The Rev. M. Sargent "Des" Desmond died on June 1, 2021 in Southbury CT surrounded by his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; two daughters, Rachel Gerowe and Martha Desmond; four adored grandchildren, Nathaniel, Margaret, Anne, and Katherine; two sons-in-law, Harry Gerowe and Douglas Stochel; and long-time magic pals Herkimer and Hartley.He was born in Medford, MA, to the late Glendoline (Wilson) and Minot S. Desmond. He grew up in Manchester, N.H. where he began to hone his skills in magic and puppetry at an early age. As a lifelong member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (Order of Merlin) and the Society of American Magicians, he delighted audiences young and old as the "Wiz of a Wizard."
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire, attended Bangor Seminary, and received his STB from Harvard Divinity School. He was ordained to Christian Ministry in 1956 and served as pastor in Newington, NH, Danbury, CT, Manomet, MA, and Verona, NJ before becoming Senior Pastor and Minister of Word and Worship at the Congregational Church of Brookfield from 1975 to 1997. In Manomet, Sargent served at the Second Church of Plymouth. A talented preacher, he loved language and understood the power of the carefully chosen word to engage, to clarify, to motivate, to encourage, and to comfort. During his time in Brookfield he felt called and served as a monthly (PVS) visitor at the FCI in Danbury for more than 15 years. In 1997, he retired from the Brookfield UCC and was named Pastor Emeritus.
He kept himself busy in retirement as a supply preacher and most years he and Nancy looked forward to spending time with his extended family at Star Island Conference Center, off the coast of his beloved NH. His entertaining spirit continued to captivate, and he always had a trick up his sleeve to share. Sargent was a magician in so many ways—especially if you define `magic' as the ability to channel God's love through one person to another. He was a man of abiding faith, depth, kindness, and humor, and a blessing to all he met.
A celebration of his life will take place at the Congregational Church of Brookfield (160 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804) on the afternoon of June 27th at 1:30. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial gifts be directed to either the Congregational Church of Brookfield (check to" Book of Remembrance", memo "Rev. M.S. Desmond") or the Memorial Fund of Roxbury Congregational Church (24 Church Street, Roxbury, CT 06783) or the Star Island UCC Financial Grant Fund (check to "SIUCC Financial Aid Fund", mail to Debbie Duval, 4 Catherine Rd, Framingham, MA. 01701).