Obituaries
from the
Greenville Press
November 2005
Transcribed by Melanie Citty
Obituaries provided by April Saccoccio
November 3, 2005
ROBERT “BOB” SWARTWOUT
Robert L. “Bob” Swartwout, 64, of Cortland, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 26.
He was born November 3, 1940 in Cortland, a son of the late LeBaron C. and Virginia (Everhart) Swartwout.
Swartwout graduated from Cortland High School in 1958 and went on to the University of Illinois. He returned to Cortland to begin his own construction business, Robert L. Swartwout Builders, and remained in business for the past 43 years.
He was a past member and president of the Cortland YMCA Y’s Men’s Club. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, the Grater Cortland Community Service Club, Cortland Elks Lodge and the University Club, and was active in Cortland youth hockey programs. He loved golfing, hunting and tall tales.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Judy (Cunningham) Swartwout; his son Michael (Kimberly) of Cortland; two daughters, Kellie Swartwout of Homer and Cindra (Jeffrey) Stiles of Cortland; a sister, Susan (William) Steinhaus of pleasant Valley; Grandchildren Shea and Cooper Swartwout and Michael Stiles; in-laws Lee and Trudy Cunningham and Curt and Nancy Cunningham, all of Greenville, and Carol and Don Reed of Cortland; and several nieces and nephews.
A brother Peter, grandson J.J. Stiles, stepmother Elizabeth Swartwout and stepsister Carol Steiger predeceased him.
Burial was in the Cortland Rural Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the J.M. McDonald Sports Complex, 4292 Fairgrounds Drive, Cortland 13045.
Arrangements were with the Wright-Beard Funeral Home.
November 3, 2005
DANIEL DALY
Daniel J. Daly, 42, of Cairo, formerly of the Bronx, died Friday, October 28 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
He was born in the Bronx on November 14, 1962, the son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Buckley) Daly of Cairo.
Daly was employed in watershed maintenance for the City of New York, Hillview in Yonkers, until his early retirement.
He moved to the Cairo/East Durham area 14 years ago, where he was co-owner of the Irish Lakes Motel, a family operated business.
Daly was a 26 year member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, past president of division 3 New York County, and presently a member of Division 2, a member of Our Lady of Knock Council Knights of Columbus in East Durham, holding the office of treasurer and corporation chairman, a member of the United County Feis acting as chairman, and a member of the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre.
He also was a member of the IBEW Local # 3 Electricians, the line of March timekeeper for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City and communicant of Our Lady of Knock Shrine.
Besides his parents, survivors include his sisters, Julia Stock and husband Harri of Mahopac and Bridget Daley of Riverdale; a niece, Irene Stock; two nephews, Timothy and Max Stock all of Mahopac; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Interment was in the Winston Cemetery, East Durham.
Contributions in Daly’s memory may be made to the American Hear Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany 12205.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
November 3, 2005
DOLORES KEEGAN
Dolores M. Keegan, 75, of old Chatham, formerly of Cairo, died Saturday, October 29 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Brooklyn May 7, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Julia (Sherman) Amoroso.
Keegan was a doll collector and loved animas, reading, opera and crossword puzzles.
Before retiring, she was a bookkeeper for the American Thermostat Co. of South Cairo.
Surviving are two sons, Richard of Shelton, CT, and Lawrence of Saratoga; two daughters, Barbara Wyche of Pinetta, Fl, and Linda Gasparini of Catskill; a brother Thomas Amorosa of Michigan; two sisters, Jackie Encelimo and Joan Owmbey, both of Long Island; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services are today, November 3, at 1 a.m. from Richard Funeral home, 383 Bross Street, Cairo, with the Rev. Retta Lykens, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Cairo, officiating. Burial follows in Catskill Rural Cemetery.
November 3, 2005
DONALD WALDRON
Donald Lee Waldron, 69, of Catskill, died Friday, October 28 at Albany Medical Center.
Born in Catskill April 25, 1936, he was the son of the late Donald E. and Vivian D. (Ferrier) Waldron.
Waldron was active in Little League baseball activities and many other sports. He loved bingo, gardening and coffee klatches at the Donut Shop in Catskill, and was a life member of the International Union Local 106 of Albany.
Survivors include his wife, Marcia L. (Van Zandt) Waldron; a step-son, Charlie Raffiani and wife Diane of Catskill; a stepdaughter, Dawn Raffiani of Catskill; a brother, Douglas Waldron of West Coxsackie; and three grandchildren, Lance Cpl. Charles Raffiani, USMC, stationed in Iraq, Jill Raffiani of Cairo and Mikayla Rivenburgh of Catskill.
Cremation took place at the Albany Rural Crematory in Menands.
Burial was in the Catskill Town Cemetery.
Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Sons Funeral Home, Coxsackie.
November 10, 2005
HARRIETT SPEENBURGH
Harriett Catherine Speenburgh, 98, died at Robinson Terrace, Stamford, on Thursday, November 3, 33 days shy of her 99th Birthday.
She was born December 6, 1906 at home in Spruceton, the seventh of 11 children of Edmund and Lillie (Dunham) Simmons.
Known as Hattie, she lived her entire life in Greene County. For a time she was employed as a seamstress at the Dress factory in Athens. While living in Catskill, “Aunt Hattie” loved to crochet.
Surviving are her sister, Laura Rappleyea of West Kill, and four generations of nieces and nephews.
Two infant children, brothers Harry, Clarence, Lloyd, Leonard, Burton and Edmund Simmons, and sisters Bessie Van Valkenburg, Dorothy Persons and Emma Howard predeceased her.
Interment was in West Kill Community Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies Aid of the West Kill United Methodist Church.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
November 10, 2005
KAREN YACOBUCCI
Karen Albin Yacobucci, 53, of Freehold, died suddenly on Wednesday, November 2 in Little Falls.
She was born in Bronx on February 19, 1952, the daughter of John Albin Sr. and the late Joan Bigley Albin.
Yacobucci graduated from Greenville Central School in 1971 and the Albany School of Nursing at Albany Medical Center in 1973.
She had been employed by the Cumberland Farms store in Greenville and also was a home health care aide. She last worked at Country Square Wine and Liquor in Greenville.
She was an avid Yankees fan, enjoyed volunteering at the Great Northern Catskills Balloon Festival held in Greenville, doing the jumbles in the newspaper and playing Yahtzee.
Besides her father, survivors include her daughter, Stephanie Frasier and husband Loren; her grand-children, Kyle, Jonathon, Josiah and Nathaniel; her brothers and sisters, John Albin Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Michele Weidman and husband Victor, Jayme Ablin and wife Ann, Ellen Stevens and husband Orrin, Michael Albin and wife Susan and Raymond Albin and wife Stephanie; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Besides her mother, a brother, Robert Albin, predeceased her.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
November 17, 2005
THOMAS BUFFE
Thomas D. Buffe, 83, of Freehold, died Sunday, November 19 at the Whittier Rehabilitation and skilled Nursing Center in Ghent.
He was born in Albany March 31, 1922, the son of the late Lorenzo and Mari (Procino) Buffe.
Buffe was a retired Department of Public Works maintenance employee, having worked for Suffolk County in Bay Shore.
He served in the Army during World War II and received the American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Buffe was a former member of the VFW in Suffolk County and a member of the Cairo Golden Age group.
Survivors include his wife, Alyce (Dalton Buffe; a son, Thomas J. Buffe; a grandson, Dylan T. Buffe; and several nieces and nephews.
As to his wishes, he will be interred in Saratoga National Cemetery. Services are the Convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 85 Watervliet Avenue, Albany 12206-2083.
Arrangements are with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
November 17, 2005
O’ NEIL FERRIOLO
O’Neil Joseph Ferriolo, 82, of Catskill, died Saturday, November 12 at home after a long illness.
He was born in Manhattan September 18, 1923, the son of the late Joseph and Adeline (Venaccio) Ferriolo.
Ferriolo served in the U. S. Air Corps during World War II.
He attended Bergen Junior College and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He was a teacher at Cairo Elementary School and later a special education teacher at Catskill High School for many years prior to this retirement in 1985.
He was a member of the Young Republicans Club, the New Scotland Beagle Club for 50 years and the Catskill Teachers Association.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda Annese Beatty and Michelle Ferriolo Mann of Catskill; a brother, Richard Ferriolo of Greenville; and four grandchildren, Moriah Eisenhardt and Skylar, Cheyenne and Maya Mann.
He was predeceased by his wife Louise Marie Ferriolo, on May 5, 2005; a daughter, Antoinette Kingman, on June 9, 2005 and a sister, Dolores Cirigliano.
Burial was in the veterans section of the Town of Catskill Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Traver and McCurry Funeral Home, Catskill.
November 17, 2005
WILLIAM GERARD
William Gerard, 79, of Medusa, died Saturday, November 12 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn in Albany.
He was born in Brooklyn May 1, 1926, to the late William and Laura (Eichorn) Gerard.
Gerard was a retired quality insurances inspector for the federal government. He retired after 39 years of service.
He served in the Navy during World War II and received the Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, 1 Star and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
He was a past president of the Berkshire Century village Condo Association and a member of the Tri-Town Memorial and Greenville American Legion Post # 291.
He was an avid billiards player and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Blanche (Albano) Gerard; three sons, Timothy Gerard and fiancée Ellen Heffern, Dennis Gerard and wife Sandra, and Gary Gerard; a sister, Laura Shedlock and husband Joseph; grandchildren Kimberly Marano and husband Vincent, Stephen Gerard, Victoria Gerard, Bryan Gerard, Gregory Gerard, Dominic Gerard and Heather Gerard; great-grandchildren Marcus and Laura Holloway; and a niece and nephews, Carol Baeli and Joseph Shedlock.
A son, William Gerard, and a daughter, Laura Ackerman, predeceased him
Interment was in Saratoga national Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
November 17, 2005
HAROLD FREELIN
Harold A. Freelin, 85, formerly of Purling, died Wednesday, November 9 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy after a long illness.
He was born in Dearborn, MI, April 6, 1920, the son of the late Daniel and Margaret (Fagan) Freelin.
Freelin served in the Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945, in the European Campaign, Normandy and France. He was attached to the A Company 101 st Division Infantry, 26th Battalion, known as the Yankee division.
Surviving are his children, Margaret Freelin and Mary Beth Freelin, both of Long Island and his brother, Frank Freelin of Medford.
Graveside services took place at the New Athens Rural Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.
November 23, 2005
KATHELEEN MACINTYRE
Kathleen MacIntyre, 83, of Medusa, formerly of Cairo, died Monday, November 14 at Northern Dutchess Hospital, Rhinebeck.
Born March 23, 1922 in the Bronx, she was the daughter of the late Martin and Adelaide (Campbell) MacIntyre.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed by the New York Telephone company in New York City.
Her husband, John MacIntyre, predeceased her.
Burial was in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.
November 23, 2005
SHARON JOHNSON
Sharon Johnson, born December 16, 1942, of Travis Hill Road, Preston Hollow, died suddenly on Sunday, November 13 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany due to complications from a stroke.
She leaves behind her mate, Harold Marcinak; two stepdaughters, Nicole and Melissa, sons-in-law Warren and Richard and their three children, and her son, Scott Boissy, his wife Darrah and their two children.
Funeral services were held on Friday, November 18 at the Adams-Cordovano Funeral home, Carmel. The Rev. Martin McGeachy officiated.
Burial was in the Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla.
She and Harold had originally moved here from Carmel, where she had worked for the guideposts Foundation. She was a member of the Gileaad Presbyterian Church in Carmel.
November 23, 2005
SYLVIA LAFORGE
Sylvia LaForge, 65, of South Cairo, died Wednesday, November 16 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Poughkeepsie February 2, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Susan (Morrison) Bilyou.
Survivors included her husband, Daniel LaForge of South Cairo; two daughters, Barbara Hallock of South Cairo and Gail Hall of Schenectady; two sons, Scott A. LaForge of South Cairo and Richard N. LaForge of Marcy; two brothers, Jared Bilyou of Florida and Fred Bilyou of West Park; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Private cremation took place at Park View Cemetery in Schenectady.
Arrangements were with Traver and McCurry Funeral Home, Catskill.
November 23, 2005
EMOGENE “EMMY” STICKLES
Emogene “Emmy” Stickles, 71, a longtime bank teller and senior sales representative at HSBC in Catskill, died Saturday, November 19 at Albany Medical Center after a long period of illnesses.
Born in Hudson, she was the daughter of Madeline Chappell, who resides at the Eden Park health Care Center in Catskill, and the late Kenneth Chappell.
Stickles grew up in Germantown and was a graduate of Germantown High School. She lived in Catskill for 45 years. After retiring she moved to South Cairo and spent winters at her home in Barefoot Bay, FL.
Before the onset of her many illnesses, Stickles was involved in many different activities. She was an avid reader and game player. She loved golf and was a member of the Catskill golf Club and the Barefoot Bay Golf Club. She also was an accomplished bowler and participated in local, regional, and state bowling tournaments and leagues for many years.
Stickles was an honorary member of the Catskill Fortnightly Club, the Catskill Marathon Bridge Club and Gretchen’s Club. She loved to watch baseball games and was an ardent Mets fan.
At the time of her death, she was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Barefoot Bay.
Besides her husband of 53 years, Richard G. Stickles Jr. of South Cairo, she is survived by three children, Neal A. Stickles and wife Barbara of Mount Airy, MD, Richard K. Stickles and wife Helena of Scottsdale, AZ, and Debbie Dobos and husband Scott of Catskill; a brother Kenneth Chappell of Colonie; a sister, Lorraine Mulry of Millbrook; eight grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are today, November 23, at 11a.m. from Traver and McCurry Funeral Home 234 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. The Rev. Jack Wilder, Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Hudson, officiates.
Interment follows in Catskill Rural Cemetery.