Obituaries from Gazette.net, January 2003: Frederick Co., MD Permission has generously been granted by Gazette.net to include these obituaries in the MDGenWeb Archives. This publication is available on-line at http://www.gazette.net. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** *****Jan. 16, 2003***** Donald R. Christ Donald R. Christ, 52, beloved husband of Diana G. (Greenfield) Christ, of Middletown, died Dec. 31, 2002 at the Phoenixville, Pa., Hospital. He suffered a massive heart attack while driving back to his hometown of Pottstown, Pa., from a Philadelphia hospital where he had been visiting his mother who had heart surgery that morning. He was born Sept. 11, 1950, in Pottstown, and was the son of Richard and Ann (Schultz) Christ. He graduated from Pottstown High School in 1968. While in high school, Don was member of the high school dance band, playing the baritone saxophone, and the track team. Don graduated from American University in 1972 with a degree in marketing. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by one son, Jeffrey D. Christ, 14, and a daughter, Andrea V. Christ, 11, and one sister, Diane Johnston of Douglassville, Pa. Don worked in the information technology (IT) field for more than 25 years, including 10 years in IT department leadership roles. He was the chief information officer at Asbury Services, an adult assisted-living community in Gaithersburg for the past five years. He was a member and featured speaker of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AASHA), as well as the Maryland Non-Profit Homes for the Aging (MANPHA). At their recent conventions, Don lectured on management and operations of information technology within the healthcare and retirement industries. Don was also a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Previous to his employment with Asbury Services, he was employed by Aspen Systems in Rockville and GEICO Corporation, in Washington, D.C., where he worked for almost 20 years, and had project management, operations management, programming, and application programming management responsibilities. He was a devoted father who never missed a single sport, school or other activity in which his children participated. For relaxation, Don loved to fish and spent most weekends on the family boat on the Chesapeake Bay. When not fishing, he was spending quality time with his family at their Breezy Point getaway. Being with his family was the most important thing to him. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m. at Middletown United Methodist Church. Contributions in his name may be made to either the American Heart Association, AHA Memorial Processing Center, PO Box 5216, Glenn Allen, VA 23058- 5216 or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, c/o Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Hernd Margaret Anna Staley Stup Mrs. Margaret Anna Staley Stup, 93, of Walkersville died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at the Northampton Manor Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Monroe W. Stup, who died 1981. Born Nov. 5, 1909, in Frederick, she was a daughter of Charles Ezra Staley and Edith Smith Staley. She attended grade school in Bloomfield. Mrs. Stup was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Walkersville; the Glade Valley Grange; the Rose Hill Garden Club; the Walkersville Ambulance and Rescue Auxiliary; and the Heritage Farm Preservation Society. She enjoyed gardening, travel, playing cards and playing her cello. Mrs. Stup is survived by her son, James Monroe Stup and wife Louise Huffer Stup; daughter-in-law Marie Denning Stup; five grandchildren: Esther Louise Stup Myers, James Joseph Stup, Melissa Ann Stup Jarvis, Thomas Jeffery Stup and Donald Gary Stup; eight great-grandchildren Crystal H. Stup, Adam J. Stup, Stephanie A. Jarvis, Andrew S. Jarvis, Valerie Lynn Stup, Nicole Terase Stup Dawes, John H. Myers III and Rebecca L. Myers; one great-great-grandchild, Ashley Noelle Spradlin. She was preceded in death by a son, M. Thomas Stup; four brothers Mehrle Staley, Charles P. Staley, Harry Staley, Harold Staley; five sisters Marie Cutsail, Roberta Harris, Viola Baker, Beatrice Gastley and June Dinterman. The family will receive friends on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 40 Fulton Ave., Walkersville, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Mark L. Foucart will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. Those desiring may send memorial contributions to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14 Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville, or to the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville, MD 21793 Or the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Company, 73 Frederick St., Walkersville, MD.on Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403. Ann McGrath Ann Meier McGrath, 66, died Dec. 18 at her home in Clarksburg. She was born Sept. 21, 1936, in St. Charles, Mo. She was the daughter of the late Oscar William and Marjorie Linahan Meier. Ms. McGrath graduated from Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C., Bennington College in Bennington, Vt., and studied at Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Mass. After achieving her master of science degree in urban planning at the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture in New York, she worked for the Redevelopment Land Agency in Washington, D.C., the Urban Renewal Project in Southwest, Washington, D.C., and other areas within the city's planning division, until her twins, Maeve and Joe, were born in 1967. Ms. McGrath was appointed as a commissioner of the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission in 1969, and after that worked in Northern Montgomery and Frederick counties as broker/proprietor of Country Properties Inc. She was also owner/proprietor of Country Market of Urbana and Café Annie during the 1980s. Survivors include three children, Joe McGrath of Frederick, Maeve Starliper of Hagerstown and Meghan Duncan of Clarksburg. A memorial service was held Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Montgomery Hospice, 1450 Research Blvd., Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20850. Patricia W. Wrisley Patricia W. Wrisley died on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003 in Takoma Park. She was the beloved wife of the late, Roger A. Wrisley and mother of the late JoAnn Wrisley. She is survived by three children, Jane M. Wrisley of Virginia Beach, Va.; Roger A. Wrisley and wife Claire of Walkersville; and Judy W. Willis and husband Thomas of New Market; and five grandchildren, Rose Christopher, Patrick and Mick Wrisley, and Jackye and Jake Willis. Family will receive friends on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003 at 3 p.m. at Walkersville United Methodist Church, 22 Main St. Walkersville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the charity of one's choice. *****Jan. 30, 2003***** Christopher Michael Hassett Christopher Michael Hassett, PhD, 50, died in his sleep of heart failure Wednesday, Jan. 22, at his home in State College, Pa. Born Feb. 3, 1952, in Philadelphia, he was the beloved son of Maurice Martin and Mary Elizabeth Murray Hassett of Walkersville. Dr. Hassett was a graduate of St. John's Literary Institute in Frederick where he was a first-team county all-star basketball selection and was a graduate of Bridgewater College in Virginia. He earned his master's degrees at San Diego State University and UCLA. His doctorate in public health was awarded at UCLA. He did genetic research at the University of Washington in Seattle for many years. In July 2002, he relocated to Penn State University as a senior research associate in their laboratory. Surviving in addition to his parents are eight brothers and sisters: Richard M. Hassett and wife Chrisse of Frederick, Kathleen M. Hassett of Kingwood, Texas, John M. Hassett and wife Lucy of Baltimore, Barbara Hassett Mintzell and husband Martin of Annandale, Va., Kevin P. Hassett and wife Laura of Walkersville, Stephen J. Hassett and wife Patricia of Walkersville, Janet H. Hassett of Walkersville, and Megan Hassett Krucenski and husband Kenneth of Baltimore. Also surviving are 21 nieces and nephews; and three aunts Lynn A. Mautz, Betty J. Hirschmann and husband James, and Marian V. Hassett, all of Philadelphia. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Libertytown. The Rev. John A. Dietzenbach and the Rev. John Lippold were celebrants, assisted by Deacon Michael Misulia. Altar servers were Patrick and Michael Hassett, nephews. Pall bearers were brothers Richard M. Hassett, John M. Hassett, Kevin P. Hassett and Stephen J. Hassett; brothers-in-law Martin Mintzell and Kenneth Krucenski; and Eric Mills and Curt Omiecinsky. The Pall was placed by Kathleen and Janet Hassett, Barbara Mintzell and Megan Krucenski, sisters. Mass readings were by Kathleen Hassett and Stephen Hassett. Presentation of the bread and wine was by Chrisse Hassett, Natalie Deluca, Kate Mintzell and Elizabeth Hassett, nieces and Daly Hassett and Paul Hassett, nephews. Interment was in St. Peter's Church Cemetery, Libertytown. Robert E. Dailey & Son Funeral Homes, Frederick, handled the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dr. Hassett to the Christopher M. Hassett Science Fund at Prospect Hall, c/o the Community Foundation of Frederick County Inc., 312 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701.