OBITS: Times Herald-Record 31 May 2005; Middletown, Orange 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: Times Herald-Record http://www.recordonline.com Baker Sr., Robert Forrester Robert Forrester Baker Sr., age 81, of West Milford, died on Sunday, May 29, 2005 at the Chilton Memorial Hospital. Born in Sommerville, MA, he resided in Elizabeth, NJ before moving to West Milford 61 years ago. He was employed by Armament Research & Development at Picatinny Arsenal as a chemical engineer and metallurgist for the US Army for 32 years. Mr. Baker was a Navy veteran of World War II and served as a Electronic Technician's Mate Third Class. He graduated from Bucknell University in the class of '44 with a BS. His memberships include: lifetime member of West Milford PTA; original West Milford Planning Board member; former West Milford Library Board President; President of the Macopin Volunteer Fire Co.; one of the founders of the West Milford Little League; Past President of the Lindy's Lake Association; Boy Scout Troop 44; the first recipient of the Mary Haase Lifetime Volunteer Award; past board member of the Bucknell University Bison Club and a recipient of the Bison Club Award; recipient of the Loyalty to Bucknell University Award; President Alumni Board Sigma Chi at Bucknell University. Mr. Baker is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Helen (Honey) Rhinesmith Baker. Also surviving are three sons, Robert F. Jr. of East Norwalk, CT, Thomas H. of Langhorne, PA and Timothy H. of Chicago, IL; one daughter, Kitty Sarro of Newburgh, NY; one sister, Mary Meseck of Brevard, NC; four granddaughters, Lisa Breault, Laurel Baker, Kyle Baker and Rebecca Sarro; one great granddaughter, Maggie Breault; predeceased by a brother Eric J. Jr. in 1985. Private funeral arrangements by the Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA or to the charity of your choice. www.richardsfuneralhome.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Connolly, Clara Clara Connolly, a retired custodian for SUNY College at New Paltz and lifetime resident of the area, died Saturday, May 28, 2005 at home. She was 76. The daughter of the late William Connolly and Anna Berrian, she was born July 31, 1928 in New Paltz. She was a member of the New Paltz United Methodist Church, AARP #975, New Paltz Gardiner Senior Citizens. Survivors include several cousins, close friends and neighbors. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Copeland Funeral Home, Inc., 162 S. Putt Corners Rd., New Paltz. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3 at the funeral home with the Rev. Dorothy Caldwell officiating. Burial will be in the New Paltz Rural Cemetery in New Paltz. Donations may be made to the New Paltz United Methodist Church, Grove St., New Paltz, NY 12561. Arrangements by Copeland Funeral Home. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Crofoot, John Rea Formerly of Middletown, N.Y. John Rea Crofoot, born July 14, 1925, son of Robert Rea & Louie Higby Crofoot in Constableville, N.Y., entered into rest May 28, 2005 after a long battle with Multiple Myloma. John graduated Constableville High School in 1943 and joined the US Navy in October 1943 serving on LST 629 in the Pacific. He returned in April of 1946. He married the late Jean Gleasman. They had a son, Dennis John Crofoot and a daughter, Rosemary Crouse. Jean died of Cancer December 28, 1954. In October of 1956 he married Rose Bickford officiated by Father Edward Goulet at St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, N.Y. They had a daughter, Nancy Crofoot and three sons: Steven Michael, Douglas Paul and John Richard. John worked thirty-six years for General Telephone in Boonville, Johnstown and Middletown, N.Y. He retired in 1987. John was a past lector at St. Joseph's Church in Middletown. Also, he was past President and District Governor of the Middletown Lions Club serving in 1985-1986; also a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus; a former President of Middletown Little League; a Scout Master in the Cub Scouts. John was also active in the Palm Harbor, Fla. Lions Club, the Salvation Army, and the Elks Club and American Legion in Middletown as well as a volunteer fireman. John is survived by his devoted wife, Rose Bickford Crofoot, at home; his sons, Dennis Crofoot and his wife Debbie of Boonville, N.Y.; Steven Crofoot and his wife Andrea of Pine Bush; Douglas Crofoot and his companion Dawn Boehlke of Haines Falls, N.Y.; and John Crofoot and his wife Karen of Montgomery, N.Y. Two daughters, Rosemary Crouse and her husband Gerald of Boonville, N.Y. and Nancy Crofoot of Newtown, Conn. In addition, a brother, Donald Crofoot of Port Leydon, N.Y., eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Jean Gleasman; brothers Gerald, Paul, Robert, and his sisters Betty Jean Crofoot, Marjorie Donelly, and Johanna Merriam and sister-in-law Lottie Crofoot. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 1, at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home on 26 Grove Street, Middletown from 6-9 p.m. Also a service by the Middletown Lions Club at 7 p.m., followed by the Knights of Columbus at 7:30 p.m. and a wake service at 8 p.m. conducted by Deacon Richard Trapani. A second visitation will be held at the Trainor Funeral Home on 143 Schuyler Street in Boonville, N.Y. on June 2, from 6-9 p.m. A wake service will also be conducted. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on June 3, at St. Joseph's Church in Boonville at 10 a.m. Father Donald Karlen and Father David Orzel will officiate. Burial will be in the Constableville Rural Cemetery, Constableville, N.Y. A family statement reads: "John was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He served his community and fellow man more so through his actions rather than by his words. And most of all, he was a faithful servant of God. May God Bless him. We love you!" Memorial contributions can be made to either St. Joseph's Church, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY 10940 or St. Joseph's Church, 110 Charles Street, Boonville, NY 13309. Arrangements are under the direction of Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove Street, Middletown, NY 10940, (845) 343-2142 and Trainor Funeral Home, 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, NY 13309, (315) 942-2233. For directions or to send a condolence, visit www.connellfuneralhome.com Published in the Times Herald-Record from 5/31/2005 - 6/1/2005. Evans Jr., Paul H. Paul H. Evans Jr., 81, of Cornwall, a retired security guard for Cornwall Hospital, died Sunday, May 29, 2005 at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. The son of Paul H. Evans Sr. and Adelaide Knapp Evans, he was born January 20, 1924 in Morristown, N.J. Paul was a member of the B P O E, Elks # 247 in Newburgh and an umpire with the American Softball Association in the area. Survivors include his wife Doris Wood Evans at home; three daughters: Judy Miller of New Windsor, Paula K. Eddie & husband Rod of Cornwall, Pam Napoli & her fianc‚ Bill Thorpe of Rock Tavern; two sisters: Mary Ellen Schirmer of Vermont, Mary Ann Osterhaut of Florida; two brothers-in-law: Donald Wood & Ed Schirmer; five grandchildren: Bill Miller, Rachael Staples, Heath Eddie, Rori Eddie, & Michael Napoli; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces & nephews. There will be no public calling hours. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 1 at the funeral home. Cremation will be in Cedar Hill Crematory, Newburgh. Funeral arrangements by: Kevin Quigley of Quigley Bros. Funeral Home, 337 Hudson St., Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520. 845-534-9424 www.QuigleyBros.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Fisher, Raymond W. Raymond W. Fisher, of Walden, a loving son, brother and cousin, died May 29, 2005 at St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, N.Y. He was a lifetime area resident born in Suffern, N.Y. on July 8, 1965. Survived by his parents, Howard R. and Caroline Arquitte Fisher Jr., of Walden and four sisters, Brenda Rose and Melissia Degrote of Walden, Synthia Nuise and Cheryl Osborne of Wallkill. Two brothers, Howard Fisher of Pine Bush and Brian Fisher of Newburgh and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at DeWitt Funeral Home, 64 Center St., Pine Bush. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. From, Stanley Lucia Stanley Lucian From, 84, died peacefully at the home of his daughter and her husband, Nancy and Patrick Bourke of Tuxedo Park, on May 27, 2005 after a long battle with cancer. The son of Stanley From and Olympia Wrzesienski From, he was born May 22, 1921 in Wawaywanda, N.Y. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, and was a sales representative for Yale Lock Company for over 25 years. Before moving to this area, he resided in Brick, N.J. and Orlando, Fla. He especially enjoyed his family and was very proud of his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Evelyn Sahler From, at home; two daughters, Mary From of West Warwick, R.I. and Nancy From Bourke and her husband, Patrick, of Tuxedo Park; four grandchildren: Paul, Michael, and Peter Bourke, and Kristie Emproto; one brother, Theodore From of Wappinger Falls, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five brothers: Joseph, Paul, Edward, Henry, and Leon; and three sisters: Anne Flanagan, Adele From, and Gertrude Rozanski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday June 1 at 11 AM in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Tuxedo, N.Y., where the Rev. John F.X. Smith will be the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, N.J. Friends may call on Tuesday from 5-8 PM at the Scarr Funeral Home, Inc., Route 202, Suffern, N.Y. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuxedo Volunteer Ambulance Corp. For directions or to sign Stanley's guestbook, please visit www.scarrfuneralhome.com. Published in the Times Herald-Record from 5/30/2005 - 5/31/2005. Haviland, Gerald S. Gerald S. Haviland, of Liberty, passed away on Saturday May 28, 2005 at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty, N.Y. He was 74. The son of the late Maxwell and Pearl Briggs Slave, he was born on August 30, 1930 in Pittsfield, MA. He was retired from the Army Reserves after serving 20 years as a Master Sergeant in charge of a 105 mm Howitzer Group. He was also retired from the NYC Transit Authority. He is survived by his wife Geraldine Kamiski Haviland of Liberty; two sons, Douglas Haviland and his wife Susan of Rehobeth, MA and Robert Haviland and his wife Patricia of Belair, MD; as well as four grandchildren, Sarah, James, Jessica and Katie. Funeral services will be held at Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty on Wed. June 1 at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Richard Hewitt officiating. Burial will be in Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Rd., Liberty with Military Honors. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Assn, Mid-Hudson Chapter, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-4027. Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay's Funeral Homes Inc., Liberty. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Israelski, Sam Sam Israelski, son of Dora and Itzhak Israelski is survived by his wife Shery, 3 sons, Ira, Dennis, and Ronnie, their wives, Robin, Kristina and Mary, 8 grandchildren, Aaron, Julia, Michelle, Katelyn, Sean, Aidan, Alec and Kamryn, and his sister Sally. He was born in Wloclawek, Poland. Of his seven family members only he and his sister Sally survived the Holocaust. From 1939 - 1945 Sam survived as a prisoner in labor and extermination camps. After the liberation Sam married Shery Pollak and immigrated to the U.S. He worked his way up from menial jobs to becoming president of Valerie Sportswear. He raised three sons two of whom are physicians and one a special education administrator who later joined his dad in business. Sam was a true humanitarian who dedicated his life to philanthropic endeavors. Sam loved this country so much and helped bring other families from Europe and Israel to America enabling them to realize the American dream. A truly great man who touched so many lives, he will be greatly missed. Funeral Service was held at Riverside Nassau Chapel on Friday May 27th and Shiva call from 2-8 Sun.-Wed at the Israelski residence in Lake Success, N.Y. Shiva call will be held locally at the Israelski residence at 5 Woodcrest Lane, Goshen, N.Y. Thursday Night 5:30 - 9 p.m. Published in the Times Herald-Record from 5/27/2005 - 5/31/2005. Knerr, Agnes M. Agnes M. Knerr, of Wesley Hills, passed away Friday, May 27, 2005 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was 81 years old. Mrs. Knerr was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on August 20, 1923 to Agnes V. Doyle (McAleer) and Joseph Doyle. She married George F. Knerr on February 2, 1944 at St. Clement's R.C. Church, Queens. Agnes was a graduate of Rockland Community College and Dominican College. She is survived by her devoted husband George F. of Wesley Hills and her nine loving children, Kathleen and her husband Thomas McFarland of New City, N.Y., Maureen and her husband Kevin Byrnes of Baltimore, Md., Eileen Patricia and her husband Joseph Geraci of Ridgefield, Conn., Joan and her husband William Whitehouse of Haverstraw, N.Y., Paul and his wife Anne Knerr of Montreal, Canada, Rita and her husband Dennis Riehman of Ossining, N.Y., Frank Knerr of Nanuet, N.Y., Bernadette and her husband Peter Alcide of Monroe, N.Y., Marybeth Interdonato of Ridgefield, Conn.; two brothers, Joseph Doyle of Succasunna, N.J. and Frank Doyle of San Diego, Calif.; 23 cherished grandchildren; five cherished great-grandchildren. Agnes was predeceased by her son Thomas Michael. The family will be present to receive friends and relatives on Monday, May 30 and Tuesday, May 31 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wanamaker and Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1 at St. Bonafice Church in Wesley Hills. Burial will follow in Pinelawn Cemetery in Long Island. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the George and Agnes Knerr Endowed Scholarship Fund in Nursing. Send donations made payable to Pace University (Office of Philanthropy) 1 Place Plaza, New York, NY 10038. For guest book and directions, visit wanamakercarlough.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Leahy, Marilyn E. Marilyn E. Leahy, of Pomona, died peacefully on May 29, 2005 at Nyack Hospital. She was 57 years old. She was born on May 7, 1948 in Suffern, N.Y. to Griswold Conklin and Dorothy Conklin (Hagedorn). Survivors include her loving husband Peter Leahy of Pomona, N.Y.; six loving children, Linda Mancuso of Highland Mills, Carolyn Leahy of Newport News, Va., Heather Leahy of Pearl River, Lisa Leahy of Panama City, Fla., Peter Leahy of Pomona, N.Y., Sharon Leahy of Pomona, N.Y.; one sister, Sandra Dostal of Goshen, N.Y.; 10 cherished grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family will be present to receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, June 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wanamaker and Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern. A funeral service will be celebrated on Thursday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the family plot at Brick Church Cemetery, New Hempstead, N.Y. For guest book and directions, visit www.wanamakercarlough.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Morrissey, Francis "Frank" Francis "Frank" Morrissey, of Loch Sheldrake, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2005 at home in Loch Sheldrake. He was 76. He was the son of William A. and Mary Garrison Morrissey. He was born August 7, 1928 in New York City. Survivors include his sister Irene Picone and her husband Richard of Inverness Fla., as well as his extended friends and family at New Hope Community. He was predeceased by one brother and four sisters. Visitation will be Wednesday June 1, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 Main Street, Woodbourne. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, State Route 42, Woodbourne. For Further information contact us at 845-434-7363 or www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Raymond, Frank C. "Whitey" Frank C. "Whitey" Raymond, a lifelong local area resident, died May 29, 2005 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. He was 76. The son of Charles and Mary Zablinska Raymond, he was born October 8, 1928 in Beacon. He graduated from Beacon High School in 1946 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. For over 30 years, he was a planner at IBM in Poughkeepsie. He was more recently employed as a golf starter at the Casperkill Country Club. He was a member of St. Columba Church, Hopewell Junction and belonged to IBM's Quarter Century Club and was actively involved in many local community sport associations. For 52 years, he was a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Board 114, having been past president and currently serving as secretary and treasurer. He ran the Friday Night Golf League at IBM Country Club for 32 years. He was a lifetime member of the Southern Dutchess Country Club, where he was past president, secretary, treasurer, golf chairman and served on the board of directors. Survivors include his daughter, Robin Ann Thomas and her husband Wayne of West Haven, Conn.; son, Mark Raymond and his wife Joyce of Martinsburg, W.Va.; daughter, Lisa Pray and her husband Bill of Stormville, N.Y.; son, Gary Raymond of Pleasant Valley, N.Y.; two sisters, Mary LePore of Tucson, Ariz., Katherine Maurer of Carthage, N.Y. He will be remembered as the "Coolest Grandfather Ever." Eight grandchildren, Heather Zeno of Wappingers Falls, Vincent, Joshua, and Nicolette Raymond of W.Va., Courtney and William Pray of Stormville and Lyza and Brooke Raymond of Pleasant Valley; former wife and friend, Carol Ann Enson; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Emely Raymond in 2000; brother, Joseph Raymond, and sisters, Helen Penacchio, Rose Case, Lillian Phillips and Frances Palmer. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday (today) and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, followed by interment. For driving directions or to send the Raymond family an online condolence, please visit www.McHoulFuneralHome.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005. Stifano, Joseph Marco Joseph Marco Stifano, a Middletown resident since 1934, died Sunday May 29, 2005 at Orange Regional Medical Center at Horton Campus after a short illness. He was 90 years old. He was the son of the late Michael and Victoria DeBello Stifano. Joe was born on May 21, 1915 in Genoa, Italy. He attended schools in Genoa, Italy, and Middletown, N.Y. and worked in the heating and sheet metal industry for over 40 years before his retirement from C. R. Wolf in 1982. Joe was a parishioner of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, as well as a member of The Holy Name Society, and the Knights of Columbus. Joe opened the church at 6 a.m. every Sunday and acted as an usher at St. Joseph's for over 50 years. A family statement reads: "Joe was a dedicated, compassionate and reliable servant of the people, and devoted his lifetime to his family and his religion. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family and friends. Joe loved to fish and picnic along the Neversink and Delaware Rivers with all who would join him." He was affectionately known as "Father Time", for his extensive clock collection. Joe will be remembered for brightening up a room with his smile and joy as he greeted a friend or family member. He is survived by his beloved wife Joan Anne Bianchi Stifano, of 62 years, his daughter Antonia "Toni" Stifano-Walton and her husband Marc of Ashton, Maryland and son Joseph "Gebo" Stifano and his companion Joyce Bidwell Watts of Wurtsboro, along with 29 nieces and nephews, and many great- nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Michael Stifano, mother Victoria DeBello Stifano, and a brother Anthony Stifano. Family and friends may visit on Wednesday June 1, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Morse Funeral Home, Inc., 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown, with prayer services at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Middletown. Burial will follow in the family plot in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to St. Joseph School, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY 10940 and St. Teresa Nursing Home, 120 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY 10940. Arrangements were made under the guidance of Morse Funeral Home, Inc., Middletown. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 5/31/2005.