recitals, and also playing golf. Brian also volunteers with the local Boy Scouts of America in his community.

Claire R. Burke, 82, a resident of New Canaan, passed away on September 21, 2008. She was the wife of the late Terrance F. Burke. She was born on June 13, 1926 to the late John and Jennie Sullivan Rush in Enfield, CT. Mrs. Burke was a graduate of St. Joseph's College in West Hartford for teaching. She was the past president of the Stamford Woman's Club. She was also the member of the Stamford Garden club and the New Canaan suburbanites. Mrs. Burke was a teacher at St. Cecilia in Stamford as well as the New Canaan public schools. Mrs. Burke is survived by a daughter, Anne Burke Piotrzkowski of Stamford, and six sons; John F. Burke of Houston, TX, T. Michael Burke of Trumbull, CT, William P. Burke of Denver, CO, Jospeh D. Burke of New Canaan, Patrick M. Burke of Sudbury, MA, and Paul A. Burke of New Canaan. She also leaves a brother, William Rush of Enfield, CT. In addition to her husband and her parents, Mrs. Burke was predeceased by her son, Thomas R. Burke. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, September 24th, at 10:00 am at St. Aloysius Church on Cherry Street in New Canaan. Interment will follow in St. John's cemetery in Darien, CT. Friends may call at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan, on Tuesday, September 23rd, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Claire Rita Davis (nee Harding) of Stratford, Ct. passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2009. She was born on March 4, 1927 to Mary and John Harding in Yonkers, NY. She married John W. Davis on February 12, 1956 at St. John the Baptist Church in Yonkers, NY. Claire was employed by the County Trust Company in White Plains, NY and the accounting department of Sears in Nanuet, NY. Prior to her retirement to South Carolina, in 1986, she was employed by the Township of Woodcliff Lakes, NJ. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, John Davis and her loving children John (Cecily) Davis of Woodbury, Ct, Kathryn (Dr. Edward) Craig of New Canaan, Ct and Thomas (Christine) Davis of Austin, Tx, formerly of Ridgefield, CT. Cherished Grandmother of Caitlin, Gillian, Griffin, Emily, Timothy Davis and Mackenzie, Kelsey and Taylor Craig. Claire is also survived by her nieces, Mary Lynne Vecchione and Corine Lockhart and her nephews John and Paul de Lage. Claire was predeceased by her parents Mary and John Harding as well as her two sisters, Margaret Maher and Mary Evelyn de Lage. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at St. Aloysius Church, New Canaan, at 11:00 AM. Interment was held in Lakeview Cemetery. A visitation was held Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St. New Canaan In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Stratford Visiting Nurse Association, 88 Ryders lane, Stratford, CT 06614 A Memorial Tree was planted for Claire

Job Titles:

• Retired Advertising Executive

David Hammond Means, retired advertising executive, died peacefully at the age of 79 on September 21, 2008 after a short illness. Mr. Means, son of Dr. William Horace Means and June Zimmerman Means, was born in Lebanon, PA on December 15, 1928. He graduated from the Taft School and from Amherst College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon. After college he was recruited and served in the Central Intelligence Agency in Japan and Korea from 1950-53. During this service he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Upon his return, he began a long career in advertising. Mr. Means started as an account trainee at NW Ayer & Son in Philadelphia in 1953 and worked there until 1974 when the company moved to New York City. In Philadelphia, Mr. Means's primary responsibilities included 25 years on DuPont, as well as the Carrier, Hanes, Lees Carpets, and Goodyear accounts. In New York, Mr. Means was named Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and member of the Board of Directors. He was responsible, initially, for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. During his tenure, the agency launched its classic and award-winning campaign "Be All That You Can Be." Later, he was in charge of Ayer's direct marketing and promotion subsidiaries, as well as the company's offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. He retired in 1989. A 35-year resident of New Canaan, Mr. Means devoted much time to the community after his retirement. He served on the boards of Waveny Care Center, the Getabout, The SchoolHouse Apartments, the Senior Men's Club, and the Nature Center. He also pursued many and varied interests, including golf, travel, and most of all, in recent years, bridge. He was an active member of alumni groups as both a member of the Alumni Board of the Taft School and as an officer of the Amherst class of 1950. In addition, he was a member of St. Mark's Church and the Country Club of New Canaan. Mr. Means is survived by Nancy, his beloved wife of 56 years, and by his children, Elizabeth N. Means and Stephen Gardner of New York City, Susan Means Drake and Daniel Drake of Darien, and David H. Means Jr. and Katherine Means of New Canaan. Another daughter, Emily Means, pre-deceased her father. He also leaves nine grandchildren: Elizabeth, Caroline, and David Gardner; Kenly, Sarah, and Margaret Drake; and David (III), Katherine, and Julia Means. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM on Friday, September 26, 2008 at St. Mark's Church, Oenoke Ridge Road, New Canaan. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Waveny Care Center, 3 Farm Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840 or the charity of your choice.

Donald Charles Brewster, age 75, died on September 2, 2009 in New Canaan, CT. Donald Brewster was born in Boston, Mass. and attended elementary school in Charlestown before moving to Wilmington, Mass. where he attended high school and the University of Mass. at Lowell. After five years as a principal in New Hampshire and team leader for International Voluntary Service in Saigon, Mr. Brewster came to Washington D.C. in 1964 when he joined the Agency for International Development and subsequently served in Vietnam and in Washington, D.C. In 1970 he was detailed to the National Security Council at The White House as a Vietnam specialist where he served until 1973. He then served as the last Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy in Saigon and was evacuated from the Embassy there in April, 1975. He then owned and operated Frederick Discount Liquors and The Laundry House, a laundromat located in Charlestown, West Virginia. He resided in both Middletown and Frederick, Maryland. He is survived by his wife Huong Buu of Lutz, FL, a son, Donald Brewster of Woodbridge, VA and a daughter, MyLinh Shattan of New Canaan, CT. He is also survived by a brother Arthur Brewster of Tustin, CA and a sister, Catherine Turner of Trabuco Canyon, CA. Mr. Brewster was predeceased by a brother Albert of Troy, Maine and a brother Joseph of Vallejo, CA. He has many nephews, nieces and grandchildren in locations throughout the world.

Helen G. Giasi, 59, of New Canaan, formerly of Mount Kisco, NY, died Thursday, September 3, 2009 at Stamford Hospital. Born September 21, 1949, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late John & Alice Milliken Gilchrist. Mrs. Giasi was a graduate of Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baruch College. She was a secretary with the law firms of Turk, Marsh, Kelly & Hoare and Milberg, Weiss, Bershad & Specthrie before becoming a full-time homemaker in 1989. Mrs. Giasi was a past president of the Women's Association of the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Kisco, where she also taught Sunday school for many years. She was also a Girl Scout troop leader in Chappaqua. She is survived by her husband, Joseph P. Giasi, Jr, and her daughters, Alexandra and Victoria, all of New Canaan. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St. New Canaan at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, September 6, 2009 from 2-6 PM and Monday from 4-8 PM. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, 6 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128 (www.spence-chapin.org). For online condolences: www.Hoytfuneralhome.com

Julia S. Christiano, 86, a lifelong New Canaan resident, passed away on September 4, 2008 at Norwalk Hospital. She was the wife of the late Michael V. Christiano. Born in New Canaan on March 21, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Angelina Spinosa. She once worked as a legal secretary for several law firms in the Norwalk area. Mrs. Christiano was an active member and former officer of the Sons of Italy. Survivors include; her son, Michael Christiano, and his daughter, Collette, of New Canaan; her daughter, Pat Wood and her husband, Stephen of South Salem, NY, and their two daughters, Kim Latourette and her husband Aaron of New Fairfield, and Kelly Svendsen and her husband Paul of Danbury; also a great-grandchild, Lane Latourette. Mrs. Christiano is predeceased by her five sisters, Stella Tuozzolo, Catherine Labozzo, Carol Ruta, Rose Decale, Carmella Zullo, and her two brothers, Nicholas and Anthony Spinosa. A mass of Christian burial will take place on Monday, September 8, at 10:00 Am in St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Norwalk, CT. Friends can visit on Sunday, September 3, 2008, from 2-5pm at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan, CT 06840.

Job Titles:

• Funeral Director, Manager, Embalmer, Monument Rep

Kurt is a longtime White Plains, NY resident. He came to Hoyt Funeral Home in 2012 following many years at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home in White Plains and various Funeral Homes in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. Kurt served 8 years in the US. Coast Guard before graduating from Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse, NY. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, camping and spending time outdoors with his wife Jane and step daughter Lauren. Kurt is licensed in Connecticut, New York, North Carolina and Vermont.

Lillian B. Janis, age 97, a New Canaan resident for 70 years, died peacefully at home on Saturday morning, September 13th. Born in Stamford in December, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Emilia Kowalski Poltrack and Anthony Poltrack. She was one of eight children. She was pre-deceased by Adeline O. Poltrack, Helene Poltrack Romako, Mary Poltrack, Henry Poltrack, Anthony Poltrack and Francis Poltrack . She is survived by her youngest brother, Edward Poltrack of Stamford. Adeline, Anthony, Edward and Francis (who lost his life in battle) served in the WAVES, Army, Air Force and Marines during WWII. Lillian grew up in the Polish community of the South End of Stamford, where her parents helped physically build the Holy Name of Jesus Polish Catholic Church. She sang on the choir for several years. She attended the Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School, Rice School and graduated from Stamford High School in 1929. She then attended the Stamford Hospital School of Nursing, of which she was most proud, where she earned the title of Registered Nurse. Her first employment was with the Health Department of Stamford. Because of the depression, she moved into private duty nursing for a number of years. Around this time, she met and married Edward M. Janis, her sweetheart for 63 years until his death in 1999. She and Ed moved to New Canaan and raised their family of four. Marcia Janis Spiegelberg, deceased, (Mrs. Harrison), of Honolulu, Hawaii; Cynthia Janis Northgraves (Mrs. William) of Holliston, MA; Edward Michael Janis of Dover, NH and Robert F. Janis of St. Helena, CA. Lillian returned to nursing in 1958 and worked at Norwalk Hospital for eight years. She then left to be among the original nursing staff at the new Waveny Care Center in New Canaan. As a result of her love of nursing, she volunteered at the New Canaan Visiting Nurse Thrift Shop in New Canaan for over 30 years. Lillian was active in the St. Aloysius Catholic Daughters association for many, many years and was well known for her handiwork and particularly, her beautiful pot holders and aprons. Her hands were always busy braiding rugs, knitting, crocheting, sewing or doing needlepoint. If she wasn't doing one of her crafts, she was in the garden as the seasons allowed or working a jigsaw or crossword puzzle. She was part of the bridge players at the Lapham Senior Center for many, many years, playing her last hand and winning her bid in mid-August. She had some Master's Points in this card game and loved the challenge. She mastered the computer and enjoyed the p.c. games and reading her email. Lillian is survived by 8 grandchildren, William Northgraves, of Natick, MA; Deborah Northgraves Mahoney of E. Greenwich, RI; Peter Northgraves of Atlanta, GA; Susan Spiegelberg of St. Paul, MN; Amy Janis Sanchez of Sacramento, CA; Jeffrey Janis of Seattle, WA; Edward M. Janis of Rochester, NH and Katie Janis Carpenter of Dover, NH. She is also survived by11 great-grandchildren; Andrew, Sean, Jack and Molly Mahoney; Grace and Abigail Northgraves; Peyton and Eisabella Janis, Ty and Reese Carpenter and Izara Lillian Sanchez - all of whom she was able to spend time with and enjoy. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Aloysius Church, Cherry Street, New Canaan. Interment in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan on Thursday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. www.Hoytfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made to the New Canaan Get About; Holy Name Church of Stamford, and Mid-Fairfield Hospice.

Job Titles:

• Co - Owner
• Co - Owner, Embalmer, Funeral Director
• Member of the NFDA

Nicholas F. Cognetta, Jr., is the Co-owner of Hoyt Funeral Home as well as the Owner and President of the Nicholas F Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory in Stamford. He was born and raised in Stamford and attended Rogers Elementary, St. Maurice, St. Gabriel Middle, and Stamford Catholic High Schools. Having spent his childhood living over the funeral home and working with his father, it was only natural that he would follow in his father's footsteps. After graduating from Stamford Catholic High School, he attended the University of Connecticut and graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He has been with Nicholas F Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory since 1979 having become a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1981. He was instrumental in creating the Connecticut Crematory Corporation, a crematory, which is located within the Funeral Home and is the only crematory in Fairfield County, opening in 1995. Nick also co-founded the Hoyt/Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory in Norwalk which was sold in 2018. He then began All Pets Crematory & Remembrances in Stamford which he sold in 2017. Nicholas is a member of the NFDA, CFDA, and CANA, as well as a past board member of the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern CT, Inc. He also volunteers his time to local charities and has mentored at New Canaan High School's Future Business Leaders Class. Nick has been fortunate enough to help raise 3 step children, Christopher Richichi, Nicole and Danyel Meahan. He has been a resident of New Canaan since 1993 where he lives with his wife Adriana Santaniello. His passion for motorsports and motorcycles is second to none.

Job Titles:

• Office Manager & Funeral Assistant

Rene has been apart of the Hoyt family since October of 2022 she came to us from the Diocese of Bridgeport where she worked in their Greenwich and Norwalk cemeteries helping families. She is the Office Manager here at Hoyts as well as assists the Funeral Directors daily on funerals and services. Rene is a New Canaan resident who in her free time she enjoys taking walks around town enjoying the community, its many parks and the library.

Job Titles:

• Co - Owner
• Co - Owner, Embalmer, Funeral Director

Tom is the Co-owner of Hoyt Funeral Home as well as being the independent owner of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home and Sholom Funeral Chapel in Stamford. Tom is a current resident of Wilton, CT and a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton. His education includes being a graduate of Stamford Catholic High School and Salve Regina University. Like most children of funeral directors, the cardinal rule in his family was to secure an alternative college degree prior to considering entering the family profession.