OBITS: The Buffalo News 6 Apr 2005; Buffalo, Erie co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: The Buffalo News http://www.buffalonews.com 89 - Nobel laureate Saul Bellow dies at 4/6/2005 NEW YORK - Nobel laureate Saul Bellow, a master of comic melancholy who in "Herzog," "Humboldt's Gift" and other novels both championed and mourned the soul's fate in the modern world, died Tuesday. He was 89. Mr. Bellow's close friend and attorney, Walter Pozen, said the writer had been in declining health, but was "wonderfully sharp to the end." Pozen said that Mr. Bellow's wife and daughter were at his side when he died at his home in Brookline, Mass. Mr. Bellow was the most acclaimed of a generation of Jewish writers who emerged after World War II, among them Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth and Cynthia Ozick. To American letters, he brought the immigrant's hustle, the bookworm's brains and the high-minded notions of the born romantic. "The backbone of 20th century American literature has been provided by two novelists - William Faulkner and Saul Bellow," Roth said Tuesday. "Together they are the Melville, Hawthorne and Twain of the 20th century." He was the first writer to win the National Book Award three times: in 1954 for "The Adventures of Augie March," in 1965 for "Herzog" and in 1971 for "Mr. Sammler's Planet." In 1976, he won a Pulitzer Prize for "Humboldt's Gift." That same year, Mr. Bellow was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, cited for his "human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture." In 2003, the Library of America paid the rare tribute of releasing work by a living writer, issuing a volume of Bellow's early novels. Mr. Bellow had a gift for describing faces, and the author's own looks - snowy hair, aristocratic nose and space between his front teeth - were familiar from book jackets. He had five wives, three sons and, at age 84, a daughter. The son of Russian immigrants, he was born Solomon Bellows on July 10, 1915, in Lachine, Quebec, outside Montreal. He dropped the final "s" from his last name and changed his first name to Saul when he began publishing his writing in the 1940s. Mr. Bellow studied at the University of Chicago for two years and then transferred and earned an undergraduate degree from nearby Northwestern University. "Augie March" and the books that followed - "Seize the Day," "Henderson the Rain King," "Herzog" - established him as a major writer. In each work, Mr. Bellow lived up to Augie March's idea of imaginative power, of inventing "a man who can stand before the terrible appearances." Mr. Bellow's men stood before the New World, and trembled. Nonbelievers amid the worship of machines and money, they shook with existential despair. They did everything from composing letters to dead people in "Herzog" to running off to Africa in "Henderson the Rain King." Among his most personal novels was "Humboldt's Gift," which Bellow described as "a comic book about death," culminating in a graveyard scene as emotional as anything he wrote. The novel was also personal in other ways. The main character, Charlie Citrine, is an aging Chicago writer chasing a younger woman while trying to keep a former wife from ruining him financially. In December 1999, Mr. Bellow's fifth wife, Janis Freedman, gave birth to their daughter, Naomi. Mr. Bellow also had three grown sons from prior marriages, and quipped about finally having a girl: "If I didn't succeed at first, I'll try again." ASHLEY - George E. 4/6/2005 LEWISTON - George E. Ashley of Lewiston, a DuPont Co. retiree, died March 23 after a brief illness at his winter residence in Largo, Fla. He was 83. A native of St. Catharines, Ont., he moved to Niagara Falls with his family in 1923. He was a graduate of Trott Vocational High School in Niagara Falls. He served in the Navy during World War II. In 1980, he retired from DuPont as senior supervisor in Niagara Falls after 40 years. His responsibilities included creating the maintenance training program. Mr. Ashley was a founding member of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah and a member of Moose Lodge 584. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Helen Loge Ashley; two sons, Ronald and Kenneth, both of Lewiston; a daughter, Joan Hendrick of Rochester; a sister, Dorothy Moudy of Niagara Falls; a brother, Harold of Tampa, Fla.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. May 7 in Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 915 Oneida St. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. BARROWMAN - Glenn K. 4/6/2005 Glenn K. Barrowman, a retired boilermaker, died Monday in his Woodlawn home after a lengthy illness. He was 77. A lifelong resident of Woodlawn, he was a graduate of Woodlawn High School. An infantryman, he served stateside with the Army in 1951. Mr. Barrowman worked out of Local 7, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, in Buffalo for 40 years. He also owned an Atlantic service station in Woodlawn for 21 years. He retired in 1985. He was a member of Blasdell Lions Club; Lodge 187, International Order of Odd Fellows, Orchard Park; and an exempt member of Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company for 25 years. He attended Woodlawn Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, the former Marie Duvall; three daughters, Sharon Rogers and Deborah Roth, both of Blasdell, and Carol Robinson of Orchard Park; a son, Glenn R. of Lake View; a sister, Eileen Saline of Seattle, Wash.; and seven grandchildren. Services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, S-4199 Lakeshore Road, Hamburg. BRAGG - Samuel W. 4/6/2005 Samuel W. Bragg, of the Town of Tonawanda, a retiree of Pitney Bowes, died unexpectedly Sunday while visiting friends in Ellicottville. He was 77. Born in Lackawanna, Mr. Bragg was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He worked more than 40 years as a customer service representative at Pitney Bowes, retiring in the 1990s. A 25-year member of the National Ski Patrol at Holiday Valley, he was an examiner and a former assistant patrol leader. Survivors include his wife, the former Patricia A. Vogt; a sister, Helen Critchey of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada; and two brothers, Robert and Donald, both of Guelph, Ont. A private memorial service will be held. CRANE - Marie E. 4/6/2005 Marie E. Crane, a lifelong resident of Buffalo, died Monday in Hawthorn Healthcare Facility after a lengthy illness. She was 72. Born Marie Salerno, she worked for various companies, retiring from New Era Cap Co. in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Christine L. Christopher of the Town of Tonawanda; a son, Mark A. of Angola; a brother, John Salerno of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Holy Cross Catholic Church, Maryland and Seventh streets. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga. CROWLEY-NEASMAN - Doris Lee, homemaker 4/6/2005 Doris Lee Crowley-Neasman, a homemaker, died March 30 in Buffalo General Hospital of natural causes. She was 72. Born in Amory, Miss., Mrs. Crowley-Neasman moved to Buffalo in 1955 with her husband. She attended Buffalo State College and Erie Community College, where she earned an associate's degree. She worked in the ECC registrar's office. Mrs. Crowley-Neasman was a member of the International R&A Masons and the Order of Eastern Star. In addition, she was a Worthy Matron of Daughters of Deborah No. 384. Surviving are a daughter, La- Shari Davis of Buffalo; two brothers, Genoris and Halbert Crowley, both of Grand Rapids, Mich.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services were scheduled for noon today in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 555 Northampton St. HELMICH - Richard J., retired police officer 4/6/2005 Richard J. Helmich, of West Seneca, a retired Buffalo police officer and World War II veteran who was in D-Day, died unexpectedly Saturday at home. He was 84. The Buffalo native attended East High School. Mr. Helmich, an Army private first class, was part of the fourth wave of soldiers who landed on the Normandy coast of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He saw combat in the Ardennes, northern France and central Europe, earning five battle stars. Mr. Helmich was a patrolman from 1957 to 1983. He was a member of Masons No. 351, Springville; Ismalia Temple, Orchard Park; and the Harvey D. Morin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2940, West Seneca. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. His wife, the former Arline E. Domros, died in 1985. Survivors include a son, Richard F. of Delevan, four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m. today in Sieck & Mast Funeral Home, 250 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Cheektowaga. HONAN - Marilyn W. 4/6/2005 Marilyn W. Honan, 81, of Buffalo, wife of retired Erie County Family Court Judge John J. Honan and an active member of her church, died Monday in Mercy Hospital, Town of Tonawanda, following a short illness. Born Marilyn Wiest in Hamburg, she graduated from South Park High School. Mrs. Honan work for the Internal Revenue Service in Buffalo and later at the agency's Washington, D.C. office while her husband attended law school at Georgetown University. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church's Rosary & Altar Society and its Evergreens Club and St. John Evangelist Travel Club. She and her husband, who were avid travelers, celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in 2004. In addition to her husband, survivors include two daughters, Marianne of Buffalo and Carolyn of Princeton, N.J.; three sons, David of Watertown, Dennis of Madison, Wis., and John of Buffalo; a sister, Carol of Clearwater, Fla.; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Church of the Holy Family, 1885 South Park Ave. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum, Lackawanna. KEATING - Max J. 4/6/2005 Max J. Keating, who founded a food service equipment business and owned a restaurant, died Sunday in his Snyder home after a long illness. He was 85. A Buffalo native, he was a graduate of East High School and attended the University of Buffalo. He founded Max Equipment in 1950 and was president until retiring in 2003. He also owned Maximillian's, a restaurant on Delaware Avenue. A member of the Knights of Columbus, the Western New York Restaurant Association and St. Benedict's Church choir, Mr. Keating also enjoyed gardening. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Ruth Geiger; three daughters, Therese of Sherman Oaks, Calif., Lisa Boyce of Bartlesville, Okla., and Renee Keating Wagner of Richmond, Va.; two sons, Tim of Westminster, Md., and Kent of Amherst; three sisters, Alice Roth and Josephine Warrington, both of Kenmore, and Martha Carrigan of Hamburg; a brother, Joseph Kaczynski of Buffalo and seven grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Benedict's Church, Snyder. MOORADIAN - Cornelia A., food caterer 4/6/2005 NIAGARA FALLS - Cornelia A. "Connie" Mooradian of Youngstown, a food caterer and community volunteer, died Saturday in Mount St. Mary's Hospital, Lewiston, after a short illness. She was 72. Born Cornelia MacConnell in Alford, Pa., she moved to Niagara Falls with her family in the 1940s. She graduated from Niagara Falls High School, Erie County Community College and received a dental hygienist license in Syracuse. Mrs. Mooradian was a co-owner of the Silver Spoon Catering for over 15 years. She also was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Niagara Falls and a greeter at the Niagara Falls Visitors Center for many years. She is survived by a son, Kevin J. of Youngstown; two daughters, Anne R. Lozzi of Youngstown and Laura E. Corby of Niagara Falls; a sister, Mary E. McCracken of Sarasota, Fla.; her former husband, Edward J. of Fort Myers, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services were held this morning in Rhoney Funeral Home, 901 Cayuga St., Lewiston. Burial was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston. NESTEROWICZ - John T., former parole officer 4/6/2005 John T. Nesterowicz, a former parole officer, died on Saturday at his Angola home after a long illness. He was 78. A Buffalo native, he lived most of his life in Angola. He had a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Cornell University. Mr. Nesterowicz served in the Army shortly after the end of World War II. He worked as a senior parole officer for the state for 30 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo, Frederick Chopin Singing Society, Jamestown Musical Association and Evans Township Post 5798, Veterans of Foreign Wars. A jazz musician, he played in numerous bands. His wife, the former Rose M. Ramos, died in 1991. Survivors include his companion, Jo Holland of Angola; three daughters, Catherine Caffery of Angola, Linda Bibiloni of New York City, and Nancy of Doylestown, Ohio; a son, John F. of Saugus, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 421 Commercial St., Farnham. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Angola. POPLAWSKI - Timothy H., accountant veteran 4/6/2005 Timothy H. Poplawski, an accountant, died unexpectedly Sunday in his Cheektowaga home. He was 59. The Pecos, Texas, native worked in accounting for Titan Wrecking & Environmental Corp., Kenmore, since 2003. Previously, he was controller for St. George Construction, Fredonia, and also worked for Tallamy, Van Kuren, Gertis & Associates. Mr. Poplawski graduated from Bryant & Stratton College. He served in the Army from 1966 to 1972. Survivors include a son, Kevin of Fairfax, Va.; a daughter, Kim of Alexandria, Va.; his mother, Eugenia of Cheektowaga; a brother, Dennis of Depew; and two grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today in Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 180 George Urban Blvd., Cheektowaga, with prayers at 10:30 in Melvin J. Sliwinski Funeral Home, 85 George Urban Blvd. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga. REED SR. - John P., nuclear repairman 4/6/2005 A Mass of Christian Burial for John P. Reed Sr. of Williamsville, a nuclear power plant repairman, will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 5480 Main St., Williamsville. Prayers will be said at 8:45 in Amigone Funeral Home, 5200 Sheridan Drive, Amherst. Mr. Reed died Saturday in a Boston hospital after being stricken at the Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire. He was 48. He graduated from Kenmore West High School and had an associate's degree from Erie Community College. He also was a graduate of Breedan's welding school, Wellsville. Mr. Reed became a steamfitter's apprentice in 1985 and received his journeyman's certificate in 1989. He was a union steamfitter at Mollenberg-Betz, J.W. Danforth and Co., Anacoma Co. and Atlantic Resources. He later became a valve technician and member of a troubleshooting team that did construction maintenance and repair work at nuclear power plants in the Northeast and Midwest. Mr. Reed coached several of his sons' hockey and baseball teams. He was also a fly-fisherman and hunter. Survivors include his wife, the former Marianne Salerno; three sons, John P. Jr., Andrew S. and Gregory M., all of Williamsville; his father, Donald R. of Wheatfield; a sister, Kathleen Dixon of Wilson; and a brother, Donald R. of North Tonawanda. SINGER - Rosa O. 4/6/2005 A funeral for Rosa O. Singer, an employee of Delphi Harrison in Lockport for more than 20 years and a union representative for United Auto Workers Local 686, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Elim Christian Fellowship, Central Park Plaza. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Cheektowaga. The Buffalo native died Sunday in Erie County Medical Center after a long illness. She was 49. She was a graduate of Kensington High School and earned an associate's degree in business from Erie Community College. She was a sergeant in the Air National Guard. Survivors include a daughter, Ebonee Rice of Buffalo; her mother, Elizabeth Singer of Buffalo; two sisters, Diane and Linda Singer, both of Buffalo; a brother, Morris Singer Jr. of Buffalo; and five grandchildren. TRABOLD - Father Alphonsus A., supernatural expert 4/6/2005 OLEAN - A widely known expert on parapsychology and the paranormal Father Alphonsus A. Trabold died Tuesday in Olean General Hospital. He was 79. The Franciscan friar and member of the faculty at St. Bonaventure University, was a consultant on the Amityville case - known in popular media as the "Amityville Horror" - for the Diocese of Rockville. But his friends and colleagues said Tuesday that there was much more to his work than a few sensational cases. "There was a depth to his work," said Father Francis Storms, who knew Father Trabold for 30 years. "Someone has to be given the gift and the grace to understand these things." Father Trabold worked as a field reporter for the Psychical Research Foundation at Chapel Hill, N.C., and spent many hours each week counseling people who had psychic or supernatural experiences. He was a major contributor to the book "In My Name Shall They Cast Out Devils," by Robert Pelton. . Born Roger Norbert Trabold in Rochester, he graduated from the Aquinas Institute. He began his Franciscan studies at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, and subsequently studied in New York, New Jersey and at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C. He had a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's degree in theology, both from St. Bonaventure. He was ordained at Holy Name College in 1951 and served at parishes and schools downstate for several years. He came to St. Bonaventure in 1960. A member of the university's theology department, Father Trabold taught courses in sacramental theology, but it was his elective course on the supernatural, "Religion and the Paranormal," which was popular with students, who dubbed the course "Spooks." "He reached countless students by his thorough preparation and his devoted attention to his obligations to them," said University President Sister Margaret Carney. "No matter what subject matter he taught, he wanted his students to reflect on their own lives of faith through intellectual discovery and mastery of solid content." Survivors include two sisters, Vera Trabold and Ruth Moreland, both of Rochester. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in the university chapel. Burial will be St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany. TRAINA - Mary 4/6/2005 Mary Traina, a homemaker who enjoyed Italian traditions and traveling, died suddenly Sunday in her Amherst home. She was 84. The former Mary Santomauro was married for 50 years to Orazio "Rocky" , who died in 1996. The couple traveled to Italy, France, Switzerland, Japan and Korea. Survivors include three daughters, Roslyn and Kathleen, both of Amherst; a son, Russell of Amherst; a sister, Josephine Todaro of the Town of Tonawanda; four granddaughters and a great-grandson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. today in St. Benedict's Church, 1317 Eggert Road, Amherst. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga. YOUNG - Wilber C. 4/6/2005 Wilber C. Young, a longtime Angola resident and decorated World War II veteran, died Monday in Autumnview Manor, Town of Hamburg, after a long illness. He was 82. Mr. Young was born in Eden and attended local public schools. He served in the Army during World War II as a member of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Division, and was decorated for his performance in combat. While fighting in New Guinea and Santa Maria, Luzon, in the Pacific Theater, Mr. Young received several medals - including two Purple Heart medals with gold leaf clusters for injuries in December 1944 and March 1945. After the war, Mr. Young worked for Lake Shore Central Schools as a custodian. He also met and married Phyllis Garlock of Angola, to whom he was married for more than 50 years. She died in 1999. Mr. Young took a position with the U.S. Postal Service in the late 1950s, and worked as a letter carrier out of the Angola post office for more than 25 years. He retired in the early 1980s. A member of the Rural Carriers Association. Mr. Young also belonged to Post 5798, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Evans; Newcomb-Long Post 928, American Legion, Angola; and Evans Center Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed traveling with his wife in their recreational vehicle to Texas, Florida and the West Coast. Survivors include a daughter, Margene Marvin of Gig Harbor, Wash.; a son, Keith of Angola; a brother, Raymond of Angola; and a grandson. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Addison Funeral Home, 262 N. Main St., Angola. Burial will be in Forest Avenue Cemetery, Angola.