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DARIEN, Conn. Theodore Shmanda of Darien died Oct. 10 at Stamford Hospital after a brief illness. He was 95.
Shmanda was a retired chemical engineer and oil company executive.
He was born Nov. 8, 1916, in Philadelphia to Katherine and John Shmanda. He attended Philadelphia schools and graduated from Central High School in 1934. He received a degree in chemical engineering from Drexel University and worked in the chemical industry, joining the Sinclair Oil Company in 1943.
Shmanda held several progressive positions and was promoted to chief technician at the refinery in 1956. The next year, he was promoted and transferred to New York City. After Atlantic Richfield Company acquired Sinclair in 1969, Shmanda became assistant to the manager of manufacturing and engineering and later, senior project engineer, until his retirement in 1980.
During his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Katherine. An avid reader, he enjoyed woodworking, leather crafts and doing the New York Times crossword puzzles.
Shmanda is survived by a son, John (Sharon) Shmanda, of Norwalk; a daughter, Elaine (Richard) Mester, of Monroe, Conn.; and Angela Kim, of Fairfield Station, Va., who regarded him as her grandfather.
Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Church in Darien. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820, or Central High School, 1700 W. Olney Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19141.
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