22 – 01 10 Jan 2022
SOUNDING TAPS
MAJ (Ret) Diggory D Robertson
Diggory D. Robertson, of Stamford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 12, 2021. He was born on June 19, 1936 to the late J. Douglas and Elizabeth (Johnson) Robertson.
Diggory was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His family meant everything to him and they were his world. Nothing made him happier than spending time with them, providing for them, and helping them in any way he could.
Diggory was born and raised in Manchester, Connecticut, and graduated from Manchester High School in 1954. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1958. After college, he received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1961.
Diggory was proud of his long and distinguished military career with the Connecticut Army National Guard. After 35 years of faithful service, he retired with the rank of Major. His primary experience was in Personnel, Training, and Maintenance Management. At retirement, he was a Labor Relations Specialist at the Hartford Armory in the Human Resources Management Office.
Diggory is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Vaccaro Robertson. He was the beloved
father of Mary Robertson and Laura Robertson (Wes). He was also the proud “Papa” of Bryce and Ronin Robertson.
Diggory will be dearly missed. He will be remembered for his intelligence, integrity, and kindness by all who knew him and loved him.
If you wish to make an online remembrance, please sign the family’s online guestbook (www.bosakfuneralhome.com).
SSG (Ret) Richard P Brimlow
Mystic – Richard P. Brimlow, 85, of Mystic died Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, with family at his side at Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island. Richard was born July 17, 1936, in Beloit, Ohio to George Henry Brimlow and Anna Faye Greenawalt Brimlow.
Richard married Eveline Fielding Brimlow July 13, 1957. She preceded him in death Oct. 7, 2015.
Richard took great pride in serving his country in the United States Coast Guard from 1955 until 1960, he then enlisted with the Connecticut Army National Guard serving until 1963. In 1980 he re-enlisted with the Connecticut National Guard until his retirement in 1995 having achieved the rank of SSG/E-6. Richard also graduated from the University of New Haven and worked at Electric Boat as an electrician.
Richard is survived by two sons, David Brimlow and his wife Laura, and Kenneth Brimlow and his wife Rose of Marion, Iowa; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Besides his beloved wife of 58 years Eveline, he was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Faye Huntington.
Visitation is scheduled 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at the Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington Street in New London. Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at Byles Memorial Home. Burial will follow with military honors at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic. Masks are required in the Funeral Home.
For more on Richard, Zoom instructions and donation information please visit www.byles.com.
Published by The Day on Jan. 4, 2022.
MAJ (Ret) Erik Gothburg
Gales Ferry – Erik Mark Gothberg, 55, died unexpectedly Dec. 7, 2021. He retired as an officer after serving in the Connecticut Army National Guard, 1109th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot in Groton. During his time with the Connecticut National Guard, he served three active duty overseas tours as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and received many honors, including the Army Commendation Medal for exemplary service during combat operations with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Iraq. For more than 20 years, he worked for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in hazardous materials, a career that brought him great satisfaction.
Erik was a proud graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. He later served as an adjunct professor in Environmental Sciences at SCSU. He pursued his doctoral degree at Leeds University in the United Kingdom.
An accomplished athlete and 1984 graduate of Ledyard High School, Erik lettered all four years in wrestling, his two years playing soccer, and his two years playing football. He was both an Eastern Connecticut Conference and Class M State Open Champion wrestler for the 1983-84 season. He continued to wrestle competitively while at SCSU, which helped put him through college. As an adult, he proudly completed the Marine Corp Marathon, and he regularly participated in the annual Manchester Road Race with his father and brother. In recent years, Erik discovered the joy and freedom of motorcycle riding and enjoyed participating with friends on charity rides throughout Connecticut and Long Island. Erik grew up as an active member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry.
He is survived by his children, Nicholas and Rylee Gothberg; his grandson, Braydon; his father Eric Gothberg, mother Simone Gauthier, brother Todd Gothberg, sister Victoria Stolzman; his former wife Lisa Palmese, and many beloved nieces, nephews and in-laws. He will be missed by many other loyal and loving friends and family.
Erik will be laid to rest with military honors at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at the Middletown Veteran’s Cemetery. A Celebration of Life memorial service will follow at a later date when COVID conditions allow. In lieu of flowers, friends and family suggest donations in Erik’s honor to the Wounded Warrior
Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).
DOWNLOAD RETIREE NEWSLETTER PDF (CLICK HERE)RETIREE NEWSLETTER 22-01
Pharmacies leave TRICARE, CVS joins – The Coast News Group
The Coast News
REGION — Several new changes to TRICARE retail pharmacies recently took effect. Starting Dec. 15, CVS Pharmacy joined the TRICARE network while …
Governor Lamont Calls Up Connecticut National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to Assist in COVID-19 At-Home Test and Mask Distribution
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is calling up nearly 100 Connecticut National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist in the logistical operations for the immediate distribution of the three million COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and six million N95 masks……..
35 Incredible Photos from a Chaotic Year for the US Military
From the nation’s capital to Afghanistan, service members were asked to defend America, Americans
and American ideals around the world in 2021.
118th Christmas Formation: Following is the link to an online photo album that contains all the photos taken at the 118th Christmas formation. To open it all you have to do is SELECT it, Copy, and PASTE it in your browser. Photos by Ben Jordan. www.benjordan.info/118christmas2021/photos
2022 Calendar of Events: (New events are in BOLD)Retiree Breakfast 27 Jan 22 Middletown * #
Retiree Breakfast 24 Feb 22 Milford **
Retiree Breakfast 31 Mar 22 Middletown *
Connecticut Armed Forces Day Luncheon at 11:00 on Friday the 20th of May, 2022 at The Aqua Turf club in Southington CT.
# If you plan on attending this breakfast please let me know by 20 Jan. No response that date will mean you won’t be going. I’ll give the Athenian Diner a call and see if, given the uptick in the COVID situation, they have any plans to change hours etc.
*Athenian Diner, 864 Washington St, Middletown. Starts at 0900
**Pop’s Family Restaurant, 134 Old Gate Ln, Milford. Starts at 0900