Carol Sturges-Bryan

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Carol Sturges-Bryan of Florida passed away unexpectedly at the age of 79. Her daughter, Beth Bryan-Almeida of Florida is saddened to announce her mother’s passing. Carol leaves behind her daughter, Beth, son-in-law, Steven Iovanna, grandchildren, Tyler Almeida, James and Isabel Iovanna of Connecticut. She also leaves her brother, William Sturges (Mary Sue) of Pennsylvania and many nieces and nephews. Carol was born on January12, 1945 at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut to the late Ruverna and Clarence Sturges. She lived with her parents and four siblings in Weston, Connecticut. She was a proud resident of Rogues Ridge Road in Weston and was a 1963 graduate of Staples High School in Westport because Weston had yet to build a high school. Due to her hard work ethic and dedication, Carol was the recipient of many scholarships which she used to pursue her dream of becoming a school teacher. Upon graduating from high school, she attended Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri before returning to Connecticut and successfully graduating from Southern Connecticut State University with her Bachelors, Masters and Sixth Year degrees in Administration and Supervision. She taught elementary school for the City of New Haven for 37 years. While advancing in her teaching career, she was an active member of her union, a building steward and an executive board member working on contract negotiations and assisting her colleagues. In 1977 she bought her first home on Harbor Street in Branford and proudly called the town home until 2015. She founded the Branford Point Association and was it’s president until 2012. She was the first woman to be elected to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in Branford’s fourth district. She was a proud member and chairman of the Branford Police Commission, member of the Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POST) and the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut (PCAC). She was also extremely active with the Branford Republican Town Committee, serving on the executive board, as secretary and chairman. She was chosen as a delegate to the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego and remained active with many town-wide boards and commissions until her move to Florida. Upon retiring from her 37-year career as a school teacher, she fulfilled her dream of moving to Florida’s west coast to live the rest of her life in the sunshine from her beachfront home. Carol was beloved by many, feared by some, but respected by all as a hard worker who always did her homework so she could always properly arm herself with the facts of any issue or situation. She fought relentlessly and with passion for the causes she believed in and was a true friend until the end. A celebration of her life will take place when she is laid to rest in her family cemetery plot in Weston, Connecticut later this year. Beth is saving all stories and her best memories for Carol’s celebration of life ceremony in June, 2025.

Tributes

Carol Sturges-Bryan

January 12, 1945 - December 3, 2024