Obituary of William Vitols

William Vitols September 15, 1915 - May 12, 2007 William "Vilis" Vitols, 91, of Wondy Way, Danbury, devoted husband of Elvira (nee Dabolins) Vitols, died at Candlewood Valley Health Care Center, on Saturday, May 12th. He was born in Riga, Latvia on September 15, 1915, son of the late Karl and Anna Vitols. Mr. Vitols left Latvia in the last year of World War II, as the oncoming Russian troops were about to occupy Latvia and make it part of the Soviet Union. While a refugee in post-war Germany, he studied architecture at Munich University. While at the university he was instrumental in founding a Latvian student fraternity, VANENIKA. In the late 1940's, with the help of fraternity brothers, he was able to settle in Brooklyn NY, where he worked as a draftsman. In the early 1950's he traveled to Canada to bring his wife, Elvira and her son Andrew home to the United States. In the early 1960's the couple made their home in Danbury. He designed and built his home in the Pleasant Acres area of Candlewood Lake. He was a member of the Connecticut Architect Association and designed the courthouse in Waterbury. He also worked for the Danbury Building Department. He was a member of the Latvian Lutheran Church in Yonkers, NY. In addition to his beloved wife of 56 years, he is survived by his son, Richard "Ricky" Vitols of Danbury; his sister, Alvina Svabe of Latvia; his daughter-in-law, Karen Jansons; and his grandchildren, Joclyn and Max Jansons. He is also survived by three nieces and one nephew in Latvia. He was predeceased by his stepson, Andrew "Andrejs" Jansons. Funeral Information A Memorial Service will be held at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, on Thursday, May 17th at 4:00pm. Donations Information Memorial Contributions in his memory may be made to Ability Beyond Disability, 4 Berkshire Boulevard, Bethel, CT. 06801.