Former Treasurer for Town of Ridgefield, Maureen Kiernan, 79, has Died

Maureen Mehls Kiernan, former Treasurer of the Town of Ridgefield, died peacefully on Sunday, February 18, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jerry, and their daughters Sara and Deirdre, son-in-law Dean Tantary, and two wonderful grandchildren – Lila and Niall Tantary. She was predeceased by her sister, Barbara Lee. 

Born in West Haven, CT in 1938, she graduated from Connecticut College with a degree in Economics. She became a Systems Engineer at IBM where she met Jerry. 

They lived in various places in CT and NJ but when they moved to Ridgefield some 43 years ago, she immediately fell in love with the town.

With her passion for nature, she became the Cauditowa Garden Club’s Civics Chair and decorated the Town Clock, old VNA, Town Hall etc. Somehow, she headed the Main Street Christmas light pole decorating with help from wonderful Cauditowa Club members and the American Legion volunteers. 

As a perfectionist, she made all the bows herself. Many times, she and Jerry would be seen on winter nights with a ladder fixing poles with lights out. Maureen was instrumental in starting the custom of the hanging flower baskets on Main Street. 

With her Arts & Flowers business partner, Helen Stevens, they provided many an anxious bride the wedding flowers of their dreams. Always creative and artistic, she had taken up painting in water colors recently at Founders Hall where she could continue to arrange flowers on paper.

Maureen was Town Treasurer from 1985 to the last election, when she retired. She was also treasurer of many organizations in town over the years. Some of those included the VNA, League of Women Voters (for over 30 years), Theater Barn, Ridgefield Town Cemeteries, etc. She was also a member of many civic committees including the 300^th Anniversary Committee, 4^th of July Fireworks Committee, Grave Yard Committee and the Ridgefield Historical Society. Maureen was incapable of saying no when the town or any town group asked. She was the one who could be counted on to wash the table cloths for the Barn, collect the cash as the fireworks started at RHS, and many other volunteer jobs that have since become paid.

Maureen was especially proud of being selected as Citizen of the Year by the Ridgefield Old Timers, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club.

Friends will be received on Sunday, February 25 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice and Homecare: 30 Milestone Road; Danbury, CT 06810,www.regionalhospicect.org