From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Theodore “Ted” Elliott Jr., 87, Vero Beach
September 28, 1935 – April 7, 2023
Theodore “Ted” Elliott Jr. who lived in Vero Beach, Florida passed away on April 7, 2023. He was 87.
Born September 28, 1935 in Winchester, MA to Theodore Sr. and Louise (née Dishman), Ted was the youngest of three. He was adored by his sisters and used to say it was a wonderful childhood and like being ‘raised by three mothers’. Throughout his life he retained a youthful enthusiasm for life and adventure.
After serving in the army, he graduated from Harvard University in 1957 and earned his MBA there a few years later. He moved to New York City as an oil analyst for the Wall Street firm Clark Dodge, earned his JD at NYU, and met the love of his life, Thyra Olstad Triska. They married in 1966 and moved to Brooklyn Heights where they had two daughters, Alexa and Priscilla.
He then focused his career on entrepreneurial encouragement and became a venture capitalist first for EED in Paris in 1969, then General Electric in Connecticut before founding his own firm, Prime Capital and becoming a part owner of the Bridgeport Innovation Center. The family moved to Darien in 1977, where Ted was a present and loving father and enjoyed boating, tennis and poker.
He loved music and was finally able to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot in his later years.
Kind to strangers and a dear friend to many, Ted had a deep affection for humanity and an unshakable optimism. He had a fearlessness that let him plunge into life’s uncertainties with a positive outlook and a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. One of his life rules was, “always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge in case something good happens!”
He is survived by his wife Thyra, daughters Alexa and Priscilla son-in-laws David Alexanderian and Chris Roberts, and granddaughters Charlotte, Heidi and Adele Alexanderian.
In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to the Pelican Island Audubon Society.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Carolyn Rae Chambley, 76, Vero Beach
October 16, 1946 – April 12, 2023
Carolyn Rae Chambley, 76, of Vero Beach, FL passed away unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Carolyn was a beloved sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Carolyn loved God and her family. She was born in Bladenboro, NC and she was a blessing to us all. Carolyn was preceded in death by her mother, Nina Lou Hester Brown, her father, Frank Brown Jr., her sister, Geraldine Ford, and most recently, her brother, Gary Brown.
Carolyn was a dedicated and inspirational piano teacher for 40 plus years. She was nominated as an influential teacher by two Vero Beach High School Scholars in 2013 and 2016. As a young girl, Carolyn sang gospel hymns at churches, on the radio, and even on television, in a group called “The Gospel Five,” along with her two oldest siblings and other close friends. Carolyn was also a cancer survivor of 23 years.
She was an avid member of her choir at Treasure Coast Cathedral and Central Assembly. She volunteered as a teacher in a girls’ group called Missionettes. She led a cell group along with her husband, Jr., in their home for many years. She was a member of Central’s Hospitality Team.
She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, James W. Chambley Jr., her daughters Cindy Hamilton and Kim Rustay, her grandchildren Natalie Dupuis, Sean Rustay, Danielle Rustay, her great granddaughter Raelynn Dupuis, and her brothers Jerry Brown and Terry Brown and sister Debbie Hall.
A Celebration of Life Service will start at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Central Assembly, 6767 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL, 32966. Graveside internment will be privately held at a later date at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Central Assembly in Vero Beach.
If you are unable to join us, you may view Carolyn’s Celebration of Life Service at:
https://centralassemblyvero.online.church
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Anne Moulton Anderson, 82, Vero Beach
June 3, 1940 – March 26, 2023
On November 13, 1965, she married Donald Edward Anderson, who passed away in 2014. She was a Vice President of Human Resources at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey, and she was an active member of the community in Summit, New Jersey, where she raised her family with her husband.
Anne believed in the importance of giving back through service. She enjoyed a wide range of organizations including the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Junior League, Daughters of the American Revolution, Society of Mayflower Descendants and The Community Church of Vero Beach.
Anne cherished her family and friends throughout her life. She is survived by two sons, Albert Moulton Anderson (Suzanne), of San Diego, CA, and Sumner Esten Anderson (Renee), of New York City; and four beloved grandchildren, Sumner, Lindsey, Stella and Abigail.
A memorial service will be held in Vero Beach this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New York.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Thirsa Sands Fuiks, 98, Sarasota
December 8, 1924 – April 7, 2023
Thirsa Sands Fuiks, of Sarasota, FL, died Good Friday, April 7, 2023, at the age of 98. Mrs. Fuiks was born in Yonkers, NY on the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1924, to the late Margaret and Merrill Sands.
Thirsa graduated from Abbott Academy now Phillips Exeter Academy and Connecticut College. Thirsa was predeceased by her husband Robert of nearly 64 years. She was a realtor for William Pitt Agency in Darien, CT. Thirsa and husband Robert were longtime residents of Darien CT.
While residing in Darien they were active members of St John’s Catholic Church. Both avid golfers they were members of Country Club of Darien and Wee Burn Country Club where Thirsa aced the fourth hole.
They moved to Vero Beach, FL in 1996. In Vero Beach they were members of Vero Beach Country Club and Oak Harbor golf club and Holy Cross Catholic Church.An avid golfer and duplicate bridge player Thirsa played both well into her nineties.
In December 2019 Thirsa moved into Grand Living in Sarasota, FL where she made great friends and fond memories. Thirsa was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.
Thirsa leaves behind Susan Arden Cote and her husband Paul of Lakewood Ranch, FL, two sons Kimball Sands Fuiks and his wife Theresa, of Brookfield, WI, and Matthew Spindler Fuiks and his wife Carleen of Lakewood Ranch, FL seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
To celebrate her life, a memorial mass at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch, FL at 11am on Thursday April 20, 2023.
There will also be a memorial mass at Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach, FL on Thursday May 4, 2023, at 10:00am with Private Burial ceremony. Memorial contributions can be made at Tidewell Hospice 3550 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34239. TidewellFoundation.org.
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Mrs. Judith Ann Brett, 83, passed away April 18, 2023 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.
She was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Francis Reilly and Phylllis Barbara Whalon Reilly.
Judith attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School.
She worked as a bank teller and during her stay at home years, volunteered in both her children’s schools.
Judith was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Brian Reilly and her sister Jane Reilly of Sisters of St. Joseph.
She is survived by her husband Robert, her son Matthew, her daughter Michelle Ann and her grandson Christopher.
The family will welcome family and friends on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 3-4pm at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org.
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He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1933. While growing up he also lived in Delaware and Pennsylvania. He was a proud veteran of the US Army and served in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he met Betty in 1958. After being married in 1960, they started out in Michigan before settling long-term in Massachusetts in 1968. They began living in Vero Beach, Florida part-time in 2003 and retired there full-time in 2011.
Lewis was a very talented jazz trumpet player by avocation and a very successful engineer by vocation. After working his way through night school at Lawrence Institute of Technology, while holding a full-time job and starting a young family, he began his career as a mechanical engineer. He worked for many prominent firms in the Detroit and Boston areas as a designer and inventor of computer peripherals and medical devices. In his free time over the years, he played trumpet and sang with various professional and amateur music groups and took up playing piano. In his later years, Lewis and Betty were avid ballroom dancers, traveled internationally, he was President of the Treasure Coast Jazz Society, and they enjoyed spending time with their many life-long and recent friends in Massachusetts, Florida and beyond. Friends and family knew Lewis for his gentle nature and sly, subtle wit.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty; his daughter Kim Polk and her partner Martin D’Angelo of Melrose, MA; his son Kevin Polk and his wife Leslie of Boston, MA; his sisters Evalyn Klein and Judy Barker; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was affectionately known by the nickname “Bud” by family. He was known by all as a great guy and a brilliant man. He will be missed very much by many.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 10 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, Florida. A reception will follow on Friday, April 28 at 11AM at the Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in his name to Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan (www.ltu.edu/giving/index).
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