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WOODBURY, Conn. - Harold E. Kershner of Woodbury, formerly of Ridgefield, and Rye, N.H., died Saturday, Sept. 6. He was 86.
Kershner was born Oct. 29, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Willis and Louise (Cowles) Kershner. The family relocated to Staten Island, N.Y., in 1929, where he attended PS 40 and Brooklyn Tech High School. After serving in the U.S Navy for one year and the U. S. Army for three years, he was discharged from both service branches and later graduated from Northeastern University in 1953 with a B.S. in industrial engineering. He joined IBM in 1962 and after a long career, he retired in March, 1990.
He led the prayer group at St. Mary Parish of Ridgefield for many years, organized and led the first Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program at St Mary and was a eucharistic minister. After living in Ridgefield for 26 years, he and his late wife, Lois, built a home in Rye, N.H. He then married Patricia Frey in 1996 and relocated to Woodbury.
Kershner is survived by his wife, Patricia Frey Kershner of Newtown; children, William Kershner of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Kathleen (Bruce) Gibbons of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Robert Kershner (Mae) of Lovettsville, Va., James (Ann) Kershner of Park Ridge, Ill., and John Kershner of Concord, N.H.; stepchildren, CT State Representative John Frey of Ridgefield, Alicia Frey (Paul) Bernarducci of Franklin Lakes, N.J., and Patricia Frey (Steven) Gogliettino of Newtown; 17 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and sister, Alice Kershner Hesper of Lakewood, N.J. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lois Kelly Kershner; brother, John Kershner; and sisters, Margaret Kershner Brigham and Jean Kershner Patterson.
Calling hours are Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 8;45 to 9:45 a.m. at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10:15 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Ridgefield. Burial will follow in St Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Harold and Lois Kershner may be made to The ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter, 4 Oxford Road, Unit D-4, Milford, CT 06460 (http://tinyurl.com/nepp856) or the charity of one’s choice.
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