OBITS: Staten Island Advance 21 Nov 2005; Staten Island, Richmond co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Staten Island Advance Death Notices http://www.statenislandadvance.com/ Bomengo, Mary Mary Bomengo on October 30, 2005. Loving mother of Vicky and the late William Ravelo, Joseph, Thomas and Tammy. Dear sister of Josephine Yetto, Grace Biscardi, Lorraine LoPinto, Rita Thornton and the late Connie Bell and Frances Brancato. Cherished grandmother of Michael, Elisa, Jerome, Christina Marie and the late Jason. Fond great-grandmother of Emma and Aidan. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Wednesday 9 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church 9:30 A.M. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may call 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 11/1/2005. Crisci, Anthony Anthony Crisci of Rossville on October 31, 2005. Loving husband of Chickie (nee Presta). Devoted father of Janet Lucci, Anthony Crisci and Diane Peluso. Cherished grandfather of Gerard, Joy, Courtney, Loren, A.J., Brianna, Michelle and Krystal. Fond great-grandfather of Kayla. Beloved brother of Terry, Junior and Gracie. Reposing at Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd., corner of Tysens Lane. Friends may call Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday St. Joseph's Church of Rossville 10 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/1/2005 - 11/2/2005. D'Auria, Mary (Giusto) Mary D'Auria (nee Giusto) of Grasmere on October 30, 2005. Beloved wife of Anthony. Loving mother of Steven. Adored grandmother of Christopher, Peter, Alexis and Lauren. Funeral from Dongan Hills Virginia Funeral Chapel, 1707 Hylan Blvd., on Wednesday, 9 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial St. Sylvester's Church 9:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Brain Tumor Foundation, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10019, would be greatly appreciated. Visiting hours Monday and Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/31/2005 - 11/1/2005. DelBianco, George George DelBianco of Heartland Village, formerly of Eltingville, on October 30, 2005. Beloved husband of Elaine. Loving father of Denise, Debra and George Jr. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Wednesday 8:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Holy Child Church 9:45 A.M. Interment Ocean View Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Tuesday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/31/2005 - 11/1/2005. Galanaugh, Gerard Gerard Galanaugh of The Villages, Florida (formerly of Eltingville) on October 27, 2005. Beloved husband of Kathy. Loving father of Cathy DiGeorgio, Donna Richards, and Barbara Galanaugh. Dear brother of Charles Galanaugh, Eileen Storcks, and John Galanaugh. Cherished grandfather of Paul and Danny DiGeorgio and Jenna Richards. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Friday 8:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial 9:45 A.M. Holy Child Church. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Wednesday and Thursday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/1/2005 - 11/2/2005. Hansen, Helen (Quinlan) Helen Hansen (nee Quinlan) of Sunnyside on October 31, 2005. Wife of the late Victor. Loving sister of Dorothy Trzaska, Anna Zagejeski and the late Joseph Quinlan and Margaret Beshears. Dear sister-in-law of Margaret Quinlan. Also survived by sixteen nieces and nephews. Funeral from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave., Castleton Corners, on Friday. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady of Good Counsel Church 10 A.M. Entombment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Wednesday 7-9 P.M. Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to our Lady of Good Counsel Church would be greatly appreciated. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/1/2005 - 11/3/2005. Kart, Adriana V. Adriana V. Kart of Princes Bay on October 29, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Charles. Loving mother of Barry Guinn and the late Diane Swarts. Devoted grandmother of Adrienne Tobin, Richard Portaro and Blaine and Kerry Guinn. Also survived by seven great-grand-children. Funeral from Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, 7447 Amboy Road, on Thursday, November 3, at 9:30 A.M. Funeral Mass St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 10 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends may visit Wednesday 7-9 P.M. Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Family Owned & Operated since 1841 www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/1/2005 - 11/2/2005. Kelly, Rose Rose Kelly of Silver Lake on October 29, 2005. Beloved wife of the late John. Loving mother of Generosa Zeccardi, Ellen Holzka, and the late John Kelly. Also survived by three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral Service from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave, Castleton Corners, on Tuesday 7:30 P.M. Private committal Rosehill Crematory to follow. Friends will be received Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/31/2005 - 11/1/2005. Mancinelli, Louis Louis Mancinelli of Bay Terrace on October 30, 2005. Beloved companion of Grace Attanasia. Dear brother of Anthony and Albert. Loving uncle to many adoring nieces and nephews. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Thursday 8:30 A.M. Funeral service at the Olivet Presbyterian Church 10 A.M. (Broadway and Myrtle Ave.). Interment Ocean View Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/1/2005 - 11/2/2005. Philbin, Muriel (Mooney) Muriel Philbin (nee Mooney) of Westerleigh on October 29, 2005. Beloved wife of the late William. Loving mother of Stephen Philbin, Margaret Roberts and John Philbin. Dear sister of Josephine McLoughlin, Thomas, Johnny, Billy and the late Bobby Mooney. Adored grandmother of Faith, Aidan and Ryan. Funeral from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave, Castleton Corners on Wednesday. Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament Church 9:45 A.M. Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. Friends will be received Monday and Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, dontations to Pax Christi Hospice would be greatly appreciated. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/30/2005 - 11/1/2005. Prestia, Nancy Nancy Prestia on October 29, 2005. Beloved mother of Vincent, Michael and Christine Trani. Beloved daughter of Margaret Prestia. Loving sister of Maryanne Loughran. Viewing from A. Azzara Funeral Home Inc., 183 Sand Lane, South Beach, S.I. Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. Funeral Mass at Holy Rosary Church Thursday 9:30 A.M. followed by a private cremation. A. Azzara Funeral Home., Inc. Family Owned & Operated since 1900 www.SILive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/31/2005 - 11/2/2005. Tobia, Dolores (Enny) Dolores Tobia (nee Enny) of Great Kills on October 30, 2005. Beloved wife of John. Loving mother of Eileen, Christopher, Steven and Michael Zeunges. Dear sister of John Enny. Mother-in-law of Ro Sann Zeunges. Adored grandmother of three grandchildren Christopher, Brid get and Natalie. Funeral Service from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills, on Wednesday. Mass of Christian Burial St. Clare Church at 9:45 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Friends will be received Monday 7-9 P.M., Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/31/2005 - 11/1/2005. RICHARD WALSH, 74 Retired dispatcher, cook Monday, November 21, 2005 Huguenot resident Richard M. Walsh, 74, a retired dispatcher and cook, died Saturdayat home. A lifelong resident of Huguenot, Mr. Walsh graduated from Tottenville High School and attended the New York Culinary Institute in Manhattan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, stationed at Fort Dix, N.J. For 20 years, he was a dispatcher at the former W.T. Grant's warehouse in Metuchen, N.J. In 1974, Mr. Walsh went to work for K-Mart, New Dorp, for its in-store restaurant as a cook and manager. He retired in 1998. Mr. Walsh enjoyed cake decorating and cooking. His greatest love, however, was his four grandchildren, Stephen, Ashley, Nicole and Brittany DeLuzio. "They were their grandpa's world," said Mr. Walsh's daughter, Lisa DeLuzio. In addition to his four grandchildren and daughter, Lisa, surviving Mr. Walsh are his wife of 49 years, the former Joan Czaplicki; a son, Mark and a brother, Robert. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville. Cremation is being handled by the Rosehill Crematory, Linden, N.J. MICHAEL DeBETTA, 64 Musician was school band, orchestra leader Monday, November 21, 2005 Michael DeBetta Sr., 64, of Graniteville, a high school music teacher and school band and orchestra leader who also accompanied legendary muscial performers Steve Lawrence and the late Sammy Davis Jr., died Saturday in St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton, following a short illness. Born in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, he also lived in Bensonhusrt before moving to Graniteville in 1969. He received a clarinet scholarship to the Mannes College of Music and also attended the New York College of Music and Brooklyn College. He received his teaching degree from New York University. Mr. DeBetta began his music career as teacher at John Jay High School in Park Slope in Brooklyn. He also taught music at New Dorp High School before moving to Tottenville High School where he remained for 20 years, retiring in 1996 as head of the school's music department. He served as the director of the school's orchestra and marching band. The marching band routinely performed in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan. Other Manhattan parades the band performed in during the 1990s included parades for the Yankees after they won the World Series, and parades for veterans of the Persian Gulf War and the homecoming parade for the Iranian hostages. In 1996, his band had a role in a Wesley Snipes movie, "One Night Stand," and that same year was also invited to play at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Over a 20-year period, Mr. DeBetta served as assistant conductor and conductor of the All City High School Concert Band that performed annually at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. A member of Local 802 of the Musicians Union, Mr. DeBetta fronted his own group, "The Dreamstreet Band," which entertained at society affairs and weddings. He also played with a number of Broadway show bands and performed in famous Manhattan clubs, such as the Copacabana. He also played backup music for several legendary singers including Seve Lawrence, Sammy Davis Jr., Edie Gorme and Nell Carter. During his teaching career, he received the city Board of Education Partners in Education Award, the Chancellor's Roll of Honor Award and the Teacher of the Year Award at Tottenville High School. He served as president the Richmond County chapter of the New York State Music School Association and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church, Bulls Head. Surviving are his wife of 39 years, the former Joanne Vigliotti; a son, Michael DeBetta Jr.; two daughters, Josephine Savino and Julie DeBetta; a brother, Carmine DeBetta; a sister, Rose Greco, and one granddaughter. The funeral will be Wednesday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Pity Church. Burial will follow in Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge, N.J. JOHN MATUSEWICZ, 74 West Brighton resident was retired chemical analyst Monday, November 21, 2005 John (Big John) Matusewicz, 74, of West Brighton, a retired chemical analyst, died yesterday at home. The youngest son of 11 children, he was born in Travis and moved to Sunnyside in 1965. He relocated to Concord in 1968 and settled in West Brighton in 1970. A graduate of McKee High School, Mr. Matusewicz worked as a senior chemical analyst for 35 years, working for the Ivory Soap division at Procter & Gamble's former Port Ivory plant. He retired in 1990. The son of Polish immigrants, Mr. Matusewicz was proud of his heritage, and served as the Staten Island Marshal at Manhattan's Pulaski Day Parade in 2003. He also loved to listen to polka music on the radio on Sunday mornings, and enjoyed eating such traditional foods as cabbage rolls and pierogis. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea during the early 1950s. Mr. Matusewicz was a member and past commander of the Cichon Post, American Legion, Port Richmond, and the Anderson-Lagno Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Greenridge. He was also a member of the Catholic War Veterans, and the Polish American Veterans, Amsterdam, N.Y. He also loved to take his entire family on vacations, including Disney World, Aruba and a dude ranch upstate. An outdoorsman, Mr. Matusewicz enjoyed hunting. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, and a safety instructor for hunters. He was also a member of the Richmond County Yacht Club, where he kept his beloved boat, the Al-Me-Chris, a name which combined the first syllables of his daughters' names. He enjoyed fishing in the waters off Staten Island. He was fiercely protective of the natural resources that provided him with so much entertainment. Known as "Mr. Clean" for his conservation efforts, he was appointed to the Conservation Fund Advisory Board of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, where he served as Region 2 representative. Six years ago, he was named the Outstanding Conservationist of New York State by the New York Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Mr. Matusewicz was also actively involved in politics, and served as a state committeeman for the District Leader of the 50th Assembly District. He was named Conservative of the Year for Richmond County in 1998, and founded the Polish American Conservatives of Staten Island. He served as exalted ruler of the Staten Island Elk's Lodge, Greenridge, and as past state trustee and district chairman of many projects. Mr. Matusewicz was a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, West Brighton. He and his wife, the former June Keller, met while attending a wedding at the Tappen Post in Stapleton. They celebrated their 40th year of marriage on Oct. 23. In addition to his wife, June, surviving are his three daughters, Allison Salvadeo, Melissa Romano and Christine Carelli; three sisters, Jeanette Wisinski, Pauline Choban and Sophie Higham, and 12 grandchildren. The funeral will be Wednesday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton. GEORGE FOSKET, 82 Retired state assistant chief insurance examiner Monday, November 21, 2005 George F. Fosket, 82, of Oakwood Heights, a retired New York State assistant chief insurance examiner, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born in the Bronx, Mr. Fosket was brought to New Brighton in 1929. He settled in Oakwood Heights with his wife and children in 1955. A graduate of Manhattan College with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Mr. Fosket was an examiner with the New York State Insurance Department for 36 years. He retired in 1983 as assistant chief examiner. He then spent another nine years representing the New Hampshire Insurance Department in New York and New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946, spending two years of that time in the Pacific theater. Mr. Fosket was a charter member of the Manhattan and Staten Island chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society and was also active in tennis circles for many years. He was a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church, Oakwood. Surviving are Mr. Fosket's wife of 51 years, the former Violet Keller; two sons David and Timothy; three daughters Dr. Claudia Fosket, Geralyn Vanacore and Pamela Carbone; a brother, Robert; four sisters, Margaret May, Rita Lescher, Mary Hennessy and Theresa Fosket, and six grandchildren. The funeral will be Wednesday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a mass at 9:15 a.m. in St. Charles Church. Arrangements include cremation. DANIEL CICIO, 77, Was founding member of football league Monday, November 21, 2005 Daniel John Cicio, 77, of New Springville, a retired engineer for the city Water Department and a founding member of the Staten Island Touch Tackle League, died yesterday in St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Cicio moved to Meiers Corners in 1962 and settled in New Springville 20 years later. After graduating from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, Mr. Cicio served in the Army for two years during the Korean War, based in California. Mr. Cicio was employed for over 30 years by the New York City Water Department as a stationery electric engineer, retiring in 1982. Mr. Cicio was a fan of the New York Giants. He also enjoyed gardening and traveling. "He was devoted to his family including his daughter-in-law, Melissa, and his grandchildren Daniel, Janine and Jesse," said his son, Steven Cicio. "His daughter, Susan, was a major part of his life." Mr. Cicio founded the Staten Island Touch Tackle League 50 years ago with his partner and best friend, Charlie Margiotta. He handled the league's scheduling and served as chief statistician. But most of all, he was "the guts that made the Touch Tackle League go," Mr. Margiotta said. "He was as close to me as my brother. It's a big loss." He was also a member of the Staten Island Softball League. Mr. Cicio was a parishioner of St. Teresa's R.C. Church, Castleton Corners. In addition to his son, Steven, Mr. Cicio is survived by his wife of 50 years, the former Marilyn Scribani; a daughter, Susan Cicio, and three grandchildren. The funeral will be Wednesday from the Casey Funeral Home with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Teresa's R.C. Church, both in Castleton Corners. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.