January 2023

With great sadness we announce the passing of William Paul Leighton, Sr of Portland, CT. He died at age 52 on 1/5/2023 surrounded by his loving family.

William “Bill” Leighton, Sr, born on 10/12/1970 lived his life selflessly and with pride and honor.  Son of his wonderful mom Mary Leighton of Portland, CT and father Gerald Leighton of Busti, NY.  He leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who he loved very much. 

Bill was a carpenter by trade.  He loved working with his hands and had a very successful career doing what he loved.

Everyone that knew him loved him.  From the counter lady at the pizza parlor to the worker at Cumby’s.  His quiet, loving demeanor was felt by all those that knew him.  His devotion to family and friends was incomparable.  He was always there to lend a helping hand without hesitation or complaint.

Bill remained young at heart his entire life.  His love of comics, horror movies, roller coasters, WWE wrestling and video games didn’t ebb with age.  His big, infectious laugh is something that will be missed but never forgotten.

In 1996, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Sue and shared a lifetime of love and laughter. Bill and Sue went on to have 3 beautiful children, Billy Jr.,  Colby and Bethany. Bill put his entire family’s needs above his own and has always been and will always be their “Superman”.  He will forever be loved and missed by many, especially his sisters Lisa and Cindy, his brother Dave, his mother in law Carolyn and his brothers Dan and Jerry, and their mom Linda.

He will be greeted in heaven by his Grandparents Mary and Harry Brahen, and Velma and Gerald Leighton.

The family invites you to come and pay your respects at Portland Memorial Funeral Home at 23 Main Street in Portland, CT on Friday, January 20th from 5-7 p.m.

Richard Lee (“Bud”) Harmon, a resident of Portland, CT for over 60 years and the beloved husband of the late K. Jean (Treese) Harmon, passed away at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT on January 10, 2023. Born August 12, 1934 on top of the dining room table at his maternal grandmother’s farm in Armstrong County, PA, Bud is the older of the two sons of Marion and Della (Shick) Harmon. He attended schools in Sugar Valley and in Marion Center, PA, graduating from Marion Center High School, after which married his wife on January 1, 1955, and served for two years in the US Army, including a posting at an army base in Germany where his wife was able to join him. Upon their return to the US in 1956, they relocated from western Pennsylvania, initially to Garfield Heights, Ohio, and then in 1962 to Portland, Connecticut, where he has lived since. He worked in the stamping and tool-and-die industry, first for Dayton Progress Corporation in Dayton, OH, and then after 1980, as a co-owner of Har/Mac in Milford, CT. He was quite successful with his co-owned business and he and his partner were able to sell this business and retire in the 1990s.

Bud is survived by two sons, Bradley Lee Harmon of Cabot, AR, and Mark David Harmon of San Mateo, CA; two grandchildren, Richard Lee Harmon II (and his wife Courtney) of Portland, CT and Lisa Nicole Harmon of Conway, AR; four great-grandchildren, Ethan, Breana, Jacob and Samuel; one brother, Marion Newton Harmon (and his wife Ruth) of Corfu, NY; and the many nieces, nephews and cousins of his very large extended family. Bud was preceded in death by his wife, by his parents, and by his son-in-law, Ed Louie (Mark’s partner). He was very much devoted to his family and loved his family very much, and they were devoted to him and loved him deeply.

Bud and his wife traveled extensively, especially after his retirement in the 1990s. Even while he was working, there were annual family fishing vacations to Quebec when his sons were boys, as well as regular trips to western Pennsylvania to see and visit with extended family. Bud and his wife were able to travel to all fifty states and to many of the Canadian provinces, all with an emphasis on the outdoors and visits to national, state and provincial parks. He was a hunter and made an annual trip to the family hunting camp in Elk County PA to be with and hunt with his father, uncles, brother, son, and nephews.  Bud also had a life-long passion for fishing, taking his wife and sons on many fishing trips with a small boat he purchased in the 1960s. After he retired, he became an avid local hiker, enthusiastically participating in frequent hikes offered by the Portland-based Meshomasic Hiking Club as well as doing day-hikes on his own of sections of the Appalachian Trail in the northeast.

Calling hours and services will be held in Connecticut at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main Street, Portland, CT on Wednesday evening, January 18, from 5-7 p.m. Bud will be cremated, and his and his wife’s ashes will both be interred at a family plot at Mt. Zion Cemetery (Beautiful Lookout) in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The date of the interment in Pennsylvania has not yet been set by the family, but will likely occur in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Portland United Methodist Church, PO Box 459, Portland, CT 06480-0459; or to the Middlesex Land Trust, deKoven House, 27 Washington St, Middletown, CT 06457 (and online at https://middlesexlandtrust.org/). Written condolences may be sent to the family home at 9 Hale Rd, Portland, CT 06480-1113.

Henri Harrison Barillaro, 71, of Portland, died Thursday, January 5, 2023.

He was born January 7, 1951 to the late John and Emma Barillaro and was raised in Wallingford, CT. Henri was a dedicated employee of Valley Oil for 50 years, working as an accountant. He enjoyed woodworking, music and spending time with his family. Henri was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church. He was especially proud to be “Papa Henri” to his three grandchildren.

Henri was predeceased by his loving wife Joy Landry Barillaro of 20 years. Additionally, he was predeceased by his mother-in-law Janet Landry, his father-in-law Rudolph Landry and his brother-in-law Charles Shefcyk. 

He is survived by his daughter Dana Cerillo and her husband John; his son Daniel and his wife Gina; his sister Grace Kopakow and her husband Joe; his sister Trudy Craig and her husband Allen; his sister-in-law Jackie Shefcyk; his brother-in-law James Landry and his wife Gail as well as several beloved nieces and nephews. Henri was grandfather to Anthony James and Nathan Henri Barillaro as well as Audrey Joy Cerillo.

Henri was a model for stability and leading by example. He will be remembered for his level-headedness and generosity that expected nothing in return. The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Otto Weis and Dr. Susanna Hong for the compassionate care and guidance given to Henri.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 10th at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Portland. Burial will be in the family plot in Center Cemetery, Portland. Friends may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St, Portland, on Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.    

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 51 Freestone Ave, Portland, CT, 06480, or to Middlesex Hospice Unit, C/O Development Office, 55 Crescent St, Middletown, CT, 06457.