Obituary for William S. Valus
William Stephen Valus Jr., age 91, of Fairfield, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on June 7, 2024. William, known as "Bill" or "Papa", was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His kindness, witty humor, and deep faith have left a lasting impression on everyone that knew him.
He will be missed dearly by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Jane; his three children and their spouses, Lynne and Ron Kopcik of Sandy Hook, Bill and Maureen Valus of Fairfield, Sharon and Jim Meyers of Fairfield; his eight grandchildren, Mary Kopcik, Emily Kopcik and her husband Nick Barreto, Austin "A.J." Valus, Katie Valus, Mark Valus, Lindsey Meyers, Chris Meyers, and Jeff Meyers; his sister, Gretchen Rich of Stratford; a loving extended family and many lifelong friends.
Bill was raised in Stratford, CT, by his parents, William Sr. and Helen. He graduated from Fairfield Prep, class of 1950. He then attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in Architecture. After living in California for a few years, Bill returned to Connecticut, where he met his soul mate, Mary Jane Carrano. They were married on June 30, 1962, and raised their family in Fairfield, in the home that Bill designed.
Bill was a creative architect, who took great pride in the buildings he designed. His projects included St. Pius X Church, Brick Walk in Fairfield, Westport and Norwalk Police Stations, South Norwalk Train Station, and many more. He and his partners operated Valus & Carpenter Architects in Westport for over 35 years.
He was a long-time member and dedicated parishioner of St. Pius X Church, and former president of The Kiwanis Club of Fairfield, as well as the Notre Dame Alumni Club. He was named "Man of the Year" by the Notre Dame Club in 1979. Bill was an avid golfer and a member of the men's club at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course. In retirement, Bill reignited his passion for painting and other forms of art that his family has displayed all over their homes. He also had a wonderful appreciation for nature and all of God's creations. More than anything, Bill loved spending time with his wife, his children, and, especially, his grandchildren. Whether at a sporting event, school play, or dance recital, Bill was always their biggest fan. He loved spending time with them, telling stories, having laughs, sharing his wisdom and love, and making great memories. He would often be found dancing, dressing up in silly costumes, or laying on the floor playing games with the kids. These memories of Papa will be cherished forever.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, June 12th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Spear Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13th, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield. Services will continue to Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to: Alzheimer's Foundation of America, https://www.alz.org/ct or mail a check to: 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489. Share a memory of Bill at www.spearmillerfuneralhome.com
He will be missed dearly by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Jane; his three children and their spouses, Lynne and Ron Kopcik of Sandy Hook, Bill and Maureen Valus of Fairfield, Sharon and Jim Meyers of Fairfield; his eight grandchildren, Mary Kopcik, Emily Kopcik and her husband Nick Barreto, Austin "A.J." Valus, Katie Valus, Mark Valus, Lindsey Meyers, Chris Meyers, and Jeff Meyers; his sister, Gretchen Rich of Stratford; a loving extended family and many lifelong friends.
Bill was raised in Stratford, CT, by his parents, William Sr. and Helen. He graduated from Fairfield Prep, class of 1950. He then attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in Architecture. After living in California for a few years, Bill returned to Connecticut, where he met his soul mate, Mary Jane Carrano. They were married on June 30, 1962, and raised their family in Fairfield, in the home that Bill designed.
Bill was a creative architect, who took great pride in the buildings he designed. His projects included St. Pius X Church, Brick Walk in Fairfield, Westport and Norwalk Police Stations, South Norwalk Train Station, and many more. He and his partners operated Valus & Carpenter Architects in Westport for over 35 years.
He was a long-time member and dedicated parishioner of St. Pius X Church, and former president of The Kiwanis Club of Fairfield, as well as the Notre Dame Alumni Club. He was named "Man of the Year" by the Notre Dame Club in 1979. Bill was an avid golfer and a member of the men's club at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course. In retirement, Bill reignited his passion for painting and other forms of art that his family has displayed all over their homes. He also had a wonderful appreciation for nature and all of God's creations. More than anything, Bill loved spending time with his wife, his children, and, especially, his grandchildren. Whether at a sporting event, school play, or dance recital, Bill was always their biggest fan. He loved spending time with them, telling stories, having laughs, sharing his wisdom and love, and making great memories. He would often be found dancing, dressing up in silly costumes, or laying on the floor playing games with the kids. These memories of Papa will be cherished forever.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, June 12th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Spear Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13th, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield. Services will continue to Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to: Alzheimer's Foundation of America, https://www.alz.org/ct or mail a check to: 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489. Share a memory of Bill at www.spearmillerfuneralhome.com
Published by Connecticut Post on Jun. 9, 2024.