OBITS: Post-Star 28 Sep 2005; Glen Falls, Warren 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: Post-Star http://www.post-star.com Amorosi, Donald J. Fort Edward -- Donald J. Amorosi, 92, formerly of Washington Street, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at the Pleasant Valley Infirmary in Argyle. Born March 14, 1913, in Fort Edward, he was the son of the late Carmine and Elvira (Sciarretta) Amorosi. Mr. Amorosi graduated from Fort Edward High School as salutatorian of the Class of 1931. He earned varsity letters in three sports - football, basketball and baseball. After graduation, he attended Union College for two years, and was listed on the scholastic honor roll, both years. Mr. Amorosi entered into active service in the United States Army on April 2, 1943. He served a total of two years and eight months. He served 23 months in the Southwest and South Pacific in New Caledonia, Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands group and Luzon in the Philippines. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with one star for the battle and campaign in Luzon, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Badge. Mr. Amorosi was an Honorary Life Member of the Fort Edward Knights of Columbus with 72 years of membership, serving as financial secretary for 43 years. He received a Service Award Certificate in grateful appreciation for dedicated service during an honorable career of 33 years with the government of the United States. This was given by the United States Postal Service at his retirement on Nov. 7, 1980. He also served as an assessor for three years for the village of Fort Edward. Mr. Amorosi married Edith L. Merrill on Aug. 9, 1938, in St. Joseph's Rectory. His wife died on June 21, 1998, after 60 years of marriage. Besides his parents, two grandchildren, Kristopher and Keith Amorosi, also predeceased him. Survivors include his children: one daughter, Susan A. Bowe of South Glens Falls; three sons, Brian M. Amorosi and his wife, LuAnne, of Atlanta, Ga., Peter C. Amorosi and his wife, Lisa, of South Glens Falls, and Donald C. Amorosi and his wife, Sharon, of South Glens Falls; nine grandchildren: Heather Fisher, Brian Bowe, Donnie Amorosi and his wife, Kara, Katrina Arnold and her husband, John, Gregory Amorosi and his wife, Jennifer, Stacey Sakata and her husband, Micah, Melanie Shraver and her husband, Jeff, Brandon Amorosi and Anthony Amorosi; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anita Arcuri and Rose Barlow of Fort Edward; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Sept. 28, 2005, at M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, at St. Joseph's Church, 164 Broadway, Fort Edward, with the Rev. Martin Fisher, pastor of Corpus Christi Church, Round Lake, officiating. The Rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Fort Edward. Pallbearers will be: Brian M. Amorosi, Peter C. Amorosi, Brian T. Bowe, Donald E. Amorosi, Gregory W. Amorosi, and Gary Merrill. The family would like to thank the staff of Pleasant Valley Infirmary for their dedication and personal care they showed to Don and the family. Donations may be made in Don's memory to the Bleeding Disorders Association of Northeastern New York, P.O Box 3707, Albany, NY 12203-0707, or to Pleasant Valley Resident's Council, c/o Pleasant Valley Infirmary, Argyle, NY 12809. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. Grenquist, Vernon Fort Edward -- Vernon Grenquist, 85, of East Street, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born on Oct. 4, 1918, in Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Otto B. and Grace E. (Hunt) Grenquist. Survivors include his wife, Celia (O'Malley) Grenquist, of Fort Edward; his daughter, Diane Nelson and her husband, Kevin, of New York City; his sons, John Padgett and his wife, Thelma Jean, of Live Oaks, Fla., and James Padgett and his wife, Betty, of Hudson Falls; his grandchildren, Jon Agioto and his wife Amy, of Ozone Park, N.Y., Christie Ann Valore and her husband, David, of Apex, N.C., Betsie Padgett, of Oswego, Jamie Sabo, and her husband, Peter, of Hudson Falls; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, at M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward. www.Kilmers.com. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ken Prater, pastor of the Durkeetown Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at the Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Schuylerville. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers, to the Fort Edward Rescue Squad, Inc., P.O. Box 226, Schuyler St., Fort Edward, NY 12828. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. Gumuka, Richard J. LAKE GEORGE -- Richard J. Gumuka, 83, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at Westmount Health Facility, Queensbury. Born June 21, 1922, in Schenectady, he was the son of the late Albert and Victoria Gumuka. Mr. Gumuka was educated in Amsterdam and graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School, Class of 1940. Following graduation he operated a service station in Amsterdam. In October of 1942, Mr. Gumuka joined the U.S. Navy and served as an Aviation Radioman First Class doing submarine patrol duty with VS-34 on the East Coast, serving from Brooklyn to Cherry Point, N.C. He was honorably discharged in October of 1945. Mr. Gumuka married Norma Jean Kozlowski on June 3, 1945. He and his wife owned and operated Nordick's Tavern in Schenectady from 1947 to 1954, at which time they moved to Lake George and became the proprietors of Nordick's Motel and Restaurant, retiring in 1985. Mr. Gumuka also owned Nordick's Real Estate. He was an active member of the Lake George Motor Court Association, a member, director and president of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, active in all of the activities, including eight years on the Winter Carnival Committee, a member of the Lake George American Legion Post 374, the Lake George Elks Club, and the Knights of Columbus Council 192 in Cohoes. Mr. Gumuka was a communicant, with his wife Norma, of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church of Lake George. He was predeceased by his wife, Norma Jean Kozlowski Gumuka, who died on June 1, 2005; two brothers, Raymond and William "Timmy" Gumuka; and a daughter, Mary Ellen Gumuka. Survivors include one son, Dennis R. Gumuka and his wife, Athena, of Ballston Spa; one grandson, Michael T. Gumuka and one granddaughter, Alexi C. Gumuka, both of Ballston Spa; one sister-in-law, Eleanor Ceil Jasper, of Amsterdam and Lake Worth, Fla.; and several cousins. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Mohican Street, Lake George, with the Rev. Bernard R. Turner, pastor, officiating. A Rite of Committal will follow at St. Stanilaus Cemetery, Steadwell Avenue, Amsterdam. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Stafford Funeral Home, Inc., 90 Montcalm St., Lake George. The family has suggested that memorial contributions may be made to the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main St., Queensbury, NY 12804. Logo Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. McMartin, Barbara CANADA LAKE -- Barbara McMartin, 73, of Canada Lake, died on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, of breast cancer. She is survived by her loving and caring husband, Walter Alexander Reid. Since their marriage in 1982, his tireless devotion to her and her work has been monumental; their shared passion is most beautifully evident in their magnificent, amphitheater garden. Survivors from her first marriage are James McMartin Long and his partner, Anita Miller, of Canada Lake, Nancy Ellen Long and her husband, Richard Loomis, of New Hartford, and Margaret Long Lawrence and her husband, Robert Lawrence, of Ossining; two stepdaughters also survive: Karen Reid of Minneapolis, Minn., and Pauline Reid of Reston, Va.; grandchildren include: Alicia Loomis, Catherine Loomis, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Daniel Lawrence. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Daniel McMartin of Louisville, Ky.; her sister Patricia Maier of Lexington, Mass.; and her nieces, nephews and stepmother. Born on Nov. 18, 1931, she was the daughter of Dr. D. Malcolm McMartin, Johnstown physician, and Barbara Clark McMartin. Growing up in Johnstown, she became the valedictorian of the Class of 1949. She graduated from Vassar College, cum laude in mathematics in 1964, received a master's degree from Hunter College, and in 1972 she received a PhD in mathematics from the Graduate Division of City University of New York. In 1972, McMartin turned from mathematics and became involved in the environmental movement in the Adirondacks where her primary focus was the nature, culture, and management in the Park. She served as vice-president the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks and was a member of many environmental groups. In the years between 1972 and 2005 she wrote 25 books, both guide books and histories of the Adirondacks. She wrote and maintained the popular eleven book Discover series which covers all regions of the Adirondack Park for outdoors people. Her other guides include: The Adirondack Park, A Wildlands Quilt; Fifty Hikes in the Adirondacks; Fifty Hikes in the Hudson Valley; and three books for young people, on hiking, camping, and canoeing. In 1976 she completed Caroga, an Adirondack Town Recalls its Past. Her other histories include: Hides, Hemlocks and Adirondack History, The Great Forest of the Adirondacks, To the Lake of the Skies (story of the Benedicts), The Glove Cities, Perspectives on the Adirondacks, The Privately Owned Adirondacks and Adirondack Timeline. She also wrote a series of pamphlets and Citizen's Guides for the Adirondack Park Agency. She was proudest of her service on DEC advisory committees: the High Peaks AC from 1974 to 1978 and the Forest Preserve AC from 1979 to 2003. She chaired the FPAC from 1979 to 2003, where she helped write many DEC policies. She served as volunteer curator at the Caroga Historical Museum and at the Fulton County Museum. She had numerous photograph exhibits of her work and published many magazine articles. In 1992, she chaired the NYS Adirondack Park Centennial. Among the many awards were the Founder's Day Award from the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake as well as both the Adirondack Communicator and Adirondack Heritage Awards from the Adirondack Council. Her friends, DEC staffers, and several Adirondack organizations honored her as her illness progressed and gave her many wonderful notes of commendation for her work. There will be no memorial service, but those who wish may contribute to the Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, P.O. Box 27, North Creek, NY 12853. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. Neville, Marie M. Lake Luzerne -- Marie M. Neville, age 78, died Monday evening, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Stanton Health Care Center, Queensbury, with her family at her side. Born on Nov. 14, 1926, in Quebec, Canada, she was the daughter of Wenteslas and Juliette (Belanger) LaFond. She married Warren K. Neville in 1947, in Lake George. Mr. Neville died on Nov. 26, 1979. Marie was employed as a chambermaid at several area motels for many years. She enjoyed her work at the Lake Luzerne meal site. She enjoyed crafts, especially knitting, ceramics and crocheting. She also enjoyed going to garage sales and visiting with her family and friends. Marie was predeceased by her parents, her husband, an infant son, Edward W. Neville, and one brother, Gaston LaFond. Survivors include one daughter, Donna Pinkowski and her husband, Daniel, of Ticonderoga; four sons, Thomas Neville and his wife, Emma, of Corinth, Joseph Neville and his companion, Sue DeCarli, of Lake Luzerne, Andrew Neville and his wife, Patricia, of Lake Luzerne and David Neville and his wife, Janice, of Blanchard, La.; four brothers, Benjamin LaFond and his wife, Fay, of Glens Falls, Joseph LaFond and his wife, Phyllis, of South Glens Falls, Gene LaFond and his wife, Wilma, of Gilbert, Ariz., Paul "Butch" LaFond and his wife, Barbara, of Lake George; five sisters, Joan Ide and her husband, Jack, of Lake George, Monica LaFond of Newport, Ark., Margaret Mulcahy of Lake George, Lucille Starke of Wilmington, Del., and Frances Hayden of Terre Haute, Ind.; six grandchildren, John Pinkowski, Jason Neville, Sarah Neville, Jessica Neville, Owen Neville and Amber Neville; five great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren, Bridget Hearn and Dennis Burdick; one aunt; one uncle; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a. m. Friday, at Evergreen Cemetery, Lake George. There are no calling hours scheduled. Contributions may be directed to Hadley-Luzerne Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 215, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846 or to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 220 Lake Ave., Lake Luzerne, NY 12846. Arrangements are under the direction of Brewer Funeral Home, Inc., 24 Church St., Lake Luzerne. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. Ross, J. Mark Ticonderoga -- J. Mark Ross, 45, of Ticonderoga, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt., due to a respiratory illness. Born in Ticonderoga, March 6, 1960, he was the son of Richard Livingston Ross of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the late Elizabeth "Betty" (Garland) Ross. Mr. Ross was a graduate of Ticonderoga High School. He was a lifetime carpenter and woodcrafter, in recent years, employed in the Saratoga area. Mark loved the outdoors, whether in the Adirondacks or on a Florida beach. He also enjoyed cooking and baking. Mark loved his family and friends and the good times he shared with them. Throughout his prolonged illness, he held a sunny disposition and a positive outlook. Survivors in addition to his father, Richard L. Ross of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; include one son, Joshua Gerald Ross of Albany; and three older brothers, Richard "Rick" Ross and his wife, Linda, of Stuart, Fla., Robert "Rob" Ross and his wife, Joni, of Centennial, Colo., and David "Dave" Ross and his wife, Christine, of Ticonderoga. He is also survived by one nephew, four nieces, and one great-niece, who endeared him with the nickname "Uncle Sparky"; and his loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Mr. Ross also had a close companion, Jolene and her children, whom he loved very much. Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga. A funeral service will take place Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005. Wells, Ida L. WHITEHALL -- Ida L. Wells, 89, formerly of Elizabeth Street and a resident of Maplewood Manor in Ballston Spa, passed away on Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Saratoga Hospital following a short illness. Born on Nov. 8, 1915, in Clemons, she was the daughter of the late Benajah and Theodora ( Bartley) Ripley. Ida was a member of the Whitehall United Methodist Church and also a member of the Skenesborough Chapter of the O.E.S. No. 663 of Whitehall. She received a teaching degree from Plattsburgh Normal School. In her early years, Ida worked in the rural district schools until the school system centralized to the Whitehall Central School and she retired as a second-grade teacher. She was predeceased by her husband, Stanley Wells, who passed away on March 6, 1999, one brother, Benajah Ripley Jr. and two sisters, Harriet (Pat) Sheldrick and Betsy Ripley. Survivors include one brother, Charles Ripley and his wife, Leona, of Queensbury, and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams St., Whitehall, by the Rev. C. Don Wheeler, pastor of the Whitehall United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenmount Cemetery in Whitehall. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation in Ida's name to the Whitehall United Methodist Church, 56 Greenmount Cemetery Lane, Whitehall, NY 12887. Published in the Post-Star on 9/28/2005.