Olive M. Weingart

Olive M. Weingart passed into eternal rest on November 27, 2024 after a long and valiant effort fighting several health and auto-immune issues.
She was born and raised on the Weingart family farm on Gillette Road in Bakerville, CT; daughter of the late George and Georgette (Dery) Weingart and sister of the late George Weingart.
She leaves her niece Crystal Weingart of New Hartford, CT and wife Stephanie and their children: Emaleigh, Jaylah, Logan, Jayden, and Jordan; her sister-in-law Janice Weingart of Pahrump, NV, several cousins, and her life-long friend, travel and photography companion, Audrey Weigold of Winsted, CT, who also cared for her over the past several years.
Through her years at the Weigold farm she enjoyed many hours observing the numerous varieties of animals that visited the property. Her favorites were the bears and cubs (some taking a summer swim in the pond), the plethora of birds that ate at the feeders, the ducks, the often-seen bobcats, deer, and pileated woodpeckers. She delighted in the acrobatic flight of the hummingbirds and was witness to the fledging of countless baby blue birds.
Ever proud of her Swiss ancestry, she traveled to Switzerland, Austria and Germany where she photographed the stunning scenery, including the Matterhorn. Her favorite movie being "The Sound of Music", she took many fall foliage trips to The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT where she spent several Thanksgivings, even meeting Maria Von Trapp.
A 1961 graduate of Northwestern Regional #7 in Winsted, CT, she went on to work in the Employee Benefits Division of Aetna in Hartford and Middletown, CT.
Knowing that hobbies and other life interests create a well-rounded person, throughout her life, she participated in many activities. She was an accomplished brown belt karate expert and spent many winter weekends and vacations snowmobiling on the family farm or on the many trails in Granville, MA with her rider friends of the Blizzard Lizards. She could also be spied slicing through the forested trails of Old Forge, NY, and snowmobiling in Canada.
Over the years and attending many games, she was a fan of the Boston Celtics, UCONN Women's basketball, and the WNBA. A steady supporter of the original Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT and later, the Goodspeed Opera House in Haddam, CT, she enjoyed front row seats for their many performances.
Her creativity started early on when she made wreaths with the punch cards from IBM. That expanded to woodburning on which she placed the decoupaging of scenic and wildlife photos.
She delved deeply into learning photography and the use of film cameras, later transitioning to digital. Olive was a member of several camera club organizations including being a member of the Photographic Society of America where they awarded her an Associate of the Photographic Society of America (APSA). She was elected to the Board of the New England Camera Club Council where she served with Audrey Weigold as Co-Chairpersons of their annual three-day photographic conference four times and went on to become President of the organization. She was awarded Honorary Member of the New England Camera Club Council (HonNEC) and later received the highest honor the Council gives, Honorary Lifetime Vice-President. Olive also belonged to Charter Oak Photographic Society where she served as President and spent many years on their Board. For her work at Charter Oak, she was awarded a Life Membership. She also belonged to an invitation only camera club Massachusetts Camera Naturalists (CAMNATS). Olive has received numerous awards for her photography and has judged and lectured for several clubs throughout New England.
Her early travel took her to Hawaii, working on a sail boat in the Virgin Islands and to Bermuda. Later, she twice went on safari in Africa, camping outdoors, riding in a hot air balloon absolutely enthralled with all the animals to be observed and photographed. The tundra buggies in Churchill, Canada gave her a thrill as they motored out onto the tundra to see the polar bears who stood as high as the top of the wheels of the tall buggy, peering right in the windows. She also traveled throughout Australia and New Zealand. The fascination of Yellowstone National Park and the wildflowers in the mountains of Colorado remained high on her list of favorite places to take photos.
She might be found on Machias Seal Island waiting for the perfect puffin antic or listening to the haunting cry of the common loon. She visited several wildlife sanctuaries traveling to Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, NC, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, DE, and her favorite, Chincoteague Island, VA to photograph the wild ponies. You might see her, camera to eye, in the Amish country or focusing in on a barn or waterwheel in NY or VT. Her sharp eye, unique point of view and patience served her well as she waited for just the right movement of wildlife to snap her photo.
Her loving, kind and gentle nature (for which she will always be remembered), paired with her patience drew many friends and animals to her. These wonderful attributes shone brightly as she nurtured and raised her beloved German Shepherd, Tawny and American Eskimo, Lacy. She held and bottle fed the grizzly bear cub, Denali, while at Wild Eyes Animal Adventures in Columbia Falls, Montana.
Olive's family extends sincere and special thanks to Carla Turra of Tender Heart Healthcare, LLC and Lanna Grogan for their dedicated commitment, excellent care and getting her to laugh in the most difficult of times. Many thanks to Dr. Donna McHugh, MD of Winsted, CT and to DaVita Torrington Dialysis, Torrington, CT for their many years of tender care.
It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we say goodbye, only for now, to our dearly beloved Olive.
Calling hours will be Thursday, December 5, from 4 - 6 PM at the Montano-Shea Funeral Home in New Hartford, CT. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, December 6 at Our Lady of Hope Parish in New Hartford at 11 AM. Burial take place in the spring at Forest View Cemetery, Winsted. Visit an online guestbook at montano-shea.com.