Alan Davis Hershey of Westport died Oct. 22 in the ancient city of Khiva, Uzbekistan on the border with Turkmenistan, cutting short his lifelong mission to travel to all of the world’s 192 countries. He made it to 136. He was 60.

Alan Hershey: man about the world. Contributed photo

Born in Philadelphia, he was a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

He had an innate curiosity about the world around him. He was a polyglot, conversant in five languages and a geography genius.

An avid collector, he amassed one of the world’s largest collections of sand from beaches around the world.

Olivia Sylvia, known to her friends and family as Oly, of Wilton but who lived most of her life in Westport, died Oct. 29.

She was born April 25, 1926 in Mexico City, Mexico.

She is survived by two daughters, Maria Carrano of Bridgeport, and Olivia Caruso of Ridgefield; three sons, Joseph Sylvia and his wife Donna of Stratford, Manuel Sylvia and his wife Colleen of Newtown, and Gerald Sylvia and his wife Cheryl of Easton. She had 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She liked playing cards and playing bingo with her friends at the Ogden House where she resided in Wilton; her favorite pastimes were knitting, watching football, and spending time with her family.

Francine Gilbert of Westport died Oct. 29 at home. She was 78.

She was born in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of the late Abraham and Audrey Weiner. She loved the beach, playing bridge, travel, and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her children, Cicilia Gilbert (Alexandra), Billy Ostrow (Tmira), grandchildren: Meghan Gilbert, Sarah Gilbert, Courtney Gilbert, Jennifer Gilbert (Matthew Babcock), Aaron Gilbert, Sheli Ostrow (Ben Galili), Daniella Ostrow (Jonathan Zinger), numerous great-grandchildren, brothers, Richard (Nancy) Weiner, Louis (Beverly) Weiner, her nephew, Alan Weiner, and her cats, Roscoe and Zsazsa.

Services will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at noon at The Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home, 88 Beach Road, Fairfield, with interment following at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, or to any other animal rights organization.

Helena Mandel of Sandwich, Massachusetts, a former Westport resident, died Oct. 27 at home. She was 91.

She was born and raised in Luzna, Poland. During this time she witnessed first-hand the invasion of Poland and World War II.

A woman of will and perseverance, no matter the situation, she always made do with what was at hand.

After immigrating to America she and her husband set roots in Westport, where they raised five children. Helena lived in Westport for 45 years and relocated to Sandwich shortly after the death of her husband, Walter Jon Mandel.