Erik Sandberg-Diment passed away on May 23 in the 78th year of his life. Born on January 29, 1940 in Stockholm, Sweden, Erik moved to the U.S. when he was ten. After graduating from the College of Wooster Ohio with a degree in Psychology, he relocated with his wife Susan to New York City with the hopes of becoming a writer, a goal he achieved to acclaim, publishing many books and articles under several pseudonyms, including Richard W. Langer and Thomas Tilling, in addition to being a long-standing columnist at the New York Times. He was also an artist. He moved his family to Hampton in 1975, and in his later years, he was an entrepreneur, president of a screw and rivet manufacturing company which grew from a conversation over a cup of coffee during a welding class and included occasional patent filings for the ideas he deemed worthy of the paperwork. Erik lived fully until the very end; an unfinished short story was on his desk as well as postcards for his latest art show. Our condolences to Susan and their three children, Genevieve, Tanya and Revell.

On July 20, Robert Marquis was reunited with his beloved wife, Violet, who predeceased him last November. Bob and Violet shared 62 happy years of marriage here in Hampton where they raised their two daughters, Trudy and Joan. A U. S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, Bob was honorably discharged with the rank of Specialist Fifth Class, E-5. After 25 years with the Pratt & Whitney Fire Department, he retired in 1990 as Captain. He was also an Instructor at the Fire Training Academy in Windsor Locks. He earned an Associate Degree in Fire Technology and Administration from Hartford State Technical College in 1978, followed by a Bachelor Degree from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1982. He taught Fire Service courses at both HSTC and Three Rivers Community College. Bob used his considerable skills to serve his community as a member of the Fire Company for over 60 years and the Hampton/Chaplin Ambulance Corps for more than 30 years, becoming a certified EMT at the age of 70 and earning a Life Membership. He was also a member of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and Fire Instructors Association, the Windham County Fire Marshall Association, and served as the Town’s Fire Marshall for several years. Bob and Violet also ran “The Fire Place”, a business which sold antique fire equipment and memorabilia. Our condolences to Trudy and Ben Brockett, Joan and Jerry Figueroa, grandchildren Nicholas and Mike Brockett and Marina Figueroa, and great-grandchildren Kenzie and Jayce Brockett, all of Hampton.
Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Hampton/Chaplin Ambulance Corps.

Greg Conway Graml passed away on August 2 in the 87th year of his life. Born on May 18, 1931, Greg studied dance with Martha Graham early in his life. An injury prevented him from pursuing a professional dancing career, but not from performing. Greg was a puppeteer in his early teens and went on to join the Pickwick Puppet Theatre in New York City, performing in a puppet version of “The Magic Flute” at Brooklyn Academy and a puppet version of “Sleeping Beauty” with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, as well as with the Detroit Symphony. At Lincoln Center in New York he was in “Master Peter’s Puppet Show” with the Little Orchestra Society. In 1965, with his life partner Roger, he formed Performing Arts Management and booked concert artists as well as high quality children’s shows throughout the northeast. Later on in life, Greg devoted his time to restoring their eighteenth century home in Hampton, which remains a work in progress. Our condolences to Roger xxx.