Ridgefield Community Rallies Around Resident Battling Rare Illness

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Friends, family, and community members are rallying to support Glenny Montanari, a well-known Ridgefield resident and longtime staff member at the local schools, who remains hospitalized with a life-threatening neurological condition.

Montanari, a familiar face to many in Ridgefield through her roles at Scott’s Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School, was admitted to Danbury Hospital on April 28 after experiencing leg cramps and weakness. Her condition quickly worsened, and she was later diagnosed with viral encephalitis caused by HSV-1, a severe infection that causes swelling in the brain.

After a rapid decline in her condition on May 2, Montanari was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she was intubated and placed on a ventilator. Since then, she has faced a series of complications, including pneumonia, a collapsed lung, sepsis, and kidney failure. She remains on continuous dialysis as doctors assess her progress and consider the next steps in her treatment.

Her daughters, Kelsey and Courtney, have remained at her side throughout the ordeal, working remotely from the hospital while managing their own families. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized to help cover ongoing medical and household expenses, Montanari did not have a power of attorney in place, leaving her family unable to access her financial accounts during her hospitalization.

Organizers of the fundraiser say any unused donations will be contributed to the Mary Ellen and Samuel Klein, MD Critical Care Unit at Danbury Hospital, where Montanari is being treated.

Described by loved ones as cheerful, generous, and deeply devoted to her grandchildren, Montanari has received an outpouring of support from across Connecticut and beyond, including prayer groups in multiple states.

"She is the type of person where you feel like you’ve instantly made a friend when you meet her," the fundraiser reads.

Doctors are hopeful she may soon be brought out of sedation, but her long-term prognosis and cognitive recovery remain uncertain. The family is asking for continued prayers and community support as Montanari continues to fight.

The fundraiser can be found on GoFundMe here.