Obituaries
from the
Greenville Press
December 2006
Transcribed by Sylvia Hasenkopf
Obituaries provided by April Saccoccio
December 6, 2006
Mary A. Donohue
Born in Brooklyn
Mary A. Donohue, 85, of Greenville, died at her home on Thursday, November 30.
She was born in Brooklyn May 7, 1921.
Surviving are a son, Peter of Greenville, and daughters Margaret “Marge” of Albany and Annette Rao (Phil) of Tamarac, FL.
She was predeceased by her husband, Peer J. Donohue, in 1977.
Burial was in the Greenville Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Greenville Rescue Squad, PO Box 332, Greenville, 12083.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
December 7, 2006
E. Mary Hotaling
Garment Worker
E. Mary Hotaling, 90, of Palenville, died Sunday, December 3, at her home following a long illness.
Born in Palenville, December 23, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Carson and Mary Amen Edwards.
Mrs. Hotaling had been employed during her young adulthood as a machine operator at the Pensco garment manufacturing company in Catskill.
Surviving are a son, Chester R. Hotaling, Jr. of Palenville and Wendy Whitbeck of Cairo; three grandchildren, Darryl Whitbeck of Acra, Shane Whitbeck of Catskill and Carson Hotaling of Saugerties; and several stepgrandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Chester R. Hotaling, Sr. on December 30, 1980, a sister and five brothers.
Interment was in the Town of Catskill Cemetery.
Arrangements were with the Millspaugh Camerato Funeral Home, Catskill.
December 7, 2006
C. Burton Mattice
World War II veteran
C. Burton Mattice, 83 of Oak Hill, died Tuesday, November 28 at Nyack Hospital.
Born in Roxbury, March 31, 1923, he was the son of the late Charles R. and Mary A. (Mackey) Mattice.
Burt served in the Army during World War II in Burma and the East Indies, and received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Bronze Service Star and World War II Victory Medal.
He was a self-taught electrical contractor for more than 45 years. He did electrical work for the Greene County Youth Fair for several years, was a member of the Catskill Mountain Electrical League and served on the Greene County Board of Electrical Examiners.
He also was a member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors.
Active in the community, he was a life member and past chief of the Oak Hill-Durham Volunteer Fire Co., a former caretaker of the Oak Hill Cemetery and a Republican committeeman for the Town of Durham.
Surviving are his wife, Norma (Barlow) Mattice; daughter Jodi Morollo (Mark); stepchildren Christine and Stephanie Morollo; brothers Clifford Mattice (Nancy) and Elton Mattice; four sisters, Dorothy Johns, Freda McCumber (Herbert), Leona Alexander (Bill) and Leta Hyers (Don); and several nieces and nephews.
Sisters Alice Mattice and Mary Butler predeceased him.
Those who desire may contribute in his memory to the Greene County Youth Fair Fund or to the Durham Valley Post #1416 American Legion.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
December 7, 2006
Peter Priputen
World War II veteran
Peter Priputen, 78, of South Cairo, died Thursday, November 30 at Community Hospice of Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson, after a long illness.
He was born in Yonkers March 12, 1928, the son of the late Andrew and Anna (Sada) Priputen.
During World War II he served with the Marines. He also was part of the New York National Guard for 20 years.
Peter retired from the state Department of Environmental Conservation in 1989.
He was a member of Cairo American Legion Post #983 and the Greene County Police Association. He also was an avid gardener, woodworker and antique collector.
Survivors include his wife, Jean F. (O’Bryan) Priputen; a son, Steven P. Priputen and wife Rhonda of Virginia; two daughters, Mrs. William (Nancy) Madrian of Rensselaerville and Mrs. Thomas (Beth) Tilley of Freehold; a sister, Helen Stauder of South Cairo; seven grandchildren, Nathan and Amy Priputen, Jessica Rhatigan, Christopher Thorne, and Ian, Jerry and Addison Brandi; and two great-grandchildren, Claire and Aidan Rhatigan.
Interment with full military honors was in the Catskill Rural Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Community-Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414, or to Resurrection Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Cairo 12413.
Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.
December 7, 2006
E. Bruce Skidmore
Consultant, inspector
E. Bruce Skidmore, 78, of Greenville, died Saturday, December 2 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
He was born in Columbus, OH, February 24, 1928, the son of the late Harold and Hazel (Whittridge) Skidmore.
He enlisted in the Air Force following his graduation from high school, serving at the latter part of World War II with the 423rd Photo Tech Squadron and the 311th Air Division at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. He received a Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Bruce returned to civilian life in 1949 and worked with his father as a carpenter. He later moved to Greenville and worked for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as a housing consultant and building inspector. He also was a former inspector for Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corp.
Bruce was a member of the Greenville-Norton Hill United Methodist Church. As a nature lover, he used his talent for wood carving and later in life learned to make lifelike images of the wildlife he loved so much.
Surviving are his wife, June (Pierson) Skidmore; his daughters, Carol Spannagel and husband Bill and Meredith Grupe and husband Mark; a son, James Skidmore and wife Stephanie; a brother, Rodney Skidmore and wife Diane; four grandchildren, Christopher and Teresa Goodman, Kyle Grupe and wife Maureen and Trevor Grupe; and a great-grandson, Brady Grupe.
As to his wishes, he was cremated. A memorial services takes place Saturday, December 9 at 4pm at Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 Route 81, Greenville. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 pm.
Interment will take place in the Cairo Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Those who wish may contribute in Bruce’s memory to either the Greenville-Norton Hill United Methodist Church or the Greenville American Legion Post #291.
December 14, 2006
Orloff Bear Sr.
Active in 4H, community
Orloff “Orlie” Bear Sr., 88, of Greenville, died at his home on Friday, December 8.
He was born in Greenville on October 7, 1918, the son of the late Burdette and Edith K. (Story) Bear. Orlie was very fond of animals of all kinds and he passed that love of animals and farming on to his children and grandchildren. This fondness led to a lifelong love of country fairs, especially the Greene County Youth Fair, of which he was president for five years.
He also attended the Altamont Fair every year from the time he was a child and was recently awarded a lifetime pass by the fair board. Orlie’s devotion to the Altamont Fair was demonstrated by his 30 years of service on the Altamont Fair Board.
His love of fairs was complemented by his involvement in 4H and with the youth in the community. He was a leader of the Greenville Ramblers a 4H Club for 30 years.
In addition, he was very loyal to the Republican Party in Greenville and was a Republican committeeman for 30 years and a deputy town clerk for his wife for 28 years. Orlie’s service to his community extended to the Greenville Volunteer Fire Co., of which he was a life member.
He was very enthusiastic about standard bred horses and horse racing. He was a member of the Tri-County Pony Club for 20 years.
Orlie was a bus driver for the Greenville Central School District for 35 years and carried thousands of children to school safely through his lifetime.
He was passionate about sports and recreational activities, enjoying basketball, baseball and bowling. He also excelled at dancing and in fact, his wife claims that the reason she married him was because he was tall, blond and had fancy footwork.
Orlie is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanne (Yates) Bear; two sons, Orloff Bear Jr., (Terry) and Richard Bear (Gloria); a daughter, Katherine Schlenker (Michael); two brothers, Wilton Bear Sr. and Paul Bear (Marylou); his grandchildren, Mary and Michael Skehan, Christine and Craig Zito, Katie and Kevin Sill, Jeremy and Nick Bear, Eric Bear, Lauren, Lea, Elizabeth and Jenna Schlenker, and Antoinette, Nicholas and David Bader; great-grandsons Devin and Garret Skehan and Colin Zito; and several nieces and nephews.
Interment was in the Greenville Cemetery.
Those who desire may contribute in his memory to the Greene County Youth Fair, the Greenville Rescue Squad or the Greenville-Norton Hill United Methodist Church.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
December 14, 2006
Anthony Zinnanti Sr.
Scoutmaster
Anthony Zinnanti Sr., 91 of Cairo and West Palm Beach, FL, died Monday, December 4 at St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach.
He was born in Brooklyn July 1, 1915, the son of the late Louis and Giovanna (Guberti) Zinnanti.
Tony was a corrections officer for the state Department of Corrections at Coxsackie prior to his retirement.
He was a scoutmaster for Catskill Boy Scout Troop 44 for more than 50 years and was presented the Silver Beaver Award for service.
Tony was a life member, past exalted ruler, past district deputy and past state vice president of Catskill Elks Lodge 1341. He was a communicant of Sacred heart Church in Cairo.
Surviving are four sons, Louis (Diane) Zinnanti of Chatham, MA, Anthony (Marina) Zinnanti Jr. of Southwest Ranches, FL, Richard (Eileen) Zinnanti of Red Hook and Thomas (Mary) Zinnanti of Alpharetta, GA; a brother-in-law, Michael (Sue) Marino of Edison, NJ; three sisters-in-law, Josephine Agosta of Glendale, Mae Schimmenti of Flushing and Rita (Michael) Verrone of Toms River, grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife of more than 70 years, Gaetana Zinnanti, on October 1 and a brother, Enrico Zinnanti.
Cremation took place at Park View Cemetery, Schenectady. Interment in Saratoga National Cemetery takes place at the convenience of the family.
Memorials in Anthony’s name may be made to Catskill Elks Lodge 1341, North Jefferson Avenue, Catskill 12414.
Arrangements were with Traver and McCurry Funeral Home, Jefferson Heights, Catskill.