Griffin, Barbara passed away on May 15th, 2023. Beloved mother and grandmother, Barbara was born in Hudson, NY the daughter of the late Louis and Jean DeLavalle. She is survived by her loving daughter, Dana Griffin, granddaughter, Alexa Griffin, and loving son, Terry Griffin, and granddaughter, Ashley Griffin, and sister, Marian Jordan.
Barbara held an Associate Degree from Norwalk Community College where she graduated Summa Com laude, won a scholarship to Sacred Heart University earning a Bachelor Degree, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport.
Her business career included Personnel Manager at Intech in Stamford, Executive Assistant to the CEO of Newport News Catalog Company in New York City, and Personal Assistant to Retired Chairman of the Board of the Ford Motor Company in Stamford. Barbara was also a Justice of the Peace for the State of Connecticut.
Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Barbara Griffin to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory was honored to assist Barbara’s family with the arrangements. Please visit www.cognetta.com should you care to leave an online condolence message for the Griffin family.

Karen J. Malta, resident of Stamford, passed away at New York Presbyterian Hospital on the evening of Monday, May 8, 2023, with her family by her side. She was born in Port Chester, NY on May 10, 1947, and was the daughter of the late Erwin Schmidt and Emma June. Karen was 75 years old at the time of her passing.
Karen is survived by her long-time partner, Gary Reilly, five children, Valerie Malta and husband, Donald Portanova, Jeremy Malta, Amy Malta and husband, Michael Yoranidis, Justin Malta and wife, Ingrid, Ashley Castillo and husband, Dwight and four grandchildren, Kairi and Keira Castillo and Vivienne and Olivia Malta.
Karen was a devoted mother and friend to all who knew her. She loved babysitting her grandchildren as well as spending time with her many friends of the Eagles Club where she was a member and building with Legos. She also enjoyed spending time outside taking long walks and hiking.
A celebration of Karen’s life will take place on Sunday, July 16th from 3:00pm – 6:00pm at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club, 688 Main Street, in Stamford. The inurnment will take place at a later date and will be held privately.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to handle the arrangements. Please visit www.cognetta.com should you care to leave an online condolence message for Karen’s family.

Jeffery T. Miller, 63, of Greenwich, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Jeffery was born in Stamford on October 25, 1959 to the late Alfred and Bernice Tandet Miller.
Jeff enjoyed spending time with his family above all else. Jeff held a self-proclaimed “PhD” in mechanics which he enthusiastically used to work on “anything with a motor”. Throughout his life he undertook new hobbies and sports with his sons, and horseback riding with his wife. Jeff’s adventures with the family brought them everywhere from scuba diving a hundred meters below the ocean’s surface to flying Cessnas thousands of feet above the ground.
Jeffery is survived by his loving wife Cheryl Rute Miller, as well as his two sons; Alec Miller and Jacob Miller, all of Greenwich.
Besides his parents, Jeffery is predeceased by his brother Charlie Miller.
Services and interment will be held privately by the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jeffery’s memory to the ALS Association; 1300 Wilson Blvd Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209 or to Greenwich EMS; 1111 East Putnam Ave, Greenwich CT 06878.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.

Betty Arancia Vitti, a resident of Boynton Beach, Florida and formerly of Stamford and Trumbull, CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on May 4, 2023. She was born on March 3, 1936, to the late Joseph and Sally (Arena) Arancia. Betty attended Stamford schools and graduated from Stamford High School in 1953. She then graduated from J.M. Wright Tech in 1955 with a degree in Beauty Culture.
Betty was married to retired Stamford Fire Chief Joseph J. Vitti Sr. on September 2, 1957, until his passing in 2005. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her in-laws, Charles and Helen Vitti, her sister Marie Gavel, and daughter-in-law Christine Vitti.
While in Stamford, Betty was an active member of St. Mary Church, volunteering tirelessly at the feast each year. In Trumbull, Betty continued her church activism as a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena and in Boynton Beach as a parishioner of St. Thomas More.
Betty is survived by her 4 children, retired Stamford Fire Captain Joe Jr. (Maria), Mickey (Lynn), Richie (Nicole), and Ronnie (Lainey). Affectionately known as Nana, she was the biggest cheerleader to her 8 grandchildren, Michael Jr., Joseph III, Zachary, Sara, Ellie, Jake, Stephanie and Nicholas and her great-grandsons, Jay, Anthony IV, and Noah. Betty is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides raising her 4 boys, Betty enjoyed knitting, cooking, camping, hosting family and friends for holidays and other special occasions, everywhere she resided.
A funeral procession will be leaving the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, located at 104 Myrtle Avenue in Stamford, on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:45AM for a mass of Christian burial at 11AM at St. Mary Church, 566 Elm Street, in Stamford. Visitation at the funeral home will be held prior to mass from 9AM to 10:30AM. The inurnment will follow mass at St. John Cemetery in Darien.
In lieu of flowers, Betty had requested that donations to be made to the Stamford Burn Foundation, 629 Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902.
To leave messages of condolence online, please visit the family guestbook hosted on www.cognetta.com.

Evangelos Bakes, a longtime resident of Stamford, CT, and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and deeply loyal friend, passed away at his home after a courageous and valiant battle with cancer on the evening of Tuesday, May 2, 2023, with his loving family by his side. He was born in Athens, Greece on June 19, 1948 to the late Dimitrios and Georgia (Glekas) Bakes. Evangelos was 74 years old at the time of his passing.
Evangelos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. After completing his military service in Greece, he immigrated to Stamford, CT in 1970, where met the love of his life, Olga, and started his family. He was a skilled tool and die maker by trade, owning and operating his own shop, J&S Precision Company, in the 80’s. He eventually retired from the trade in 2015 while working for the Norwalk Compressor Company. Being extremely proud of his heritage, Evangelos was a very active member within the Greek Community. He was a lifelong member of the Pellana Society and Panhellenic Athletic Club, serving time as president for both organizations. He was also a passionate soccer fan and a devoted lifelong fan of A.E.K. Athens F.C. But above all else, Evangelos loved spending time with his family – especially his beloved grandchildren.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Olga (Prois) Bakes; his son, Dimitrios Bakes and wife Robyn of Shelton, CT; daughter Yianna Bakes Dimitroglou and husband Savva of Stamford; siblings, Irene Lagogiannis and husband Stefanos of Athens, Greece and Konstantinos Bakes of Florida; his grandchildren, Evangelos, Eva, Daphne and Miltiadis; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family both in America and Greece. Evangelos will be sorely missed, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Visitation will take place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1230 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905 on Friday, May 5th from 10AM to 11AM, with a funeral service starting promptly at 11AM. The interment will follow the service at Fairfield Memorial Park in Stamford. Father Evan Evangelidis will be presiding over the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged and may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1230 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 05905.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to handle the arrangements. Please visit www.cognetta.com should you care to leave an online condolence message for the Bakes family.