Obituary of Mary Theresa Maxwell

Mary Theresa Maxwell

Naugatuck Hall of Fame Recipient

Mary “Theresa” Maxwell, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 27, 2018.

Miss Maxwell was born April 22, 1929, in Waterbury, daughter of the late Percy David and Margaret (Luddy) Maxwell.

Theresa’s life was filled with remarkable achievements and unbelievable successes in every endeavor throughout her life.  She had a set of God-given skills combined with a highly competitive nature that made her truly unique!  She was not afraid to venture where other women were not welcome or not allowed.  Her athletic ability and record of achievements in a variety of sports made her “one of Connecticut’s Most Outstanding Women Athletes” in state history.

Theresa attended Naugatuck schools and was a graduate of Naugatuck High School, Class of 1947.  She was also a graduate of Bullard-Havens Technical School, Class of 1950.  She was a Senior Draftswoman for electro-mechanical devices, Bristol Company, Waterbury, for many years until her retirement.  In 1960, the Waterbury Sunday Republican Newspaper ran a feature story entitled “Terry Maxwell Gives a Man’s Job the Feminine Touch” which stated that she was in a class by herself as the only woman holding a “top” rating to perform any drafting job in the department.

Theresa was one of Connecticut’s most outstanding female athletes, excelling in tennis, badminton, basketball, softball and golf.  She was captain of her high school basketball team for 3 years and later went on to play for Fritz Klambt’s Girls Allstars (captain),  the Waterbury Girls, St. Stan’s Girls of Waterbury, The Seymour Green Devils, The Waterbury Libra AA Girls, Joe Brennan’s Waterbury Olympets and the SNET team of New Haven.

She was a member of the Badminton Club of the Bristol Company where she won titles in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in 1952 and 1953. She was the New Haven County runner-up in 1955 and the New Haven County Championship Doubles Runner-Up in the Class A Division in 1959.  She was also the Connecticut Class B Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion in 1957. 

Theresa was a member of the world famous Raybestos Brakettes Softball Team of Stratford and was on the winning Northeast Regional Championship team in 1954.  She was also on the state championship team and quarter finalist squad in the World Championship in Canada that same season. She also played for the Naugatuck Footwear Girls, Walt Piurek’s Speed Girls of New Haven and the Alumni Girls of Seymour.

 Theresa was also one of the finest woman golfers in Connecticut.  In 1964, she won the Women’s Handicap Championship at the American Brass Country Club.  In 1966, 1967 and 1968, she won the American Brass Club championship.  In 1969, she won the Mixed League Championship and was the Ladies Invitational Champion in 1963.  In 1976, she was on the winning team of the CT Women’s Endicott Cup competition. She was a proud member of The Hole in One Club and a long time member of the Watertown Golf Club.

Theresa was a very proud member of the Naugatuck Hall of Fame, 1986, being the 2nd woman inducted; a life member of The American Legion, Post 17, Naugatuck, and the Naugatuck Historical Society.  She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, Union City.  In her younger years she enjoyed spending her summers with family on Lake Waramaug camping, boating, swimming, water skiing and cast fishing and winters snow skiing at resorts throughout New England.  She was a true fan of UConn Women’s Basketball, Notre Dame Football, and the NY Yankees.

 She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Patricia Szczesiul, and her brothers John David, James Percy and Vernon Luddy Maxwell.

She is survived by her nieces, Sharon (Maxwell) Milam and her husband Bucky of Danbury, Geri (Maxwell) Gribinas and her husband Richard of Southington; her nephews, Timothy Szczesiul and his wife Audrey of Enfield, Terry Szczesiul and his wife Diane of Naugatuck; her niece-in-law, Marymargaret Szczesiul of Enfield.  She is also survived by her grand nephews, Shawn, Brian, Mark, Christopher, Patrick and Kurtis Szczesiul; and several great-grand nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Rd., Naugatuck. Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. A calling hour will be held from 8:30 am – 9:30 am on Thursday at Prospect Memorial Funeral Home, 72 Waterbury Road, Prospect.