Obituaries
from the
Greenville Press
August 2008
Transcribed by Carol Golden
Obituaries provided by Sylvia Hasenkopf
August 7, 2008
MICHAEL TOMASELLI
Ranch owner
Michael J. Tomaselli, 41, of Freehold, died suddenly on Monday July28.
He was born in White Plains May 17, 1967 and lived most of his life in Westchester County. He lived the last several years on Catskill Creek Ranch in Freehold, the creation of which fulfilled a lifelong dream.
Michael always lent a helping hand to everyone he met and he was loved by anyone who knew him.
Surviving are his mother, Marie Tomaselli of Rotterdam; his father and stepmother, John and Cathy Tomaselli of Palm City, FL; sisters Luci Steffensen of Brusly, LA, Valerie Buchanan of Rotterdam and Kimberly and Nicole Tomaselli of Tallahassee, FL; his nieces and nephews, Richard, Rachael, Hollie, TJ, Timothy and Meghan; and his girlfriend, Doreen Ensmann of Freehold.
Those who wish may contribute in Michael’s memory to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, 316 Old Stage Road, Saugerties 12477.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
August 14, 2008
EDWARD V. MORRIS
Machinist
Edward V. Morris, 78, of Greenville, died Tuesday, August5 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn, Albany.
He was born in Rego Park, Queens, on February 14, 1930, the son of the late John and Catherine (Flynn) Morris.
Edward served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a machinist with D & H Precision, manufacturing precision instruments until his retirement.
He loved the New York Giants, the Yankees and the Rangers. He also enjoyed hunting and surf casting.
Edward was a member of the Greenville American Legion Post #291 and VFW Post # 551 in Elmhurst, Queens, and a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church, Greenville.
Edward and his wife, the former Annie Hoy, were married on July 29, 1956 and just celebrated their 52nd anniversary.
Besides his wife, surviving are a sister, Frances O’Neil (Jim); two brothers, Raymond and John Morris; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A sister, Helen Scetana, predeceased him.
Interment was in the Greenville Cemetery.
Those who wish may contribute in Edward’s memory to Community Hospice of Albany County, 445 New Karner Road, Albany 12205.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
August 14, 2008
DEBRA E. LAKE
SEFCU employee
Debra E. Lake died comfortably at high noon in her home on Tuesday, August 5. She was 47.
Born in Catskill November 18, 1960, she was the daughter of Joan Parks of Greenville and John Parks of Oregon, and the wife of Jeff Lake.
Debbie attended Albany High School and had worked for the past 12 years for SEFCU, most recently at the Clifton Park branch.
Deb enjoyed antiquing, motorcycling, traveling and the company of her friends and family.
Besides her parents and husband, survivors include her daughters, Keisha (Steve) Baker of Guilderland and Taylor Dawson of Lake George; a sister, Donna (Mike) Gagliardi of Greenville; her in-laws, Paula and Kent Lake of Saratoga Springs; her grandson, Devin Baker; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; her brothers and sisters of The Goat Brothers; and lifelong friend Suzan.
Burial was in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.
Memorial donations may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, 12866, or St. Peter’s Cancer Care Center, 319 South Manning Boulevard, Albany 12208.
Arrangements were with William J. Burke and Sons/Bussing and Cunniff Funeral Homes, Saratoga Springs.
August 14, 2008
NORMA JEAN JUMP
Loved boating
Norma Jean Jump, 79, of Coxsackie, died Friday, August 8 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.
She was born in Beal City, MI, August 11, 1928, the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Pung) Martin.
She was raised on a farm at # 4 Mile Point, overlooking the Hudson River.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed at the Marion Five and Dive store and also at Krauss’s Dress Factory, Martin’s News Room, Jumpy’s News Room, the Hurlheigh Drug Store and the Bon Fare.
She was an avid boater, loved living in her house overlooking the river, and loved flowers, gardening, Teddy bears, her grandchildren and life in general. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard W. Jump; a son, Carl and wife Terrianne Jump of Coxsackie; a daughter, Sheila Powell and husband Earl of Ravena; three sisters, Joyce McCoy, Allorah Colburn and Eileen McPartland; 10 grandchildren, Joel and Michelle Buffardi, Aaron Buffardi, Athena and Martin Cyr, Benjamin and his fiancée Jamie Jump, and Jonathan Jump; step-grandchildren Craig and Sara Pruiksma; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, her brother, Carl Martin, and her sister, Beullah Sacco, predeceased her.
Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Coxsackie.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc Funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 14, 2008
BRYANT BEAUDOIN
Computer operator
Bryant W. “Barry” Beaudoin. 61, of Coxsackie, died Friday, August 8 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.
He was born at Memorial Hospital in Albany on July 17, 1947, the son of the late Henry and Lillian (Lorimer) Beaudoin.
Barry graduated from Albany High School in1965 before attending Columbia-Greene Community College to pursue a degree in computer science.
He began his career with the State of New York as a clerk in 1970 and retired as senior chief computer operator in 2003. He was well respected by all his co-workers for his vast knowledge and professionalism.
Some of his best times were spent traveling to Alaska with his family, and camping and hunting with his best friends, Phillip, Earl Jones and David Smith. He loved woodworking.
Later in life, Barry found much enjoyment in loving and caring for his deer and other wildlife resident at his home. He had been an area resident for 36 years.
Surviving are his wife, Carolyn “Carole” M. (Violino) Beaudoin; a son, Anthony “Tony” Beaudoin of Athens; a brother, Harvey Beaudoin of Rochester; two sisters, Marianne B. Jones of Menands and Nancy Beaudoin of Alaska; a grandchild, Xander of Athens; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, a brother, Phillip, predeceased him.
Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Coxsackie.
Due to Barry’s love of nature and all animals, donations may be made to the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society or your local ASPCA.
Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 21, 2008
EDITH M. PLACE
Enjoyed gardening
Edith M. (Van Tassell) Place, 84, of Cohoes, died Thursday, June 19 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy after a long illness, her family members by her side.
Born September 30, 1923 in Cooksburg, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Ruth (Hulbert) Van Tassell.
Edith lived in the Capital District area. She was educated by her mother in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Middleburg High School in 1940 at the age of 16.
She married William P. Place on December 1, 1945.
She was employed as a dental receptionist in East Durham and then as a lathe operator by General Electric in Schenectady, leaving in 1947 to start her family.
Edith was a smart woman who loved her games. She had a passion for crossword puzzles and game shows where her mind was challenged. She also enjoyed traveling, especially to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
She was a communicant of St. Bernard’s Church in Cohoes, a member of the Mothers Clubs of several schools and the Cohoes Senior Center, and was involved with the Cohoes Little League and Intermediate League.
Edith and her husband tended large vegetable gardens at their home, a job that kept her busy canning tomatoes, pickled beets and more for enjoyment during the winter months. The front of their home was occupied by her flower gardens.
Besides her husband, surviving are her children, Kathleen Alvarez and friend Don Bernhardt of Cincinnati OH, William J. Place and wife Sandra of Holden, MA, Terrence M. Place of Schenectady, Kevin J. Place and wife Yvonne of Latham and Timothy J. Place and wife Joy of Alpharetta, GA; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Her brother, Richard Van Tassell, predeceased her in May 2005.
Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waterford.
Those wishing to remember Edith may make contributions to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville 12211 or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Upstate NY/VT Chapter, 6 Automation Lane, Albany 12205.
Arrangements were with Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Cohoes.
August 21, 2008
JOYCE LEBEL
Former postmaster
Joyce G. Lebel, 61, of Middleburgh, died Wednesday, August 13 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
She was born in Catskill September 14, 1946, the daughter of Helen (Buel) Germond of Athens and the late Ira Roger Germond.
Joyce was a lifelong resident of Manorkill and Rensselaerville.
She worked at Stiefel Labs Inc. and was postmaster of the Earlton Post Office until illness forced her to take a smaller post in the Coeymans Hollow Post Office.
Joyce enjoyed traveling, painting and knitting.
Besides her mother, surviving are her husband, Louis M. Lebel; her aunt, Loretta Lounsbury of Oak Hill, a brother-in-law, Joseph Lebel of Cornwallville; and a niece, Diane Williams of Manorkill.
Burial was in the Manorkill Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
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August 21, 2008
PETER AMBROGIO
Nov. 24, 1925-Aug. 17, 2008
Peter Ambrogio died Sunday, August 17 at his hilltop home in Oak Hill surrounded by his family.
He was proud to have served his country in the Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict.
He retired from American Airlines in 1983, where he had worked as a chief aircraft mechanic.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Shirlee E. (Reeves) Ambrogio; his daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Scott Gibson, Cheryl and Andy Sanavaitis, all of Poughkeepsie, Karen and Ken Mauriello
of Winfield, IL., and Robert Graham of New York City; and 10 grandchildren, Bradley and Christina Gibson, Christopher Gibson and Lynn Anne Jacewicz, Ashley Gibson, Nicole Sanavaitis and Laura, Peter, Michael and Thomas Mauriello.
His daughters, Debra Ambrogio and Sharon Graham, who died in 1958 and 1992, predeceased him.
Burial is in the Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Helderberg Christian School, P.O. Box 164 Westerlo 12193.
Arrangements are with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
August 28, 2008
WILLARD ELSBREE
Elsbree’s legacy: Academia, giving
Willard H. Elsbree, a professor emeritus of government at Ohio University and former Preston Hollow resident, died Tuesday, August 19 at his home in Athens, OH, among family and friends. Known by his family nickname of Wid, he was 87 years old; he died after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Elsbree had been a professor in the Ohio University Government Department from 1952 until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1990. He served as chair of the department, later renamed the Political Science Department, from 1963 to 1968, and again from 1975 to 1976. During this time he brought a lasting spirit of congeniality to the department.
Born in the upstate New York hamlet of Preston Hollow on December 25, 1920, he attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse and was valedictorian of his class at Greenville Free Academy. He attended Dartmouth College and then Harvard University, working on his father’s farm during the summers, and receiving his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in 1941.
Professor Elsbree joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to its Japanese Language School at Boulder, CO. In early 1944 he went to Pearl Harbor, where he was in the translation section of the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific Ocean Area (JICPOA) with the 5th Marine Division. He served as an interpreter in the Pacific, including day three of the Battle of Iwo Jima. After the war he was flown to Yokosuka, Japan with the 4th Marine Regiment and ended his military service in the spring of 1946.
Professor Elsbree returned to Harvard, where he earned his Ph.D. in government in 1952. Harvard University Press published his doctoral dissertation in 1953. Titled Japan’s Role in Southeast Asian Nationalist Movements, 1940-1945, the book was considered the first major work on the Japanese occupation and cited by many authors on Southeast Asia as a basic reference.
In later years prestigious grants and fellowships enabled him to conduct research in Japan, the Philippines and India. Ohio University President John C. Baker chose Professor Elsbree to accompany him and serve as an expert consultant at UNESCO conferences in Geneva, Switzerland in 1953 and 1955.
Professor Elsbree was especially known in Preston Hollow for his gift of the Bayard Elsbree Memorial Park. Located next to the Elsbree family home, it started as a pasture containing a much used baseball field that Dr.Elsbree leased, then gave to the town.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bayard and Lyra Hubbard Elsbree of Preston Hollow, NY; his brother, Hugh of Chevy Chase, MD; his sister Marjorie Elsbree Pacey of Preston Hollow; and a niece, Jane Pacey (William) Chaleff of East Hampton, NY.
He is survived by nephews and nieces, including David (Patricia) Elsbree of Greenville, NY; John (Anne)Elsbree, of North Bethesda, MD; Susan (Anthony) Torre of Sun City Center, FL; Hugh (Nancy) Pacey of Cincinnati; Mary Pacey (Steven Shultz), of Carmel, CA; over 30 great-nephews and nieces, great-great-nephews and nieces and cousins; and godsons Chris Jennings of Washington, D.C.; Eric Jennings of Athens, OH; and Tom Jennings of New York, NY. He is also survived by many loving friends in Athens, Preston Hollow and Sanibel, FL.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Applachian Community Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice and Health Services Inc., 30 Herrold Ave., Athens, OH 45701 or the Athens Foundation, P.O. Box 366, Athens, OH 45701.
An Athens, Ohio memorial service will be held Sunday, September 21, at 3 p.m. in Galbreath Chapel on the Ohio University campus. A note of condolence may be sent to the family or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.