Carolyn Sue (Carrie) Breen Witt
Carolyn Sue (Carrie) Breen Witt, age 50, of Hamden, CT and Bar Harbor, ME, died peacefully at home in Hamden on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. With her were her parents, Dermott and Sue Breen of Southbury, CT, and the parents of her late husband Tom Witt, Jim and Nancy Witt of Cold Spring, NY, as well as several devoted friends. Carrie is also survived by her brother David Morehouse Breen, his wife Nina Louise and their children: William, Charles, Jonathan, and Nina Elizabeth in Fairfax, VA. Carrie was born in New York City on January 12, 1962. A graduate of Greenwich High School and the University of Virginia, she majored in Medieval History and Drama. The past seventeen years she has been the Executive Director of the New Haven County Bar Association and a year ago was also the President of the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE). She started as a paralegal at Davis Polk in New York, then was the paralegal for the independent prosecutor on the Iran-Contra case in Washington. Upon her return to Connecticut she joined Wiggin & Dana, where she met Tom. She was also very active in the New Haven Junior League, being President in 2002-2003, more recently a Sustainer, and was honored by them in November for her continuing community service. The New Haven Garden Club was also one of her favorite activities, tying in with her interest in Acadia National Park. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service for Carrie on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at 2:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church on-the-Green, 212 Temple St., New Haven, CT 06511. Her internment will be held privately with family. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Friends of Acadia, 43 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Arrangements are in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT.
Any time our friends and family are taken from us, there are no appropriate words. I have only known Carrie for a few years, but her warmth, laughter and genuine caring for people is what I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Can’t speak to much of where she is now, but I do know her memory will stay with me forever. Goodbye my friend! -Steve
Carrie you will be missed. To her family my condolences and prayers. Your smile will shine bright and have many great memories of school days catching up on facebook.
To Carrie’s friends and family, Carrie was a very special lady. I was honored to know her all through my high school years in Greenwich, and to have reconnected with her at our 30th reunion in the past couple of years. She was a person of character and great warmth. We shall all miss her greatly. May she and Tom rest peacefully together.
We miss you so much. Your happiness and comfort have always been one of the goals of our life, and we have been so proud of your many accomplishments.
Carrie, we’ve been friends for over 25 years — we shared the same birthday, and often celebrated together. I so cherished working with you on Bar Association events. I will miss you so much, no longer able to see your smile. But I am comforted to know you are now at peace in the arms of your beloved Tom.
Carrie, Your smile, enthusiasm, hope, heroism and love enriched our family. We are better for having had you in our lives. You continue to live in our hearts.
Carrie will be missed by the Garden Club of New Haven. Her energy and enthusiasm were contagious. Her love of nature was evident in the help she devoted to Phelps Triangle. I thank her family for her and hold you in my heart.
I have known Carrie for many years through NABE and she was a role model to many. She was also an inspiration through some very tough times. To both Tom’s and Carrie’s parents, I offer my deepest sympathy. She was truly loved by many from all over the country and will be missed.
Carrie was always a bubbly, energetic, lively, and loving friend, to me, as well as everyone she knew. Carrie touched our hearts with her sincerity and warmed our souls with her passion. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. She is already so greatly missed.
Carrie was gracious and joyful wherever she went. May one of her blessings be that we each take those lovely qualities and carry them forward. I knew Carrie through NABE and we shared a love for Connecticut, since I once lived there. My deepest sympathies go to her family.
Carrie’s passion, energy, and enthusiasm never failed to motivate and inspire us. Thank you, Carrie. You will always remain in our hearts. Sincerely, Matt Gordon
Dear Carrie–We have lost a warm soul. Your leadership of the NHCBA was always one filled with passion and humility. Your warmth added much to the New Haven Bar and all the events you orchestrated over the years. We will dearly miss you and your spirit. All our love, ned & chris burt
I am so saddened to hear this news, and my thoughts and prayers are with Carrie’s family and friends. I had the good fortune to get to know Carrie through a business relationship about 10 years ago and was always so impressed with her spirit, energy, can-do attitude and warm personality.
I first met Carrie when she came to Wiggin and Dana. She was a wonderful person — Clever, resourceful, energetic, upbeat and so friendly. I’ll miss her greatly. My condolences to her family. Remy Zimmermann
I met Carrie through NABE several years ago. She was always smiling and lit up a room when she was there. She touched so many lives with her work and will be missed. My condolences to the family at this time of sorrow.
I was so sad to hear about Carrie. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I will never forget meeting Carrie at my first NABE meeting. She was the first person to reach out her hand and welcome you. She always made you feel special and at ease. Laurie Rideout Hillsborough County Bar Association
You will be missed Carrie. Thank you for sharing with us your heartfelt joy and passion.
Carrie and I worked at the OIC in Washington for three years. She was a wonderful colleague, someone who daily brought sparkle and energy to her work. Her family will be in my family’s thoughts and prayers.
Dear Mrs and Mr Breen, Dave, Nina and the kids. I remember Carrie well and fondly, and was recalling last night how I was sailing with her the day my oldest neice was born. I am so sorry for your loss, and wish I could be there with you all at Carrie’s memorial service. Please take care and know I am thinking of you! Love, Alison
I met Carrie seventeen years ago when she became the director of the New Haven Bar and we have been close friends ever since. I referred to her at times as my best .girl friend.. Her endless enthusiam for life in general was contagious, and it wasn’t a party until Carrie showed up. Just five weeks ago we were planning on our social events next month at a meeting in Dallas, and she was excited about her upcoming trips to France and Italy. It’s very, very hard to believe she’s gone–I will miss her greatly.
The first time I met Carrie (through the Junior League) I could not help but take notice of this young women of extraordinary presence. Her smile was infectious, her enthusiasm contagious, her heart enormous. She appeared bright, intelligent, and extremely thoughtful and kind. Could she be for real I thought. I learned, as we all did, she was very real, very regular and very special. What an extraordinary role model she served for all of the women in our community. What a beautiful person. I will miss but never forget her.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Breen and Family, Tom was my great childhood friend, and we were blessed to welcome Carrie into our lives through their wonderful union. We will never forget Carrie’s smile, her infectious laugh, her bravery, and her ever-positive outlook in the face of the many unfair trials she fought mightily for so long. Carrie was a bright light in the lives of everyone fortunate enough to have been touched by her kindness, her sense of humor, her character and her indomitable spirit and grace under incredible pressure. She will live in or hearts forever.
Living one house away from Carrie I always used to see her in her yard or we would catch up trading dog stories so sad to hear of her passing she will be missed in the neighboorhood.
We have been privileged for many years to feel like a part of the Breen family, and were blessed to spend many occasions with Carrie. We will never forget our time together at Thanksgiving 2012. We admired Carrie’s courage, enthusiasm for life and spirit. All of you will be in our thoughts and prayers on January 12 and beyond. Jon, Mary Ann and Eleanor Alger
I got to know Carrie through NABE when I was president of NABE in 2000, I called on Carrie to help out with a number of responsibilities, and she always agreed with enthusiasm and grace. Carrie was one of the most upbeat and fun people I ever had the chance to get to know through NABE. I cannot believe she is gone. Even though I have not seen her since I retired several years ago from the State Bar of Wisconsin, I remember Carrie with fondness. My sincere condolences to Carrie’s family. Good bye, Carrie.
I knew Carrie through The Junior League of Greater New Haven where she made many, many contributions, including her role as President. She always gave her all, knew how to get things done and brightened every room into which she stepped. She will be sorely missed. My husband joins me in sending our condolences to the Breen and Witt families.
Carrie was one of those truly special people who knew how to live life with joy, love and friendship. Carrie’s energy, creativity, vision and enthusiasm was contaigious. Her inner strength, courage, encouragement and spirit touched us all. Our love and deepest sympathy to the Breen and Witt familes. We promise to take good care of Ms. Morgan. Rest in peace, our friend, we are all better people for having known you. Thank you! The Zarra Wieler Family and Lady, too!
My heart goes out for both the Breen and Witt families. Carrie was such a great personality. Every time I met with Carrie she had such an up-beat way about her. I feel blessed to have ever known her. Best wishes to those she left behind.
My most sincere condolences to the Breen and Witt families. Carrie and I had many happy adventures in our youth that continue to make me smile, and though our lives took different paths she has always been in my heart. I will miss her. I am very sorry for your loss.