Obituaries

Robert Knode Cate of Fairfield died Sunday.

Husband, father, grandfather and friend, Bob touched the lives of many. Born in Evanston, Ill., on Nov. 24, 1943, he grew up in Winnetka, a suburb of Chicago. He attended high school at The Governor's Academy in Byfield, Mass., and went on to the University of North Carolina where he majored in economics. His professional career included positions at IBM, Philips Medical Systems, Serviscope and most recently as vice president of sales for Data Systems International. For 19 months in 1997-98, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by stepping out of corporate America to become the owner/operator of Bob's 101, a gourmet sandwich shop catering to the locals in Rowayton. With no previous experience, he grew a successful restaurant business providing darned good food, a congenial atmosphere and 15 flavors of ice cream. For relaxation, he repaired to the kitchen to indulge his passion for cooking, keeping family and friends well fed with his delicious culinary creations. His other interests included travel, reading, keeping up with national politics, model rocket building, and watching any and all sports on TV. He was also known as the "bird feeder protector" to all the local

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Carol; his two daughters, Perrie Mickler and her husband, Kerry, of Milford, Ohio, and their children, Johnny and Robby, and Robin Bishop and her husband, Billy, of Redding and their children, Brooke and Luke; and his brother, John Cate and his wife, Sue, of Lincolnshire, Ill., and their children, Jenni and Bryan.

A memorial service will take place tomorrow at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road. Friends may visit with family from 11 a.m., and the service will begin at noon.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kids in Crisis, One Salem St., Cos Cob 06807 or the Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, 180 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport 06604. To sign an online register, visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com .

Robert Louis Cipu

Robert Louis Cipu, 61, of Southport, the husband of Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Wood Cipu, died Wednesday at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport.

Born in New York City, Bob had been a resident of Bridgeport and Fairfield for many years, recently moving to Southport. He graduated from Bassick High School in 1964 and attended the University of Connecticut, where he received his bachelor's degree in English. He continued his studies, obtaining his master's degree from Cleveland State University, and finished his sixth year degree at Southern Connecticut State University. He was a retired high school teacher for the City of Bridgeport. A person of strong faith, he was a member of St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church, where he participated in the choir and served on the Parish Council. He was a past president of the National AROY and coached basketball at both his high school and church. A wonderful communicator, he enjoyed connecting with people, always striving to make a person feel welcome.

In addition to his wife of 30 years, he is survived by his three children, Scott Cipu of Brooklyn, N.Y., Heather Cipu of Washington, D.C., and Ashley Cipu of Stamford; his parents, Nicholas and Despa Costulas Cipu of Fairfield; his parents-in-law, Dr. David and Esther Wood of Rocky River, Ohio; two sisters, Marie Agostin and her husband, Dominick, of Wilton and Elaine Turek and her husband, Richard, of Wallingford; one sister-in-law, Joyce Perkins and her husband, Robert, of Richmond, Va.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road. The Trisagion service will be conducted at 7 p.m. His funeral service will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave., Bridgeport. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National MS Society Connecticut Chapter, 659 Tower Ave., First Floor, Hartford 06112 or the charity of the donor's choice. To sign an online register, visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com .

Peter Krug

Peter Krug, 81, of Fairfield, the husband of 45 years of Barbara (Hughes) Krug, died Monday at Cambridge Manor.

Born in Bridgeport, the son of the late Peter C. Krug and Anna (Resnick) Krug, he had been a Stratford resident for most of his life prior to moving to Fairfield nearly 25 years ago. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He was a retired chef for the Norwalk Quartet Club and was a member of American Legion Post 143 in Fairfield.

Survivors in addition to his wife include six children, Jamie Belleville of Kingston, Mass., James Krug of Bridgeport, Jason Krug of Hartford, Carol Carney and her husband, Vincent, of Hobe Sound, Fla., Harry Henderson and his wife, Kathleen, of North Haven and Kathy Presnell and her husband, Frank, of Bethel; three sisters, Cecilia "Dolly" Barker of Stratford, Lillian Dinihanian of Stratford and Dorothy Stockman of Oxford; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, George Krug.

A memorial service will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road. Interment will be private. To offer an online condolence, visit www.spearmillerfuneralhome.com .

Barbara Larson Riley

A memorial service celebrating the life of Barbara Larson Riley will take place tomorrow at noon at Greens Farms Congregational Church, 71 Hillandale Road, Westport.

A reception at the Fairfield County Hunt Club, 174 Long Lots Road, Westport, will follow.

Margaret Mary Ballingham Wilson

Margaret Mary Ballingham Wilson, 87, of Fairfield died Monday at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 23, 1920, she was the oldest of four children of the late David and Bridget Ballingham. She was a 1942 graduate of St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in Bridgeport. A World War II U.S. Navy veteran, she was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps. She was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Fairfield, a former member of Sacred Heart Church in Bridgeport, and a member of the Council of Catholic Women and the Fairfield Senior Center. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, including the annual Fourth of July party at the family home where all would gather to celebrate and watch the parade move down Park Avenue. In recent years she especially enjoyed her role as the matriarch of the family, providing love, guidance and good humor to all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also spent many years as a foster mother, caring for infants with birth anomalies until adopted. She maintained her astounding memory throughout her long years, recalling names and places from long ago and far away.

Survivors include her four children, Margaret Mary Wilson of Fairfield, Lynn Ellen Krause and her husband, John, of Stratford, Stanley Joseph Wilson Jr. of Fairfield and David Wilson and his wife, Lisa Hirsch, of Wayland, Mass.; four grandchildren, Mary Kathleen Krause Rivera, John Krause III, Colin Wilson and Grace Wilson; two great-grandchildren, Tiana Krause and Derrick Rivera; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Miller of Rockville, Md.; and several nieces and nephews. She was the wife of the late Stanley Wilson Sr. and sister to the late David Ballingham, James Ballingham and Sally Ballingham Miller.

Her funeral services took place yesterday at the Cyril F. Mullins Trumbull Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Road, and Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road. Interment was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stratfield Firefighters, 400 Jackman Ave., Fairfield. For online condolences, visit www.mullinsfh.com.