Recent Death Notices From Cheshire

CHESHIRE, CT — Below are recent death notices from Cheshire.

Laurence Scott Gardner, 85, passed away on Mar. 3, 2025. A U.S. Army helicopter pilot and longtime United Airlines captain who was among the first to fly the Boeing 777, he also co-owned CATS Gymnastics in Cheshire for over 30 years, was an avid runner, golfer, dancer, and storyteller, and was known for his sweet tooth, dad jokes, and leading the caroling at the annual neighborhood Christmas party.

Michiko Hirai, 90, passed away on Mar. 6, 2025; after emigrating from Japan to Canada in 1966, she became a business owner while raising a family, later retiring to the U.S., where she enjoyed ballroom dancing, chorus and karaoke singing, and her Buddhist practice.

John Kenneth Knott, Jr., 86, passed away on Mar. 9, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran and attorney for 60 years, he was known as Connecticut’s “Dean of Municipal Law,” served as Cheshire’s town attorney for 35 years, founded the sporting clays field at Hamden Fish and Game Club, and was an avid reader, pipe and cigar smoker, and advocate for civic and religious causes.

Edward Patrick Welch Jr., 73, passed away on Mar. 9, 2025; a business owner who worked on military, NASA, and SpaceX projects, he also built roads and houses, wrote novels, created art, traveled extensively, dedicated himself to charity work with the American Cancer Society, and served as a eucharistic minister.

Louis J. Palma, 90, passed away on Mar. 9, 2025. A U.S. Army Reserve veteran, programmer at Uniroyal, and business owner, he was an avid bowler, horse racing enthusiast, and devoted fan of the Yankees, Jets, and Knicks.

Ruth P. Chadwick, 77, passed away peacefully on Mar. 3, 2025. A retired bookkeeper and computer operator, she was active in the Junior Women’s Club and PTO, enjoyed crafting for holiday fairs, and spent her retirement playing Mahjong, Texas Hold’em, Military Whist, and Setback at the Senior Center.