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Michael Kashgarian
Jul 09, 2025
SHARON — Michael Kashgarian, MD (Mike), died peacefully at home in Hamden, Connecticut, on June 28, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and the sounds of his favorite Irish folk music. Mike and his beloved wife Jeanie (d.2019) were longtime residents of North Haven and Sharon. Mike was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, a distinguished physician, professor, colleague and mentor. He had wide-ranging interests – he was a music lover, a wine connoisseur, an avid fly-fisherman, and enjoyed gourmet cooking and travel.
Born on Sept. 20, 1933, in New York City to Toros and Araxie (Almasian) Kashgarian – both survivors of the Armenian Genocide – Mike was raised with a deep appreciation for learning and the responsibility to make the world a better place. He attended public schools and graduated from Bronx High School of Science, already showing the brilliance and curiosity that would shape his life’s work. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry and philosophy from New York University in 1954 where he sang tenor in the glee club and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry that same year. He went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine from Yale University School of Medicine in 1958.
After an internship in Internal Medicine at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and a research fellowship in Renal Physiology at the University of Goettingen in Germany, Mike returned to New Haven to join the faculty of the Yale School of Medicine where he became a full professor and served as vice chair and interim chair of the Department of Pathology. He also held a joint appointment in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. He retired as an Emeritus Professor in 2008.
Mike was a world-renowned, dedicated and prolific academic and clinician in the field of Renal Pathology, he was the founder of Yale’s Diagnostic Renal Pathology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory and also served as Chief Pathologist at Yale New Haven Hospital. His research advanced the understanding of the cell biology of kidney function, from the role of ion transporters to the mechanisms of acute and chronic kidney disease. He published a vast body of pioneering collaborative scientific work in renal physiology and cellular and molecular biology, including the Diagnostic Atlas of Renal Pathology, currently in its 4th edition. Among numerous awards and honors, he was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and recognized by Osaka City University, the Postgraduate Medical Institute of Saint Petersburg, and was a recipient of both the Jacob Churg Distinguished Achievement Award and Robert Heptinstall Lifetime Achievement Award from the Renal Pathology Society where he also served a term as President.
Mike touched the lives of countless students and colleagues throughout his career at Yale and as a visiting professor at over 50 universities throughout the world. Active in the Yale community, he served as the Resident Faculty Head at Harkness Hall, a Fellow at Jonathan Edwards College, Editor in Chief of Yale Medicine, secretary of the Board of Governors of Association of Yale Alumni and was recognized with Distinguished Service Award of Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine.
A lifelong learner with a sharp mind and a kind heart, he found joy in nature, music, and family. Introduced to fly fishing by his father-in-law, Harry Caldwell, he spent countless treasured hours on rivers and streams across North America. He was a longtime member of the Potatuck Club in Sandy Hook, the Walton Fishing Club in Cornwall, and the Tobique Salmon Club in Matapedia, Quebec.
He supported many charitable organizations and served on the boards of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
But his greatest joy and pride was always his family. He was married for 60 years to Jean Gaylor Caldwell, who passed away in 2019. He is survived by his two daughters and their spouses, Michaele Kashgarian and Mark Rose, and Thea Kashgarian Obstler and David Obstler; and by his four grandchildren, Alison Gaylor Obstler, Eugenia Coley Rose, Andrew Caldwell Obstler, and Harry Caldwell Rose. He also cherished his extended family, especially his many nieces and nephews.
He will be remembered not only for his intellectual brilliance and professional legacy, but for his warmth, humility, generous spirit, and sense of humor. It was in his family, in the quiet of nature, and in the pursuit of knowledge that he was truly happiest.
Contributions in his memory may be made to The Michael and Jean Caldwell Kashgarian Scholarship Fund at the Yale School of Medicine.
Checks can be made payable to Yale University and mailed to:
P.O. Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611
Please note “Michael and Jean Caldwell Kashgarian Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.
A memorial will be held in the fall. Arrangements are with the Hawley Lincoln Memorial, New Haven.
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James North
Jul 09, 2025
SHARON — James W. North of Sharon, passed away on June 4, 2025 at the age of 91.
James was born on Feb. 2, 1934, and grew up in Stratford, Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He made his career in advertising, working for many years as an advertising executive in New York City.
He was the husband of the late Joanne C. North.
He was the father of Brian F. North and of the late Laurie (North) Fox.
James is survived by his son, Brian F. North.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Still waiting for a good thing
Jul 09, 2025
An artist’s rendering of what a pool and poolhouse in Eddie Collins Park in Millerton could look like.
Photo Provided
Sometime this month the Village of Millerton will meet with regulators to learn more about what is needed to proceed with construction of the pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park. As we reported last week, the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are reviewing the project regarding septic placement and wetland buffers.
It has been a long time coming, but worth the wait, and the Village has the money! That’s a big accomplishment, and the lion’s share of the credit goes to the Millerton Community Park Committee chaired by Stephen Waite. As Mayor Jenn Najdek said last week, the project is now “99% funded,” with $7.56 million secured from three separate New York State grants.
Located on North Elm Avenue in the Village, Eddie Collins Memorial Park was originally used as a turntable for trains, a ball field and a horse racing track. In 1916, the village was left a sum of $15,000 by William G. Denney for “the benefit of the young people,” and by 1963, a committee was formed to name the ball field after former resident and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Collins.
Since then, the park has seen several additions, including the now defunct Denney Pool.Mayor Najdek has a lifelong connection to the park — swimming and lifeguarding at the pool and running the camp as a teenage counselor.
Waite also has fond memories of Denney Pool. “I spent a lot of time at the old Denney Pool as a kid and made many friends there, some I still keep in contact with,” he said in an interview last year.
Even today, The Millerton News invokes memories of Denney Pool in its ‘From the Archives’ column that appears on this page every week. Written by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the NorthEast-Millerton Library and reprinting news from the past, the column frequently mentions stubborn cracks in Denney Pool or news about lifeguard lessons. Announcements back then of night swims for the community also suggest an inviting recreational activity during these hot summer days.
Built in 1966, the Village closed the pool in 2015 — due to those cracks and structural problems.
In 2019, as members of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee, Waite and Jeanne Vanecko presented tentative plans for the park’s re-imagining to the Village Board. They explained the committee ultimately decided to complete the project in four phases. Waite and Co-Chair Vanecko have volunteered their time, energy and talents to help renovate the aging Eddie Collins Park into a recreational resource for the 21st Century.
The bequest more than 100 years ago by William G. Denney now has been succeeded by state grant money and significant funding raised by a steering committee and the entire revitalization committee.
As a community we owe much to these selfless volunteers for making it possible not only for Millerton to have a pool, but a first-class park for all of us to enjoy.
So let’s do the meetings, however long it takes.
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Passenger train talk; parking crusade
Jul 09, 2025
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
July 12, 1934
‘$2,315.69 Earned By Clerk’s Office’; The Dutchess County clerk’s office turned over to the county treasurer last week a check for $2,315.69, this amount representing the earnings of the county clerk’s department during the month of June. Of this, $917.42 was earned by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the balance represents fees received for filing and recording papers and other services, Besides this, a check was also transferred to the county treasurer in the amount of $758.36 for mortgage tax collected during the month of June.
Making a comparison with last year, it is found that the earnings of the clerk’s office are about $300 higher than last June.
Frederic A. Smith, county clerk, also announced that in accordance with a new law passed by the Legislature at its last session, the automobile bureau will be closed at four o’clock during the months of July and August.
‘About Millerton’; Worthey J. Pulver and family and Mr. and Mrs. Fred B. Keller left Saturday for a two weeks’ stay at Silver Beach, Milford, Conn.
Mrs. E. S. Simmons is spending a few days at Port Chester, N. Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederic A. Smith returned to their home here Sunday after a wedding trip to Essex on Lake Champlain.
July 10, 1975
‘Passenger Trains’ Return Certain, Officials Say’; Passenger trains definitely will return to Millerton, Lettie Carson, president of the Harlem Valley Transportation Association asserted again this week.
Mrs. Carson cited renewed and detailed assurances from New York State officials to support her statement.
Separately Assemblyman C.D. “Larry” Lane of Chatham stated Monday that reports that he doubted passenger service would return to Millerton were inaccurate. Mr. Lane’s letter appears on page A-4 of this issue.
Mrs. Carson and Assemblyman Lane were both responding to a story in this paper last week which reported widespread difference of opinion on the revival of Dover Plains—Millerton passenger traffic. No passenger trains have made the 16-mile run since 1972. Even Mrs. Carson is now quoted as expecting their return may not come before early fall, 1976.
Though the New York State Assembly has budgeted only $100,000 specifically for restoration of the Dover - Millerton tracks, an estimated $2.5 million will be provided for the work, Mrs. Carson said Tuesday.
The New York State Department of Transportation has $250 million to spend for upgrading of rail service statewide. Dutchess, Columbia and Putnam counties have applied to the State for $4.5 million in all to upgrade the tracks, signals and stations north at least as far as Millerton, and if matching Federal funds are forthcoming, all the way north to Chatham.
Several officials interviewed last week had expressed confidence that passenger service would return to Millerton in “12 months or so.” But Lane was quoted as saying DOT Commissioner Raymond Schuler “told me it does not include passenger service,” in reference to the $100,000 set specifically set aside for track restoration.
In his letter this week however, Lane said that Mr. Schuler had assured him that passenger service to Millerton was definitely in the DOT program. John Tone, director of Commuter Services for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which operates passenger service to Dover now, was also quoted last week as being skeptical that $100,000 would be adequate to restore the 16 miles of track.
July 13, 2000
‘Flea Market Slated For July 15’; MILLERTON - The NorthEast-Millerton Library flea market will be held Saturday, July 15, on the lawn of the library.
The flea market includes a tag sale, book sale, bake sale and the raffle of a hooked rug and handmade baskets.
Refreshments of coffee, doughnuts, hot dogs and cold drinks will be available.
In case of rain, the flea market will be held Saturday, July 22.
‘Foursquare Gospel Tent Vandalized’; MILLERTON The Millerton Foursquare Gospel Church tent in Railroad Plaza was vandalized both Monday and Tuesday nights this week, said the Church’s Pastor, Floyd Rosini.
According to Mr. Rosini, vandals threw material around the tent, which is normally left unattended after 9:30 p.m. Nothing was stolen.
The vandalism was reported to the Dutchess County sheriff, but there are no suspects.
The church issponsoring a week-long series of speakers and Bible study with the theme “Unity in Our Community.”
‘Millerton Townscape Continues Parking Crusade’; MILLERTON — Millerton’s Townscape continued to push forward the agenda for parking in the village and for the Rail Trail at its meeting at the North East Community Center last Monday.
One of the priorities this summer is getting parking spaces “striped” on Main Street, John Street and Century Boulevard. Village trustee John Scutieri said a striping machine could be rented inexpensively, and that the village crew probably had the resources to do the work. The issue will be brought up at the next Village Board meeting, Monday July 17, and Townscape members figure to be there to ask the village to move forward on the plans.
One of the advantages of striping out spaces is that it would make Main Street look narrower, which might encourage truckers and other traffic to slow down while passing through. Also, without markings, Century Boulevard, while providing plenty of space for parking, can be chaotic as cars pull in and out near the post office with nothing to guide them.
Traffic patterns in the village were also an issue. Townscape Chairman Renee Vollen asked whether the Village could set up a committee to be in regular contact with the State Department of Transportation about the intersection of Route 44 with Route 22, among other things. Two possibilities that are currently being pursued are a left turning lane southbound at the light, as well as markings to distinguish a parking lane from a driving lane at the turn onto Route 22.
The Harvey house to the south of the Rail Trail and behind the Brick Block building has attracted considerable interest. Townscape has had its eye on the property for its value as a potential parking area, or as a park for Rail Trail users. There appears to be at least one other party interested in purchasing the house for commercial purposes.
A list was circulated of some 200 potential members of the Millerton Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s imperative to get the chamber reinstalled,” said Ms. Vollen. Among the priorities is choosing a slate of officers.
Townscape meeting was set for Monday July 17 at 6 p.m.
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